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Madeline G. Eppley, PhD

@madeline-eppley.bsky.social
2.2K followers 606 following 106 posts

northeastern university marine science center 🌊 marine pop gen, conservation, disease ecology, and lots of 🦪 {currently looking for a postdoc!} linktr.ee/madelineeppley 🦈🏳️‍🌈🦀

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Reposted by Madeline G. Eppley, PhD
Dr. K. Lotterhos @drk-lo.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
I'm hiring a bioinformatician! Review of applications starts October 1 with a start date as soon as possible. 🧪 #Genomics #popGen #CompBio northeastern.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/careers/job/...
northeastern.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com
Bioinformatician - Lotterhos Lab
About the Opportunity About the Center for Marine Ecological Genomics The successful candidate will be based at the Lotterhos Lab and the Center for Marine Ecological Genomics at Northeastern Marine S...
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Madeline G. Eppley, PhD @madeline-eppley.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
woah i will be defending soon!! 🦪🦪🦪 message me your email if you’d like the zoom link or come on out to the Marine Science Center if you’re in the boston area!! 🤠 @northeasternmes.bsky.social
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Reposted by Madeline G. Eppley, PhD
Aramati Casper @aramaticasper.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Why is there "no consensus" about sex in biology? Turns out, we're using seven different concepts. In "Evolution, development and the incoherence of sex" we name & elucidate these concepts. With Karen Warkentin and Jay Falk @jjinsing.bsky.social @sicbjournals.bsky.social doi.org/10.1093/icb/...
The cover of the article, in Integrative and Comparative Biology. The image caption is "Examples of seven biological phenomena sometimes called sex and the evolutionary relationships among them. The seven sex concepts are depicted with images: 0) horizontal gene transfer, 1) meiosis and syngamy, 2) anisogamy, 3) the gametes produced by an individual, 4) traits often associated with gamete production, 5) processes that bring gametes in proximity to facilitate syngamy, 6) processes/behaviors/traits derived from sex5.
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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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Reposted by Madeline G. Eppley, PhD
Molecular Ecology @molecology.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Congratulations to Andy Lee @andylee.bsky.social, winner of the 2026 Harry Smith Prize for his work on the genetic basis of adaptation in a range-expanding marine species with high dispersal. Andy recently defended his PhD at Purdue University. Read More: buff.ly/w8GY8u1 (1/2)
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Reposted by Madeline G. Eppley, PhD
Casey terHorst @ecoevolab.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
EEB Mentor Match is now open! But apps due soon (8/17). Mentees: get help applying for grad school or fellowships in ecology & evolution. Mentors: senior grads, post-docs, or faculty in these fields willing to give advice Org by Diversity Cmte of @asn-amnat.bsky.social Pls share! eebmentormatch.com
eebmentormatch.com
EEB Mentor Match
Visit the post for more.
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Reposted by Madeline G. Eppley, PhD
Tree of Sex @treeofsex.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
As everyone's winding down on #evol2026 we want to share our survey link with you again. Whether you work in reproductive biology specifically or not, please take a minute to help us understand how the scientific community uses reproductive terms in research! And hope to see you at #SMBE!
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Reposted by Madeline G. Eppley, PhD
Dr Kathleen Millen @neurodevkathy.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
🚨 Heads up. Time to keep submitting comments. NSF is planning to comply in advance to OMB proposed grant policies. Comment by Aug 24. You should be an expert on this now!!
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Reposted by Madeline G. Eppley, PhD
Andy Lee, PhD @andylee.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
In our Viewpoint (onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...) we synthesize the gametic definition (outlined by Janicke et al below) and other definitions of sex (e.g., multivariate definition). We contend that is NO consensus on “biological sex” (maybe a consensus isn’t actually necessary…)
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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Reposted by Madeline G. Eppley, PhD
Carl T. Bergstrom @carlbergstrom.com · 12/07/2026
My coauthor Jay Falk's postdoctoral fellowship was terminated by the Trump administration for documenting the hummingbird example in this paper.
FIGURE 2
Open in figure viewer
PowerPoint
Operational biological sex definitions applied to hummingbirds (Bleiweiss 1992; Bleiweiss 1999; Bleiweiss 2001; Diamant et al. 2021; Falk et al. 2022; Falk et al. 2021) where sex is operationally defined by binary plumage phenotypes in the field. Each row depicts a wild individual hummingbird with morphological traits (beak length, plumage coloration), behavioural traits (territoriality) and their unobserved gamete type. This example illustrates how the same individual can be operationally defined as one sex in the field (based on external phenotypes) but classified as a different sex based on their gametes (which cannot be easily observed in the field), highlighting how definitional choices shape scientific reporting of sex.
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Reposted by Madeline G. Eppley, PhD
Peter Ellis @pjie2.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
Let biological sex be multifaceted, as all biology is. And when you need to be precise in scientific research, be precise. Say ‘gametic sex’ or ‘chromosomal sex’ or ‘anatomical sex’, or whatever is appropriate to your own work.
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Reposted by Madeline G. Eppley, PhD
Andy Lee, PhD @andylee.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
today seems like a good day to repost our Viewpoint!!
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Madeline G. Eppley, PhD @madeline-eppley.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
3 Scientists Talk Queer Ecology! 🐠🦋🪲 www.possibilities.news/scientists-t... thank you to @yessfun.com for interviewing me and my friends-coauthors. we chat about ecology, queer identities, biological sex, and the current science-policy landscape. #PrideInSTEM 🏳️‍⚧️
possibilities.news
3 Scientists Talk Queer Ecology
The federal government may shun research on queer ecology, but that's not stopping these three scientists.
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Reposted by Madeline G. Eppley, PhD
Lily Khadempour @khadlily.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
On this last day of #Evol2026, a reminder to sign up for the ASN Stand Alone meeting, on the East Coast of the US for the first time! www.amnat2027.org Registration is open. It's a small conference and spots are limited.
amnat2027.org
ASN Stand Alone Meeting 2027
Jan 8-12 - Long Island, NY. Learn more about the conference and register here!
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Madeline G. Eppley, PhD @madeline-eppley.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
I’m presenting a poster on two (!) chapters of my PhD at #Evol2026 Drop by C-03 tomorrow (6/21) to chat with me about eastern oyster pop gen and genetic strategies of parasite mitigation. 🦪🦠 I’m also on the lookout for a postdoc 👀 and would love to connect with anyone about a potential good fit!
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Reposted by Madeline G. Eppley, PhD
Society for Conservation Biology @society4conbio.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Australia’s first Sea Country Indigenous Protected Area, Karajarri Jurarr Ngurra, will protect 237,489 hectares of Kimberley coast, reefs, mudflats & culturally vital places. #IndigenousConservation #Australia #protectedarea
news.mongabay.com
Australia establishes the first Sea Country Indigenous Protected Area
Founder’s Briefs: An occasional series where Mongabay founder Rhett Ayers Butler shares analysis, perspectives and story summaries. For the Karajarri people of Kimberley in northwestern Australia, the...
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Reposted by Madeline G. Eppley, PhD
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution @whoi.edu · 01/05/2026
Why did oysters struggle to survive last winter's deep freeze? With New England shellfish farmers losing up to 50% of their yields, @seagrant.whoi.edu experts say it may be time to explore new techniques. 📲Get the full story from @bostonglobe.com: go.whoi.edu/bg-oyster
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Madeline G. Eppley, PhD @madeline-eppley.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
Chesapeake Bay oyster disease manuscript coming sooooon 👀
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Reposted by Madeline G. Eppley, PhD
Karyn Anderson @karynanderson.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Your annual pride month reminder that nature is more queer than we know 🌈 www.theguardian.com/science/arti...
theguardian.com
Animal homosexual behaviour under-reported by scientists, survey shows
Study finds same-sex sexual behaviour in primates and other mammals widely observed but seldom published
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Madeline G. Eppley, PhD @madeline-eppley.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
✨🌈💡kicking off pride month by sharing our new article on using queer perspectives to improve practice in #ecology and #evolution. Bobby Dellinger presented a stellar overview of our work last month at the UCLA Thinking Gender 2026 conference, which you can watch here! #PrideInSTEM 🧪
youtube.com
Where Do We Go from Here? Harnessing Queer Perspectives to Advance Practice in Ecology
YouTube video by Center for the Study of Women Streisand Center
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Reposted by Madeline G. Eppley, PhD
CosmicRami 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @rami.spaceaustralia.com · 02/06/2026
If you're looking to queer up your timelines with enriching STEM content this #Pride, then @prideinstem.bsky.social has you covered with these three excellent starter packs! go.bsky.app/BFc4wgf go.bsky.app/Cw9bRYZ go.bsky.app/Cw9bRYZ Lift queer voices this month!
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Reposted by Madeline G. Eppley, PhD
Dr Andrew Mahon @andyantarctica.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
This one hits home to the Polar Programs community.... "NSF continues to offer fellowship opportunities ...in the fields of engineering, entrepreneurial research, mathematics and physical sciences. ..postdocs in biology are available only if they involve the use of artificial intelligence." 🧪🌎🇦🇶🌊
eos.org
NSF Eliminates Geoscience Postdocs - Eos
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has eliminated its postdoctoral fellowship funding for Earth scientists.
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Reposted by Madeline G. Eppley, PhD
Jarrett Byrnes @jebyrnes.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Want to hear about the next Benthics meeting? Join our new mailing list! #bem2027
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Reposted by Madeline G. Eppley, PhD
Northeastern College of Science @northeasterncos.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
How connected are we to nature? A new report featuring research from Professors Brian Helmuth and John Coley explores how our relationship with nature impacts biodiversity and decision-making. Our choices matter more than we think. 🧪 Read more: bit.ly/4dr5Zc2 #COSConnects #MarineScience
bit.ly
Nature report links wildlife trends to human well-being
Northeastern scientists led a chapter on why the human connection to nature is important for the future of the planet.
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Reposted by Madeline G. Eppley, PhD
Moisés A. Bernal @evofish.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
Excited to share this manuscript from my lab, where we describe and compare the genomes of the trans-isthmian species Abudefduf saxatilis and A. troschelii. Available now on @genomebiolevol.bsky.social @smithsonianmag.bsky.social academic.oup.com/gbe/advance-...
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Reposted by Madeline G. Eppley, PhD
People and Nature @peopleandnature.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
🌎️Participatory fuzzy cognitive model reveals shallow and deep leverage points for agroecological adoption in Oaxaca, Mexico. The study illustrates a novel approach for bridging theory and practice toward a more equitable, sustainable future 📖 buff.ly/78HIXfo
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Reposted by Madeline G. Eppley, PhD
NH Sea Grant @nhseagrant.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
Not all heroes wear capes, some are simply mollusks. 🦪 Dive below the surface of oyster restoration with Brianna and Kelsey from @nature.org on this month’s #TimeAndTide podcast episode! 🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts! 📷: Nate Gruen from PREP, highlighting a healthy NH oyster reefs.
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Reposted by Madeline G. Eppley, PhD
Caroline VanSickle (she/her) @cvansickle.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
Surprised to learn scientists can't agree on a definition of sex? Don't be! To be honest, we can't even agree on a definition of species. Many so-called natural categories are hard to define once we look at the evidence. Biology is too complex for simple definitions, which is a feature, not a bug.
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Reposted by Madeline G. Eppley, PhD
Jarrett Byrnes @jebyrnes.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
Just a reminder - if you are looking to advertise opportunities in marine science in the New England area, or look for marine science opportunities in the marine science area, the New England Marine Science opportunities listserv is your place to be! groups.google.com/g/ne_marine_... 🧪🌊🌍
groups.google.com
New England Marine Science Opportunities - Google Groups
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Reposted by Madeline G. Eppley, PhD
Sarah W. Davies Ph.D. @daviesswphd.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
Excited to see this out after years of work from many folks in the field and lab. @ben-glass.bsky.social did such a lovely job of doing this work justice! 2023 heatwave was no joke in Bocas..... Global Change Biology | onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Legacy Effects of an Extreme Marine Heatwave on a Stress‐Tolerant Coral
This work explored the effects of an unprecedented marine heatwave on the reef-building coral Siderastrea siderea across four sites (Cristobal Island, Hospital Point, Punta Donato, and STRI Point) on...
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Reposted by Madeline G. Eppley, PhD
Karyn Anderson @karynanderson.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
What is the relationship between science and society? How does culture impact the production and dissemination of knowledge? In this new paper, Eppley et al interrogate how systems of oppression bias our research, and how Queer perspectives can address these. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Where We Go From Here: Harnessing Queer Perspectives to Advance Practice in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Science and society continuously shape one another; this relationship determines what science is funded, which inquiries are pursued, and whose voices are included in the production and dissemination...
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Reposted by Madeline G. Eppley, PhD
Andy Lee, PhD @andylee.bsky.social · 04/04/2026
📣 A perspective with @allydefduf.bsky.social @madeline-eppley.bsky.social and others out in @ecol-evol.bsky.social 📣 Drawing from queer lived experiences, we offer new perspectives to confront existing biases in #ecology and #evolution. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Where We Go From Here: Harnessing Queer Perspectives to Advance Practice in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Science and society continuously shape one another; this relationship determines what science is funded, which inquiries are pursued, and whose voices are included in the production and dissemination...
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Reposted by Madeline G. Eppley, PhD
Yung En Chee @yungenchee.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
On this Trans Day of Visibility, please enjoy & learn something from this fascinating & clarifying read from @madeline-eppley.bsky.social, @andylee.bsky.social, Robert Dellinger & @allydefduf.bsky.social Read👉 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.... (🙏 for this excellent work & actionable recs!)
Screenshot of the title page of an article in Ecology Letters

TITLE: There is No Consensus on Biological Sex

Madeline G. Eppley. A, Andy Lee Robert Dellinger, Ally Swank

First published: 05 March 2026 | https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.70350

Editor: Greg F. Grether
Madeline Eppley and Andy Lee contributed equally and are co-first authors.

ABSTRACT

There is ongoing scientific and societal discourse on the definition of biological sex. At this critical moment when misinformation about sex is being applied to policy globally, scientific clarification is valuable. Here, we evaluate the primary approaches to defining sex and synthesise the active discourse to conclude that there is no current consensus on a definition of sex that is free of assumptions and limitations. While there is no current consensus, we do not advocate for a single definition and contend that a lack of unanimity is not inherently problematic. No matter what definitional choices are used, we provide actionable recommendations to improve accuracy when describing sex. Most importantly, regardless of scientific debates, no biological definition of sex should be used to dictate human rights.
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Dr. K. Lotterhos @drk-lo.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
Seasonal job available in Burlington, VT in invasive pest ecologcal genomics! The successful candidate will work with myself and @jcbnunez.bsky.social on seasonal adaptation in Drosophila susukii. #popGen #evolution #genomics 🧪🧬🖥️ Apply by April 7: northeastern.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/careers/job/...
northeastern.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com
Research Assistant
About the Opportunity JOB SUMMARY The Lotterhos Lab at Northeastern University, in collaboration with the Nunez lab and the Institute for Agroecology at the University of Vermont (UVM), invites applic...
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Reposted by Madeline G. Eppley, PhD
Kylea Garces, PhD @ellewoodsofmyco.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
Excited to share our new paper, “Microbial ecology for all: A vision of accessibility, unity, and responsibility.” Thankful to the people I worked with on this and to be growing as an early-career researcher in the field!! 🍄 esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Microbial ecology for all: A vision of accessibility, unity, and responsibility
Microorganisms are ubiquitous in nature, representing a significant portion of global biodiversity and playing vital roles in ecosystem functions, biogeochemical cycles, and organismal health. The gr...
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Reposted by Madeline G. Eppley, PhD
Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
NSF Update through March 13, 2026 1/2
A line graph of the number of NSF awards in fiscal 2026 compared to fiscal years 2021-2025. The fiscal year 2026 is well below the other curves and increasing only very slowly.
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Reposted by Madeline G. Eppley, PhD
Jack Stack @jackstack.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
Looks interesting after a short scan. I also note that a gamete based definition won’t work for the majority of extinct animals, beyond the extremely rare cases where a pregnant individual or gamete is preserved (as has happened with a handful of extinct fishes). Important to think about!
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Reposted by Madeline G. Eppley, PhD
Nicole Gerlach @ngerlach.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
Fantastic paper! I was coincidentally thinking earlier today about how we sex baby juncos (genetic) and juveniles (wing size) and what the error rates are. I thought "at least we can tell for reproductive adults", but this paper reminded me that it's possible we're getting some of those wrong too.
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Emily Trytten @emily-trytten.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
I’m really excited to have recently published my first chapter of my dissertation, which is also my first ever first author paper! 🌟 We identified a basin-wide pathogen candidate for white band disease in the Caribbean! 🪸🧪 doi.org/10.1093/isme...
doi.org
Tank-based bacterial profiling identifies basin-wide white band disease pathogen candidate and no bacterial associations with coral disease resistance
Abstract. White band disease (WBD) has decimated the Caribbean staghorn coral, Acropora cervicornis, since its emergence in 1979, but its etiology remains
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Madeline G. Eppley, PhD @madeline-eppley.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
ICYMI: in our new paper, we contend there is "no current consensus on a definition of sex that is free of assumptions and limitations... and most importantly,...no biological definition of sex should be used to dictate human rights" #evolsky #LGBTQSTEM #ecology #evolution #biologicalsex
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Andy Lee, PhD @andylee.bsky.social · 11/12/2025
I am still actively looking for postdoc positions — please lmk if you (or your friends and colleagues) need a hardworking postdoc with field, lab, and bioinformatic skills! I am broadly interested in evolution in the ocean, conservation and population genetics, and rapid 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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Lauren "Hope is Praxis" Lastname @verbingnouns.bsky.social · 07/03/2026
Basically what we've been saying about using gender in human research, too!
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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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Eric G. Prileson @egprileson.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
V. important perspective piece by @madeline-eppley.bsky.social & @andylee.bsky.social on biological sex and why a lack of scientific consensus should not be used to dictate human rights doi.org/10.1111/ele.... 🧪
doi.org
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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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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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Andy Lee, PhD @andylee.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
Paper accepted!!! Beyond honored to have worked with fellow queer ECRs (@madeline-eppley.bsky.social, @allydefduf.bsky.social and others not on bsky) to critically examine our field's relationship with the queer community, and how we can leverage Queer perspectives to conduct more accurate science!!
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Casey terHorst @ecoevolab.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
Please apply to join the Diversity Committee of the American Society of Naturalists! www.amnat.org/announcement...
Flyer that says American Society of Naturalists Diversity Committee. The DC works to promote diversity, equity, and inclusiveness to enhance the study of evolution, ecology, and behavior and to foster the career of its developing scientists. We pursue initiatives that support marginalized groups, which include helping to create an inclusive, accessible environment at the Evolution conference, the stand-alone ASN meeting, and our field in general. Apply by November 1. Seeking two new members starting Jan 2026. 3 year term
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