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Alexandra Whiteley

@alexwhiteley.bsky.social
655 followers 383 following 51 posts

Assistant professor of Biochemistry @CU Boulder. We study Ubiquilins and how dysregulation of the virus-like protein PEG10 contributes to neurodegenerative disease upon UBQLN2 mutation. I'm lucky to lead a great group of scientists in a beautiful place!

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Alexandra Whiteley @alexwhiteley.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
What a beautiful counterpoint to all the AI nonsense! In an $80 Motel Room, a Discovery to Shed Light on the Origins of Life www.nytimes.com/2026/09/26/s...
nytimes.com
In an $80 Motel Room, a Discovery to Shed Light on the Origins of Life
A scrappy science project led to a significant discovery: two new species of a rare organism that could elucidate a fundamental transition in the history of life on our planet.
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Alexandra Whiteley @alexwhiteley.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
I once asked chat gpt what the Alex Whiteley lab (mine) did, what their next step might be, and while the answer was nice and detailed, it also decided to tell me all about the Aaron Whiteley lab (my husband’s) and how it was distinct, but had some similar themes. 😐
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Aaron Clauset @aaronclauset.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
My employer, Univ. Colorado will pay OpenAI $2M/year under the banner of “equity”. That’s 54 full scholarships / year. Plus, our IT will be able to read our chatGPT logs, and our chats can be requested under public records law. No thanks. Surveillance is not equity www.axios.com/local/boulde...
axios.com
CU signs $2M OpenAI deal for ChatGPT access
Students and faculty will gain access to ChatGPT Edu starting in March under a three-year deal.
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NPR @npr.org · 09/12/2025
Amid NIH funding delays, reversals and uncertainty, a scientist at Harvard who studies breast cancer has lost one-third of her lab employees and wonders if she can continue her research experiments. n.pr/4a4N3zD
n.pr
After NIH grant cuts, breast cancer research at Harvard slowed, and lab workers left
Amid NIH funding delays, reversals and uncertainty, a scientist at Harvard who studies breast cancer has lost one-third of her lab employees and wonders if she can continue her research experiments.
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Rachel O'Dea @rnidhea.bsky.social · 08/12/2025
SAVE THE DATE! The EMBO workshop "Ubiquitin and Ubiquitin-like proteins in Health and Disease" will be on September 2026. Exciting line up of talks and an amazing location! Organised by @kulathu.bsky.social, @merbllab.bsky.social, @simonapolo.bsky.social, Claudio Joazeiro. Registration open soon.
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Alexandra Whiteley @alexwhiteley.bsky.social · 23/10/2025
I'm so excited to see this Perspective with @jasonsynaptic.bsky.social out in Neuron! About 8% of our genome is made up of the remnants of LTR-containing retroelements - here, Jason and I explore the activities of retroTEs in neurological health and disease! authors.elsevier.com/c/1lzTx3BtfH...
authors.elsevier.com
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Daniel Bolnick @danielbolnick.bsky.social · 26/09/2025
The GRFP announcement from NSF cuts out an entire cohort of 2nd year students from consideration, without warning. This is so deeply unfair that it warrants a formal protest from the scientific community. If someone wants to work with me to craft an open letter and solicit signatures, LMK.
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Alexandra Whiteley @alexwhiteley.bsky.social · 31/07/2025
Loving this label at the #ALSGRC ☕️
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Alexandra Whiteley @alexwhiteley.bsky.social · 29/07/2025
#womeninscience
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Alexandra Whiteley @alexwhiteley.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
Where my 9 month peeps at ☀️🚫👩‍🏫 open.spotify.com/track/3riZWJ...
open.spotify.com
The Summer Is Magic - Radio Mix
Playahitty · The Summer Is Magic - Ep · Song · 1994
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Alexandra Whiteley @alexwhiteley.bsky.social · 21/07/2025
This may or may not be me rn #alsgrc
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Alexandra Whiteley @alexwhiteley.bsky.social · 17/07/2025
So excited to head to Mexico in a few months for #erehd25, it’s going to be a blast! Join us!
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Alexandra Whiteley @alexwhiteley.bsky.social · 10/03/2025
Wow, wow, wow! Can’t wait to dive in to this more - amazing work @mollygale.bsky.social and @nygenome.org !! So much to learn from this great work!
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Jason Shepherd @jasonsynaptic.bsky.social · 03/03/2025
Interrupting your doom scrolling for some light hearted fun. Vote for us in the @statnews.com madness competition! Based on our work @cellpress.bsky.social on Paraneoplastic disorders..we are on the RH side of the bracket. www.statnews.com/feature/stat...
statnews.com
2025 STAT Madness
2025 bracket Welcome to STAT Madness, a bracket-style contest to find the best innovation in science and medicine. Explore groundbreaking innovations from
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Alexandra Whiteley @alexwhiteley.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
Oh no Mike! I loved Open Mike 😢
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Alexandra Whiteley @alexwhiteley.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
I'm an American academic who started my lab in 2020, currently with two kids under 6, and I have to say... I love the Lego Movie 2 open.spotify.com/track/2T909y...
open.spotify.com
Everything's Not Awesome
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Alexandra Whiteley @alexwhiteley.bsky.social · 31/12/2024
@adelitadmendoza.bsky.social new lab decor perhaps? I think the fourth floor could use some neon!
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Alexandra Whiteley @alexwhiteley.bsky.social · 27/12/2024
I'm thrilled to have received a CDMRP Therapeutic Idea Award for the development of experimental ALS therapeutics! This will fund two years of work on novel ASOs and small molecule inhibitors of the virus-like protein PEG10. We're excited to get started! cdmrp.health.mil/alsrp/awards...
cdmrp.health.mil
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Alexandra Whiteley @alexwhiteley.bsky.social · 26/12/2024
A very interesting article - the Spring semester begins in a few weeks and I'm looking forward to getting started with a new batch of students. Maybe a brief comment is in order. www.nytimes.com/2024/12/26/o...
nytimes.com
Opinion | No, You Don’t Get an A for Effort
High marks reward excellence, not grit.
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Alexandra Whiteley @alexwhiteley.bsky.social · 07/12/2024
Join my new colleague in Boulder! I can attest to the view and Adelita is a rising star! 💫🏔️🔬
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Alexandra Whiteley @alexwhiteley.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
Feeling great as we get into this holiday season… no Thanksgiving disasters and some great news about a grant! #rested #notreally #bringiton
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Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 22/11/2024
PIONEERS When I assumed the position as Director of NIGMS in 2003, Dr. Zerhouni's project for stimulating activities across NIH, The NIH Roadmap for Medical Research, was under active development. The Roadmap included a range of different funding opportunities. 1/n www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
NIH's Roadmap to the Future
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Alexandra Whiteley @alexwhiteley.bsky.social · 18/11/2024
Publication timelines are such a killer. My lab had our second research paper accepted in September, but are still awaiting final publication. Will it be published in 2024? Only time will tell... #waiting #emailing #waitingmore
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Alexandra Whiteley @alexwhiteley.bsky.social · 11/11/2024
Hi Bluesky! Know anyone interested in a Biochemistry PhD program? The CU Boulder Biochemistry program is a wonderful vibrant training environment in beautiful Boulder Colorado! Our deadline for applications is November 15th, so apply soon! www.colorado.edu/biochemistry...
colorado.edu
Prospective Graduate Students
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Alexandra Whiteley @alexwhiteley.bsky.social · 30/10/2024
It’s so nice to see so much science in my Bluesky feed! So many new papers to look at! 😊
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Alexandra Whiteley @alexwhiteley.bsky.social · 09/10/2024
Please consider donating to this GoFundMe that supports the young family of my late colleague Dr. Jeff Cameron. He unexpectedly passed away in late September and we are all heartbroken. gofund.me/fc744581
gofund.me
Donate to Help Support a More Stable Future for Jeff Cameron's Family, organized by Merritt Turetsky
On September 25, 2024, Jeff Cameron passed away suddenly and … Merritt Turetsky needs your support for Help Support a More Stable Future for Jeff Cameron's Family
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Alexandra Whiteley @alexwhiteley.bsky.social · 28/09/2024
Anyone else from bsky here @ #EMBOubiquitin2024 ?
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Alexandra Whiteley @alexwhiteley.bsky.social · 06/08/2024
Finally getting a chance to breathe and debrief from an awesome few weeks. Last week I got back from the #LiveLikeLou Symposium where I got to share my lab's research on UBQLN2 and PEG10. It was an incredible experience and I hope to go again in 2026!
I presented at the LLL Symposium!
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bioRxivpreprint @biorxivpreprint.bsky.social · 15/04/2024
Characterization of Medusavirus encoded histones reveals nucleosome-like structures and a unique linker histone www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/202…
biorxiv.org
Characterization of Medusavirus encoded histones reveals nucleosome-like structures and a unique linker histone https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.04.13.589364v1
The organization of DNA into nucleosomes is a ubiquitous and ancestral feature that was once thought
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Alexandra Whiteley @alexwhiteley.bsky.social · 06/03/2024
Nothing better than diving into a juicy proteomics dataset! #finishedlecture #jammin #wtfhistones
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Alexandra Whiteley @alexwhiteley.bsky.social · 23/02/2024
#halfwaythruthesemester
What day even is it
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Alexandra Whiteley @alexwhiteley.bsky.social · 22/02/2024
So nice to see people sharing their funding struggles with the community 😉
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Alexandra Whiteley @alexwhiteley.bsky.social · 14/02/2024
What in the actual hell, archaea all have crispr #feelingleftout
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Alexandra Whiteley @alexwhiteley.bsky.social · 17/01/2024
Dear universe, please kindly see my previous message re: late start on the first day of class. To cancel daycare due to a broken furnace is really just cruel at this point. #moresadists
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Alexandra Whiteley @alexwhiteley.bsky.social · 15/01/2024
Dearest University, why would you punish me so by implementing a delay start on the first day of the semester due to cold weather? Do you enjoy watching me panic-shift all of my lectures and homeworks for the entire semester starting on Day 1? Of my first semester teaching undergrads? 😵‍💫 #sadists
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Alexandra Whiteley @alexwhiteley.bsky.social · 13/01/2024
Just had an amazing visit #NIH at Avi Nath’s group sharing our work on UBQLN2 and PEG10 in ALS. What an amazing group of scientists, and incredible work on the very difficult task of investigating endogenous retroviruses. I’m headed home very energized!
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Alexandra Whiteley @alexwhiteley.bsky.social · 19/12/2023
Wait… “20-30% of scientists”?? How about “99% of scientists are flummoxed by how 20-30% of antibodies are total bunk”? I’d love to get a refund on my startup for all the nonsense we wasted 💸 on!
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Alexandra Whiteley @alexwhiteley.bsky.social · 06/12/2023
Amazing talk yesterday by @castanedalab.bsky.social on Ubiquilin phase separation at Keystone ubiquitin! The movie of ubiquitin dissolution never fails to surprise and you could feel the audience react. Beautiful data and great talk! #teamubqln
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Alexandra Whiteley @alexwhiteley.bsky.social · 05/12/2023
I can’t escape the amazing @nucleosomepolice.bsky.social … at a ubiquitin conference and an awesome talk by conference organizer @cwolberger.bsky.social starts with the legendary 1AOI! And I agree with her, ubiquitin is def the best modifier of histones 😅
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Namnezia 🥑 @namnezia.bsky.social · 25/10/2023
The Department of Neuroscience at brown is looking to hire tenure track assistant professors in any field of neuroscience! Come join our inclusive community of scholars and educators! For details check out: apply.interfolio.com/132440
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Alexandra Whiteley @alexwhiteley.bsky.social · 25/11/2023
Had a dream that in addition to starting a lab, I had to open a restaurant, too. I really struggled with lighting, but the space was pretty nice. Menu was still up in the air. #thankful
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Mariana Byndloss @maribyndloss.bsky.social · 22/11/2023
Vladimir Diaz-Ochoa is a dear friend, a talented scientist, an amazing mentor and a fearless advocate for equity and inclusion. Vlad (and his beautiful family) needs our help in his fight against ALS. Please, consider donating using the link below. 🙏🏽 www.gofundme.com/f/vlad-flor-...
gofundme.com
Vlad & Flor Diaz-Ochoa and Family -- ALS Support, organized by Cristina Buss
Dear friends and family near and far, Our dear friends Vlad … Cristina Buss needs your support for Vlad & Flor Diaz-Ochoa and Family -- ALS Support
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Alexandra Whiteley @alexwhiteley.bsky.social · 07/11/2023
Ohh this is refreshing! Am I allowed to use hashtags or do I have to call them pound signs around these parts? #bringitback
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