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Tera Levin

@teralevin.bsky.social
4.5K followers 693 following 225 posts

Assistant professor of Biological Sciences at Pitt, studying evolution, genes, and microbes. Same as @tera_levin in the other place. #NewPI She/her

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Reposted by Tera Levin
STAT @statnews.com · 14/09/2026
Breaking: Judge blocks Trump administration plans to limit visa length for grad students, postdocs www.statnews.com/2026/09/14/c...
statnews.com
Judge blocks Trump administration plans to limit visa length for grad students, postdocs
A federal judge halted a Trump administration plan to place a four-year cap on the kinds of visas used by graduate students and postdocs
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Elizabeth Kolbert @elizkolbert.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Just as world leaders decide to ignore climate change, everything climate scientists predicted is coming true.
giftarticle.ft.com
The devastating forces behind the deadly Himalayan flood
Torrent that tore through settlements near Nepal’s border with China comes as scientists warn climate change is increasing risks
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Waggoner Lab @labwaggoner.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Bats’ remarkable longevity and immunity are linked through pleiotropic adaptations to viruses and ageing-related disease @nature.com @psudmant.bsky.social @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social @lucievirevolte.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/s41...
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CeeJay Johnson-Yellow Hawk @adriftalchemist.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
the tundra when it melts #climatechange
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ThePatrick&WatsonLabs @thepwlab.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
🚨🚨 Faculty search! Spread the word! 🚨🚨 The Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology Department at Vanderbilt is hiring! Special consideration will be given to faculty working with Risk Group 3 pathogens (so you can join us in our brand new state-of-the-art BSL3!) apply.interfolio.com/188545
apply.interfolio.com
Apply - Interfolio {{$ctrl.$state.data.pageTitle}} - Apply - Interfolio
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Reposted by Tera Levin
Jason Nomburg @jnoms.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Happy to share the first preprint out of the Nomburg lab! Many aspects of cellular immunity are shared across the tree of life. Here, we show that some of these conserved aspects of cellular immunity are mirrored by conserved effectors of immune antagonism. Thread below! 1/15
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Sarah T Roberts, PhD @ubiquity75.xyz · 22/07/2026
A reminder that UC _faculty_ and Faculty Associations — not the universities themselves nor their administrators — are waging this battle in court, demonstrating great bravery and moral clarity.
apnews.com
White House admits it used keywords to kill billions worth of California research grants
Federal agencies that terminated more than a thousand research grants at the University of California last year admitted that they used keywords related to diversity, gender, vaccine hesitancy and COV...
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Carolyn Bertozzi @carolynbertozzi.bskyverified.social · 11/07/2026
Helpful form to help craft comment for submission regarding OMB rules, deadline July 13!!
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Reposted by Tera Levin
ME/CFS San Diego @mecfssd.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
NYTimes Gift Article www.nytimes.com/2026/07/06/u... U.S. Federal research funding uncertainty is affecting the next generation of scientists. ME/CFS needs new researchers to help build on promising leads.
nytimes.com
Decline of Ph.D. Admissions Could Imperil a ‘Generation of New Talent’
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Tera Levin @teralevin.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Very exciting! Fantastic to see these mating choanoflagellate cells with much better microscopy too
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Reposted by Tera Levin
Kevin Forsberg @kvnforsberg.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Humans and bacteria share strategies to defend against viruses. We wondered: could they use each other's genes? Yes, both can! Bacteria can use human immune genes to defend against phages AND Human cells can use bacterial genes for viral defense. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
biorxiv.org
Bacterial and human exonucleases mediate interkingdom antiviral immunity
All kingdoms of life have developed strategies to limit viral infection. In humans, interferons induce a suite of antiviral factors that collectively provide immunity. Some human immune genes are homo...
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Phillip Cleves @pcleves.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Our work on the symbiont-containing organelle that supports coral reefs is published today. Also, new genetic tools to study symbiosis in both corals and Aiptasia. Great work by Shumpei Maruyama, Cat Henderson, and the rest of the fantastic team. #SymbioSky www.cell.com/cell/abstrac...
cell.com
Co-option of lysosomal machinery shapes the evolution of the intracellular photosymbiosis supporting coral reefs
Corals harbor intracellular algal symbionts in specialized organelles that enable them to build diverse reef ecosystems. Corals and other cnidarians have repeatedly evolved this symbiosis through the ...
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Reposted by Tera Levin
Amy Elizabeth @amyelizabeth.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
I need y'all to understand that I teach high school and there are teenagers already planning to leave the U.S. to because they will be studying science or medicine. They are SO serious about it - saving money, learning extra languages, and looking to see if there are familial connections abroad.
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Bethany Brookshire @beebrookshire.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
You may have heard about the OMB rule change that will put politics over federal grants. However bad you think it is? It's probably worse. Thanks to @theverge.com for letting me report this one out. There is still time to comment. bit.ly/4v2X4nQ
bit.ly
The war against ‘woke’ could end US science as we know it
“Everyone will be affected, not just scientists. Every community in the country.“
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Laura K. Jennings @laurakjennings.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
📢 We're hiring! The Department of Microbiology & Cell Biology at Montana State University is hiring an Assistant Professor of Microbiology. We welcome applicants working in microbial pathogenesis, immunology, genetics, microbial evolution, and related areas. Apply: jobs.montana.edu/postings/52009
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Max Kozlov @maxkozlov.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
NIH grants have been under political scrutiny since early 2025. But what does the screening process actually look like? What is being flagged? I spent a month digging into leaked docs and emails. We've published the 235-word list that are being flagged by an internal AI tool. And so much more. 🧵
nature.com
Inside the new political screening that’s stalling NIH grants
Mandatory reviews by top health officials and checks for 235 disfavoured terms have left hundreds of vetted grant applications in administrative limbo.
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Anthony Dornan @dornan.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
I am one of today’s 10000 - because I’ve only just seen this @xkcd.com comic & it is simply brilliant.
xkcd.com
Earth Temperature Timeline
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Mark Histed @markhisted.org · 26/06/2026
Gregg gets it correct here. “New OMB grant rule” sounds nerdy. But this is a huge and insane plan. This is the Trump admin writing down their goal of fundamentally changing the relationship between government and society. Funding for everything will be taken over. 1/
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Leah Stokes @leahstokes.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
The heatwave in Europe is so extreme, it's 25–32°F (14–18°C) above normal. You read that right. France recorded it's hottest day ever. The UK had its hottest ever June day. The ground is exceeding 122°F (50°C). People are dying. Tell me again why we shouldn't talk about climate change???
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George O'Toole (he/him/his) @geiselbiofilm.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Our Dept of Microbiology & Immunology @Geisel School of Medicine @Dartmouth has an opening for an Assistant Professor. Looking for programs bridging multiple areas in Micro & Immuno. A great place to be! Programs: www.M2P2.org www.dartmouthbiofilm.org Job ad: apply.interfolio.com/187637
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Tera Levin @teralevin.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
Temperatures in Pittsburgh PA over time
Graph of temperatures in Pittsburgh since 1850. Blue bars at the left of the graph show temps mostly below the current average. Red bars at the right show much warmer tempos from 2000 onward
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Coleen Murphy @ctmurphy1.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
one anecdote: I was searching for a link to one of my old papers on Google, and the automated Gemini summary attributed all of my lab's work to my husband
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Hatok @hatok.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
it is really important to be loud about this stuff because it's typically kept very quiet to enable people to go "See? Nothing happened, it was just people being dramatic"
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elizabethginexi.bsky.social @elizabethginexi.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
Here is another thing you should do to oppose OMB’s proposed Federal Financial Assistance Rule (OMB-2026-0034). Pressure congress. They have the power to stop it! 5calls.org/issue/federa...
5calls.org
Oppose OMB's Political Attacks on Scientific Research ⭑ 5 Calls
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB), led by Project 2025 architect Russell Vought, has proposed sweeping rule changes to the federal grantmaking …
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Dr. Kat Napaaqtuk❄️ @napaaqtuk.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
Boosting this again because this blog has the sections that people should refer to when making a comment about the proposed changes to government grants. The qs has the link to make the comments. elizabethginexi.substack.com/p/summary-of...
elizabethginexi.substack.com
Summary of Key Changes in OMB’s Proposed Federal Financial Assistance Rule
Russell Vought is going to destroy American Science
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Terry McGlynn @hormiga.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Call your reps -- blue, red, purple, it doesn't matter -- about the proposed OMB science funding rule. The house can stop this. Let them know it matters for your district.
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Gregg Gonsalves @gregggonsalves.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Holden Thorp is an institutionalist. He's been a university chancellor, provost, now EiC of Science. When institutionalists pull the fire alarm, we listen, because the call to action he issued this week exposes the dire nature of the threat we are facing. 1/ www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
science.org
Another red alert for American science
Although research has bipartisan support in the US Congress, and trust in science is above 75% across the country, the Trump administration seems as determined as ever to mortally wound the nation’s s...
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Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
Several people have asked for possible content and structure for comments regarding the proposed OMB regulations. With some suggestions from others, I have posted on example (as a Word document) for downloading). jeremymberg.github.io/jeremyberg.g... I hope this is helpful.
jeremymberg.github.io
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Tera Levin @teralevin.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
Easy link for comment submission: www.regulations.gov/document/OMB... Also send a copy to your congresspeople!
regulations.gov
Regulations.gov
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Reposted by Tera Levin
Coleen Murphy @ctmurphy1.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
The public comment period closes approximately July 13, 2026 (45 days from May 29 publication). Comments must be submitted to regulations.gov, Docket OMB-2026-0034
regulations.gov
Regulations.gov
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Carl T. Bergstrom @carlbergstrom.com · 29/05/2026
Of all the harm this administration has done to US science, today's proposed changes to the way federal grants are awarded and administered is the most damaging yet. The text of the federal register document is impenetrably tedious by design, so here's an excellent summary of what it says.
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Teresa O'Meara @teresaomeara.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
We are hiring @umichmicroimmuno.bsky.social ! Tenure-track assistant professor position in our Microbiology and Immunology department. We are especially looking for someone working in bacterial pathogenesis
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Lauren Palmer @laurenpalmer.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
🚨Faculty job search: University of Illinois Chicago Micro & Immuno department is hiring! Open rank and open area within host-pathogen interactions. Apply by May 31 to join us in UI College of Medicine in the heart of Chicago! uic.csod.com/ux/ats/caree...
Image of UIC sculpture, recreation center, and Medical Sciences Building
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Tera Levin @teralevin.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
Here's the link to the preprint: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... Looking forward to discussing the story with folks at #SISB2026 this week! 🦠
biorxiv.org
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Tera Levin @teralevin.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
Bacterial immune proteins have repeatedly evolved to become parts of eukaryotic immunity. But how? Our new preprint uncovers a recent horizontal transfer event & shows how eukaryotes co-opted a toxic bacterial immune protein 🦠🧪🧵 1/
Microscopy image showing yeast cells expressing a fluorescently tagged version of the amoeba TirC protein. TirC forms filaments that span the yeast cells.
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Kranzusch Lab @kranzuschlab.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Thank you to @vcallier.bsky.social and Quanta Magazine for highlighting our lab along with the incredible research from @soreklab.bsky.social @audeber.bsky.social @aaronwhiteley.bsky.social @benmorehouse.bsky.social @teralevin.bsky.social @algao.bsky.social Eugene Koonin, L. Aravind and others!
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Daria Van Tyne @dariavantyne.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
My lab at Pitt is looking for a Research Scientist to help us make phage therapy for patients with antibiotic-resistant infections. Please share and apply! cfopitt.taleo.net/careersectio...
cfopitt.taleo.net
Research Scientist
Click the link provided to see the complete job description.
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Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 04/04/2026
Slaughtering our golden goose: massive budget cuts for US science proposed again by Trump administration www.nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com
Massive budget cuts for US science proposed again by Trump administration
Budget proposal would also curb federal payments for scientific publishing.
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Peter DeWeirdt @pdeweirdt.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
Excited to see our work out in Science today! Using machine learning to identify prokaryotic immune systems www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
science.org
DefensePredictor: A machine learning model to discover prokaryotic immune systems
Antiphage defense systems protect bacteria from viral infection and have inspired important biotechnologies such as CRISPR-Cas9 while also revealing the evolutionary roots of eukaryotic innate immunit...
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colors.bsky.social @colors.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
#161502
a square filled in with olive black color  #161502.
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Michael Baym @baym.lol · 17/03/2026
By all means, if you're deciding, take the time you need. But if you're deciding between two places, and there are three others you've ruled out, let those three know as soon as possible, not once you've picked a school You could make a huge difference to someone else's life
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Michael Baym @baym.lol · 17/03/2026
Annual reminder: if you’ve been accepted to multiple graduate programs and are still deciding, please let the ones you’re definitely not going to know as soon as possible! -Someone who got into his PhD off the waitlist the day after the deadline
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Prasad Jallepalli, MD, PhD @prasad.bsky.social · 15/03/2026
A must read for anyone who cares (and these days, worries constantly) about American science and medicine. Credit to Prof. Will Mair for sharing his story. There are many more stories like it.
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Joshua Weitz @joshuasweitz.bsky.social · 07/03/2026
The data is in: the NIH goalposts have shifted. What were once almost certain fundable scores have become coin flips and what used to be likely grants have become aspirational, leading to fewer awards. Another manifestation of how HHS policies have led to fewer awards and less science.
Graph of award probability of R35 and R01 from NIH factbook as a function of review rank percentile. As is apparent, 2025 is a significant departure, with lower award probabilities at all scores <40 and significant departures from norm, where even being in the top 10% is no longer a nearly certain indicator of success.

Data source: https://report.nih.gov/nihdatabook/report/302
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Graham Lea @evolvable.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
If you’re in the USA, there’s a whole bunch of “Stand Up For Science” rallies and protests happening this Saturday you could join. Check it out. 👇 And share it around. #uspol #ClimateSky #EnergySky
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Stand Up for Science! @standupforscience.net · 15/02/2026
This March 7th we are rallying for a second time in D.C. and nationwide! Join the fight by visiting standupforscience.net/march7 or fuel the fight for science by visiting standupforscience.net/donate Thank you! #March7 #standupforscience #ImpeachRFKJr #RemoveRFKJr #science
FUEL THE FIGHT FOR SCIENCE
FIGHT BACK!
standupforscience.net/donate
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Mark Histed @markhisted.org · 20/01/2026
Thank you. The estimate I have heard (from outside NIH sources) is 39% in FY25. And everyone should remember that lowered success rates across many institutes from around 10% to around 5%. Disaster. bsky.app/profile/need...
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Denis Wirtz @deniswirtz.bsky.social · 13/12/2025
Download our large database of postdoc fellowships in all fields of research. Database freely available to all; 281 fellowships. Download here: research.jhu.edu/rdt/funding-...
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Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 08/12/2025
Excellent story from @aniloza.bsky.social and colleague at STAT on the MOSAIC program. www.statnews.com/2025/12/08/t... 1/4
statnews.com
NIH shut out hundreds of young scientists from funding to start their own labs
Special Report: The NIH has shut out hundreds of young scientists from funding to start their own labs.
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Michael Baym @baym.lol · 20/11/2025
Brand new preprint from my lab, showing that TnpB, the ancestor of Cas12, acts as a gene drive in plasmids! And it turns out in conjugative plasmids that it acts as a primitive anti-self defense system, providing a potential link between its transposon effect and becoming CRISPR!
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