Mark O. Martin @markowenmartin.bsky.social · 15mThree sad truths: (I) bullies are everywhere, (ii) many bullies don’t think they are bullies, and (iii) bullies do NOT moderate their behavior when you do what they want. I have no solutions, other than to urge others to protect the bullied. 000
Mark O. Martin @markowenmartin.bsky.social · 4hOn the bus to campus at the University of Canterbury in Ōtautahi Christchurch NZ I saw this building with giant tubes or conduits. I wonder what they are? 200
Mark O. Martin @markowenmartin.bsky.social · 5h@vectorgen.bsky.social Thank you for your thread about academia. I never had that kind of sober advice. Much appreciated—-I hope it can help many. 000
Mark O. Martin @markowenmartin.bsky.social · 7hMy bus stop on the campus of the University of Canterbury is Christchurch NZ is right here. The building is also the staff/faculty club. The building has an unusual history. Have you seen the movie “Heavenly Creatures” or read about it? 001
Reposted by Mark O. MartinJason Rasgon @vectorgen.bsky.social · 8hAs it is, as it was, as it always has been. Rule 17 people... "17. Do not have loyalty to your institution; they don’t have any for you. Never fool yourself; a tenure-track job is a mutually beneficial business arrangement. Do what is best for you" bsky.app/profile/vect... 1227
Mark O. Martin @markowenmartin.bsky.social · 21hJust my opinion, but being predictable is not a great goal.static.klipy.comJimchi Jim Chi ASMR: Chaotic & UnpredictableALT: Jimchi Jim Chi ASMR: Chaotic & Unpredictable 110
Mark O. Martin @markowenmartin.bsky.social · 03/10/2026I’m not a big sports fan, but this arena in Christchurch NZ is beautiful. And the day was also beautiful. 000
Mark O. Martin @markowenmartin.bsky.social · 03/10/2026Even 10,000 miles away, my fascination with luminous bacteria and branding is always with me. I isolated the bacterium locally from seawater, and now we have a genome sequence! Even though *I* likely won't be able to put on a #LuxArt show, the materials are now here. 070
Reposted by Mark O. MartinHenry Gee 亨利·纪 @endofthepier.bsky.social · 02/10/2026Asgard archaea movie in Mysterious Ways - and can tear up the strip at a searing rate of microns per minute. Paper in @nature.com www.nature.com/articles/s41...nature.comDynamic protrusions mediate crawling motility in Asgard archaea - NatureAnoxic live-cell imaging shows actin-dependent crawling motility and dynamic protrusions in Asgard archaea, providing insights into cellular innovations that may have contributed to eukaryotic evoluti... 1123
Mark O. Martin @markowenmartin.bsky.social · 03/10/2026@drhhnz.bsky.social has been my host during this fellowship in NZ. She left today for overseas, and will not return until after I fly back to the US. So she and her lab group took me out for a drink and conversation yesterday. It was a lovely time, and I remain very grateful. 060
Mark O. Martin @markowenmartin.bsky.social · 02/10/2026Some tough truths and gratitude for myself to think about this morning. I will keep trying. 010
Mark O. Martin @markowenmartin.bsky.social · 02/10/2026The beautiful campus at the University of Canterbury in Ōtautahi Christchurch NZ has surprises like this stream. I am told that eels swim through it. Nice place to meditate. 020
Mark O. Martin @markowenmartin.bsky.social · 02/10/2026Three weeks from today is the last day of my Erskine Fellowship at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch NZ. It has been an honor, but I miss my family and home. I have learned a lot, and hope I have brought value in exchange for the fellowship! 020
Mark O. Martin @markowenmartin.bsky.social · 02/10/2026Friday afternoon at the University of Canterbury in Ōtautahi Christchurch NZ. Lots to think about today. 010
Mark O. Martin @markowenmartin.bsky.social · 01/10/2026@baym.lol @sianowen.bsky.social I hope you and your colleagues' ears were burning this morning. Lab meeting with @drhhnz.bsky.social discussed this awesomely titled paper from your group, and how the ideas might be used locally: journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...journals.asm.org 153
Mark O. Martin @markowenmartin.bsky.social · 01/10/2026It has been interesting here on this fellowship at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch NZ. I have learned a lot, and hopefully shared some ideas. I am very grateful to my hosts here (and the students, of course). Just a few weeks left before I return to Tacoma. 1/4 110
Mark O. Martin @markowenmartin.bsky.social · 01/10/2026I’m so tired. Body and soul.static.klipy.comSo Tired Golden Retriever DogALT: So Tired Golden Retriever Dog 000
Mark O. Martin @markowenmartin.bsky.social · 01/10/2026The student Biology club here at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch NZ makes T-shirts. So I bought a couple. And received a nice "thank you" note. See why I enjoy working with students? 040
Reposted by Mark O. MartinGeorge Schaible @quantaofgeorge.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Great seminar today at #UCSB by @symbionticism.bsky.social discussing 100+ years of work on #Wolbachia! An impressive animal -> microbe -> virus interaction! 392
Reposted by Mark O. MartinJulia Frunzke @frunzkelab.bsky.social · 19/09/2026Proudly present our fantastic collaborative effort within SFB 1535 "Microbial networking" @mibinet.bsky.social now out in The ISME Journal. "Context-dependent siderophore exploitability shapes microbial community structure" academic.oup.com/ismej/advanc... @hhu.de @fz-juelich.de @dfg.de 34527
Mark O. Martin @markowenmartin.bsky.social · 29/09/2026I just want to thank the microbiology students at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, NZ. All lectures are recorded, so only a small percentage of the 80 students come to class. But I so appreciate those who do, and their curiosity and willingness to engage. I have always adored teaching. 190
Mark O. Martin @markowenmartin.bsky.social · 29/09/2026In my Microbiology course at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch NZ, I could not help myself in the mutation lecture from presenting the MEGAplate evolution experiment. Thank you, @baym.lol and @contaminatedsci.bsky.social This video is such a great teaching tool. youtu.be/plVk4NVIUh8?...youtu.beThe Evolution of Bacteria on a “Mega-Plate” Petri Dish (Kishony Lab)YouTube video by Harvard Medical School 1101
Mark O. Martin @markowenmartin.bsky.social · 29/09/2026One trouble with having received a lot of unfortunate negative feedback over the years is that you don't develop the skills to thank people for positive comments. And I am sorry about the awkwardness. 011
Mark O. Martin @markowenmartin.bsky.social · 29/09/2026Thoughts as I walked home from the bus station. 010
Mark O. Martin @markowenmartin.bsky.social · 29/09/2026Now, this is a sign I wish I owned. I have thoughts about where I would place it. 030
Reposted by Mark O. MartinOne Health Microbiome Center @psumbiome.bsky.social · 28/09/2026Another Matters Microbial hosted by @markowenmartin.bsky.social features one of our own, Jasna Kovac! This episode dives into the interactions between Listeria and other microbes and how these relationships can influence its survival. ▶️ Watch here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6A1b...youtube.comMatters Microbial #139: How Listeria Gets By With a Little Help From Its FriendsYouTube video by MicrobeTV 033
Mark O. Martin @markowenmartin.bsky.social · 28/09/2026I now have a Monday / Tuesday lecture schedule teaching introductory microbiology here at the University of Canterbury until the end of my fellowship. Yesterday's lecture was fine. Today's will be fun. I'm fighting a headcold, so I will head home after teaching to take a nap. Such a lovely campus. 040
Mark O. Martin @markowenmartin.bsky.social · 28/09/2026Another sign on my walk to the bus station this morning in Christchurch NZ. It made me deeply question my next set of decisions 060
Mark O. Martin @markowenmartin.bsky.social · 28/09/2026I saw this sign on my walk to the bus station today in Christchurch NZ. I have questions. 020
Reposted by Mark O. MartinJulia Willett @jlewillett.bsky.social · 27/09/2026After 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! 2293
Reposted by Mark O. MartinMonir Moniruzzaman @giantvirus.bsky.social · 27/09/2026Grand Prismatic Spring. Yellowstone National Park, 2026 #photography #hotspring #geothermal #yellowtone 1121
Mark O. Martin @markowenmartin.bsky.social · 27/09/2026This quote from WB Yeats haunts me. All I can do is temper my own strong opinions with this quote in mind, and try to focus on what I can do, where I am, with what I have. Arguing with people or calling them names does not change any minds. 030
Mark O. Martin @markowenmartin.bsky.social · 27/09/2026I almost trp’ed when I saw this sign in Christchurch. 080
Reposted by Mark O. MartinBrittany Sutherland @sutherlandbl.bsky.social · 27/09/2026Azula is the skink version of the, “…but then I lol’d” meme. 042
Mark O. Martin @markowenmartin.bsky.social · 27/09/2026A reminder that Azula the African Fire Skink enjoys a good joke. 1057149
Mark O. Martin @markowenmartin.bsky.social · 26/09/2026A cold and rainy day in Christchurch. So I slept in a couple of hours, and took the bus to the campus in the rain and wind. But first, a flat white coffee the "size of a bathtub" as the barista described it. Off to work... 170
Mark O. Martin @markowenmartin.bsky.social · 26/09/2026Still looking for Māori wisdom relating to microbes. So I searched some quotations of Māori proverbs, called whakataukī, and I think I have a good one. "Mã te têna, ka tu te tenei" • Meaning: By that small thing, this larger thing stands. After all, microbes were here first and do everything!static.klipy.comGreen Bacteria Under MicroscopeALT: Green Bacteria Under Microscope 030
Mark O. Martin @markowenmartin.bsky.social · 26/09/2026This appeared in my feed today. Yes, I miss Jennifer Quinn very much. Jenny is the "she" to my "nanigans." And the best part of my life. So much light! 030
Mark O. Martin @markowenmartin.bsky.social · 26/09/2026I wish I had a device that let me cool small bottles of liquid (100ml) to -2 to -6 degrees C. I have to tinker with alcohol and water ice. Not precise or reliable. Peltier technology? I’m not an engineer. 020
Mark O. Martin @markowenmartin.bsky.social · 26/09/2026@bradandthegoat has some great advice. Like this. I have always cared too much what other people think. Not a good strategy of life. 010
Mark O. Martin @markowenmartin.bsky.social · 26/09/2026Last night at the faculty club at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch NZ, I had a shandy, and got to hold a deep sea manganese nodule in my hand. I thought of @pgirguis.bsky.social and microbial respiration. #MicrobialCentrism. 170
Mark O. Martin @markowenmartin.bsky.social · 26/09/2026Saturday challenges. I forgot my electronic ID. But not my office keys. So bus to campus. Could not access the building. I had breakfast, did some shopping, and went home. Tomorrow is another day! 020
Mark O. Martin @markowenmartin.bsky.social · 25/09/2026Well, of course. Lycanthropes are human. Some of the time, anyway. 020
Mark O. Martin @markowenmartin.bsky.social · 25/09/2026I adore bacterial bioluminescence! Here I am years ago, illuminated by a stack of Petri dishes with Photobacterium. 5 seconds on one side of the stack, 5 seconds on the other. Fun! #MicrobialEvangelist #MicrobialCentricity #BacterialBioluminescence @microbetv.bsky.social @asm.org 030
Reposted by Mark O. MartinMaitreya Dunham @maitreya.bsky.social · 24/09/2026Exciting news: @uwgenome.bsky.social will be hiring for two tenure-track faculty positions this year, one open rank and one assistant professor. Both are “Genome Sciences” interpreted broadly so we welcome applicants working in a variety of fields and methods. Ad will be out shortly. 1104101
Mark O. Martin @markowenmartin.bsky.social · 25/09/2026Three times here on campus, I have had people come up to me to tell me that they had seen posts about my New Zealand adventure on social media. And, as I have seen, each one of them has been very kind. Many thanks.static.klipy.comBe Kind: Everyone Is Fighting Their Own BattleALT: Be Kind: Everyone Is Fighting Their Own Battle 140
Mark O. Martin @markowenmartin.bsky.social · 25/09/2026I am very touched that an old and respected friend referred to me this way...but it does make me sound like the Guy Fieri of microbiology. Which is actually pretty cool. 191
Mark O. Martin @markowenmartin.bsky.social · 25/09/2026@symbionticism.bsky.social has always seen parts of me that are not evident to me. But I certainly am a microbial enthusiast, a microbial evangelist, and stalwart proponent of microbial outreach. Thank you, Seth. As always. 141
Mark O. Martin @markowenmartin.bsky.social · 25/09/2026Harlan Ellison was a complicated person and great author. MUCH more combative than I have ever been. But this sentiment really resonates with me. I have worked hard to become a better person. I am no genius, but I am not stupid. It has always irked me to be treated that way. 100
