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Robert Sansom

@fossilrob.bsky.social
1.2K followers 215 following 289 posts

Palaeobiologist in Manchester | Fossils, Parenting, Animal Evolution, Fish, Phylogeny, Existential Despair, Taphonomy, and occasionally Eurovision

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Robert Sansom @fossilrob.bsky.social · 13h
Did you send an email today to your head of department and multiple colleagues with an attachment about fossil jellyfish instead of a table about lab equipment? Because I certainly did not do that.
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Robert Sansom @fossilrob.bsky.social · 14h
Calling Fossil Fans - can you think of memorable occasions when palaeontology was reported in the news - when it went well, and perhaps more pertinently, when it didn't go well?
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Robert Sansom @fossilrob.bsky.social · 15h
Are Early Career Researchers getting the field training they need? Or more, accurately, do they *think* they are getting the training they need?
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Robert Sansom @fossilrob.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
There were so many weird arthropods hanging around in the Cambrian, I wonder what they were all up to 🤔💭 💡https://youtube.com/shorts/CeQHe6X37b8?is=BOBVkOQR0ng78Svf
youtube.com
Krabi Dir. Václav Mergl. 1976 #shorts #classicanimation #memes #animation #retrocartoons
YouTube video by Under the visions
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Robert Sansom @fossilrob.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Maybe Reddit isn’t quite a dumpster fire
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Robert Sansom @fossilrob.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Just taking myself to bed after staying up late to watch Weapons 👀
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Prosanta Chakrabarty @prosanta.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Another big potential #FishJob Curator of Fishes (or Mammals, but let it be ichthyology) at the American Museum of Natural History careers.amnh.org/postings/4925
careers.amnh.org
Assistant Curator/Assistant Professor, Vertebrate Zoology
The Division of Vertebrate Zoology at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) seeks an outstanding tenure-track Assistant Curator/Assistant Professor in either the Department of Ichthyology or M...
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Dr Stephan Lautenschlager @palaeostephan.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
New paper out today! Led by Daniel Schwarz, we retrodeformed the skull and reconstructed the cranio-mandibular musculature of the giant stem-amphibian Mastodonsaurus giganteus. Our results show that Mastodonsaurus had a powerful bite and a crocodile- like bite-and-hold feeding style.
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The Fossil Files Podcast @thefossilfiles.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Calling creatives! 🎹 🎶 Could you create a 30 second musical intro for our palaeontology podcast? We can pay for your services, but our budget is 🤏
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Prof Susie Maidment @tweetisaurus.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Turtles. They're weird. Where did they come from? We find out in today's #FossilFiles. This one is hot off the press. We only recorded it this morning and it's out for your listening pleasure already! @fossilrob.bsky.social is my turtle hero. share.google/a5Aale2SzYyS...
share.google
The Fossil Files: Where did turtles come from?
The origin of turtles has long been a scientific mystery. Not only do they have super weird things going on with their ribs, head, and teeth, but also its unclear if they were more closely related to ...
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The Fossil Files Podcast @thefossilfiles.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
The origin of turtles has long been a scientific mystery. Where do they fit?🐢🐊🐓🦎🐍 What madness did they do to their ribs? 🩻 In latest episode we ask look at latest fossil finds to ask: Where did turtles come from?
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Harriet B. Drage @harriedrage.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Interested in fossil arthropods, palaeoecology, dispersal, and interesting methods? 🦀 🌎 I'm hiring a 4-year, fully funded PhD student at the University of Geneva as part of my European Research Council (ERC) grant. Deadline: 16th October. Reach out if any questions! www.unige.ch/sciences/ter...
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The Fossil Files Podcast @thefossilfiles.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
What happens when fossils that have been faked or ‘enhanced’ end up being used in scientific studies? How can we spot them and how much damage can they do? Three examples🦎🦅🐈 from our latest episode:
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Robert Sansom @fossilrob.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Introducing Platyrhakis, Saigheadaspis, Ymersaspis, and Rochtarge, 4 new genera of British cephalaspids named after @aminff.bsky.social spent ages cleaning up centuries of messy taxonomy. ENJOY FOSSIL FISH 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
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Amin El Fassi El Fehri | أمين الفاسي الفهري @aminff.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
🧪So happy this is finally out after almost four years! We try to bring some order to the messy taxonomy of an iconic jawless fish. 🐟 Thanks to @evopalaeo.bsky.social, Madleen, Mike, @fossilrob.bsky.social & to all who contributed to this research! onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
The taxonomy and phylogeny of British ‘cephalaspids’
Osteostracans are considered the sister group of jawed vertebrates and are phylogenetically the earliest branching vertebrate lineage to exhibit true paired fins with endoskeletal support. This means...
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Robert Sansom @fossilrob.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Update from the zone of totality in Spain. It was over in what felt like a flash. Shit picture, amazing moment
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Robert Sansom @fossilrob.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Poolside science☀️🌚part 1
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Robert Sansom @fossilrob.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Poolside science☀️🌚part 1
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Lauren Sumner-Rooney @laurensr.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Two weeks left to apply for our postdoc position on vision in trilobites! Come and explore the exciting world of reconstructing vision in the fossil record, using some of the most iconic extinct animals to grace our oceans! Please reach out + RT! (*Deadline in fact 23.59 BST on the 26th August!*)
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Robert Sansom @fossilrob.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Getting your R code to finally do the graph that you needed at 4.30 on a Friday afternoon 😗🤌
static.klipy.com
Hyacinth Bucket in Keeping Up Appearances
ALT: Hyacinth Bucket in Keeping Up Appearances
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The Fossil Files Podcast @thefossilfiles.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
How could 476 whale skeletons accumulate at the bottom of 6km ocean trench over 5 million years? Introducing the WHALE NECROPOLIS
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Philip Donoghue @phil-donoghue.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Our latest: Xinyuan Meng @bristolpalaeo.bsky.social describes Bataspis crux, expanding galeaspid (jawless fish) disparity with a bat-like head adapted for dynamic lift. Xinyuan's study was aided by @ferronhg.bsky.social Davide Pisani, Zhikun Gai and myself. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
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Robert Sansom @fossilrob.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Did a lack of sex hold back the evolution of the first animals? To answer this question, you need some lovely Ediacaran fossils and lots of interesting maths. An x-rated double hitter for @thefossilfiles.bsky.social this week with @egmitchell.bsky.social and @tweetisaurus.bsky.social
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Prof Susie Maidment @tweetisaurus.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
For reasons best known only to himself, in this week's Fossil Files, @fossilrob.bsky.social chose a paper neither of us understood. There are some surprising revelations about my sex life, however. Also, slug sex facts ("facts") open.spotify.com/episode/4ikt...
open.spotify.com
Did a lack of sex hold back the evolution of the first animals?
The Fossil Files · Episode
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Robert Sansom @fossilrob.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
When I was the same age as my son is now (8yo), I had only ever known one prime minister in my life time. He is now on his 6th.
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Robert Sansom @fossilrob.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Manchester is trapped in a foul smelling blanket of smoke blowing off the wildfires on the moor 😥
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Robert Sansom @fossilrob.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
static.klipy.com
Elmo Excited in Fuego
ALT: Elmo Excited in Fuego
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Robert Sansom @fossilrob.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
Absolute scenes at Asda. It’s too hot for cold food!
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The Well-read Naturalist @wellreadnaturalist.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
Happy one year anniversary to one of the most enjoyable and informative science podcasts of which I know: @thefossilfiles.bsky.social. 🥳🎉 podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
podcasts.apple.com
The Fossil Files is one year old: The best bits so far
Podcast Episode · The Fossil Files · June 16 · 34m
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Prof Susie Maidment @tweetisaurus.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
In this week's #FossilFiles podcast, we FINALLY discuss Prototaxites, the giant phallic Devonian life-form that might be a totally unknown branch of the tree of life. This is one of the coolest papers we've ever done. Listen here or wherever you get your pods: fossils.libsyn.com/the-mysterio...
fossils.libsyn.com
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Robert Sansom @fossilrob.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
What the hell was Prototaxites?
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Laura Mulvey @lauramulvey.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
📣 10 days left to register for our workshop: Bridging Stratigraphic Palaeobiology and Phylogenetics Questions? Reach out to any of the organisers: @rachelwarnock.bsky.social @niklashohmann.bsky.social More information and registration 👉 www.lorentzcenter.nl/site/index.p...
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Robert Sansom @fossilrob.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
Getting scooped three times in one month on two research different projects is quite a lot
static.klipy.com
Michael Cera Sad in Arrested Development
ALT: Michael Cera Sad in Arrested Development
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The Royal Society @royalsociety.org · 09/05/2026
The concept of extinction was regarded as impossible until the late 18th century. Join Professor Sadiah Qureshi on 28 May as she explores extinction's unnatural history and how we can generate hope and secure justice for all life on earth. bit.ly/4tL3JmR
A painting depicting a large prehistoric mammoth skeleton beside a live elephant, with people observing it. Text overlays the image, detailing an event: "Hope in the shadow of unnatural extinctions," the Wilkins-Bernal-Medawar Medal and Lecture 2025 by Professor Sadiah Qureshi, scheduled for 28 May 2026 at 6.30pm BST. The Royal Society is mentioned as the organizer.
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Sandy Kawano, PhD @sandyk.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
Job Alert! I am recruiting a postdoc (and soon a lab tech) to study the functional morphology and biomechanics of walking-like behaviors in fishes at the University of Virginia. Details at: jobs.virginia.edu/us/en/job/R0.... Ads for postdoc+lab tech on salamander locomotion grant coming soon! 🧪🐟🦎
jobs.virginia.edu
Research Associate in Biology in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America | Research at University of Virginia
Apply for Research Associate in Biology job with University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America. Research at University of Virginia
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Robert Sansom @fossilrob.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
Fossils on the beach
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Robert Sansom @fossilrob.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
Tortoises! Live cuttlefish! Pleistocene fossils! Sea grass! Vultures! Our first ecology and palaeontology undergrad field course to Mallorca is off to a strong start
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Robert Sansom @fossilrob.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
Really enjoyed this one. Sometimes I feel a bit mean poking fun at papers, but when they are this bonkers…
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The Fossil Files Podcast @thefossilfiles.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
A sneak peak of us sniggering about mammoths sneezing themselves to death 🦣🤧☠️
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Robert Sansom @fossilrob.bsky.social · 04/04/2026
Of course the first thing I googled when I left the screening of Project Hail Mary was the unbalanced centrifuge and finding a deluge of enraged lab rats in the comments…
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Dr Simon Goodman @phoca-sapiens.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
Come join us! We're recruiting 3 new academic posts in the School of Biology, University of Leeds, closing 23/04/26. Assoc Prof Plant Science tinyurl.com/4x48jc78 Assoc Prof Animal Biology tinyurl.com/2s4sk85s Lecturer in Ecology, Zoology, Biodiversity or Ecosystem Management: tinyurl.com/39dwp47j
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Jack Hatfield @jackhhatfield.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
PDRA positions at Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity (York, UK) These include four that I am involved with: beta diversity change ecosystem metrics ecological monitoring & Indigenous and local knowledge food system dynamics & biodiversity sites.google.com/york.ac.uk/l...
sites.google.com
LCAB Postdoctoral recruitment
The Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity (LCAB) is a major research centre funded by the Leverhulme Trust to increase knowledge of how the relationship between humanity and the natural worl...
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The Fossil Files Podcast @thefossilfiles.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
How do you become a palaeontologist? @tweetisaurus.bsky.social and @fossilrob.bsky.social chat about their own routes and their advice for aspiring fossil fans
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Dr John Clarke @jclarkepaleo.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
Postdoc in Macroevolution - Deadline April 12th - Join a team of Stuttgart botanists & myself to test drivers of Angiosperm diversification! Fully open process Submit cover letter, CV, 3 referees & publication list in a single PDF to postdoc-botany@smns-bw.de + 3 key papers (if possible) as PDF
naturkundemuseum-bw.de
Jobs | Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart
Offene Stellen
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Erin E. Saupe @eesaupe.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
‼️🚨 Job Alert ‼️ 🚨 Two Post Doc Opportunities: PDRA in Macroecology / Paleobiology my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecru... PDRA in Extinction & Conservation / Paleobiology my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecru... Any questions, please get in touch! Closing date May 1st.
my.corehr.com
Job Details
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Robert Sansom @fossilrob.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
In which Susie and I try not to giggle about fossil butt holes and silly looking dinosaurs
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Prof Susie Maidment @tweetisaurus.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
JOB CLAXON: Imaging Assistant @nhm-london.bsky.social . Permanent role. Would be good for someone with CT experience! jobs.nhm.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...
jobs.nhm.ac.uk
Imaging Assistant:South Kensington
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Robert Sansom @fossilrob.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
When I am awoken by the kids on when the clocks have gone forward:
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Philip Donoghue @phil-donoghue.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
If you are looking for an example of best-practice in abstract-writing, this is a good starting point
doi.org
Statistically significant chuckles: who is using humour at scientific conferences?
Abstract. We’ve all been there: 11.47, swamped by a long stretch of dense scientific talks at a conference. Six slides into a hyper-technical presentation,
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Professor Mary J O'Connell @evol-molly.bsky.social · 19/03/2026
We are recruiting ! ... the second PhD position available with us at University of Manchester: www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
findaphd.com
MicroRNA evolution and the genetic basis of placental phenotypic diversity across mammals at The University of Manchester on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - MicroRNA evolution and the genetic basis of placental phenotypic diversity across mammals at The University of Manchester, listed on FindAPhD.com
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