Sign in

Julia Willett

@jlewillett.bsky.social
2.2K followers 1.5K following 93 posts

Assistant Professor in Micro & Immuno at U Minnesota. Bacterial interactions/biofilms/uncharacterized genes/T7SS. I like wine, traveling, and the LA Kings. She/her.

PostsRepliesMedia
Julia Willett @jlewillett.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
After 24 talks, 160 posters, 6 career panelists, and 1 round of Happy Birthday, that's a wrap on #mmpc2026! A huge thanks to all 250+ folks who made this such a fun weekend of microbes in Minneapolis!
A white sign that says "U M Midwest Microbial Pathogenesis" outside the Meridian Ballroom at the Graduate Hotel in Minneapolis
2293
Reposted by Julia Willett
Arrianna Marie Planey, PhD MA @arrianna-planey.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
If you're preparing a NIH grant submission, you may have to re-download and re-certify your biosketch if you updated on/prior to Sept 18. And make sure NOT to change the file name.
52817
Reposted by Julia Willett
Midwest Microbial Pathogenesis Conference @mmpconference.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
We are so excited to welcome everyone to Minneapolis for #mmpc2026 next weekend! Don't forget to... ✔️ book your hotel room at the Graduate 🏫 ✔️ print your poster (or make your slides) 💻 ✔️ get excited for a great weekend of science! 🦠 #microsky
061
Reposted by Julia Willett
Harmit Singh Malik @harmitmalik.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
The current NIH Director’s animus against NIAID to sign away much needed research funds so we can continue bombing another country is… a staggering betrayal of Congressional intentions and authority. Not surprising but still staggering.
5466116
Reposted by Julia Willett
Frances Yap @ribo1214.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
#MicroSky act fast! Sept 4th is the registration deadline for Midwest Microbial Pathogenesis Conference (MMPC) that will be held in Minneapolis from Sept 25-27 #mmpc2026
047
Julia Willett @jlewillett.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
👇👇👇 don't forget! Register, reserve your hotel room, and get your #mmpc2026 t-shirt before end of day on Friday!
000
Reposted by Julia Willett
ASM @asm.org · 27/08/2026
🚀 Lead the next chapter of #IAIJournal! Following 10 years of exceptional service by Editor in Chief (EIC) Andreas Bäumler, Ph.D., ASM seeks applications/nominations for the next EIC. The initial 5-year term begins July 1, 2027. Apply or nominate by Sept. 18: asm.social/33R
Apply by September 18 to lead Infection and Immunity journal!
258
Reposted by Julia Willett
Dan Garisto @dangaristo.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Scoop: For nearly a year, NSF has struggled to make new grants. Now we know that it will not catch up. In fact, NSF will award just 6,100 new grants—a 30% y/o/y decline, itself down from a previous avg. of 11,000+. In fact, the last time NSF awarded so few grants was in the early '80s.
nature.com
Exclusive: NSF set to issue lowest number of new grants in four decades
The US science-funding agency is withholding $1 billion of its budget so that the money can go to a special White House project.
14753471
Reposted by Julia Willett
Chise @sailorrooscout.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Some people might not be aware, but it is entirely possible that without Dolly Parton we wouldn’t have had a COVID vaccine. She partly funded Moderna’s research and gave the largest individual contribution to make it all happen. Just gives you an idea of the kind of person she was.
235281267745
Reposted by Julia Willett
George O'Toole (he/him/his) @geiselbiofilm.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
New in JB: Karin Sauer and colleagues update us on all the great science at the 10th American Society for Microbiology Conference on Biofilms. journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/... @asm.org #JBacteriol @microsky.bsky.social
175
Reposted by Julia Willett
Alex Zalben @azalben.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Here's the official announcement of Parton's passing from her reps, along with the request that in lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library at www.imaginationlibrary.com
NASHVILLE, TN (August 25, 2026) – Global icon and humanitarian, Dolly Parton, known to the world as a beloved singer, songwriter, philanthropist, actress, playwright, and author died peacefully today in Nashville, Tennessee. She was 80 years old.

 

Dolly is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 59 years Carl Thomas Dean (1942 – 2025), her mother Avie Lee Caroline Owens (1923 – 2003), and father, Robert Lee Parton, Sr. (1921 – 2000). 

 

A rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see, Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth, and kindness that made us all feel like family. Dolly Parton’s legacy is one of love, compassion, and resilience. With a seven-decade career, she inspired multiple generations of artists and fans with her music and an unwavering commitment to making the world a better place. Her songs will continue to resonate with people of all ages, and her philanthropic work will have a lasting impact.

 

At Dolly’s request, a small, private service will be held for immediate family. Dolly’s fans and friends from around the world are encouraged to pay tribute to Dolly on social media by tagging @DollyParton or by leaving a message at www.dollyparton.com.         

 

In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to be made to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library at www.imaginationlibrary.com.
69135088679
Reposted by Julia Willett
Dan Garisto @dangaristo.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
In May it was big news when 100+ suspicious images were found in Thermo Fisher's catalog. Now, that number has expanded dramatically to 18,000+, thanks to some arduous searching by @reeserichardson.bsky.social. My reporting on the massive trove and its implications for antibody reliability:
nature.com
More than 18,000 questionable images found in antibody catalogues of 15 companies
Science sleuth’s findings raise questions for researchers working to improve the reliability of commercial antibodies.
29365
Reposted by Julia Willett
MwahahahahahadScientist @mads100tist.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
I am very serious about citing resources (ZFIN, Flybase, Wormbase, yeast, mouse, rat, human, etc) and asking authors to cite them precisely for this reason: the more we talk about them and cite them in our papers, the better chance we have at justifying why we should increase the budget 🧪
38527
Reposted by Julia Willett
Kimberly Kline 🏔 @kimingeneva.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Novelty, diversity, and genetic dark matter in enterococci of invertebrates | mBio journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
journals.asm.org
Novelty, diversity, and genetic dark matter in enterococci of invertebrates | mBio
Enterococci are auxotrophic gut-associated bacteria that co-evolved with their terrestrial hosts over many eons. In the last 75 years—the “antibiotic era”—E. faecalis and E. faecium gained genes for a...
082
Reposted by Julia Willett
Midwest Microbial Pathogenesis Conference @mmpconference.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Your #mmpc2026 to-do list before *September 4*! 1) Register for the meeting! ✅ 2) Reserve your hotel room! ✅ 3) Get your official MMPC t-shirt! ✅ Check off all these tasks here ➡️ mmpc2026.umn.edu See you in Minneapolis!
mmpc2026.umn.edu
Midwest Microbial Pathogenesis Conference | Midwest Microbial Pathogenesis Conference 2026
034
Reposted by Julia Willett
George O'Toole (he/him/his) @geiselbiofilm.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Pls share: Three open posions in Bacteriology at Wisconsin: bact.wisc.edu/bacteriology...
bact.wisc.edu
Bacteriology is Hiring!
Bioeconomy Assistant Professor The Department of Bacteriology is seeking applicants at the Assistant Professor level to launch a research program in the New Bioeconomy. Applicants may be interested in...
11418
Julia Willett @jlewillett.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Abstract deadline for the 2026 Midwest Microbial Pathogenesis Conference has been extended until Aug 14! Make sure to register, submit your abstract, and get your official #mmpc2026 t-shirt while you're at it!
033
Reposted by Julia Willett
Midwest Microbial Pathogenesis Conference @mmpconference.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
New for #mmpc2026 this year: T-SHIRTS!! Designed by @ruthlessruth15.bsky.social & featuring your favorite microbes! Shirts must be ordered by Sept 4 & can be picked up at the conference. Get your official 2026 Midwest Microbial Pathogenesis Conference swag here: mmpc2026.umn.edu/more/2026-mm...
mmpc2026.umn.edu
2026 MMPC T-shirts | Midwest Microbial Pathogenesis Conference 2026
047
Julia Willett @jlewillett.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
I'm excited to be co-organizing the 2026 Midwest Microbial Pathogenesis Conference, which will take place Sept 25-27 on the UMN campus in Minneapolis! Poster abstracts due Aug 7! Submit yours & register here ➡️ mmpc2026.umn.edu
mmpc2026.umn.edu
Registration | Midwest Microbial Pathogenesis Conference 2026
02017
Reposted by Julia Willett
Teresa O'Meara @teresaomeara.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Bacteriology-Focused Assistant Professor Position in Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Michigan Application deadline: August 15, 2026 Come be my colleague!
Bacteriology-Focused Assistant Professor Position in Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Michigan

Application deadline: August 15, 2026

Applicants are requested to send
1) A cover letter (up to 1 page)
2) A CV
3) A description of research interests and goals (up to 2 pages)
4) A description of teaching experience and philosophy (up to 1 page)
5) Contact information including email to solicit 3 letters of recommendation.
Application materials should be combined into one PDF and addressed to the department chair, Dr. Bethany Moore, and sent via email to Sheryl Smith - sherylhs@umich.edu
23771
Reposted by Julia Willett
Ruth Isenberg, PhD @ruthlessruth15.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
My postdoc is officially a wrap! So grateful to have worked with @jlewillett.bsky.social these last 3 years. I got to mentor 4 fabulous undergrad researchers, teach at local community colleges, and do some fun research with Enterococcus! Sad to say goodbye, but looking forward to the future ❤️
8 smiling people seated around a large table with beverages in a room with brick walls.
1193
Julia Willett @jlewillett.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Wishing the stellar @ruthlessruth15.bsky.social the best as she starts her new position as an Assistant Professor at Macalester College! I'm very thankful for all of Ruth's contributions to my lab as an IRACDA postdoc over the last 3 years & am excited to see what comes next 🤗🦠🔬🧫
191
Reposted by Julia Willett
Kimberly Kline 🏔 @kimingeneva.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
🚨Join us at the University of Geneva! We're seeking an outstanding junior researcher to apply for an ERC or SNSF Starting Grant with our institutional support in host–pathogen interactions, bacteriology, virology, parasitology, or mycology. www.unige.ch/medecine/mim... Please share!
unige.ch
Open call : MIMOL Junior Group Leader’s application for a Starting Grant - Microbiology and molecular medicine - UNIGE
22528
Reposted by Julia Willett
Chris Ingraham @cingraham.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
Lunacy. Here's Emmer 10 years ago.
A decade ago, Emmer created a Congressional Somalia Caucus with then-U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison. When people in St. Cloud called for a moratorium on Somali immigrants, he pushed back, calling the proposed ban “un-American.”

“If you’re asking me how I feel about immigrant populations who are in this country legally, and who are actually trying to find a better way for themselves and their families, I support it wholeheartedly,” he said at a town hall in 2015. 

 Minnesota has the largest population of Somali-Americans in the U.S.
1042397793
Reposted by Julia Willett
Leading Edge Fellows Program @leadingedgeprogram.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
We are thrilled to announce the 2026 Zara Weinberg Leading Edge Fellows! 40 remarkable postdocs pursuing transformative research in biological/biomedical sciences. This is the 7th Leading Edge cohort and we are so excited to welcome them! www.leadingedgesymposium.org/fellows/
Congratulations to the 2026 Zara Weinberg Leading Edge Fellows! 
Airi Yoshimoto, Yijun Yang, Alexandra Wells, Simran Virdi, Archana Venkataraman, Emery Usher, Marianna Tannus Ruckert, Wenzhi Song, Kathryn Shelley, Selin Schamiloglu, Julia Peloggia de Castro, Ines Patop, Ruhi Patel, Suranjana Pal, Bernie Simone Owusu Yaw, LaShae Nicholson, Sivapratha Nagappan Chettiar, Dallas Mould, Jessica Moore, Deka Mohamed, Sierra Marable, Annie Ly, Xi (Lucy) Lu, Deirdre Logsdon, Anna Lipkin, Ellen Lesser, Mia Konjikusic, Veronika Kondev, Cayla Jewett, Lucia Ichino, Erin Huiting, Maggie Horst, Isabella Gaeta, Martha Echevarria-Andino, Natasha Claxton, Sarah Cherkaoui, Nikita Bhalerao, Merci Best, Meenakshi Asokan, Alicer Andrew
011855
Reposted by Julia Willett
Alex Merz 🇺🇸🇨🇦🇺🇦 @merz.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
Reminder — UW #Microbiology has an open search for an Assistant Professor, focusing on fundamental problems in #bacteriology! If you or someone you know would be suitable, here's the ad: apply.interfolio.com/185622
Screenshot of the job listing linked in full above
27487
Reposted by Julia Willett
Noam Ross @noamross.net · 11/06/2026
Still all quiet on the #NSF front. No new awards in the past week. REMINDER: We still are hearing of trickles of terminations, suspensions, and money being held back from grantees, which NSF isn't reporting. We need your help - please report! 🧪 grant-witness.us/posts/2026-0...
08162
Reposted by Julia Willett
Michael D. Green, PhD @michaeldgreen.phd · 10/06/2026
Gave some comments for this story in @science.org about a study in JAMA that shows a devastating decrease in NIH fellowships awarded to Black and Hispanic scientists. A lot of early career people are having their future meddled with. Some groups unequally... www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
Study finds sharp decline in Black, Hispanic researchers receiving NIH funding
Drop in those receiving grants and fellowships in 2025 shows impact of Trump administration rollbacks to diversity initiatives
34636
Reposted by Julia Willett
Leah McElrath @leahmcelrath.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
The directive from Bari Weiss to make the protesters killed by ICE look “more violent” came after Scott Pelley voluntarily had already gone to great pains to make them look violent in the first place:
about what had happened — the killing of Renee G
pd, the killing of Alex Pretti, the protests. I felt it was very important to identify that the protesters themselves were being very aggressive and that they were half of these confrontations, and so I instructed my producers to find images in which we see the protesters acting aggressively. We found a picture of a protester chest-bumping an officer. We found a picture of an officer being hit in the head with a snowball. We culled together a lot of video of protesters screaming in the faces of officers because we were going to talk about the killing of Pretti and the killing of Good, and it seemed to me important to tell the audience about the entire context. I thought we'd done a really good job with this. We also included a picture of Alex Pretti before he was killed kicking out a taillight on a police car and made a point of saying, this is Alex Pretti and this is what he did.
822453703
Julia Willett @jlewillett.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
Science, public health, & infectious disease work are under attack & ASM chose to remove microbiology from their name. Would love to know the consulting fees for this redesign & how the $$ could have been used to support members (small conference grant program, travel awards, fellowships, etc.).
1131
Reposted by Julia Willett
Jennifer Goff, PhD @jlgoff.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
Bring back this logo actually
1263
Reposted by Julia Willett
Dan Vergano @danvergano.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
White House proposes new rules giving political appointees final approval of research grants These proposed Office of Management and Budget regulations would render the federal research grant review process opaque www.scientificamerican.com/article/whit...
scientificamerican.com
White House proposes new rules giving political appointees final say on research grants
These proposed Office of Management and Budget regulations would render the federal research grant review process opaque
44438236
Reposted by Julia Willett
Microbiology Society @microbiologysociety.org · 01/06/2026
Happy Pride Month! To celebrate, we’ve created a special collection of all the blogs we’ve published over the past few years about our wonderful LGBTQ+ community: microb.io/49zAmvF Look out for more to come this month! #Pride2026 #LGBTQSTEM Pride in Microbiology Pride in STEM
Progress Pride flag with a white microscope icon symbolising scientific research and inclusivity.
1259
Reposted by Julia Willett
Annika Barber @annikabarber.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
Megathread about responding to new OMB grant funding rules (feel free to add/link more!) I was collecting these for me, but figured I'd round 'em up for everyone 🧪 What's the problem? arstechnica.com/science/2026... elizabethginexi.substack.com/p/summary-of...
arstechnica.com
Proposed new US funding rules: We can cancel any grant at any time
Peer review now optional, political staff would screen grants for forbidden topics.
810387
Reposted by Julia Willett
Lauren Palmer @laurenpalmer.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
🚨Faculty job search: University of Illinois Chicago Micro & Immuno department is hiring! Open rank and open area within host-pathogen interactions. Apply by May 31 to join us in UI College of Medicine in the heart of Chicago! uic.csod.com/ux/ats/caree...
Image of UIC sculpture, recreation center, and Medical Sciences Building
584101
Reposted by Julia Willett
Reese Richardson @reeserichardson.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
TL;DR: We've identified more than 100 cases of apparent manipulation in Thermo Fisher Scientific's antibody verification data. @sholtodavid.bsky.social @johanduchene.bsky.social reeserichardson.blog/2026/05/28/h...
reeserichardson.blog
How much of Thermo Fisher’s antibody data has been manipulated?
We’ve documented more than 100 instances of apparent data manipulation in Thermo’s catalog
23591312
Reposted by Julia Willett
Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
I heard from several sources yesterday that NIH is planning to release a Request for Information (RFI) that apparently will include this: Scores and percentiles for NIH grant applications will not be shared with applicants although they will be provided to NIH program officers and staff. 1/3
static.klipy.com
Huh Kermit
ALT: Huh Kermit
14159103
Reposted by Julia Willett
bioRxiv Microbiology @biorxiv-microbiol.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Biofilm dispersion in Enterococcus faecalis is mediated by nutrient step-change and intra-species signaling www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/20…
021
Reposted by Julia Willett
Jenna Norton @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
Late in the afternoon on Friday (yesterday), HHS/NIH did 2 things: 1) They RIFd more employees (despite the extreme staffing shortages). 2) They sent announcements to supervisors letting them know people in their chain of command will be moved to the career/policy “at will” status. 🧵1/3
5298223
Reposted by Julia Willett
Leslie Rissler @ljrissler.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
I am shocked to see this language from the NSF. “The U.S. National Science Foundation's Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request reflects a strategic alignment of resources in a constrained fiscal environment while eliminating woke and weaponized grant programs that previously funded radical DEI projects.”
nsf.gov
Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request to Congress
44545280
Julia Willett @jlewillett.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
This is fine meme of dog sitting in room on fire
012
Reposted by Julia Willett
Jenna Norton @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
7/ In reality, my colleagues still inside NIH tell me that their assessments are largely ignored. Once a grant or application is picked up by the tool, they are almost never able to move the grant forward as is - regardless of the scientific justification.
16525
Reposted by Julia Willett
Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 01/03/2026
"Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed." -Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1953
422212437201
Reposted by Julia Willett
Dr. Michael D. L. Johnson @copperbae.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
STEM Black History Fact 23/28 George Washington Carver’s work on crop diversification improved nutrition, soil health, and food security, key determinants of public health. kids.nationalgeographic.com/science/arti...
kids.nationalgeographic.com
Black Scientists and Inventors | Black History Month
Learn about these inspiring men and women.
02617
Reposted by Julia Willett
Molly Jeffery, PhD MPP @mollyjeffery.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
HCMC is the trauma center where Renee Good and Alex Pretti and the children from the Annunciation shooting were cared for. They have the 24/7 hyperbaric service other hospitals send pts to. They house the regional poison center. They are our safety net hospital. We need them! We have to support them
114973
Reposted by Julia Willett
Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 24/02/2026
Aliya Rahman, woman who was dragged out of car by ICE in Minneapolis: "I've spent the last month learning the names of the tendons in my shoulder, because both of my shoulders are torn -- cartilage and tendons. But what I haven't learned is the names of the people who did this to me."
3882887610756
Reposted by Julia Willett
assbutt @nasboat.org · 23/02/2026
thinking about how Savannah Guthrie had to cancel her trip to work the Olympics because of her mom’s kidnapping but the guy who heads up the investigative body handling the case was posting pictures of himself in the US hockey locker room today lol
187128493299
Reposted by Julia Willett
Dr. Michael D. L. Johnson @copperbae.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
STEM Black History Fact 22/28 Dr. Louis Sullivan founded Morehouse School of Medicine to address healthcare inequities and diversify the biomedical workforce. www.pbs.org/education/bl...
pbs.org
Ten Black Scientists That Science Teachers Should Know About
Help your students see the possibilities of careers in STEM fields by providing them with diverse role models.
0229
Reposted by Julia Willett
Dr. Michael D. L. Johnson @copperbae.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
STEM Black History Fact 19/28 Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett co-designed the immunological blueprint for the Moderna COVID 19 vaccine, applying years of coronavirus and viral immunology research. hsph.harvard.edu/profile/kizz...
hsph.harvard.edu
Kizzmekia S Corbett-Helaire | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
097
Reposted by Julia Willett
Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
NSF Update Funding curve overall. A little bit of progress in the past week, but only a little bit. Now by Directorate... 1/11
A line curve showing number of awards for fiscal year 2026 compared to fiscal years 2021-2025 across NSF. The fiscal year 2026 curve lies well below curves for other fiscal years.
22518295