William C. Beckerson, Ph.D.
@williamycete.bsky.social
🎓Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Fellow at WUR 🇳🇱 |🍎Teacher, 🔬Scientist, 🎙️Sci-com! |🧟♂️🪲Zombie Beetles and 🧬Discipline-Based Education Research (He/Him)
www.ZomBeetles.com
Send inquiries to: william.beckerson@wur.nl
www.ZomBeetles.com
Send inquiries to: william.beckerson@wur.nl
Pinned
🧟🐜 Zombie Ant Research🚨
I can finally share my flagship research project characterizing the first ever Ophiocordyceps behavioral effector as an open access preprint!
This international, interdisciplinary research approach involved many amazing collaborations! 🧪
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
I can finally share my flagship research project characterizing the first ever Ophiocordyceps behavioral effector as an open access preprint!
This international, interdisciplinary research approach involved many amazing collaborations! 🧪
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by William C. Beckerson, Ph.D.
BindCraft: an AlphaFold2-powered de novo protein binder design tool 🧬✨
Tested in some bacterial systems too! Designs so far are short peptides or mini-domains. Looking forward to long/full protein design ahead! 🧪 #microsky
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Tested in some bacterial systems too! Designs so far are short peptides or mini-domains. Looking forward to long/full protein design ahead! 🧪 #microsky
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
One-shot design of functional protein binders with BindCraft - Nature
BindCraft, an open-source, automated pipeline for de novo protein binder design with experimental success rates of 10–100%, leverages AlphaFold2 weights to generate binders with nanomolar affinity without the need for high-throughput screening.
www.nature.com
October 5, 2025 at 12:07 PM
BindCraft: an AlphaFold2-powered de novo protein binder design tool 🧬✨
Tested in some bacterial systems too! Designs so far are short peptides or mini-domains. Looking forward to long/full protein design ahead! 🧪 #microsky
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Tested in some bacterial systems too! Designs so far are short peptides or mini-domains. Looking forward to long/full protein design ahead! 🧪 #microsky
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🧟🐜 Zombie Ant Research🚨
I can finally share my flagship research project characterizing the first ever Ophiocordyceps behavioral effector as an open access preprint!
This international, interdisciplinary research approach involved many amazing collaborations! 🧪
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
I can finally share my flagship research project characterizing the first ever Ophiocordyceps behavioral effector as an open access preprint!
This international, interdisciplinary research approach involved many amazing collaborations! 🧪
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
September 20, 2025 at 1:52 PM
🧟🐜 Zombie Ant Research🚨
I can finally share my flagship research project characterizing the first ever Ophiocordyceps behavioral effector as an open access preprint!
This international, interdisciplinary research approach involved many amazing collaborations! 🧪
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
I can finally share my flagship research project characterizing the first ever Ophiocordyceps behavioral effector as an open access preprint!
This international, interdisciplinary research approach involved many amazing collaborations! 🧪
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
I am always excited to share about zombie fungi! 🧟♂️ 🍄🟫 Thanks to Natasha Dangoor for allowing me to contribute through an interview to her new piece in The Wall Street Journal about zombie spiders found in the UK! 🇬🇧 🧟🕷️. Link to the full article and audio translations in the comments 🧪
September 2, 2025 at 2:53 PM
I am always excited to share about zombie fungi! 🧟♂️ 🍄🟫 Thanks to Natasha Dangoor for allowing me to contribute through an interview to her new piece in The Wall Street Journal about zombie spiders found in the UK! 🇬🇧 🧟🕷️. Link to the full article and audio translations in the comments 🧪
How about some spooky science! 🧟♂️ In this dispatch, I discuss the current state of molecular genetics work used to explore behavior-manipulating fungi and highlight new research by Zhao et al. describing a novel behavioral effector used by Cordyceps militaris in silkworms! 🧪
Link in the comments!
Link in the comments!
August 4, 2025 at 4:43 PM
How about some spooky science! 🧟♂️ In this dispatch, I discuss the current state of molecular genetics work used to explore behavior-manipulating fungi and highlight new research by Zhao et al. describing a novel behavioral effector used by Cordyceps militaris in silkworms! 🧪
Link in the comments!
Link in the comments!
Very excited to announce that our new version of Zombie Ants VR is releasing soon for free on Steam! I’m also thrilled to share that our month-long test run in collaboration with University Museum Utrecht showed that it teaches players about evolution!🧪
store.steampowered.com/app/3765230/...
store.steampowered.com/app/3765230/...
Zombie Ants VR: Definitive Edition on Steam
Zombie Ants VR is a short educational experience that takes the player through the life cycle of Ophiocordyceps, a fungus that manipulates the behavior of insects in order to increase the spread of it...
store.steampowered.com
July 7, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Very excited to announce that our new version of Zombie Ants VR is releasing soon for free on Steam! I’m also thrilled to share that our month-long test run in collaboration with University Museum Utrecht showed that it teaches players about evolution!🧪
store.steampowered.com/app/3765230/...
store.steampowered.com/app/3765230/...
How cool! 🧟♂️🐜 Very interesting that it was found infecting an ant pupae, we normally only see adults infected. What mysterious evolutionary history! 👀 www.sciencenews.org/article/zomb... 🧪
Zombifying fungi have been infecting insects for 99 million years
Two bits of amber discovered in a lab basement hold ancient evidence of a fungi famous for controlling the minds of its victims.
www.sciencenews.org
June 25, 2025 at 7:51 AM
How cool! 🧟♂️🐜 Very interesting that it was found infecting an ant pupae, we normally only see adults infected. What mysterious evolutionary history! 👀 www.sciencenews.org/article/zomb... 🧪
Reposted by William C. Beckerson, Ph.D.
🏳️🌈 A queer post a day for #PrideMonth2025
6/20: Florence Nightingale brought data and statistics to nursing. She also said “I have slept in the same beds with English Countesses and Prussian farm women. No woman has excited passions among women more than I.”
1/
sangerinstitute.blog/2022/06/29/l...
6/20: Florence Nightingale brought data and statistics to nursing. She also said “I have slept in the same beds with English Countesses and Prussian farm women. No woman has excited passions among women more than I.”
1/
sangerinstitute.blog/2022/06/29/l...
LGBTQ+ scientists who shaped history - Wellcome Sanger Institute Blog
Science thrives on diversity. Diversity of opinions, upbringing, experiences, and lifestyles, brings about innovation. It is imperative that everyone feels safe and comfortable to be their true selves...
sangerinstitute.blog
June 21, 2025 at 2:49 PM
🏳️🌈 A queer post a day for #PrideMonth2025
6/20: Florence Nightingale brought data and statistics to nursing. She also said “I have slept in the same beds with English Countesses and Prussian farm women. No woman has excited passions among women more than I.”
1/
sangerinstitute.blog/2022/06/29/l...
6/20: Florence Nightingale brought data and statistics to nursing. She also said “I have slept in the same beds with English Countesses and Prussian farm women. No woman has excited passions among women more than I.”
1/
sangerinstitute.blog/2022/06/29/l...
Reposted by William C. Beckerson, Ph.D.
I know what you're thinking; how can we sustainably manage the banana weevil problem?
Boy do I have good news for you. My piece for @cenmag.bsky.social 🧪
Boy do I have good news for you. My piece for @cenmag.bsky.social 🧪
Field trial success for fighting banana weevils with fungal compounds
Researchers say one particular fungus-derived compound could help farmers avoid banana drama
cen.acs.org
June 17, 2025 at 5:04 PM
I know what you're thinking; how can we sustainably manage the banana weevil problem?
Boy do I have good news for you. My piece for @cenmag.bsky.social 🧪
Boy do I have good news for you. My piece for @cenmag.bsky.social 🧪
Reposted by William C. Beckerson, Ph.D.
#ZebrafishZunday: Simultaneous tracking of 100 zebrafish larvae using open-source software. Credit to FastTrack (www.fasttrack.sh). 🧪
June 15, 2025 at 8:10 AM
#ZebrafishZunday: Simultaneous tracking of 100 zebrafish larvae using open-source software. Credit to FastTrack (www.fasttrack.sh). 🧪
So excited to be partnering with University Museum Utrecht to debut our updated VR game about zombie ants! It’s an educational game that teaches about evolution, and will be free to download from both SteamVR and the Meta Horizon Store later this month. Just search “Zombie Ants VR” to find it! 🧪
June 14, 2025 at 9:20 AM
So excited to be partnering with University Museum Utrecht to debut our updated VR game about zombie ants! It’s an educational game that teaches about evolution, and will be free to download from both SteamVR and the Meta Horizon Store later this month. Just search “Zombie Ants VR” to find it! 🧪
Reposted by William C. Beckerson, Ph.D.
#NextGenSci asked young scientists to write a rule that all principal investigators should be required to follow to improve the experience of young scientists in their lab.
Check out their answers on #NationalHigherEducationDay: scim.ag/45zsFEr
Check out their answers on #NationalHigherEducationDay: scim.ag/45zsFEr
June 6, 2025 at 6:56 PM
#NextGenSci asked young scientists to write a rule that all principal investigators should be required to follow to improve the experience of young scientists in their lab.
Check out their answers on #NationalHigherEducationDay: scim.ag/45zsFEr
Check out their answers on #NationalHigherEducationDay: scim.ag/45zsFEr
Reposted by William C. Beckerson, Ph.D.
Hello ecologists and evolutionary biologists! I work with scientists to transform discoveries into beautiful, accurate, publication-ready figures. Get in touch if you want custom illustrations for your next paper.
Check out www.lifesciencestudios.com to explore services and get started!
#🐡 #🧪
Check out www.lifesciencestudios.com to explore services and get started!
#🐡 #🧪
June 3, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Hello ecologists and evolutionary biologists! I work with scientists to transform discoveries into beautiful, accurate, publication-ready figures. Get in touch if you want custom illustrations for your next paper.
Check out www.lifesciencestudios.com to explore services and get started!
#🐡 #🧪
Check out www.lifesciencestudios.com to explore services and get started!
#🐡 #🧪
The first night of Pint of Science if off to a fantastic start with a packed bar here in Utrecht! 🧪 🤩 @pintofsciencenl.bsky.social
May 19, 2025 at 5:39 PM
The first night of Pint of Science if off to a fantastic start with a packed bar here in Utrecht! 🧪 🤩 @pintofsciencenl.bsky.social
Reposted by William C. Beckerson, Ph.D.
Wonderfully good video about the beauty of science and humanitarian motivation working together to defeat diseases and save people. youtube.com/watch?v=ybVZ... 🧪 #NIH #CDC #WHO #BMGF #NIAID
Defeating a Virus That Killed Half a Billion People – The Plea
YouTube video by Neil Halloran
youtube.com
May 17, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Pint of Science 2025 kicks off on Monday! This annual science festival brings scientists to local pubs to share their work with the community. It’s a powerful engagement initiative in 27 countries worldwide that fosters dialogue between scientists and the public! 🧪
pintofscience.nl/locations/
pintofscience.nl/locations/
Pint of Science Locations
Pint of Science is the largest global science festival taking place in many countries simultaneously
pintofscience.nl
May 15, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Pint of Science 2025 kicks off on Monday! This annual science festival brings scientists to local pubs to share their work with the community. It’s a powerful engagement initiative in 27 countries worldwide that fosters dialogue between scientists and the public! 🧪
pintofscience.nl/locations/
pintofscience.nl/locations/
I am very excited to host one of this year’s Pint of Science events in Utrecht, NL! Join us at Body Talk, May 21st, to hear about topics like gender neutral/non-binary language, fungal materials, and AI! Tickets and more information can be found here: pintofscience.nl/event/the-sp...
May 14, 2025 at 7:42 AM
I am very excited to host one of this year’s Pint of Science events in Utrecht, NL! Join us at Body Talk, May 21st, to hear about topics like gender neutral/non-binary language, fungal materials, and AI! Tickets and more information can be found here: pintofscience.nl/event/the-sp...
Reposted by William C. Beckerson, Ph.D.
Useful guidance in paper images: “The do’s and don’ts of scientific image editing." 🧪🔬💡🔌🌌
idp.nature.com/authorize?re...
idp.nature.com/authorize?re...
The do’s and don’ts of scientific image editing
Acceptable image-editing practices are partly a matter of common sense. But researchers say journals and funders could help scientists by standardizing policies.
idp.nature.com
May 6, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Useful guidance in paper images: “The do’s and don’ts of scientific image editing." 🧪🔬💡🔌🌌
idp.nature.com/authorize?re...
idp.nature.com/authorize?re...
Very excited about this years @pintofsciencenl.bsky.social event in the Netherlands 🇳🇱!
April 25, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Very excited about this years @pintofsciencenl.bsky.social event in the Netherlands 🇳🇱!
Reposted by William C. Beckerson, Ph.D.
Nature Careers spoke to scientists about their tattoos, which include scientific images to mark career accomplishments and illustrate research passions. #Academicsky 🧪
Science on our sleeves: the research that inspires our tattoos
Inked scientists choose scientific images to mark career accomplishments and illustrate their research passion.
go.nature.com
April 20, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Nature Careers spoke to scientists about their tattoos, which include scientific images to mark career accomplishments and illustrate research passions. #Academicsky 🧪
Reposted by William C. Beckerson, Ph.D.
Who’s excited for season 2 of #TheLastofUs? 🙋♀️ @williamycete.bsky.social & other researchers have been studying the fungus that helped inspire the show (don’t worry, it only zombifies insects in real life!). Learn how it makes ants walk like zombies: www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/whi...
April 5, 2025 at 2:54 AM
Who’s excited for season 2 of #TheLastofUs? 🙋♀️ @williamycete.bsky.social & other researchers have been studying the fungus that helped inspire the show (don’t worry, it only zombifies insects in real life!). Learn how it makes ants walk like zombies: www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/whi...
Reposted by William C. Beckerson, Ph.D.
It might be April Fools' Day, but we're more interested in zombies this month. In the new installment of our newsletter, you'll find a new adapted article about zombie ants along with other resources: open.substack.com/pub/sciencej.... Subscribe to receive the next one right in your inbox!
Ready for more zombies - with free science teaching resources?
Monthly roundup from Science Journal for Kids and Teens
open.substack.com
April 1, 2025 at 7:51 PM
It might be April Fools' Day, but we're more interested in zombies this month. In the new installment of our newsletter, you'll find a new adapted article about zombie ants along with other resources: open.substack.com/pub/sciencej.... Subscribe to receive the next one right in your inbox!
@sj4k.bsky.social is back with another fantastic adaptation of our work with zombie ants 🧟🐜! always an amazing experience working with their crew ❤️! Making science easy to understand, what an important goal! 🌍
You can check out the full version here: www.sciencejournalforkids.org/wp-content/u...
You can check out the full version here: www.sciencejournalforkids.org/wp-content/u...
March 28, 2025 at 5:29 PM
@sj4k.bsky.social is back with another fantastic adaptation of our work with zombie ants 🧟🐜! always an amazing experience working with their crew ❤️! Making science easy to understand, what an important goal! 🌍
You can check out the full version here: www.sciencejournalforkids.org/wp-content/u...
You can check out the full version here: www.sciencejournalforkids.org/wp-content/u...
I’m kicking off the new year with some great teaching news 🍎! My peer-reviewed lesson plan for how to use replica plating techniques to teach students about the evolution of antibiotic resistance has been published in CourseSource 🧫! You can find it open source here:
qubeshub.org/community/gr...
qubeshub.org/community/gr...
January 1, 2025 at 12:31 PM
I’m kicking off the new year with some great teaching news 🍎! My peer-reviewed lesson plan for how to use replica plating techniques to teach students about the evolution of antibiotic resistance has been published in CourseSource 🧫! You can find it open source here:
qubeshub.org/community/gr...
qubeshub.org/community/gr...
Reposted by William C. Beckerson, Ph.D.
New Zealand now going the way of many other countries. The idea that “we must endeavour to invest our money in areas that we believe have the best chance of showing a return on investment” is so small minded and foolish.
#Science 🧪 #Research #ResearchFunding
theconversation.com/funding-rese...
#Science 🧪 #Research #ResearchFunding
theconversation.com/funding-rese...
Funding research for economic return sounds good – but that’s not how science really works
The Marsden Fund was set up to support pure research. Diverting half of it to fund applied research undermines New Zealand’s potential to generate ideas that underpin commercial success.
theconversation.com
December 8, 2024 at 12:51 PM
New Zealand now going the way of many other countries. The idea that “we must endeavour to invest our money in areas that we believe have the best chance of showing a return on investment” is so small minded and foolish.
#Science 🧪 #Research #ResearchFunding
theconversation.com/funding-rese...
#Science 🧪 #Research #ResearchFunding
theconversation.com/funding-rese...
I love to collaborate with the Science Journal for Kids to make science more accessible for everyone! 🧑🧑🧒🧒 Here is an adaptation about the many different ways that zombie fungi are able to manipulate animal behavior! 🧠 You can read the full article here: www.sciencejournalforkids.org/wp-content/u...
December 3, 2024 at 12:48 PM
I love to collaborate with the Science Journal for Kids to make science more accessible for everyone! 🧑🧑🧒🧒 Here is an adaptation about the many different ways that zombie fungi are able to manipulate animal behavior! 🧠 You can read the full article here: www.sciencejournalforkids.org/wp-content/u...