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Ally Swank

@allydefduf.bsky.social
959 followers 459 following 4 posts

PhD student at Boston University studying coral population structure and cryptic speciation in the Davies Lab 🪸🧬🏳️‍🌈 (they/them)

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Reposted by Ally Swank
Madeline G. Eppley, PhD @madeline-eppley.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
I am excited to share that my first PhD chapter is out now! We surveyed wild eastern oysters across thousands of miles of seascape to characterize population structure, identify genomic targets for aquaculture breeding, and reveal complex patterns of human impacts 🌊🦪🧬 with @drk-lo.bsky.social 1/6
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Range‐Wide Genetic Population Structure and Environmental Adaptation in the Eastern Oyster <fc><fi>(Crassostrea virginica</fi></fc>) Provides Insight for Aquaculture
Selective breeding in aquaculture is necessary to establish food security and meet demand for sustainably produced protein. An informed selective breeding program requires understanding how populatio...
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Jess McLaughlin, PhD (they/them) @jfmclaughlin92.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
okay fine i'll read the thing based on the first skim i did i'm not holding my breath, but since we're cited repeatedly i'll engage in good faith.
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Andy Lee, PhD @andylee.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
Very proud of this perspective that came out of some really interesting and difficult conversations with friends and colleagues! TLDR: how do scientists define sex? why does it matter?? #EcoEvo #Ecology #Evolution 🧪
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Gregor Kalinkat @gkalinkat.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
Eppley et al (2026) "We believe that acknowledging limitations and assumptions of current definitions of sex will lead to more accurate science." 🧪
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Andy Lee, PhD @andylee.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
omg another paper with @madeline-eppley.bsky.social and @allydefduf.bsky.social accepted!!! Extra proud of this one (and also really nervous for it to come out). We thought a lot about how biologists define sex in our research. Out soon in Ecology Letters!
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Madeline G. Eppley, PhD @madeline-eppley.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
New paper out in ecology letters! with @andylee.bsky.social @allydefduf.bsky.social We synthesized the active debate on how scientists define sex, including limitations and assumptions. We believe this discussion will lead to more accurate science. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
There is No Consensus on Biological Sex
At this critical moment when misinformation about sex is being applied to policy globally, scientific clarification on the definition of biological sex is valuable. Here, we evaluate the primary appr...
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Ally Swank @allydefduf.bsky.social · 23/12/2024
I am super stoked to have been awarded the STRI Short Term Fellowship to work with @mattleray.bsky.social on my second dissertation chapter! In just one month, I’ll be evaluating differences in thermal tolerance, light adaptation, and phenomes across cryptic lineages in Bocas del Toro, Panamá 🪸
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Madeline G. Eppley, PhD @madeline-eppley.bsky.social · 10/12/2024
I had a fantastic time presenting on a forthcoming manuscript at Boston University with co-author @allydefduf.bsky.social last week! Thank you to BU and @daviesswphd.bsky.social for the invite. Stay tuned for our ✨pre-print✨, which will be available soon!! #QueerInSTEM
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David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈 @whysharksmatter.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
As someone who studies evidence-based data-driven environmental activism and policymaking, a thing I really need everyone to know is that "does this actually help" is an answerable, and often already answered, question. We don't need you to reinvent the wheel poorly. We don't need you to guess.
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Terry Hughes @profterryhughes.bsky.social · 18/11/2024
Terrible news today: This year, one-third of coral cover has been destroyed in two northern sections of the Great Barrier reef due to anthropogenic heating. Results for the southern sections (which were even hotter) have not been officially released. www.aims.gov.au/information-...
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Andy Lee, PhD @andylee.bsky.social · 19/11/2024
coming down to the wires on #LGBTQSTEMDay to share a little starter pack of QPOC EEB scientists!! help grow this community and nominate your fave QPOC EEBer! CCmment/DM if you'd like to be added, I would love to connect :) go.bsky.app/S5fpXWm
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Madeline G. Eppley, PhD @madeline-eppley.bsky.social · 19/11/2024
#LGBTQInSTEM day isn’t over yet! Here’s a starter pack of LGBTQIA+ graduate students (PhD & MS) in marine science! 🌊🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️✨ It’s so important to build microcommunities! They can provide support from others at the same career stage who hold similar identities. Comment if you’d like to be added! 🧪🧬
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Jeremy Yoder says no war @jbyoder.org · 19/11/2024
Happy #LGBTQSTEMday! More than a decade (!) ago, I asked a social scientist friend to help build a study of queer identities in science careers after my literature searches came up empty — this year I helped with an evidence review that found SO MUCH on the topic, and still room for more work.
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Mubashar “Mubs” Iqbal @mubashariqbal.com · 11/11/2024
Starter packs are genius, but I was surprised there wasn't a list of them for people to find. So I built it: blueskydirectory.com/starter-pack... The website monitors the packs being shared and adds the ones it finds to the database. Missed your stater pack? Message me and I'll get it added.
blueskydirectory.com
All - Bluesky Directory
A curated collection of all things relating to the Blue Sky social media platform.
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Kevin Bairos-Novak @ecolology.bsky.social · 14/11/2024
Many coral 'species' may, in fact, be separate 'cryptic' species! We found that up to 68% of #popgen studies in corals had putative cryptic taxa!! Check out the ms in Peer Community Journal! @peercommunityin.bsky.social #corals #crypticspecies peercommunityjournal.org/articles/10....
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Ally Swank @allydefduf.bsky.social · 15/11/2024
I haven’t introduced myself on here yet, but I’m so happy to see this platform growing! #evosky #PrideInSTEM I’m Ally (they/them 🏳️‍🌈), and I study cryptic coral species, population genomics, and thermal tolerance in the Davies Lab at Boston University. I love climbing, hiking, and women’s sports 🧗🏼⛰️🏒
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Madeline G. Eppley, PhD @madeline-eppley.bsky.social · 31/07/2024
Call for feedback! 🏳️‍🌈 if you were at #Evol2024 and came by our poster, please remember to share feedback! 👇 If you missed the meeting but are interested in DEI, queer theory, and evo/eco bio frameworks, let’s chat! DM me & I’ll share our poster. tinyurl.com/mvmms3md
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Zeke Hausfather @zekehausfather.com · 14/11/2023
We often focus on global surface temperatures as a key metric for climate change. But as we note in the Climate Trends chapter of the new US 5th National Climate Assessment, we see incontrovertible evidence for climate change across the oceans, land, cryosphere, and atmosphere:
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Madeline G. Eppley, PhD @madeline-eppley.bsky.social · 02/11/2023
More & more DNA extractions at VIMS, with good results coming in! Plus some cool sights at the lab. 🌊
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Sarah W. Davies Ph.D. @daviesswphd.bsky.social · 19/10/2023
Jazzed to announce BU Biology's 2024 Emerging Scholars in Global Change Biology! Are you an amazing postdoc looking for an awesome professional development activity! Please check this out! Plz repost! I don't know how to reach everyone on here so any help appreciated! www.bu.edu/biology/emer...
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Dr. Carly Kenkel @drcarl.bsky.social · 17/10/2023
I'm looking to hire a postdoc in coral genomics - $66k/yr plus benefits - follow link for more info - review of apps begins Nov 10 usccareers.usc.edu/job/los-ange...
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Jon Puritz @jonpuritz.marineevoeco.com · 15/10/2023
My lab is currently recruiting two postdoc and/or technician positions.  The first position is NSF funded and is investigating how coastal stressors ( hypoxia, coastal acidification, and low salinity events) shape the genomic diversity of eastern oyster populations across the northeastern USA.
marineevoeco.com
Recruiting Postdoc for NSF Funded Project
The Puritz Lab of Marine Evolutionary Ecology in the department of Biological Sciences at the University of Rhode Island is recruiting highly motivated applicants for a postdoctoral position starting ...
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Amani Webber-Schultz @curlybiologist.bsky.social · 15/10/2023
This is why I do it. Got this text from my friend about her brother talking to a little camper at his work. Stuff likes this makes the lowest of times worth it.
He is working at the new camp you know and there was a girl like 7 years old who’s name was Amani and he was like I have a friend named Amani! And she was like oh wow Amani isn’t a common name is she black too? And he was like yes she is, she is also a really cool shark scientist! And she was like what wow I didn’t know girls could be scientists, I want to be a veterinarian when I grow up! And Gregory said at the end of the day when she was leaving he was like hey Amani promise me you’re gonna be a vet when you grow up ok? And she was like yeah I’m gonna be like your friend Amani!
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Sarah W. Davies Ph.D. @daviesswphd.bsky.social · 26/09/2023
The research ongoing in my lab was featured in Boston University's magazine! 🪸 Check it out to learn more! www.bu.edu/articles/202...
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