iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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PLOS Biology @plosbiology.org · 20/07/2026

Sublinear #DensityDependence is widely reported empirically, but is at odds with theory. @jamesaorr.bsky.social &co use a tightly controlled test in a microbial model system to reveal superlinear density dependence, so aligning empirical evidence with theory @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/4vwAmEZ

Top: Schematic of the empirical application of growth-density inversion, where the classic density dependence perspective (blue) is inverted (green) to overcome the challenges of manipulating densities. The authors first parametrised a consumer-resource model using batch culture growth assays (Approach 1) and performed growth-density inversion analytically (Box 1). Then, in a model-free empirical implementation of growth-density inversion, they experimentally manipulated harvest rate and quantified densities at equilibrium by varying the dilution rate in a chemostat system (Approach 2). Bottom left: Parametrised Monod growth function with 100 posterior draws representing uncertainty. The inset shows the analytical prediction for the density dependence of this parametrised consumer–resource model. Bottom right: Inverse-logistic model fitted to the experimental data with 95% credible intervals. Inset shows the same data and model with axes inverted to give the classic density dependence perspective.

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Michael Sieber @michaelsieber.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Have ideas for your own, independent research program in Theoretical Biology? Then come and join us as a Group Leader at the @mpi-evolbio.bsky.social in Plön, Germany!

mpg.de

Group Leader in Theoretical Biology (m/f/d)

Experience in Theoretical Biology, Applied Mathematics, Theoretical Physics

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fbm-unil.bsky.social @fbm-unil.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

🎉 Félicitations aux professeures 𝗦𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗠𝗶𝘁𝗿𝗶 @saramitri.bsky.social @dmf-unil.bsky.social et 𝗧𝗮𝗻𝗷𝗮 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 au Département d’écologie et évolution @fbm-unil.bsky.social @unil.bsky.social qui reçoivent chacune un ERC Advanced Grant @erc.europa.eu 👉 www.unil.ch/news/fr/1781...

unil.ch

Deux ERC Advanced Grants pour la FBM

Les professeures Sara Mitri, au Département de microbiologie fondamentale, et Tanja Schwander, au Département d’écologie et évolution de l’Unil, reçoivent chacune un ERC Advanced Grant de l’European R...

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Oliver Meacock @olimeacock.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

New preprint from @saramitri.bsky.social and me: tinyurl.com/3dsjnm4d The headline result - we derive a general way to connect mechanistic ecosystem models to the gLV equation. This reveals that strengthening cooperative mechanisms can make effective gLV interactions increasingly competitive. Weird!

doi.org

Emergent competition resolves the paradox of stable microbial mutualisms

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Oliver Meacock @olimeacock.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

Delighted to see this out in its final form! doi.org/10.1093/isme... We established a discussion group focussed on the history of community ecology and how it informs our understanding of microbiota. This review distils those discussions to provide a guide for microbiologists entering the field

doi.org

A microbiologist’s field guide to community ecology

Abstract. Many microbiological outcomes are shaped by the determinants of community composition, including the factors that allow pathogens to invade healt

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Oliver Meacock @olimeacock.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Last few days to submit an abstract for this - a wonderful opportunity to get some experience in the art of the chalk talk!

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Oliver Meacock @olimeacock.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

This was great fun in 2024! Really worthwhile supporting this sustainable conference format, particularly if you enjoy dipping into talks at all hours of the day Hopefully I will see some GMT +00:00 inhabitants in Manchester and the rest of you on the big screen!

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MEEhubs @meehubs.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

MEEHubs2026 registration and abstract submission is now online! 🚨🦠✨ Join us Aug 3 - 5, 2026 at one of the 7 hubs or online. We are incredibly excited about our lineup of speakers, and hope that you submit an abstract to contribute too! More information and registration links at: meehubs.org

meehubs.org

Home

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 09/03/2026

What a joy to finally share the cover of The Organism–Environment Pairing (@mitpress.bsky.social)! The 📗 will be out on May 12 📆! I look forward to the conversations it sparks among scientists, philosophers & historians! mitpress.mit.edu/978026205282... #evosky #histsci #philsci #philsky #booksky 🌱🐋

Book cover with a green gradient background for "The Organism–Environment Pairing: A Historical and Philosophical Reappraisal" by Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda (MIT Press, 2026). The book series label “The Vienna Series in Theoretical Biology” appears at the top. The title is set in large, bold lettering using three colors: white (“The” and “Pairing”), warm yellow (“Organism–”), and bright green (“Environment”). The subtitle appears below in smaller white text, and the author’s name is printed at the bottom. In the lower right, a monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) rests on clusters of pink milkweed flowers. Behind it, a large pale-green butterfly silhouette fills the background; its outline follows the shape of a red lacewing butterfly (Cethosia biblis). The layered butterflies visually echo the book’s central idea of an organism–environment pairing.

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Life Sciences Switzerland (LS2) @lifesciswitzerland.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

Register for Theory across Biology 2026: 12 June, Bern. One-day meeting on mathematical & theoretical approaches in biology with chalk talks and flip-chart sessions. Ideal for theorists, modelers, and interdisciplinary biologists. Abstracts by: 10 May 2026 Register by: 24 May 2026: buff.ly/svAZ8NF

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Oliver Meacock @olimeacock.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

Last few days before the deadline! Please get in touch if you (or anyone you know) are interested

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Oliver Meacock @olimeacock.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

Do you have an interest in quantitative microbiology and interdisciplinary research? I'm recruiting a UK PhD student to develop high-throughput ecological screens to help us understand how chemical inputs impact microbial ecosystems: www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

findaphd.com

Identifying how chemicals shape microbial diversity through high-throughput ecological screens at University of Sheffield on FindAPhD.com

PhD Project - Identifying how chemicals shape microbial diversity through high-throughput ecological screens at University of Sheffield, listed on FindAPhD.com

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Oliver Meacock @olimeacock.bsky.social · 08/12/2025

One week left to submit an abstract for this! Sun, sea and spectacular speakers - what more can you ask for from a conference? If you are interested but are being put off by travel costs or fees, get in touch - we will be offering bursaries and fee discounts for selected participants

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Rob Fagan @robfagan.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

🚨 Fully funded PhD studentships 🚨 We have three fully funded PhD studentships available for Oct 26 start. Funded by the MRC DiMeN programme & the BBSRC Yorkshire Biosciences DTP. Details below as they are advertised. Contact me here or via email for more details or to discuss an application

sites.google.com

Clostridial Cell Biology Group

We are the Clostridial Cell Biology Group at the University of Sheffield. We study all aspects of cell biology, including the architecture and biogenesis of surface structures on both vegetative cells...

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Rachel M. Wheatley @rachelmwheatley.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

🔊 Applications for the tenure-track illuminate global challenge fellowships at Queen’s are now open! Comes with 5 years protected research time, a PhD studentship, & 60k start-up. I had one of these before getting my FLF, happy to chat to anyone interested! www.qub.ac.uk/Research/fel...

qub.ac.uk

Our Illuminate Global Challenges Fellowships | Research | Queen's University Belfast

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Oliver Meacock @olimeacock.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

I am excited to announce two PhD opportunities! Come and join our interdisciplinary team in Sheffield, UK. - Destroying forever chemicals with microbes and cold plasma: tinyurl.com/mth8ymx5 - Learning how motile bacteria make decisions: tinyurl.com/2hmc9a8u UK and overseas students welcome to apply!

tinyurl.com

ECOSOLUTIONS DFA - Harnessing microbes and cold plasma to concentrate and destroy ‘forever chemicals’ in food associated ecosystems at University of Sheffield on FindAPhD.com

PhD Project - ECOSOLUTIONS DFA - Harnessing microbes and cold plasma to concentrate and destroy ‘forever chemicals’ in food associated ecosystems at University of Sheffield, listed on Find...

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Oliver Meacock @olimeacock.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

I'm delighted to announce that the Interdisciplinary Challenges (IntCha) meeting is returning in April 2026! Abstract submission is now open. We encourage young scientists working at the interface between biology and physics to join us at the IESC in Corsica. Website here: intcha26.sciencesconf.org

The Institut d'Études Scientifiques (IESC), on the coast of Corsica.

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Tung Le @tunglejic.bsky.social · 03/10/2025

Independent research fellowships leading to tenured positions at the John Innes Centre. Repost = nice. Thank you very much!!!

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MEEhubs @meehubs.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

We’re back! ✨ The next #MeeHubs26 is coming with 7 hubs across the globe and incredible lineups at each. Can’t wait to share more soon! meehubs.org

meehubs.org

Home

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Susan Schlimpert @s-lab.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

New Independent Fellowship position in Microbiology to launch your lab in our department @johninnescentre.bsky.social (UK). We are conducting a broad search in the area of plant-associated microbial interactions. Message me if you have any questions. Apply here: www.jic.ac.uk/vacancies/in...

jic.ac.uk

Independent Fellowship in Plant-Associated Microbial Interactions | John Innes Centre

An exciting opportunity for an Independent Fellowship in Plant-Associated Microbial Interactions has arisen at the John Innes Centre. To read the full job description for this role…

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Jan-Willem Veening @veeninglab.com · 10/06/2025

New tenure track assistant professor position in molecular microbiology in our department @dmf-unil.bsky.social @unil.bsky.social! We are casting a wide net for an experimental molecular microbiologist. Apply here: wwwfbm.unil.ch/releve/appli...

wwwfbm.unil.ch

DMF: Tenure Track Assistant Professor towards Associate Professor in Molecular Microbiology - Site des postulations FBM

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PLOS Biology @plosbiology.org · 22/05/2025

#Bacteria use weapons to outcompete rivals, but what happens if they're transferred? @prokaryota.bsky.social @jdpal.bsky.social &co show that HGT of toxin #plasmids is rare but recipients can thrive under relaxed nutrient competition, reshaping bacterial warfare @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/43vC3X7

Modeling predicts that metabolic diversity increases the ecological impacts of weapon gene transfer. Modeling scenarios for each column are shown across the top row. Bottom row: Example dynamics of the strains (attacker, target, transconjugant) during a contest using parameters that correspond to the cross (X) shown in the parameter sweeps directly below.

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Matthew Asker @masker.science · 24/03/2025

If you're at the @physicsoflifeuk.bsky.social Physics of Life 2025 conference, come talk to me at my poster (#23) later on today! I'm looking at fixation and extinction on time-fluctuating metapopulations 🦠

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Simon van Vliet @simonvanvliet.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

There is still time to apply to the Alma Dal Co School on Collective Behaviour! The deadline has been extended till March 16th. We would especially welcome applications from members of underrepresented groups. Limited travel grants are available. Apply now and join us! almadalcoschool.github.io

almadalcoschool.github.io

Home

The Alma Dal Co School on Collective Behaviour

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Isabella Tomanek @bellatom.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

Come join our fun community @ox.ac.uk! Two postdoc positions available in the fabulous Slack and Foster labs www.fosterlab.uk/vacancies

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Oliver Meacock @olimeacock.bsky.social · 02/01/2025

Our framework explaining why ecological interactions change between contexts is out in Ecology Letters! A lovely collaboration with @saramitri.bsky.social which provides experimentally-testable links between the physiology and ecology of microbes. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Environment‐Organism Feedbacks Drive Changes in Ecological Interactions

Ecological interactions are central to our understanding of the composition and function of communities, but attempts to use them as a theoretical foundation for experimental ecology have been confou....

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Erin E. Cutts @eecutts.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

Please share: Still plenty of time to apply for PhD projects in my lab using single-molecule methods to look at disordered regions and condensin complexes! Contact me at e.cutts@sheffield.ac.uk For details on how to apply: www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

findaphd.com

Developing Imaging Solutions to Study the Dynamics of Human Condensin I at University of Sheffield on FindAPhD.com

PhD Project - Developing Imaging Solutions to Study the Dynamics of Human Condensin I at University of Sheffield, listed on FindAPhD.com

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Marco Mauri @marcomauri.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

PopDyn is on Winter break. We are working on the list of speakers for the 2025 sites.google.com/view/popdyn/ I take the occasion to share the Alma Dal Co School on Collective Behaviour (Venice 29/09-4/10 2025) with an amazing line up of speakers in memory of Alma Dal Co. almadalcoschool.github.io

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Oliver Meacock @olimeacock.bsky.social · 12/11/2024

New(ish) paper out: It's not just the Rohirrim who fight better when mobile. We combine active matter theory with experiments to explore the impact of bacterial motility on short-range weapons. And it's big - we find up to a 10,000x enhancement of weapon efficacy! doi.org/10.1093/isme...

doi.org

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Séamus Holden 🔬🦠🧫 @seamusholden.bsky.social · 08/11/2024

Join us! 4 Assistant/ Associate Professor posts available at University of Warwick School of Life Sciences, 2 in Host-Pathogen interactions and 2 in Plant Sciences: warwick-careers.tal.net/vx/lang-en-G... warwick-careers.tal.net/vx/lang-en-G... #microsky

warwick-careers.tal.net

Assistant or Associate Professor (Host-Pathogen Interactions) (109794-1024) - University of Warwick

Title: Assistant or Associate Professor (Host-Pathogen Interactions) (109794-1024). Application Deadline:

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