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Daniel Padfield

@padpadpadpad.bsky.social
1.5K followers 831 following 424 posts

Microbial ecologist/carer. NERC IRF and MRF Emerging Leaders Fellow at the University of Exeter in Penryn. I like warming up bacteria, open & reproducible science, making focaccia, and exercise.

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Daniel Padfield @padpadpadpad.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Technological advances making us regress back to ways we did things years ago was definitely not on my bingo card.
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Daniel Padfield @padpadpadpad.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
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Daniel Padfield @padpadpadpad.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
You know your life is going well when it's covered by @georgemonbiot.bsky.social. Severe ME takes everything and yet we don't know how to treat it. The NHS regularly just ignores sufferers as a result.
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Willard Foxton @willardfoxton.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
I think it's absolutely mad that today there's a *national news story* about 400 oil platform workers losing their jobs, and the government being blamed. 25% of the UK TV industry lost their jobs in the last 4 years and we never hear a peep about it! Some jobs are 'real jobs' I guess.
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Ellie Jameson @elliejameson.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
MScRes bursary of £2000 available at Bangor University to study Bacteriophages as natural biocontrols for plant pathogens. Deadline is 19th October. Please contact me for more details #PhageSky #MicroSky
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George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Intending to write another column about the treatment of #ME/CFS patients this week, pegged to new research findings on the biological basis. My question for sufferers: Are any of you still being offered inappropriate (psych/GET etc) "treatments"? Please email george at monbiot dot info. Thanks.
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Daniel Padfield @padpadpadpad.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
The pathways to job security - let alone independence - for ECRs are becoming more strained year after year.
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Ran Blekhman @blekhman.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
The AI Discourse in Academia is Toxic. It Doesn’t have to be. My new post: blekhman.substack.com/p/the-ai-dis...
blekhman.substack.com
The AI Discourse in Academia is Toxic. It Doesn’t have to be.
You are allowed to have a nuanced opinion about AI
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Christopher Wheat @chriswheat.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Blaming AI agents when they escape sandboxes is like blaming lions for escaping a zoo. The company is responsible, they should be sued for accountability. Nothing complicated about it.
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Eric Ravenscraft @lordravenscraft.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
holy shit, this is the whole ballgame in a single paragraph gAI systems require mass theft of copyrighted works, for the explicit purpose of replacing the market for the people they stole from, and the people in charge knew what they were doing ahead of time, and did it anyway
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Martin Modrák @modrakm.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
I will be looking for a PhD student in Bayesian statistics (in collaboration with Paul Bürkner), located in Prague. Forward to students if you have somebody who could be interested. www.martinmodrak.cz/grammo-call/
martinmodrak.cz
Grammo - Let's Research Bayes!
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Daniel Padfield @padpadpadpad.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
I have an MRC-funded PhD project available (gw4biomed.ac.uk/how-does-tem...) on how warming will change the problem of AMR. Join a small and friendly group (padpadpadpad.netlify.app/about) in (sometimes) sunny Cornwall. 🧪🦠 #microsky **Please share** the ad below with anyone who may be interested.
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Daniel C. Blight @danielcblight.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
***URGENT PLEASE SHARE*** University of Brighton management have announced today that they ‘give notice of termination of all collective agreements’. This is a fundamental erasure of workers' rights. Management have announced the termination of all contractual documents, which includes:
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Daniel Padfield @padpadpadpad.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
@npariente.bsky.social how strict is the Results and Discussion before Methods for first submission to @plosbiology.org? We find it easier - and generally prefer - to write it up with Methods first. As Plos has progressive publishing policies I am wondering if more relaxed guidelines now exist?
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Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
This - from a psychologist who notes, btw, that "Even professors find making friends anxiety-provoking"- is great. If anyone you know is starting university this week or very soon, do flick it on. It might really help and reassure them.
theconversation.com
Why making friends at university feels harder than it really is
We overestimate how much other people notice our own behaviour and any social missteps.
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JL Weissman @jlw-ecoevo.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
My lab is hiring two(!) postdocs interested in (1) building trait prediction models capable of resolving complex microbial traits from genomes and metagenomes, and/or (2) building mathematical models of microbial community dynamics www.microbialgamut.com/mGAMUT_postd...
microbialgamut.com
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University and College Union (UCU) @ucu.org.uk · 09/09/2026
University of Exeter staff have delivered a huge mandate to keep fighting cuts. 91% voted for industrial action on a 74% turnout. The fight to defend jobs and education at Exeter continues.
ucu.org.uk
University of Exeter staff back industrial action in redundancy fight
Staff at the University of Exeter have overwhelmingly backed a mandate for industrial action in a battle to save jobs, the University and College Union (UCU) has announced today.
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Jessica Elgot @jessicaelgot.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Statement from Progressive Judaism leaders - Rabbi Josh Levy and Rabbi Charley Baginsky “Holding an Israeli government accountable for its actions does not cause antisemitism. Antisemites cause antisemitism. progressivejudaism.org.uk/rabbi-charle...
progressivejudaism.org.uk
Rabbi Charley Baginsky and Rabbi Josh Levy: No single response can speak for British Jews - The Movement for Progressive Judaism
As we approach the High Holy Days, we enter a season of teshuvah, of looking honestly at ourselves, taking responsibility and asking what must change. Yet there is a temptation, on days like these, to...
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Will Matlock @wtmatlock.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Does an AMR gene on a plasmid diversify differently to an AMR gene on a chromosome? We are looking for a PhD student to work on this question in Bath!
gw4biomed.ac.uk
Turning up the volume: plasmid copy number and gene duplications as drivers of antimicrobial resistance evolution - GW4 BioMed MRC DTP
Project Code IIAR27Ba Matlock Project Type Wet lab Research Theme Infection, Immunity, and Antimicrobial Resistance Project Summary Download Summary Plasmids are important drivers of antimicrobial res...
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Ben Harrap @bharrap.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Recently in my Intro to R workshop, I had a brief section on error messages, debugging, and how to solve your own problems. An attendee asked why LLMs were at the bottom of the list — here's a few thoughts on why benharrap.com/post/2026-09...
benharrap.com
Limited Learning Mode: Why LLMs are my last resort – Ben Harrap
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Melanie Mitchell @melaniemitchell.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Hey @ericlipton.nytimes.com 👋 AI is not “evolving” on its own. *People* are choosing how to build it. *People* are choosing how to train it. *People* are choosing how to run it. Maybe the problem is that they are the *wrong people* to make these choices.
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🌸Bibi🌸♿ @bibiblossoms.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
One thing people often don't realize is when someone is disabled, they might have energy limiting issues. They may not have the energy to socialize at times. It doesn't mean they hate you when they're not as around. They may be struggling. You should check on them & not assume the worst.
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Nonia Pariente @npariente.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
This is an issue particularly close to my heart - women's basic physiology is far from understood, chronically underfunded and understudied. This needs to change to improve health outcomes. Here @plosbiology.org calls for more funding for basic research in this area & more exposure of the results 🧪
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Daniel Padfield @padpadpadpad.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
@paulmason.bsky.social saw the impact of the UK summer while on an internal flight from London - Edinburgh. Domestic flights are basically the worst thing you can do for your personal carbon footprint, as per @ourworldindata.org
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Eric Schares @eschares.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
🚨Update: Our analysis of global APC expenditure has now been expanded to cover more publishers (7 -> 14) and more years (2019-2025). We estimate $15B in APCs paid over seven years, $3.7B in 2025 alone. Elsevier crosses the $1B threshold by itself in 2025. arxiv.org/abs/2608.16322 #ScholComm
Line chart showing 5 biggest publishers from 2019-2025
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Thiago Carvalho @cyrilpedia.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
'Our findings illustrate a curious paradox: despite universities being key producers of evidence and seeking the use of their research to inform public policymaking, they are less adept at using evidence to inform their own decision-making.' blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsoci...
blogs.lse.ac.uk
Universities rarely use research evidence in their decision-making, so why do they expect anyone else to? - LSE Impact
Despite universities’ important role as evidence-producing organisations, they rarely draw upon research evidence for internal decision making, why?
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Daniel Padfield @padpadpadpad.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
I would also repost a thread by UoE Senior Management explaining their decisions and how they've managed the redundancy process, but that won't exist because they haven't shared it openly. There is still nothing written by the Uni about the totality of their proposed plans.
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Daniel Padfield @padpadpadpad.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
#bioinformatics hivemind. If we have sequenced the same raw sample across multiple sequencing runs, should we combine these before doing metagenomics assembly? I think yes for better sequencing depth, but cannot find a good answer/advice on the internet from a search/LLM.
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Daniel Padfield @padpadpadpad.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Of course Steven Pinker has signed one of these. Scrolling through and thankfully didn't see any names of people I know. Insane that we're still conflating free speech with being openly racist.
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Simon Evans @sevans.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
*ALL* awardees are professors! And two are already Fellows of the Royal Society! It is mind-boggling that this tragicomedy is real and not the storyline of some satirical spoof of contemporary academia.
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Daniel Padfield @padpadpadpad.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Important work by a world leading spatial geographer and climate scientist. Pity that @exeter.ac.uk has decided to remove the Geography programme from the Cornwall campus and Karen - and other colleagues - are currently at risk of redundancy.
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Robin Ince @robinince.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
It’s been very odd biting the bullet & revealing details only my closest friends knew about was going on around monkey cage over last few years - and now I wait for the next lot of attacks but I also know there will be solidarity www.patreon.com/RobinInce/po... www.patreon.com/RobinInce/po...
patreon.com
The Gaslight Years - part one | Robin Ince
“I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hates so stubbornly is because they sense, once hate is gone, they will be forced to dea
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Esheru @esherukweku.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
As I have said to the bigots, who have supported the attacks on Prof Jason Arday, if they were to hold the white men that run this country to the same standards that they expect from black people and Muslims, we would have a much better functioning country.
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James Kneale @jameskneale.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
I've just heard that the BA/BSc Geography programme is to close at the University of Exeter’s Centre for Geography and Environmental Science (CGES) in Cornwall. This programme was made up of excellent modules with original and content, taught brilliantly—often with real innovation—by extremely 1/9
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Daniel Padfield @padpadpadpad.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
This is in response to "How many people currently (financial year 2026-27) work for DEFRA's Climate Adaptation team, expressed in Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)". It is not "how many people work on climate adaptation". @theguardian.com do not mention the explicit wording of the FOI request...
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Daniel Padfield @padpadpadpad.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Soph isn't tube fed. But she has whole body pain and crippling vertigo, as well skin and noise sensitivity. And is essentially non-verbal and unable to communicate. She is the most ill person I will ever meet. #SevereME
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Weird Alex @jackalpants.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
It's time again! Cis allies: if you can, please consider being chaff for us. Toilet hobbycops think like 10% of people are trans, and to overturn our segregation we need respectable cis people causing trouble on our behalf. Please wear a trans flag pin. Get in good trouble, as John Lewis put it.
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Dorian Lynskey @dorianlynskey.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
A terrible day for trans people in Britain and a shameful one for the EHRC and government
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Gavin Buckingham @drgbuckingham.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
New Yorker cartoon feels about right
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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 03/08/2026
Stories of patients enduring A&E waits of more than 12 hours for a hospital bed have become all too commonplace since the pandemic. In February 2026, over a third of admitted cases waited over 12 hours from arrival to admission. Follow the trend in our video 👇
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Peter Geoghegan @petergeoghegan.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Behind the bewildering transformation of British universities, are management consultants being paid millions Really proud to have this vital piece on our unis are being gutted from the inside by @jheathershaw.bsky.social on Democracy for Sale. Do read democracyforsale.substack.com/p/inside-bri...
democracyforsale.substack.com
Inside Britain's university crisis
As teaching staff face job loss, their bosses have netted pay rises and bought advice from a “vampiric” management consultancy, writes Prof. John Heathershaw of the University of Exeter
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Zeke Hausfather @zekehausfather.com · 02/08/2026
I'm not sure folks have realized just how crazy the second half of 2026 and 2027 will be for global temperatures – on the back of a record-smashing El Niño event. Here is my latest estimate of where both years will end up compared to global temperatures since 1850.
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M.J. Crockett @mjcrockett.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
This is more than the NSF social sciences division - now on the chopping block - awarded in grants last year. Think about that: a single AI company has the money to fund more social science research than the US govt.
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Dr Matt Dempsey @sketchy-raptor.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
I've caught wind of a genAI service called "SciFig" marketing itself to academics as a way of creating figures for assignments, dissertations, papers, etc. I urge my peers to avoid it, and for those with power to influence departmental policy to seek pathways towards banning it.
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Simon Evans @sevans.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
What are the conferences/meetings that plant evolutionary ecologists in the UK attend? It seems silly for us to be siloed by taxonomy, so I’m keen to explore how we can encourage greater discourse. Please RT.
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Emma Jacobs @emmavj.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Every commentator saying too many kids go to university has to tell their own kid to not do a degree
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Jenny Cohn @jennycohn.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Nvidia’s stock fell due to “circular financing” concerns after reports that it may finance OpenAI’s purchase of $350B in Nvidia chips (vendor paying customer to buy its product) & may separately guarantee financing 4 the construction & lease of a new OpenAI data center that wld use Nvidia chips. 1/
axios.com
Nvidia reignites "circular" AI concerns
The chip giant appears poised to tighten its ties with OpenAI.
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Kirsty Grainger @kirstygrainger.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Earlier this year UKRI launched a funding call to invest £40M in ONE AI lab. www.ukri.org/opportunity/... For some unknown reason they decided to fund TWO AI labs at the cost of £60M. An extra £20M. Just found. That's the equivalent of 7 more years of Jodrell Bank. www.ukri.org/news/ukri-la...
ukri.org
UKRI launches two AI research labs to stay ahead in global race
Two new labs will back British researchers to develop next generation artificial intelligence (AI) systems, helping secure the UK’s position as a global leader.
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Simon J. Greenhill @simongreenhill.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Somewhere a university academic is being told to "do more with less" by someone whose job title didn't exist two reorgs ago.
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