Fiona J Whelan
@whelanfj.bsky.social
Senior Lecturer, Lister Prize Fellow, & UKRI Future Leaders Fellow at U of Manchester. Bioinf, microbes, evol bio, running, cycling, & pub chats. she/her 🇨🇦.
Currently hiding from a thunderstorm in a cozy Oxford pub, reading a stellar student report, while on my way to the annual Lister Fellows meeting…. feeling very privileged to have this job!
@thelisterinstitute.bsky.social
@thelisterinstitute.bsky.social
September 11, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Currently hiding from a thunderstorm in a cozy Oxford pub, reading a stellar student report, while on my way to the annual Lister Fellows meeting…. feeling very privileged to have this job!
@thelisterinstitute.bsky.social
@thelisterinstitute.bsky.social
Absolutely amazing inaugural Professorship lecture from @hepworth-lab.bsky.social today! So well delivered, and so well deserved. 👏
Can’t wait to see what’s next, Matt!
Can’t wait to see what’s next, Matt!
September 10, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Absolutely amazing inaugural Professorship lecture from @hepworth-lab.bsky.social today! So well delivered, and so well deserved. 👏
Can’t wait to see what’s next, Matt!
Can’t wait to see what’s next, Matt!
Great talk on sorting signal from noise in microbial engraftment in FMT from @sharok.bsky.social !!Representing the Surette lab & @mcmasteriidr.bsky.social #CSM2025
June 20, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Great talk on sorting signal from noise in microbial engraftment in FMT from @sharok.bsky.social !!Representing the Surette lab & @mcmasteriidr.bsky.social #CSM2025
It was a privilege to be able to attend my first FLF annual conf. Really inspiring sessions on everything from inclusive leadership to the future impacts of AI. Long & frequent networking sessions made for a lot of new connections & chance to catch up with old friends. Feeling privileged! @ukri.org
June 12, 2025 at 9:04 AM
It was a privilege to be able to attend my first FLF annual conf. Really inspiring sessions on everything from inclusive leadership to the future impacts of AI. Long & frequent networking sessions made for a lot of new connections & chance to catch up with old friends. Feeling privileged! @ukri.org
Current status of #canadaelections with Liberals 4 (predicted) seats away from a majority.
Your. vote. matters.
source: newsinteractives.cbc.ca/elections/fe... @cbcnews-rss.bsky.social
Your. vote. matters.
source: newsinteractives.cbc.ca/elections/fe... @cbcnews-rss.bsky.social
April 29, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Current status of #canadaelections with Liberals 4 (predicted) seats away from a majority.
Your. vote. matters.
source: newsinteractives.cbc.ca/elections/fe... @cbcnews-rss.bsky.social
Your. vote. matters.
source: newsinteractives.cbc.ca/elections/fe... @cbcnews-rss.bsky.social
More amazing science from @mermanchester.bsky.social at #microbio25 today beginning with @normanvanrhijn.bsky.social ‘s talk this morning and Deepanshi’s poster over lunch!
April 2, 2025 at 9:06 AM
More amazing science from @mermanchester.bsky.social at #microbio25 today beginning with @normanvanrhijn.bsky.social ‘s talk this morning and Deepanshi’s poster over lunch!
In addition to @brockhurstlab.bsky.social @matthewjshepherd.bsky.social 's upcoming talks in the AMR session today, we have many @mermanchester.bsky.social posters on display! Come learn from our talented scientists about evolution, AMR, and microbiomes #microbio25
April 1, 2025 at 10:19 AM
In addition to @brockhurstlab.bsky.social @matthewjshepherd.bsky.social 's upcoming talks in the AMR session today, we have many @mermanchester.bsky.social posters on display! Come learn from our talented scientists about evolution, AMR, and microbiomes #microbio25
PhD student in the Whelan lab & @mermanchester.bsky.social all ready for a sunny poster session! Come chat to @fgyapong.bsky.social at A257 about the stickleback microbiome #microbio25 #proudpi
April 1, 2025 at 8:03 AM
PhD student in the Whelan lab & @mermanchester.bsky.social all ready for a sunny poster session! Come chat to @fgyapong.bsky.social at A257 about the stickleback microbiome #microbio25 #proudpi
🧪🎅 12 Days of Tools for Science Management 🦠🎄
Day twelve: clockify.me /time keeping
When I'm not making the progress I would like to be making I keep track of how much time I am spending on activities (e.g. admin, career dev, research, service). The results (often 👁️💦) help me prioritize my efforts.
Day twelve: clockify.me /time keeping
When I'm not making the progress I would like to be making I keep track of how much time I am spending on activities (e.g. admin, career dev, research, service). The results (often 👁️💦) help me prioritize my efforts.
December 23, 2024 at 12:04 AM
🧪🎅 12 Days of Tools for Science Management 🦠🎄
Day twelve: clockify.me /time keeping
When I'm not making the progress I would like to be making I keep track of how much time I am spending on activities (e.g. admin, career dev, research, service). The results (often 👁️💦) help me prioritize my efforts.
Day twelve: clockify.me /time keeping
When I'm not making the progress I would like to be making I keep track of how much time I am spending on activities (e.g. admin, career dev, research, service). The results (often 👁️💦) help me prioritize my efforts.
🧪🎅 12 Days of Tools for Science Management 🦠🎄
Day eleven: Plotting timelines in R w ggplot2
I keep R markdown records of grants (submitted, rejected/accepted), manuscripts, lab members, & teaching that are visualized with ggplot2. This helps me see the big picture & plan future responsibilities.
Day eleven: Plotting timelines in R w ggplot2
I keep R markdown records of grants (submitted, rejected/accepted), manuscripts, lab members, & teaching that are visualized with ggplot2. This helps me see the big picture & plan future responsibilities.
December 22, 2024 at 9:27 AM
🧪🎅 12 Days of Tools for Science Management 🦠🎄
Day eleven: Plotting timelines in R w ggplot2
I keep R markdown records of grants (submitted, rejected/accepted), manuscripts, lab members, & teaching that are visualized with ggplot2. This helps me see the big picture & plan future responsibilities.
Day eleven: Plotting timelines in R w ggplot2
I keep R markdown records of grants (submitted, rejected/accepted), manuscripts, lab members, & teaching that are visualized with ggplot2. This helps me see the big picture & plan future responsibilities.
🧪🎅 12 Days of Tools for Science Management 🦠🎄
Day ten: notability.com (or similar)
In conferences, seminars, & meetings I use an app that will allow me to make notes across multiple devices (in text or w an Apple Pencil) all stored in the same location (& organized into folders for faster recall).
Day ten: notability.com (or similar)
In conferences, seminars, & meetings I use an app that will allow me to make notes across multiple devices (in text or w an Apple Pencil) all stored in the same location (& organized into folders for faster recall).
December 20, 2024 at 4:22 PM
🧪🎅 12 Days of Tools for Science Management 🦠🎄
Day ten: notability.com (or similar)
In conferences, seminars, & meetings I use an app that will allow me to make notes across multiple devices (in text or w an Apple Pencil) all stored in the same location (& organized into folders for faster recall).
Day ten: notability.com (or similar)
In conferences, seminars, & meetings I use an app that will allow me to make notes across multiple devices (in text or w an Apple Pencil) all stored in the same location (& organized into folders for faster recall).
🧪🎅 12 Days of Tools for Science Management 🦠🎄
Day nine: Slack (or similar)
From communication within my research group to collaborating with scientists worldwide, its biggest advantage is (probably) that it isn't email. Slack notifications = cool new research results!
Day nine: Slack (or similar)
From communication within my research group to collaborating with scientists worldwide, its biggest advantage is (probably) that it isn't email. Slack notifications = cool new research results!
December 19, 2024 at 3:39 PM
🧪🎅 12 Days of Tools for Science Management 🦠🎄
Day nine: Slack (or similar)
From communication within my research group to collaborating with scientists worldwide, its biggest advantage is (probably) that it isn't email. Slack notifications = cool new research results!
Day nine: Slack (or similar)
From communication within my research group to collaborating with scientists worldwide, its biggest advantage is (probably) that it isn't email. Slack notifications = cool new research results!
🧪🎅 12 Days of Tools for Science Management 🦠🎄
Day eight: Agenda book w weekly/monthly goals.
I keep a to do list that I organize into weekly/monthly goals, & use a timeline to keep track of project progress/hold ups. I prefer pen & paper but there are many digital versions (Trello, Notion) too.
Day eight: Agenda book w weekly/monthly goals.
I keep a to do list that I organize into weekly/monthly goals, & use a timeline to keep track of project progress/hold ups. I prefer pen & paper but there are many digital versions (Trello, Notion) too.
December 18, 2024 at 12:12 PM
🧪🎅 12 Days of Tools for Science Management 🦠🎄
Day eight: Agenda book w weekly/monthly goals.
I keep a to do list that I organize into weekly/monthly goals, & use a timeline to keep track of project progress/hold ups. I prefer pen & paper but there are many digital versions (Trello, Notion) too.
Day eight: Agenda book w weekly/monthly goals.
I keep a to do list that I organize into weekly/monthly goals, & use a timeline to keep track of project progress/hold ups. I prefer pen & paper but there are many digital versions (Trello, Notion) too.
🧪🎅 12 Days of Tools for Science Management 🦠🎄
Day seven: Instapaper
Many of us work from >1 location/device; I use Instapaper to make articles (e.g. a Nature News & Views) that I would like to read easily accessible across devices, including offline (handy for 🚂/✈️).
www.instapaper.com/u
Day seven: Instapaper
Many of us work from >1 location/device; I use Instapaper to make articles (e.g. a Nature News & Views) that I would like to read easily accessible across devices, including offline (handy for 🚂/✈️).
www.instapaper.com/u
December 17, 2024 at 5:24 PM
🧪🎅 12 Days of Tools for Science Management 🦠🎄
Day seven: Instapaper
Many of us work from >1 location/device; I use Instapaper to make articles (e.g. a Nature News & Views) that I would like to read easily accessible across devices, including offline (handy for 🚂/✈️).
www.instapaper.com/u
Day seven: Instapaper
Many of us work from >1 location/device; I use Instapaper to make articles (e.g. a Nature News & Views) that I would like to read easily accessible across devices, including offline (handy for 🚂/✈️).
www.instapaper.com/u
For example, this is a screenshot of the most recent TOC email I received from Nature. Easy to browse through the titles and click in (or save to something like Instapaper/Pocket/Read Later) to articles of interest.
December 16, 2024 at 3:59 PM
For example, this is a screenshot of the most recent TOC email I received from Nature. Easy to browse through the titles and click in (or save to something like Instapaper/Pocket/Read Later) to articles of interest.
🧪🎅 12 Days of Tools for Science Management 🦠🎄
Day five: Pomodoro tracking
Writing doesn't come naturally to me so I need every trick I can find. Pizza slicing* (i.e. breaking down tasks into small chunks) is one way I can convince myself to get words to paper.
Day five: Pomodoro tracking
Writing doesn't come naturally to me so I need every trick I can find. Pizza slicing* (i.e. breaking down tasks into small chunks) is one way I can convince myself to get words to paper.
December 15, 2024 at 7:41 PM
🧪🎅 12 Days of Tools for Science Management 🦠🎄
Day five: Pomodoro tracking
Writing doesn't come naturally to me so I need every trick I can find. Pizza slicing* (i.e. breaking down tasks into small chunks) is one way I can convince myself to get words to paper.
Day five: Pomodoro tracking
Writing doesn't come naturally to me so I need every trick I can find. Pizza slicing* (i.e. breaking down tasks into small chunks) is one way I can convince myself to get words to paper.
🧪🎅 12 Days of Tools for Science Management 🦠🎄
Day four: Overleaf
Speaking of word processors, I love Overleaf. Writing in LaTeX isn't everyone's cup of tea but I find it advantageous for manuscript writing: easy to integrate Figures & can keep "to dos"/ideas as comments not visible in the PDF.
Day four: Overleaf
Speaking of word processors, I love Overleaf. Writing in LaTeX isn't everyone's cup of tea but I find it advantageous for manuscript writing: easy to integrate Figures & can keep "to dos"/ideas as comments not visible in the PDF.
December 14, 2024 at 4:29 PM
🧪🎅 12 Days of Tools for Science Management 🦠🎄
Day four: Overleaf
Speaking of word processors, I love Overleaf. Writing in LaTeX isn't everyone's cup of tea but I find it advantageous for manuscript writing: easy to integrate Figures & can keep "to dos"/ideas as comments not visible in the PDF.
Day four: Overleaf
Speaking of word processors, I love Overleaf. Writing in LaTeX isn't everyone's cup of tea but I find it advantageous for manuscript writing: easy to integrate Figures & can keep "to dos"/ideas as comments not visible in the PDF.
🧪🎅 12 Days of Tools for Science Management 🦠🎄
Day two: pubcrawler.gen.tcd.ie
Written by the amazing Karsten Hokamp, Pubcrawler is a customizable alert system for newly-published manuscripts that gives you power over type and frequency of alert. Many other tools exist, but none with as much neon!
Day two: pubcrawler.gen.tcd.ie
Written by the amazing Karsten Hokamp, Pubcrawler is a customizable alert system for newly-published manuscripts that gives you power over type and frequency of alert. Many other tools exist, but none with as much neon!
December 12, 2024 at 4:36 PM
🧪🎅 12 Days of Tools for Science Management 🦠🎄
Day two: pubcrawler.gen.tcd.ie
Written by the amazing Karsten Hokamp, Pubcrawler is a customizable alert system for newly-published manuscripts that gives you power over type and frequency of alert. Many other tools exist, but none with as much neon!
Day two: pubcrawler.gen.tcd.ie
Written by the amazing Karsten Hokamp, Pubcrawler is a customizable alert system for newly-published manuscripts that gives you power over type and frequency of alert. Many other tools exist, but none with as much neon!
🧪🎅 12 Days of Tools for Science Management 🦠🎄
Day one: www.stackmethod.com
I heard about this method from @teralevin.bsky.social & it has totally changed how I deal with my inbox. The categories help me keep on top of "to dos" & organize tasks (e.g. I handle reply & review folders on my commute).
Day one: www.stackmethod.com
I heard about this method from @teralevin.bsky.social & it has totally changed how I deal with my inbox. The categories help me keep on top of "to dos" & organize tasks (e.g. I handle reply & review folders on my commute).
December 11, 2024 at 2:24 PM
🧪🎅 12 Days of Tools for Science Management 🦠🎄
Day one: www.stackmethod.com
I heard about this method from @teralevin.bsky.social & it has totally changed how I deal with my inbox. The categories help me keep on top of "to dos" & organize tasks (e.g. I handle reply & review folders on my commute).
Day one: www.stackmethod.com
I heard about this method from @teralevin.bsky.social & it has totally changed how I deal with my inbox. The categories help me keep on top of "to dos" & organize tasks (e.g. I handle reply & review folders on my commute).
Back at it today after spending two weeks with my parents who were visiting from Canada. Putting them back on the plane this morning just in time to head to Cardiff for the UKRI FLF Round 8 Starting Meeting! Looking forward to meeting this new cohort.. and trying to remember how to science! 🧫 🧪🇨🇦🇮🇪
October 2, 2024 at 6:30 AM
Back at it today after spending two weeks with my parents who were visiting from Canada. Putting them back on the plane this morning just in time to head to Cardiff for the UKRI FLF Round 8 Starting Meeting! Looking forward to meeting this new cohort.. and trying to remember how to science! 🧫 🧪🇨🇦🇮🇪
How are my runners more pink than yours??
August 29, 2024 at 7:47 PM
How are my runners more pink than yours??
Relabelling 100s of files 👎. Getting a chance to be inspired by world-leading athletes 👍.
August 8, 2024 at 7:18 PM
Relabelling 100s of files 👎. Getting a chance to be inspired by world-leading athletes 👍.
We’ve voted. Have you?
July 4, 2024 at 6:53 AM
We’ve voted. Have you?
What. A. Day. @ the East Midlands Microbiome Res Network Day! Got to pitch some of my crazy ideas and meet *so* many faces I am used to only seeing online. Thank you so much for the invite @bugsinyourguts.bsky.social , Leah Cuthbertson, @kimhardie.bsky.social et al.
July 3, 2024 at 7:21 PM
What. A. Day. @ the East Midlands Microbiome Res Network Day! Got to pitch some of my crazy ideas and meet *so* many faces I am used to only seeing online. Thank you so much for the invite @bugsinyourguts.bsky.social , Leah Cuthbertson, @kimhardie.bsky.social et al.