Nathan Whelan @nathan-whelan.bsky.social · 18/09/2026I'm recruiting at least one graduate student to join my lab in Fall 2027. See more here: nathanwhelan.com/assests/Grad...nathanwhelan.com 000
Nathan Whelan @nathan-whelan.bsky.social · 28/01/2026Personally, I don't think any amount of additional data is going to change anything. If a person cannot accept ctenophores sister as the most likely evolutionary history of animals at this point, I doubt they ever will. Maybe I'm not diplomatic enough about this issue lol. 052
Nathan Whelan @nathan-whelan.bsky.social · 28/01/2026I'm also of the opinion that when robust phylogenetic theory is applied to the question, there is no question that the ctenophore sister hypothesis is overwhelmingly supported by available data. 031
Nathan Whelan @nathan-whelan.bsky.social · 28/01/2026Glad to see this article. Nothing against anyone, but given my Letter to Science bringing up pretty much the same thing as others (albeit in less words because I think it should've been published as a regular letter) I'm surprised there was no mention of my work 241
Reposted by Nathan WhelanNature @nature.com · 27/01/2026For almost two decades, scientists have debated whether sponges or comb jellies are the first animal lineage. Now some are calling for a more harmonious approach Read the full story: go.nature.com/4q5giqz 0146
Nathan Whelan @nathan-whelan.bsky.social · 17/12/2025I posted an eLetter to the recent Science paper claiming strong evidence for sponges as the sister group to all other animals. The eLetter can be found under the original article. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...science.orgIntegrative phylogenomics positions sponges at the root of the animal treeDetermining whether sponges or ctenophores root the animal tree has important implications for understanding early animal evolution. Here, we examined support for these competing hypotheses by constru... 1197
Nathan Whelan @nathan-whelan.bsky.social · 28/08/2024I am recruiting Masters and Ph.D. students to work in my lab at Auburn University! Come join a dynamic research lab working on topics ranging from freshwater snail taxonomy to environmental DNA (eDNA) research. nathanwhelan.com/assests/GRA_... Please share! 110
Nathan Whelan @nathan-whelan.bsky.social · 25/03/2024I'm really excited to share this publication where my co-authors and I report on the rediscovery of Big Black Rocksnail! The species was thought to be extinct for at least 30 years. link.springer.com/journal/1053...link.springer.comBiodiversity and Conservation | Volumes and issuesVolumes and issues listings for Biodiversity and Conservation 120
Nathan Whelan @nathan-whelan.bsky.social · 12/02/2024It's a great night for Kansas City and therefore the world! 010
Nathan Whelan @nathan-whelan.bsky.social · 11/01/2024It's a somber day for Alabama, and therefore the world. 🐐🐐 010
Nathan Whelan @nathan-whelan.bsky.social · 02/01/2024Looking forward to #SICB2024. Four talks from my lab, all on Friday 030
Nathan Whelan @nathan-whelan.bsky.social · 26/11/2023A great night for The Tide, and therefore the world! 021
Nathan Whelan @nathan-whelan.bsky.social · 01/10/2023I'm still recruiting graduate students to start in August 2024. I'm going to be scheduling interviews soon. Students will have wide latitude to pursue research on systematics, conservation genetics, phylogenetics, and/or taxonomy on freshwater mollusks or fishes. 020
Nathan Whelan @nathan-whelan.bsky.social · 30/09/2023It looks like I'll be staying in Alaska until Wednesday! Yay open federal government! 010
Nathan Whelan @nathan-whelan.bsky.social · 24/09/2023Until I leave Alaska, this is pretty much a scenic pictures account. Great hike to the Harding Ice Field today! 020