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Peter Chien

@chienlab.bsky.social
1K followers 342 following 74 posts

Looking at small things making small things even smaller. UMass Amherst Biochemistry. Microbiology. Views are my own. He/him

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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
We have a TT job posting for molecular and cellular neuroscience here at UMass Amherst!!! Here is the ad: careers.umass.edu/jobs/assista...
careers.umass.edu
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry - Neuroscience - Amherst, Massachusetts, United States
Title: Assistant Professor of Biochemistry - Neuroscience Executive Area: Academic Affairs College/School/MBU: College of Natural Sciences Department: Biochemistry/Molecular Biology Work Location: Amh...
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Heya Folks - our priority review of applicants for our Tenure Track position in Biochemistry (focus on protein homeostasis) is coming up (Monday June 22). Take a look and let me know if you have questions! bsky.app/profile/chie...
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
again, let me know if you have any questions!
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Also, this hire is in collaboration with the Institute for Applied Life Sciences, which has a translation and human health focus: www.umass.edu/ials/
umass.edu
Home | Institute for Applied Life Sciences
The Institute for Applied Life Sciences (IALS) translates fundamental research into innovative product candidates, technologies, and services that deliver benefits to human health and well-being. Our ...
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Forgot to include the link to the department: www.umass.edu/biochemistry....
umass.edu
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology : Biochemistry and Molecular Biology : UMass Amherst
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB) at UMass Amherst is interdisciplinary by name and nature, and as such we value diverse perspectives and experiences as essential strengths. We strive to be an ...
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
We are hiring! Focus is on colleagues interested in protein homeostasis and human disease. Priority reviewing starts mid-June and will continue on a rolling basis. Here is the ad, hit me up if you have questions! careers.umass.edu/jobs/assista...
careers.umass.edu
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry - Protein Homeostasis - Amherst, Massachusetts, United States
Title: Assistant Professor of Biochemistry - Protein Homeostasis Executive Area: Academic Affairs College/School/MBU: College of Natural Sciences Department: Biochemistry/Molecular Biology Work Locati...
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 24/08/2025
I find its super cool that different bacteria have different ways of making different dnaX versions (transcriptional and proteolysis!) The reduced genome aspect is interesting....
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 03/08/2025
Will see you there!! ( with alums of your lab!)
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 28/06/2025
FYI, Jr lab was the big lab course in physics major so Sarah and I spent waaay too much time in cold radio telescope control rooms!
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 28/06/2025
It's awesomely amazing to hear from my old undergrad junior lab partner @veatchlab.bsky.social how excited they were to see my student's poster at Protein Society. Even after 30 years we still get excited about each other's science!!
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 12/06/2025
Today is Loving Day! Anniversary of the Supreme Court decision in 1967 legalizing interracial marriage, without which my relationship and family would not be considered legal. Best name for a celebratory day! ❤️❤️❤️ www.npr.org/2025/06/08/g...
npr.org
NPR readers share stories of love and adversity in honor of Loving Day
June 12th is Loving Day, a holiday that commemorates the Loving v. Virginia case, which allowed interracial marriage in all parts of the U.S. NPR readers share how the case changed their lives.
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 06/06/2025
So much FOMO
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 30/04/2025
We had such a fantastic time hearing all about you and your team! So excited to have you visit!
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 29/04/2025
A reminder that nominations for the Sternberg Award for the 2025 Molecular Genetics of Phages and Bacteria (Phages Meeting) is due in one week! Nominate your amazing graduating students!!! conferences.union.wisc.edu/phages/award...
conferences.union.wisc.edu
Sternberg Thesis Prize | Molecular Genetics of Bacteria and Phages Meeting
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
huh, really wacky - the lack of ATP dependence is also weird... thanks for calling it out!
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
Congrats to all!
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
I am so curious about other pronunciations of codon!
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
Well played sir
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
My son just came up with a great joke. "Why wasn't the RNA shivering? Because it had a CODON!" 😀 🧪
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
Greatest comment from a student in my PChem class (meets at 8:30 AM). "I really like it, it's like gen chem, but with physics". Boom achievement unlocked.
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
I appreciate the challenges of leadership in this complex and chaotic environment, the EOs seem to empower going after non-federal groups in a way that is chilling. But having the trust of the membership is paramount for any society.
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
Explaining more about reasoning, process and what will happen with any future actions is also an important task for society leadership.
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
I will continue to review for society journals because I still feel that it is one of the best forums for people to have their work evaluated and read by their peers. But, clear communication with the society members is needed for the kinds of changes that were made (before they are made).
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
Like many, I do NOT love the recent bungling they did with their website nor the press release after the fact. I absolutely still believe in the purpose of the society to support its broad and diverse membership (which drew me to it in the first place).
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
We published in J Bacteriology because I love society journals, appreciate the work of the editors (our peers!) and strongly believe in @asm.org as a membership society.
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
first off, how did you get Caulobacter contaminants? 👀 We have a durned time growing them when we want to some time. We did end up connecting Lon with heme through the control of the FixT pathway, but the physiological impact of this is still mysterious! (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38940598/)
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Proteolytic control of FixT by the Lon protease impacts FixLJ signaling in Caulobacter crescentus - PubMed
The Lon protease shapes protein quality control, signaling pathways, and stress responses in many bacteria species. Loss of Lon often results in multiple phenotypic consequences. In this work, we foun...
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 01/02/2025
An amazing meeting. Strongly recommend for anyone in the general new england area!
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 24/01/2025
My partner Holly is an amazing artist and scientist. She is contemplating a book about a visual appreciation of colors and forms in the natural world. This is her hand painted panel on shell chirality! Whattya think?
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 11/12/2024
Great question. We think one aspect is about repairing DNA damage! We have a preprint on this in the context of chromosomal DNA binding www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
biorxiv.org
A legacy role for DNA binding of Lon protects against genotoxic stress
DNA binding proteins are essential for cellular life, but persistently bound complexes have toxic consequences. Here we show that the proteotoxic responsive bacterial protease Lon clears proteins from...
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 11/12/2024
Justyne Odgahl successfully defended! Her paper was also just accepted at JBC, check it out to learn about allostery and DNA binding in the Lon protease! #microsky www.jbc.org/article/S002...
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 28/11/2024
Giving thanks for an awesome group of folks to work with (they came up with this lab shirt), wishing you all a graceful break!
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 11/11/2024
Because of the new followers, wanted to repost this! Priority deadline is this Friday (15th). Hit me up with questions!
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 01/10/2024
We are looking for a new colleague to join our department, the focus is on quantitative and/or structural biology. Let me know if you have any questions. Feel free to repost or tag appropriately! careers.umass.edu/amherst/en-u...
careers.umass.edu
Details - Assistant Professor - Quantitative & Structural Biology | Human Resources | UMass Amherst
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 13/05/2024
and I forgot to tag, but #microsky
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 13/05/2024
upload deadline is May 15!
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 13/05/2024
Don't forget to submit your nomination for the Sternberg Award to celebrate your amazing graduating student! LMK if you have questions #phages2024 conferences.union.wisc.edu/phages/award...
conferences.union.wisc.edu
Sternberg Thesis Prize | Molecular Genetics of Bacteria and Phages Meeting
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 08/04/2024
Max's paper is accepted! Plus he's doing his MS defense today shortly after the eclipse :) It's 4pm EST - here's a zoom link umass-amherst.zoom.us/j/97307789899 if you want to join us!
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 21/03/2024
Turns out it was Kohler, phase setting and camera setting weirdness in a perfect storm! But checkout our pretty bugs now! Thanks for your help Wendy!
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 21/03/2024
Fantastic advice! Will let you know how it works out!
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 20/03/2024
Huge thanks. We checked Kohler first and that was fine. Crud on condenser is next up! Good ideas for cleaning?
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 20/03/2024
OK, evidently someone 'fiddled' with the knobs below the stage on the microscope and now we are in a bad place for our phase contrast. Figured #microsky might have some ideas about how to get us back to happy? I'm leaning toward misaligned phase rings?
poor phase contrast microscopy of bacteria
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 14/03/2024
Happy Pi day everyone! As another example of a special day - we start priority reviewing of our faculty search tomorrow ! Hit me up if you have any questions: careers.umass.edu/amherst/en-u...
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 03/03/2024
Max Campbell (who led the work) put a repo on github for folks to download and play with the data! Love to get feedback! #MicroSky github.com/mbcampbell-w...
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 03/03/2024
we then measured methylation in Brucella abortus (which had not been done to our knowledge). Found some neat stuff here where loss of Lon has different effects than in Caulobacter AND the MucR transcription factor can modulate certain sites of methylation.
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 03/03/2024
OK, not surprising, whole genome was more methylated ! - we also asked if a putative demethylase (AlkB) could affect global methylation (spoiler: it doesn't :) )
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 03/03/2024
we measured methylation in Caulobacter because we know that the Lon protease (see- had something to do with proteases!) degrades the CcrM methyltransferase, which should result in more overall methylation - but no one had measured it yet - so we did it :)
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 03/03/2024
this technology has really exploded and especially with Dorado pipeline and new pores, seems to do a good job with measuring methylation as well!
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 03/03/2024
Ok, in this paper www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... we used nanopore sequencing to measure methylation in alphaproteobacteria
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 03/03/2024
I wrote a thread on one of the preprints, gonna do that with the other :), on methylation in Brucella #MicroSky
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Peter Chien @chienlab.bsky.social · 03/03/2024
take a look at the preprint, but wanted to share this resource to #MicroSky and caulobacter colleagues as a searchable database of our results - you have a CCNA gene you are interested in? see whether it affects the proteotoxic stress response! chienbrowser.biochem.umass.edu/chienlab/chi...
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