Tiffany Taylor
@taylorlabgroup.bsky.social
Professor of Microbial Ecology and Evolution at the Life Sciences Department at the University of Bath. Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Research Fellow. Children's author evolution/genetics. Mum.
https://tiffanybtaylor.wordpress.com/
https://tiffanybtaylor.wordpress.com/
Pinned
Little Letters: an introduction to genetics
written by Tiffany Taylor, illustrated by James Munro, read by A. F. Harrold.Join Berry, Daisy and Spike, as an extraordinary close encounter turns a family ...
youtu.be
Happy #DNAday 🧬! To celebrate, why not share a bedtime story with a #FutureGeneticist? Listen to my book, Little Letters, illustrated by uber talented James Munro & read by the forever charming children's author AF Harrold
youtu.be/yv3Z8CZ3t_Q
#DNA #GeneticsForKids #ScienceBooks
youtu.be/yv3Z8CZ3t_Q
#DNA #GeneticsForKids #ScienceBooks
Reposted by Tiffany Taylor
🔬 Interested in bacterial immune systems & AMR, or how antibiotics affect phage infectivity?
Three SWBio DTP PhD project opportunities linked to the MultiDefence consortium are now open (1/4)
#PhD #DoctoralTraining #ResearchCarrers #LifeSciences #phagesky #AMR #microsky #PhDPositions
Three SWBio DTP PhD project opportunities linked to the MultiDefence consortium are now open (1/4)
#PhD #DoctoralTraining #ResearchCarrers #LifeSciences #phagesky #AMR #microsky #PhDPositions
November 14, 2025 at 5:21 PM
🔬 Interested in bacterial immune systems & AMR, or how antibiotics affect phage infectivity?
Three SWBio DTP PhD project opportunities linked to the MultiDefence consortium are now open (1/4)
#PhD #DoctoralTraining #ResearchCarrers #LifeSciences #phagesky #AMR #microsky #PhDPositions
Three SWBio DTP PhD project opportunities linked to the MultiDefence consortium are now open (1/4)
#PhD #DoctoralTraining #ResearchCarrers #LifeSciences #phagesky #AMR #microsky #PhDPositions
Reposted by Tiffany Taylor
The 2025 Curriculum Review is great news for STEM
✅ Depth over breadth
✅ Hands-on science
✅ Digital literacy
✅ Equity & progression.
My FREE Evolution Project brings these STEM priorities to life through engaging, hands-on learning.
www.bath.ac.uk/campaigns/di...
#STEM #CurriculumReview
✅ Depth over breadth
✅ Hands-on science
✅ Digital literacy
✅ Equity & progression.
My FREE Evolution Project brings these STEM priorities to life through engaging, hands-on learning.
www.bath.ac.uk/campaigns/di...
#STEM #CurriculumReview
Discover Evoscope: an educational package that’s transforming how we learn evolution
Evoscope is a free educational resource pack that helps you bring evolution to life and assess understanding and acceptance of evolutionary concepts.
www.bath.ac.uk
November 6, 2025 at 6:43 AM
The 2025 Curriculum Review is great news for STEM
✅ Depth over breadth
✅ Hands-on science
✅ Digital literacy
✅ Equity & progression.
My FREE Evolution Project brings these STEM priorities to life through engaging, hands-on learning.
www.bath.ac.uk/campaigns/di...
#STEM #CurriculumReview
✅ Depth over breadth
✅ Hands-on science
✅ Digital literacy
✅ Equity & progression.
My FREE Evolution Project brings these STEM priorities to life through engaging, hands-on learning.
www.bath.ac.uk/campaigns/di...
#STEM #CurriculumReview
Reposted by Tiffany Taylor
There's a PhD position now available with me in Bath, on the evolution of symbiosis. www.findaphd.com/phds/project.... The supervisory team also includes @anja1.bsky.social @phil-donoghue.bsky.social and others. NB, this is open both to UK-based students *and* to international students :)
The genomic basis of symbiotic integration at University of Bath on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - The genomic basis of symbiotic integration at University of Bath, listed on FindAPhD.com
www.findaphd.com
October 9, 2025 at 9:39 AM
There's a PhD position now available with me in Bath, on the evolution of symbiosis. www.findaphd.com/phds/project.... The supervisory team also includes @anja1.bsky.social @phil-donoghue.bsky.social and others. NB, this is open both to UK-based students *and* to international students :)
Reposted by Tiffany Taylor
Willing to join us @pasteur.fr for a PhD for a project on how interactions between mobile genetic elements shape bacterial adaptation? Subject to be tailored to candidates with keen interest in evolution, genomics, computational biology, microbiology. Check www.pasteur.fr/en/education...
September 8, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Willing to join us @pasteur.fr for a PhD for a project on how interactions between mobile genetic elements shape bacterial adaptation? Subject to be tailored to candidates with keen interest in evolution, genomics, computational biology, microbiology. Check www.pasteur.fr/en/education...
Excited to share brilliant work @josie-e.bsky.social. She built a minimal type I-F CRISPR-Cas system where parts (like spacers) can be easily swapped. Against a panel of phages it gave full protection in most cases—though for some, immunity was stronger in low-nutrient growth. Check out her 🧵 below!
Can CRISPR-Cas systems target any phage? Yes, no, it depends? What does it depend on? The second paper from my PhD came out today in a special issue of Phil Trans B on the ecology and evolution of bacterial immune systems
doi.org/10.1098/rstb...
doi.org/10.1098/rstb...
Phage susceptibility to a minimal, modular synthetic CRISPR-Cas system in Pseudomonas aeruginosa is nutrient dependent | Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
CRISPR-Cas systems can provide adaptive, heritable immunity to their prokaryotic hosts
against invading genetic material such as phages. It is clear that the importance
of acquiring CRISPR-Cas immunit...
doi.org
September 4, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Excited to share brilliant work @josie-e.bsky.social. She built a minimal type I-F CRISPR-Cas system where parts (like spacers) can be easily swapped. Against a panel of phages it gave full protection in most cases—though for some, immunity was stronger in low-nutrient growth. Check out her 🧵 below!
Reposted by Tiffany Taylor
PhD opportunity, please share:
We are looking for a prospective PhD student to start in October 2026 who is excited about bacteria (Klebsiella pneumoniae), how they interact, and how they exchange DNA.
All details can be found on the funder website 👉 gw4biomed.ac.uk/developing-c...
We are looking for a prospective PhD student to start in October 2026 who is excited about bacteria (Klebsiella pneumoniae), how they interact, and how they exchange DNA.
All details can be found on the funder website 👉 gw4biomed.ac.uk/developing-c...
Developing CRISPR-Cas antimicrobials to tackle antibiotic resistance spread in Klebsiella pneumoniae - GW4 BioMed MRC DTP
Project Code MRCIIAR26Ex van Houte Project Type Wet lab Research Theme Infection, Immunity, Antimicrobial Resistance and Repair Project Summary Download Summary Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a ...
gw4biomed.ac.uk
September 2, 2025 at 9:48 AM
PhD opportunity, please share:
We are looking for a prospective PhD student to start in October 2026 who is excited about bacteria (Klebsiella pneumoniae), how they interact, and how they exchange DNA.
All details can be found on the funder website 👉 gw4biomed.ac.uk/developing-c...
We are looking for a prospective PhD student to start in October 2026 who is excited about bacteria (Klebsiella pneumoniae), how they interact, and how they exchange DNA.
All details can be found on the funder website 👉 gw4biomed.ac.uk/developing-c...
Reposted by Tiffany Taylor
What are your "good hands" training tips? @baym.lol and others?
- Slow down
- Pay attention
- Visualise doing the whole protocol. What do you need to have labelled when? Where are you standing? What are you doing during the incubation? Etc.
- Start new methods with 2-3 small low-stakes experiments.
- Slow down
- Pay attention
- Visualise doing the whole protocol. What do you need to have labelled when? Where are you standing? What are you doing during the incubation? Etc.
- Start new methods with 2-3 small low-stakes experiments.
Every few months the "good lab hands" thing comes up and it misses a key point: you can learn to have good hands. Training matters.
Good hands aren't some magic gift from the PCR gods, you have to develop them through directed repetitive practice, like any other skill
Good hands aren't some magic gift from the PCR gods, you have to develop them through directed repetitive practice, like any other skill
September 2, 2025 at 6:24 AM
What are your "good hands" training tips? @baym.lol and others?
- Slow down
- Pay attention
- Visualise doing the whole protocol. What do you need to have labelled when? Where are you standing? What are you doing during the incubation? Etc.
- Start new methods with 2-3 small low-stakes experiments.
- Slow down
- Pay attention
- Visualise doing the whole protocol. What do you need to have labelled when? Where are you standing? What are you doing during the incubation? Etc.
- Start new methods with 2-3 small low-stakes experiments.
Reposted by Tiffany Taylor
New paper out @molbioevol.bsky.social on antimutator Ecoli, mutational spectra and the distribution of fitness effects of antibiotic resistance with @knightjar.bsky.social @rokkrasovec.bsky.social and others @mermanchester.bsky.social doi.org/pzfm
Read🧵for highlights and fun stats (1/13)
Read🧵for highlights and fun stats (1/13)
Antimutator and Mutational Spectrum Effects Can Combine to Reduce Evolutionary Potential in Escherichia coli ΔnudJ
Abstract. The rate of spontaneous mutation is a key factor in determining the capacity of a population to adapt to a novel environment, for example, a bact
doi.org
August 18, 2025 at 3:40 PM
New paper out @molbioevol.bsky.social on antimutator Ecoli, mutational spectra and the distribution of fitness effects of antibiotic resistance with @knightjar.bsky.social @rokkrasovec.bsky.social and others @mermanchester.bsky.social doi.org/pzfm
Read🧵for highlights and fun stats (1/13)
Read🧵for highlights and fun stats (1/13)
Thanks @jgi.doe.gov! I'm excited to learn more about how molecular mechanisms link ecological and evolutionary flexibility in P. fluorescens using DAP-seq. In collab with @robjacksoncomics.bsky.social @catriona1392.bsky.social @cjlush.bsky.social & Jacob Malone 🦠🌱
Congratulations to @jgi.doe.gov's 2025 Functional Genomics awardees:
@ostratodd.bsky.social @philmuslab.bsky.social @aaronrashotte.bsky.social @taylorlabgroup.bsky.social Hao Chen, Matthew Cope-Arguello, Olufemi Isimikalu, Paul Scesa, K. Scott, S. Wakao, B. Woolston
jgi.doe.gov/user-science...
@ostratodd.bsky.social @philmuslab.bsky.social @aaronrashotte.bsky.social @taylorlabgroup.bsky.social Hao Chen, Matthew Cope-Arguello, Olufemi Isimikalu, Paul Scesa, K. Scott, S. Wakao, B. Woolston
jgi.doe.gov/user-science...
JGI announces 2025 Functional Genomics awardees | Joint Genome Institute
This year's project goals range from engineering drought-tolerant woody bioenergy crops through transcriptional network mapping, developing microbial systems to convert renewable feedstocks into advan...
jgi.doe.gov
August 19, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Thanks @jgi.doe.gov! I'm excited to learn more about how molecular mechanisms link ecological and evolutionary flexibility in P. fluorescens using DAP-seq. In collab with @robjacksoncomics.bsky.social @catriona1392.bsky.social @cjlush.bsky.social & Jacob Malone 🦠🌱
Reposted by Tiffany Taylor
What shapes the moment when you say, this is who I want to be?
Could one classroom research experience be that catalyst?
Could a summer camp for teachers help them make students become scientists? 🧪🧫🧬🔬
YES. This is EvolvingSTEM. So proud of this team.
youtu.be/sv3tcwRs2PE?...
Could one classroom research experience be that catalyst?
Could a summer camp for teachers help them make students become scientists? 🧪🧫🧬🔬
YES. This is EvolvingSTEM. So proud of this team.
youtu.be/sv3tcwRs2PE?...
EvolvingSTEM Summer of Transformation 2025
YouTube video by Evolving STEM
youtu.be
August 17, 2025 at 8:16 PM
What shapes the moment when you say, this is who I want to be?
Could one classroom research experience be that catalyst?
Could a summer camp for teachers help them make students become scientists? 🧪🧫🧬🔬
YES. This is EvolvingSTEM. So proud of this team.
youtu.be/sv3tcwRs2PE?...
Could one classroom research experience be that catalyst?
Could a summer camp for teachers help them make students become scientists? 🧪🧫🧬🔬
YES. This is EvolvingSTEM. So proud of this team.
youtu.be/sv3tcwRs2PE?...
Reposted by Tiffany Taylor
😳
#phage #phagesky #microsky
Pseudomonads coordinate innate defense against viruses and bacteria with a single regulatory system:
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...
#phage #phagesky #microsky
Pseudomonads coordinate innate defense against viruses and bacteria with a single regulatory system:
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...
Pseudomonads coordinate innate defense against viruses and bacteria with a single regulatory system
Brinkley et al. describe a general immune response strategy in Pseudomonas species,
termed GUARD, that protects against both bacterial and viral threats. This program,
controlled by the Gac/Rsm global...
www.cell.com
August 16, 2025 at 1:36 PM
😳
#phage #phagesky #microsky
Pseudomonads coordinate innate defense against viruses and bacteria with a single regulatory system:
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...
#phage #phagesky #microsky
Pseudomonads coordinate innate defense against viruses and bacteria with a single regulatory system:
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...
Reposted by Tiffany Taylor
Horton, Cherry, @gretelwaugh.bsky.social @taylorlabgroup.bsky.social et al. combine experimental evolution and bioinformatics in bacteria to characterize a ≥8 bp motif that can increase T:A→G:C mutation rates >1000-fold than the baseline rate.
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf183
#evobio #molbio
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf183
#evobio #molbio
GnT Motifs Can Increase T:A→G:C Mutation Rates Over 1000-fold in Bacteria
Abstract. Nucleotides across a genome do not mutate at equal frequencies. Instead, specific nucleotide positions can exhibit much higher mutation rates tha
doi.org
August 14, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Horton, Cherry, @gretelwaugh.bsky.social @taylorlabgroup.bsky.social et al. combine experimental evolution and bioinformatics in bacteria to characterize a ≥8 bp motif that can increase T:A→G:C mutation rates >1000-fold than the baseline rate.
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf183
#evobio #molbio
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf183
#evobio #molbio
🦠 New paper led by James Horton (feat. J Cherry & @gretelwaugh.bsky.social) reveals GnT DNA motif can boost T→A mutation rates up to 1000×, & how tweaking nearby bases can fine-tune its potency.
General across bacteria + potential in synbio.
📄 academic.oup.com/mbe/advance-ar…
🔗 James’s thread ⬇️
General across bacteria + potential in synbio.
📄 academic.oup.com/mbe/advance-ar…
🔗 James’s thread ⬇️
https://academic.oup.com/mbe/advance-ar…
August 13, 2025 at 4:37 PM
🦠 New paper led by James Horton (feat. J Cherry & @gretelwaugh.bsky.social) reveals GnT DNA motif can boost T→A mutation rates up to 1000×, & how tweaking nearby bases can fine-tune its potency.
General across bacteria + potential in synbio.
📄 academic.oup.com/mbe/advance-ar…
🔗 James’s thread ⬇️
General across bacteria + potential in synbio.
📄 academic.oup.com/mbe/advance-ar…
🔗 James’s thread ⬇️
Reposted by Tiffany Taylor
Feels surreal to say but: I'm hiring! If you are or know anyone interested in looking at the evolution of phage resistance using A. baumannii and natural transformation, then this might be for you
www.jobbnorge.no/en/available...
www.jobbnorge.no/en/available...
Research position in Microbial Pharmacology and Population Biology (282139) | UiT The Arctic University of Norway
Job title: Research position in Microbial Pharmacology and Population Biology (282139), Employer: UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Deadline: Wednesday, August 27, 2025
www.jobbnorge.no
August 8, 2025 at 7:52 AM
Feels surreal to say but: I'm hiring! If you are or know anyone interested in looking at the evolution of phage resistance using A. baumannii and natural transformation, then this might be for you
www.jobbnorge.no/en/available...
www.jobbnorge.no/en/available...
Congratulations to the super talented @josie-e.bsky.social! Looking forward to catching up on your postdoc news with @annechevallereau.bsky.social and cheering you on later at Bath Abbey.
a cartoon girl is sitting on a bed covering her mouth with her hands and saying it 's graduation day .
ALT: a cartoon girl is sitting on a bed covering her mouth with her hands and saying it 's graduation day .
media.tenor.com
July 18, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Congratulations to the super talented @josie-e.bsky.social! Looking forward to catching up on your postdoc news with @annechevallereau.bsky.social and cheering you on later at Bath Abbey.
Great to see this work from @deepaagashe.bsky.social and team out. Make sure you give it a read.
Mutations generate variation, critical for #evolution, but #MutationBias restricts the choice of mutation type. @deepaagashe.bsky.social &co use #Ecoli strains with different mutation biases to show that changing an old bias should yield more beneficial mutations @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/46LjCRt
July 16, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Great to see this work from @deepaagashe.bsky.social and team out. Make sure you give it a read.
40 today! It's been a helluva decade & I feel privileged to have been along for the ride. I got the best gift a girl could ask for - exciting data & excellent plots. I marked the occasion by walking 100km in 23.5h with a dear friend. We chatted, laughed and cried and it was wonderful (and painful).
July 4, 2025 at 9:03 PM
40 today! It's been a helluva decade & I feel privileged to have been along for the ride. I got the best gift a girl could ask for - exciting data & excellent plots. I marked the occasion by walking 100km in 23.5h with a dear friend. We chatted, laughed and cried and it was wonderful (and painful).
Very proud to have won the Faculty of Science Excellence in Doctoral Supervision Prize. Biggest thanks goes to my nominator @francescodb.bsky.social and the awesome letters of support from current and past group members that brought a tear to my eye. It's shared with every member Taylor lab member.
June 25, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Very proud to have won the Faculty of Science Excellence in Doctoral Supervision Prize. Biggest thanks goes to my nominator @francescodb.bsky.social and the awesome letters of support from current and past group members that brought a tear to my eye. It's shared with every member Taylor lab member.
Reposted by Tiffany Taylor
Great to be in Manchester for the annual @multidefence.bsky.social meeting, with Luna and Simon!
June 12, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Great to be in Manchester for the annual @multidefence.bsky.social meeting, with Luna and Simon!
Reposted by Tiffany Taylor
Defence Systems are so hot right now 🔥 🔥 🔥 so check out our latest preprint to see how DSes contribute to niche adaptation, interact with each other, and drive accessory genome interactions in Pseudomonas aeruginosa 1/n
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Defence systems drive accessory genome interactions in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
As well as undergoing mutational selection, bacterial genomes are shaped by a complex evolutionary interplay among diverse accessory genome elements (AGEs). In this study we define AGEs as encompassin...
www.biorxiv.org
May 23, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Defence Systems are so hot right now 🔥 🔥 🔥 so check out our latest preprint to see how DSes contribute to niche adaptation, interact with each other, and drive accessory genome interactions in Pseudomonas aeruginosa 1/n
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Tiffany Taylor
We are recruiting a tenure-track assistant professor in molecular microbiology in our department in Lausanne! Do consider appyling!!
Come join us in beautiful Lausanne! Deadline for applications: August 10th, 2025
wwwfbm.unil.ch/releve/appli...
wwwfbm.unil.ch/releve/appli...
June 12, 2025 at 12:45 PM
We are recruiting a tenure-track assistant professor in molecular microbiology in our department in Lausanne! Do consider appyling!!
Reposted by Tiffany Taylor
It's Evolution Fact Friday! Did you know that you can see evolution happening in real time? Our @bethmorillo-hall.bsky.social & @taylorlabgroup.bsky.social have developed #Evoscope, an education package for teachers to bring the process of evolution to life in real time!
www.tes.com/magazine/tea...
www.tes.com/magazine/tea...
How to bring experimental evolution to the classroom
Pupils of all ages can benefit from witnessing evolution in real time - and it’s now possible in schools, say this researcher from the University of Bath
www.tes.com
June 6, 2025 at 12:40 PM
It's Evolution Fact Friday! Did you know that you can see evolution happening in real time? Our @bethmorillo-hall.bsky.social & @taylorlabgroup.bsky.social have developed #Evoscope, an education package for teachers to bring the process of evolution to life in real time!
www.tes.com/magazine/tea...
www.tes.com/magazine/tea...
Reposted by Tiffany Taylor
Its here! Finally published. www.tes.com/magazine/tea...
How to bring experimental evolution to the classroom
Pupils of all ages can benefit from witnessing evolution in real time - and it’s now possible in schools, say this researcher from the University of Bath
www.tes.com
May 31, 2025 at 5:04 AM
Its here! Finally published. www.tes.com/magazine/tea...
🧬 Struggling to teach evolution in a way that sparks curiosity and sticks? My brilliant PhD student @bethmorillo-hall.bsky.social shares practical, powerful tips in this new tes article👇
🔗 www.tes.com/magazine/tea...
#SciComm #EvolutionEducation #PhDVoices
🔗 www.tes.com/magazine/tea...
#SciComm #EvolutionEducation #PhDVoices
How to bring experimental evolution to the classroom
Pupils of all ages can benefit from witnessing evolution in real time - and it’s now possible in schools, say this researcher from the University of Bath
www.tes.com
May 31, 2025 at 7:54 AM
🧬 Struggling to teach evolution in a way that sparks curiosity and sticks? My brilliant PhD student @bethmorillo-hall.bsky.social shares practical, powerful tips in this new tes article👇
🔗 www.tes.com/magazine/tea...
#SciComm #EvolutionEducation #PhDVoices
🔗 www.tes.com/magazine/tea...
#SciComm #EvolutionEducation #PhDVoices
Reposted by Tiffany Taylor
The most important things to consider with biotech companies are 1. Do they have stickers? and 2. Are the stickers laptop-worthy?
Luckily I'm here to help, and have collaborated with Forge Genetics to ensure your laptops are receiving the best stickers possible
Luckily I'm here to help, and have collaborated with Forge Genetics to ensure your laptops are receiving the best stickers possible
May 29, 2025 at 6:19 PM
The most important things to consider with biotech companies are 1. Do they have stickers? and 2. Are the stickers laptop-worthy?
Luckily I'm here to help, and have collaborated with Forge Genetics to ensure your laptops are receiving the best stickers possible
Luckily I'm here to help, and have collaborated with Forge Genetics to ensure your laptops are receiving the best stickers possible