Primrose Boynton
@pjboynton.bsky.social
Environmental yeast ecology and evolution! I love model and non-model organisms, and single-celled and filamentous fungi alike. I love R! Assistant Professor at Wheaton College, Massachusetts and senior editor of Yeast, but my posts are my own. she/her
The world is full of SO MUCH passion for science! People who couldn't but do science. I'm one of them. Even when there's no promise of glory, there is so much pleasure in doing it and in doing it with other people. I wish the story we told ourselves about science were more that and less...this
November 21, 2025 at 8:24 PM
The world is full of SO MUCH passion for science! People who couldn't but do science. I'm one of them. Even when there's no promise of glory, there is so much pleasure in doing it and in doing it with other people. I wish the story we told ourselves about science were more that and less...this
Except of course it happens. It happens when all of the unnamed people working in the background make discoveries necessary for the project. It happens when students stumble and figure out something new their boss would never have thought of. It happens when we exploit vulnerable researchers
November 21, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Except of course it happens. It happens when all of the unnamed people working in the background make discoveries necessary for the project. It happens when students stumble and figure out something new their boss would never have thought of. It happens when we exploit vulnerable researchers
And I think that maybe this idea of genius in general is flawed. It's *not* a single visionary; it's never a single visionary. And when you think it might be you end up with powerful racists like Watson. After all, we can't afford to displease a genius; maybe then science wouldn't happen
November 21, 2025 at 8:24 PM
And I think that maybe this idea of genius in general is flawed. It's *not* a single visionary; it's never a single visionary. And when you think it might be you end up with powerful racists like Watson. After all, we can't afford to displease a genius; maybe then science wouldn't happen
I teach students that science is done by groups of people, by teams, by researchers building on what others have made and done. More and more, I'm thinking that big prizes like the Nobel aren't useful. They definitely reward *something*, but I don't think it really is contributions
November 21, 2025 at 8:24 PM
I teach students that science is done by groups of people, by teams, by researchers building on what others have made and done. More and more, I'm thinking that big prizes like the Nobel aren't useful. They definitely reward *something*, but I don't think it really is contributions
I'm brought back to some reflection I did a couple of months ago when I looked up Esther Lederberg for an intro microbiology lecture, and some other reflection I did a few years ago about Louis Pasteur. Both led me to question how we reward scientific "genius" with prizes and esteem
November 21, 2025 at 8:24 PM
I'm brought back to some reflection I did a couple of months ago when I looked up Esther Lederberg for an intro microbiology lecture, and some other reflection I did a few years ago about Louis Pasteur. Both led me to question how we reward scientific "genius" with prizes and esteem
Reposted by Primrose Boynton
The special issue will be guest-edited by @pjboynton.bsky.social (Wheaton College
Massachusetts, USA) and Pei-Yun Jenny Wu (CNRS
Bordeaux, France).
You can find more information on the accepted topics and submission instructions by using the QR code below:
Massachusetts, USA) and Pei-Yun Jenny Wu (CNRS
Bordeaux, France).
You can find more information on the accepted topics and submission instructions by using the QR code below:
September 8, 2025 at 5:26 PM
The special issue will be guest-edited by @pjboynton.bsky.social (Wheaton College
Massachusetts, USA) and Pei-Yun Jenny Wu (CNRS
Bordeaux, France).
You can find more information on the accepted topics and submission instructions by using the QR code below:
Massachusetts, USA) and Pei-Yun Jenny Wu (CNRS
Bordeaux, France).
You can find more information on the accepted topics and submission instructions by using the QR code below:
I think you can be right and this can still be a case of predatory via negligence. Like, it's not a secret that strategies of "engagement no matter what" has consequences, and they could've dialed it back much more quickly. I've also seen "AI can be the friend you're missing!" in marketing.
August 17, 2025 at 5:29 PM
I think you can be right and this can still be a case of predatory via negligence. Like, it's not a secret that strategies of "engagement no matter what" has consequences, and they could've dialed it back much more quickly. I've also seen "AI can be the friend you're missing!" in marketing.
I took it as it's sad and predatory that the company put the person in the position in the first place. Like, setting up a chatbot to talk a vulnerable person into falling in love, especially if they're so bereft when things change, is a horribly manipulative way to treat people.
August 17, 2025 at 5:17 PM
I took it as it's sad and predatory that the company put the person in the position in the first place. Like, setting up a chatbot to talk a vulnerable person into falling in love, especially if they're so bereft when things change, is a horribly manipulative way to treat people.
Thanks, I needed to hear this one.
August 15, 2025 at 3:24 AM
Thanks, I needed to hear this one.
On a related note, does anyone have an undergraduate-friendly reading that explains fungal primary vs. secondary metabolism, cellular respiration vs. fermentation, and what carbohydrate-active enzymes are? Everything I turn up is either garbage or too advanced for beginners.
August 14, 2025 at 8:10 PM
On a related note, does anyone have an undergraduate-friendly reading that explains fungal primary vs. secondary metabolism, cellular respiration vs. fermentation, and what carbohydrate-active enzymes are? Everything I turn up is either garbage or too advanced for beginners.
I'm not a good enough biochemist to know whether those are the pathways to break down SCFAs. I AM a good enough mycologist/biochemist to know that this is a useless definition of "fungal metabolism."
August 14, 2025 at 8:10 PM
I'm not a good enough biochemist to know whether those are the pathways to break down SCFAs. I AM a good enough mycologist/biochemist to know that this is a useless definition of "fungal metabolism."
Or how science works, for that matter!
August 14, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Or how science works, for that matter!
Nothing during the semester. During the summer we have the opportunity to apply for an internal program which gives the student a stipend, the instructor a stipend (works out to state minimum wage but better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick) and a small research budget.
August 14, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Nothing during the semester. During the summer we have the opportunity to apply for an internal program which gives the student a stipend, the instructor a stipend (works out to state minimum wage but better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick) and a small research budget.
Yeah; when people mention this to me I point out to them that, yes, during the summers I often get to take weekends off. It's a nice break from working through the weekends during the semester, but nothing near what they're expecting.
August 13, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Yeah; when people mention this to me I point out to them that, yes, during the summers I often get to take weekends off. It's a nice break from working through the weekends during the semester, but nothing near what they're expecting.
Reposted by Primrose Boynton
I’m looking for folks to send me specimens of golden oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus citrinopileatus) collected from natural areas all over North America. I need specimens from everywhere other than Wisconsin: 2/n
pringlelab.github.io/gom_communit...
pringlelab.github.io/gom_communit...
Pringle Lab UW-Madison
pringlelab.github.io
August 12, 2025 at 12:25 AM
I’m looking for folks to send me specimens of golden oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus citrinopileatus) collected from natural areas all over North America. I need specimens from everywhere other than Wisconsin: 2/n
pringlelab.github.io/gom_communit...
pringlelab.github.io/gom_communit...
Step 1: Read the reviews
Step 2: Feel your feelings for a day without looking at the reviews again
Step 3: Get back to the reviews the next day, realize that they aren't as bad as you'd thought, and actually the reviewers had some really helpful points, and deal with them
Step 2: Feel your feelings for a day without looking at the reviews again
Step 3: Get back to the reviews the next day, realize that they aren't as bad as you'd thought, and actually the reviewers had some really helpful points, and deal with them
August 7, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Step 1: Read the reviews
Step 2: Feel your feelings for a day without looking at the reviews again
Step 3: Get back to the reviews the next day, realize that they aren't as bad as you'd thought, and actually the reviewers had some really helpful points, and deal with them
Step 2: Feel your feelings for a day without looking at the reviews again
Step 3: Get back to the reviews the next day, realize that they aren't as bad as you'd thought, and actually the reviewers had some really helpful points, and deal with them
My first reaction is always, "How dare these know-nothings say these things about my amazing work!" No matter how positive the review is. So I have a protocol for dealing:
August 7, 2025 at 3:55 PM
My first reaction is always, "How dare these know-nothings say these things about my amazing work!" No matter how positive the review is. So I have a protocol for dealing:
You're not wrong, but I also encourage non-USians to do some reading about policies in their own countries. This kind of stuff tends to be hidden really well, and is worth bringing into the open everywhere.
August 4, 2025 at 4:26 PM
You're not wrong, but I also encourage non-USians to do some reading about policies in their own countries. This kind of stuff tends to be hidden really well, and is worth bringing into the open everywhere.
It's important to note that what you're describing is continuous, especially in prisons, and has been ongoing for decades. Here's a useful Immigration and Human Rights Law Review blog post, dated 2021:
lawblogs.uc.edu/ihrlr/2021/0...
lawblogs.uc.edu/ihrlr/2021/0...
Not Just ICE: Forced Sterilization in the United States | Immigration and Human Rights Law Review
Last year, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) was accused of forcibly sterilizing detainees under their care.[1] Forced sterilization can occur under many different circumstances, such as when an individual is not aware of the procedure taking place, has been given no opportunity to truly consent to the procedure, or gives consent under duress.[2] As shocking as this may seem, forced sterilization of minorities has been a part of U.S. history for decades.
lawblogs.uc.edu
August 1, 2025 at 3:07 PM
It's important to note that what you're describing is continuous, especially in prisons, and has been ongoing for decades. Here's a useful Immigration and Human Rights Law Review blog post, dated 2021:
lawblogs.uc.edu/ihrlr/2021/0...
lawblogs.uc.edu/ihrlr/2021/0...