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Thalia, PhD

@thalia.bsky.social
266 followers 168 following 120 posts

Microbiologist. Bibliophile. Hockey fan. PhD -> Postdoc @ Brandeis University ✡️ she / they / Dr ✌🏼 researchgate.net/profile/Thalia-Sass

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Reposted by Thalia, PhD
bioRxivpreprint @biorxivpreprint.bsky.social · 25/01/2026
Escherichia coli transcription factors RapA and SspA play opposing roles in tolerance to replication/transcription conflicts after DNA damage www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/20…
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Thalia, PhD @thalia.bsky.social · 04/11/2025
Ballot #92 submitted for my local elections in Massachusetts today! Please go vote for your community 🗳️
An “I voted” sticker in front of polling place
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Thalia, PhD @thalia.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
Faculty Applications: Describe your teaching pedagogy Me: Well, from what I have learned in the punk rock pit.... I meet every student where they are and pick them back up so they can achieve their career or personal goals 🧪 🧫 ✏️
"Punk Rock Saves Lives" over a skull punk character.
Below " x Rules of the Pit x If someone falls down we pick them back up"
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Thalia, PhD @thalia.bsky.social · 27/10/2025
An aside from the typical scientific programming. *record scratch* @thebeaches.bsky.social did the @npr.org tiny desk concert! www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOmP... I've totally obsessed over last couple years with this awesome girly pop punk group for Toronto! We now resume with microbiology...
youtube.com
The Beaches: Tiny Desk Concert
YouTube video by NPR Music
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Thalia, PhD @thalia.bsky.social · 10/10/2025
Sometimes I forget to type "coli" when googling genes. This time instead of finding search results for the transcription factor yidZ, I got a kosher B&B in Illinois and a "Judean Drip" instagram. Shalomie my prokaryotie homies ✡️ 🧫 🧬
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Thalia, PhD @thalia.bsky.social · 07/10/2025
Thanks for the highlight, @genetics-gsa.bsky.social! 🧫🧬🧪
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Reposted by Thalia, PhD
ASM @asm.org · 04/09/2025
As national medical, scientific, public health and patient organizations, we call for the resignation of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to ensure the health of the American people. Read our statement: asm.org/press-releas...
asm.org
Joint Statement Calling for Secretary Kennedy Resignation
The American Society for Microbiology released a joint statement calling for the resignation of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
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Thalia, PhD @thalia.bsky.social · 28/08/2025
Always happy to chat about microbiology, the development of bacterial genetics, and any hockey game (from the NHL to my silly rec team)! 🏒🧬🧫🧪 doi.org/10.1093/gene...
doi.org
The nature of mutation: a legacy of bacterial genetics
Abstract. A central question in the fields of genetics and evolution was the nature and origin of spontaneous mutation. Bacterial genetic experiments throu
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Thalia, PhD @thalia.bsky.social · 25/08/2025
I cannot fully put into words what publishing this Review has meant to me, so I leave you with how we closed the paper. "The humble bacterium is still a relevant tool for the study of the underlying mechanisms that are conserved throughout life." 🧪🧫🧬📚 doi.org/10.1093/gene...
doi.org
The nature of mutation: a legacy of bacterial genetics
Abstract. A central question in the fields of genetics and evolution was the nature and origin of spontaneous mutation. Bacterial genetic experiments throu
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Jolene Ramsey @jrrmicro.bsky.social · 07/08/2025
@thalia.bsky.social coli chromosome damaged unleashes stressed pol activate self-care #sciku 🧪🧬🔬🧫🦠 #Phages2025 doi.org/10.1073/pnas...
doi.org
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Amelia Randich @ameliarandich.bsky.social · 07/08/2025
@thalia.bsky.social: the transcription factor “stringent starvation protein” SspA is an important regulator of AZT(DNA damage)-induced genes #phages2025 🦠 www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
pnas.org
PNAS
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a peer reviewed journal of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) - an authoritative source of high-impact, original research that broadly spans...
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Thalia, PhD @thalia.bsky.social · 04/08/2025
A conference requested an image that represents my work for an invited talk…. I give you Emo. coli. Also check out the paper: doi.org/10.1073/pnas... 🧪🧬🧫🦠
Cartoon bacteria with black side swept bangs, converse, black square glasses to look “emo” with the caption “SspA wasn’t just a stationary phase, Mom”
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Thalia, PhD @thalia.bsky.social · 20/05/2025
cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool 🫠 🧪🧫📚 "'I call it a wrecking ball,' he said. 'It is a gigantic wrecking ball that’s hit Massachusetts.'" www.boston.com/news/local-n...
boston.com
BU professor finds extensive effects of Trump-era policies in Massachusetts
In a new report, a professor at Boston University warns that the Trump administration's policies threaten the Massachusetts economy.
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Thalia, PhD @thalia.bsky.social · 15/05/2025
Having a great day? Go play hockey Shitty day? Better go play hockey Want to scream at the world? Take it out on the puck. Not enough steps for the day? Go skating Need an expensive coping mechanism? Try adult rec hockey 🏒
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Thalia, PhD @thalia.bsky.social · 21/04/2025
Michele is wonderful! During my PhD I commissioned this piece that eventually became a figure in my dissertation 🧫🧬🧪
Left image is a purified E. coli chromosome that shows the twisting pattern that folds the circular chromosome into the cell. Right image is a watercolor interpretation, in purples and blues, inspired by the scientific image.
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Thalia, PhD @thalia.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
With the rising price of eggs these days, I’m so glad my partner had the sense to buy in bulk
Cardboard box filled with chocolate Cadbury Crème Eggs
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Thalia, PhD @thalia.bsky.social · 18/03/2025
Did I just sign up with an additional library network so I don't have to wait to borrow the next book in a series? Yes. My mental health is fragile and being held up by 40+hr historical fiction audiobooks while pipetting. 🧪📚
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Thalia, PhD @thalia.bsky.social · 13/03/2025
Another friend from college is pregnant. Mazel Tov to her, but I'm staying pretty busy with a few billion children on these assay plates and the imploding world of academic science funding. 🧪🧫
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Carl Zimmer @carlzimmer.com · 11/03/2025
NASA Eliminates Chief Scientist and Other Jobs at Its Headquarters nyti.ms/4iFAI5X
nyti.ms
NASA Eliminates Chief Scientist and Other Jobs at Its Headquarters (Gift Article)
About 19 positions will be cut, including those in offices focused on technology policy and diversity, equity and inclusion.
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Thalia, PhD @thalia.bsky.social · 08/03/2025
Going to see incredible women play hockey in Boston with the girlies of my rec league. Hockey women supporting women’s hockey on International Women’s Day. Perfection! 🏒🥅❤️
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Reposted by Thalia, PhD
Nature @nature.com · 24/02/2025
The Trump administration's efforts to slash research funding have US graduate students, postdocs and other early-career scientists fearing for their careers. Some might leave the country -- or abandon research altogether. go.nature.com/43ao2zq
go.nature.com
Postdocs and PhD students hit hard by Trump’s crackdown on science
As US federal grants remain frozen and budget cuts loom, anxiety and fear grip early-career researchers.
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Thalia, PhD @thalia.bsky.social · 21/02/2025
The 4 Nations Face-off is some of the most exciting hockey I’ve seen in a long time! Anytime the USA plays Canada something special will happen on the ice. 🥅🏒 What a treat for Boston to host part of the tournament!
Scene of TD Garden hockey pregame show with red, white, yellow, and blue projected on the ice. Canada and Finland flags on the ice. Flags of US, Sweden, Finland, and Canada hanging from the rafters. Lights glowing in the audience.
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Stand Up for Science! @standupforscience.net · 17/02/2025
#standupforscience2025 ❤️
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Thalia, PhD @thalia.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
The 2nd date with my now spouse was meeting up at the Boston March for Science in 2017. 1. Support STEM 2. Meet the love of your life It’s a win-win 🧪🧫❤️
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Thalia, PhD @thalia.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
Expression of my Jewish identity today was making a dank chicken stock (and schmaltz!) from a Costco chicken carcass and veggies from the back of the fridge. No food waste & bubbe would be proud ✡️
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Dr. Becca @docbecca.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
“Your work is your rebellion” 💪 www.reddit.com/r/labrats/co...
reddit.com
To My Fellow Lab Rats: A Letter From a Postdoc Who Survived the Bolsonaro Years
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Thalia, PhD @thalia.bsky.social · 09/02/2025
Now that’s my kind of Little Free Library! One of the greatest hockey movies of all time and very appropriate for a snowy Boston day 🏒🥅📚
Little free library with a row of books and a DVD for Miracle, the 1980 men’s Olympic hockey team’s story
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Thalia, PhD @thalia.bsky.social · 09/02/2025
A formal thank you to my high school French teachers because I can just about translate a bacteriology article published in 1939. Even more of a shout out to the Interlibrary Loan system for getting this obscure article in two days!! ✍️🧫🧪
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Katie Mack @astrokatie.com · 06/02/2025
They found a way to litter from space
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Thalia, PhD @thalia.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
The best place to write is a townie pub before 5pm. A+ people watching $4 beers Free Wifi Biggest hits of 1970-00's Awesome fried chicken & no one bothers me or asks wtf I'm doing ✍️🧪🧫
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Thalia, PhD @thalia.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
Not all heroes wear capes. Some leave the extra seminar coffee in the lab hallway. We salute you, Captain Coffee: Savior of the afternoon drowsiness! 🧪 ☕ ✍️
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Jeremy Yoder says no war @jbyoder.org · 23/01/2025
I suspect most of my followers know but this is a case where actual scientists calling Congress — both houses, both parties — and making a BIG stink FAST can possibly make a difference. Gonna make my calls as soon as I'm out of lab
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Thalia, PhD @thalia.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
How many writing projects is too many writing projects? Asking for a friend (I am the friend) 🧪🧫✍️
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Artologica aka Michele Banks @artologica.net · 08/01/2025
New #sciart! Some more bacteria in beautiful blues 🧪🐡🦠 artologica.etsy.com/listing/1841...
artologica.etsy.com
Blue Bacteria Original Watercolor Painting of Microbes Microbiology Art - Etsy
This Watercolor Paintings item is sold by artologica. Ships from Washington, DC. Listed on Jan 8, 2025
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Thalia, PhD @thalia.bsky.social · 06/01/2025
Part of the academic life is a "Choose Your Own Adventure" journey through learning and communicating knowledge in new spaces. My adventure over the next couple weeks is auditing a course called "Being Human" at the Harvard Kennedy School taught by my friend. How do you define #BeingHuman? 🧪🧫
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Lisa @lisasass.bsky.social · 02/01/2025
When you have non-Jewish friends with slightly warped senses of humor and too much crafting time on their hands. #HappyHanukkah 🤷🏻‍♀️
Menorah sitting on side table: Cobalt blue base and arm, 4 mini liquor bottles on each side for a total of 8, plus a half bottle of Prosecco in the center.
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Thalia, PhD @thalia.bsky.social · 02/01/2025
Bringing this energy going into 2025 #HappyNewYear
Person on frozen pond wearing hockey skates and gloves Sign warning "SKATE AT YOUR OWN RISK" in front of Boston Gardens frozen pond
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Thalia, PhD @thalia.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
Very deserving! Susan’s work describing the stability of the E. coli stress response transcription factor, RpoS, was foundational for my PhD research
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Thalia, PhD @thalia.bsky.social · 16/12/2024
Sometimes when I need inspiration for academic writing I turn to the lovely work published in @stcmicrobeblog.bsky.social. Discover their newest pieces compiled in the late 2024 retrospective 🧪🧫 schaechter.asmblog.org/schaechter/2...
schaechter.asmblog.org
Retrospective, July to December 2024
by the STC team — Did you miss some of our posts from the past six months? Do you want to re-read your favorites? Just scroll to quickly scan through the list of our posts from the last half year, arr...
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Thalia, PhD @thalia.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
Hello BlueSky - its been a while! I've been busy in the lab (check out our latest publication!), co-teaching a project lab class, but most importantly winning my women's hockey beer league championship 🏒 🧪 🧫 doi.org/10.1073/pnas...
doi.org
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Thalia, PhD @thalia.bsky.social · 16/11/2023
A reminder from the entrance to the Brandeis science complex 🧪🧫
A sidewalk chalk drawing of “Be Kind” written in periodic table element squares
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Thalia, PhD @thalia.bsky.social · 07/11/2023
Local elections are important. Did you vote and support your community today?
I voted today sticker held in front of brick wall
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Thalia, PhD @thalia.bsky.social · 30/10/2023
Taking some time away from the bench after defending my PhD to do some light reading. Inspiring and heartbreaking 🧪🧫 #WomenInSTEM
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Black Microbiologists Assoc (Black In Micro) @blackinmicro.bsky.social · 21/10/2023
Available now: UPDATED flyer showing our full #BlackInMicrobiology Week 2023 schedule! We can't wait to kick things off on Monday and celebrate with you, please see our corrected time for the STEM education panel. Register or Learn more today: blackinmicrobiology....
Black In Micro Week 2023. Black Microbiologists Association flagship virtual conference. 4 days of events on the virtual conferencing platform, Whova. All times in EST. Monday, Oct 23: STEM Education day. Keynote at 9AM and STEM education panel at 12 pm. Tuesday, Oct 24: Early Career Research day. Symposium featuring Black microbiologists 9 am - 12 pm. Wednesday, Oct 25: Careers day. Panel 12 pm - 1 pm. Thursday, Oct 26: Community day. Panel 1: Antimicrobial resistance 9 am - 10 am. Panel 2: UNITY 12 pm - 1pm
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Thalia, PhD @thalia.bsky.social · 18/10/2023
Good morning to everyone, but especially to my lab mate who made this thesis defense poster. It’s art, I love it. 🧪🧫
Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge album parody. My Bacterial Romance - Three Cheers for stress response. Cartoon E. coli “I’m not okay”. Want to know what happens when bacteria go emo?
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Katie Mack @astrokatie.com · 14/10/2023
🌓🌎🌞 <-- lunar eclipse 
🌎🌓🌞 <-- solar eclipse 
🌎🌞🌗 <-- apocalypse
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Thalia, PhD @thalia.bsky.social · 13/10/2023
The leaves are changing, the rinks are frozen, and there’s a lovely brisk breeze in the air - must be hockey season! Happy first game, Blues! 💙
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Thalia, PhD @thalia.bsky.social · 11/10/2023
Communal writing spaces are so overlooked in academia. I feel much more productive when writing with others and knowing other folks are also making meaningful progress on their projects
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Noémie Matthey @noemiematthey.bsky.social · 02/10/2023
#Inktober2023 day 2 - spiders I recently learned that scientists managed to produce synthetic spider silk using E. coli. Therefore, I present to you Spidercoli ! #sciart #scicomm #inktober #bacteria #syntheticsilk
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Thalia, PhD @thalia.bsky.social · 03/10/2023
#WomenInSTEM, we lost a good one. “I am not saying that women will do a different kind of science...I am saying when there are more women in science, everybody will be free to do a different kind of science.” - Dr. Evelyn Fox Keller. 🧪 Brandeis & Harvard alum, feminist, researcher, & teacher
nytimes.com
Evelyn Fox Keller, Who Turned a Feminist Lens on Science, Dies at 87
Trained as a physicist and biologist, she argued that science had become gendered, with a narrow masculine framework that distorted inquiry.
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