Sign in

Bradley Tolar (he/him)

@tolarchaeota.bsky.social
457 followers 129 following 56 posts

I'm a microbial oceanographer with broad interests in ecology, physiology, and taxonomy of Archaea. Mentorship, teaching, & JEDI. Asst Prof at UNCW 🔬🌊🏳️‍🌈

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Bradley Tolar (he/him)
Ryo Harada @ryoharada.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Finally, our Sukunaarchaeum paper is out in Current Biology!! authors.elsevier.com/c/1nvtC3QW8S...
cell.com
A hidden archaeal lineage with an ultra-reduced genome retaining only its replicative core
Harada et al. describe an archaeon, recovered from a single marine plankton cell, whose 238-kb genome is the smallest known for the domain. It has lost nearly all metabolism but keeps the machinery to...
33414 0
Bradley Tolar (he/him) @tolarchaeota.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
Want to present your research at #ASLO27 #AquaticSciences but can’t afford to attend? #AmplifyingVoices might be for you! The @aslo.org #EarlyCareer Committee is accepting abstracts (due Jan 31!) to showcase as prerecorded talks in our AV session; see flyer for details! #ECR #Limnology #Oceanography
Flyer indicating details of Amplifying Voices call for speakers during ASLO 2027 Conference. Early career speakers (<10 years after PhD) from historically excluded groups encouraged to apply. Submit via conference website https://www.aslo.org/san-juan-2027/
044 0
Reposted by Bradley Tolar (he/him)
Abby Dernburg @adernburg.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
I just submitted my comments to the docket on the Proposed OMB Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance (OMB-2026-0034). Have you submitted yours? Do it soon! For a useful guide, see www.standupforscience.foundation/policy-and-a...
standupforscience.foundation
The SUFS Guide to Writing Public Comments — Stand Up for Science Foundation
Written by: Cole Donovan, Director of Policy and Advocacy and Colette Delawalla, PhD, CEO <p class="docData;DOCY;v5;31090;BQiAAgAAEcIDAAAGxgMAAAMMbgAABR52AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA...
189 0
Reposted by Bradley Tolar (he/him)
Dr Dan Shugar 🇨🇦 @watershedlab.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
Fairly complete description of the drastic and potentially fatal changes to American science 🧪. Some highlights: -Peer review likely to be less influential in grant decisions, with political appointees sticking their noses in it. -publication costs not allowable -cont'd
elizabethginexi.substack.com
Summary of Key Changes in OMB’s Proposed Federal Financial Assistance Rule
Russell Vought is going to destroy American Science
22714 0
Reposted by Bradley Tolar (he/him)
Brittany N. Zepernick, PhD @zepernickbn.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
Incredibly excited to work on this #meta’omics time series of the Albemarle Pamlico estuarine continuum with JGI and collaborators Hans Paerl, Nathan Hall, Ryan Paerl & @tolarchaeota.bsky.social! Stay tuned as we dig into algal-microbial interactions! 🦠 #algae #microbes
0122 0
Reposted by Bradley Tolar (he/him)
Joint Genome Institute @jgi.doe.gov · 05/06/2026
From our FY26 New Investigators: @zepernickbn.bsky.social will use DNA, RNA and metabolite profiles to connect environmental change to microbial partnerships. @tolarchaeota.bsky.social @uncw-cms.bsky.social More: jgi.doe.gov/user-science/science-stories/jgi-announces-2026-new-investigator-portfolio
Community Science Program New Investigator (FY26) Congratulations to our 2026 CSP New Investigator recipients! Brittany N. Zepernick University of North Carolina, Wilmington Algal-microbial interactions that constrain biogeochemical cycling across a dynamic, coastal continuum
152 0
Reposted by Bradley Tolar (he/him)
Lauren M. Seyler, Ph.D. @darkmicrobio.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
Heyyyyyy anybody want to take a guess at what this is? FASCISM
063 0
Bradley Tolar (he/him) @tolarchaeota.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
It’s a hard year in the world. It’s been a hard year in my personal life. And at work…ouch. Mentorship struggles, faculty struggles, student struggles, and trying amidst it all to keep my integrity, set a high bar, and help students succeed. Learning being nice isn’t always the best thing is HARD.
040 0
Reposted by Bradley Tolar (he/him)
Vivek Mutalik @vivekmutalik.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
The impact of artificial sweeteners on bacterial physiology and the microbiome: Trends in Microbiology www.cell.com/trends/micro... #microsky #microbiomesky
cell.com
The impact of artificial sweeteners on bacterial physiology and the microbiome
Artificial sweeteners are non-nutritive compounds that have a profound sweetening effect with a negligible to zero calorific contribution. Global initiatives to reduce sugar consumption to tackle heal...
096 0
Reposted by Bradley Tolar (he/him)
Rob Patro @robp.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
The modern administrative apparatus of the University imposes on faculty administrative requirements that the University itself cannot faithfully fulfill. This should not be the way things are. If you can't process the forms you make us fill out, we shouldn't be submitting them.
076 0
Reposted by Bradley Tolar (he/him)
Binning Singletons @binningsingletons.com · 06/05/2026
Only 4 weeks until #ASMicrobe from @asm.org! Build your community and have a great meeting with the help of our grassroots peer mentoring program! 🦠 🧪 🔬 #MicroSky #AMR binningsingletons.com/singleton/bi...
086 0
Reposted by Bradley Tolar (he/him)
Noam Ross @noamross.net · 06/05/2026
Thanks to @rebeccafieldingmiller.com, @abigailmhatcher.bsky.social, @sarahpeitzmeier.bsky.social, and the rest of this team for surveying the researchers in Grant Witness's data and laying out how grant terminations systematically affected minority and underrepresented scientists. 🧪 🧵
24123 0
Reposted by Bradley Tolar (he/him)
Mya Breitbart @viromegirl.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
Lots of people have reached out asking how they can support us after the devastating fire in the MSL building, the heart of @cmarinescience.bsky.social Here’s one way, a GoFundMe organized by our graduate students - gofund.me/4373c6ff3. Please share widely, and thanks for helping our community!
gofund.me
Donate to USF Marine Science: Fire Recovery Support, organized by Bella Iannotta
On Saturday, May 2nd the University of South Florida Marine Science Lab (MSL)… Bella Iannotta needs your support for USF Marine Science: Fire Recovery Support
33340 0
Reposted by Bradley Tolar (he/him)
Lydia Polgreen @polgreen.bsky.social · 24/01/2026
Here's where we are at: federal agents shot and killed a 37-year-old white man, a US citizen and ICU nurse at the VA who appears in multiple videos to have done absolutely nothing violent or even remotely illegal.
7641217 0
Reposted by Bradley Tolar (he/him)
Tiffany Lowe-Power stands with Minnesota @tlowepower.bsky.social · 24/01/2026
ICE killed a mother of 3 and and ICU nurse
041 0
Reposted by Bradley Tolar (he/him)
Rep. Robert Garcia @robertgarcia.house.gov · 24/01/2026
Kristi Noem must be impeached. ICE must be abolished. Democrats in the Senate cannot fund DHS. Trump has created a militarized police force accountable only to him. These agents need to leave our cities NOW.
681772409 0
Reposted by Bradley Tolar (he/him)
Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 24/01/2026
Who in their right mind believes statements from the Department of Homeland Security? Who believes anything Kristi Noem or Stephen Miller or Trump might say about what has just happened in Minneapolis? They no longer have any credibility. That should be clear by now. They lie like they breathe.
28175762171 0
Bradley Tolar (he/him) @tolarchaeota.bsky.social · 24/01/2026
I will not be gaslit. Federal agents executing US citizens in cold blood is unacceptable. Don’t let the lies work for you. This needs to end. Now.
022 0
Bradley Tolar (he/him) @tolarchaeota.bsky.social · 23/12/2025
ASLO Early Career Committee wishes our global aquatic science community a joyful, restful holiday season. 💙 Looking for a supportive, international home for your research? Join ASLO and grow with us. aslo.org/membership-opt… #ASLO_ECC #JoinASLO #ECR #AquaticSciences
Photos of the 12 members of the ASLO ECC sharing holiday greetings and well-wishes for the new year
042 0
Reposted by Bradley Tolar (he/him)
A. Murat Eren (Meren) @merenbey.bsky.social · 20/11/2025
We have a date for the free-to-attend #anvio workshop and ECR Symposium for 2026, and we look forward to meeting you at the @hifmb.de in Oldenburg, Germany! Please find more information on the venue, program, and the application form here, and spread the word 😇 anvio.org/workshops/20...
12925 0
Reposted by Bradley Tolar (he/him)
Virginia Schutte @vgwschutte.bsky.social · 20/11/2025
#SciComm early career folks, this is an excellent opportunity
021 0
Bradley Tolar (he/him) @tolarchaeota.bsky.social · 20/11/2025
Hoping to attend the #ASLO-SIL Meeting in Montreal next year but not sure if you can make it in-person? Check out the #ASLOECC hosted #AmplifyingVoices session and consider submitting!! @aslo.org
013 0
Reposted by Bradley Tolar (he/him)
Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography @aslo.org · 14/10/2025
Call for Abstracts: The #ASLO_ECC invites #ECR to apply for the next "Amplifying Voices" webinar on interdisciplinary approaches to enhance understanding of aquatic systems. Share your work globally! 🗓️ Webinar: 20 Nov (10 AM / 6 PM EST) Abstracts due Oct 20: www.aslo.org/amplifying-v... #ASLO
085 0
Reposted by Bradley Tolar (he/him)
UNCW Center for Marine Science @uncw-cms.bsky.social · 12/06/2025
#TEALSHIPS Expedition #2! @tolarchaeota.bsky.social is at the forefront of research of the critical habitats that span from the NC coastal shelf to the Gulf Stream, ~50 miles. 🌊 Gulfstream 🐙 collected samples from 1400m below 🔬interdisciplinary science - multi-institutes & programs bit.ly/TolarTEAL
022 0
Reposted by Bradley Tolar (he/him)
Archaea Power Hour @archaeapowerhour.bsky.social · 08/05/2025
Tune in for our last (😭) APH session of this semester next WEDNESDAY, May 14th, at 10 AM EST / 4 PM CET!!! Check your email soon for the Zoom link or sign up to join our mailing list here: t.co/b17JFAaZQ6. Check out the exciting talks we have planned for you:
077 0
Bradley Tolar (he/him) @tolarchaeota.bsky.social · 05/05/2025
Ughhhhhhhh
000 0
Bradley Tolar (he/him) @tolarchaeota.bsky.social · 05/05/2025
Super fun times when you see a $4000 shipping charge on FedEx that turns out to be a tariff/customs surcharge (of close to 100% of the item's value...). Gotta love it. 🤬
200 0
Reposted by Bradley Tolar (he/him)
Alex Merz 🇺🇸🇨🇦🇺🇦 @merz.bsky.social · 30/04/2025
Once in grad school my advisor said she liked pouring agar plates (for growing bacterial colonies), because it's relaxing. I think I must looked at her like she was crazy. Now, I completely understand.
14836 0
Reposted by Bradley Tolar (he/him)
UNCW Center for Marine Science @uncw-cms.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
Bradley Tolar, UNCW Biology & Marine Biology, is PI on a $1.5M Grant Award for Coastal Research to lead TEAL-SHIPS! Funding supports an interdisciplinary research initiative focused on coastal marine sciences. Co-PI's: Christian Briseño-Avena, Winifred Johnson, Matthew McLean, and Ata Suanda.
Bradley Tolar, Christian Briseño-Avena, Winifred Johnson, Matthew McLean, and Ata Suanda on dock at the Cape Fear River.
052 0
Reposted by Bradley Tolar (he/him)
UNCW Center for Marine Science @uncw-cms.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
UNCW Team Won the Coastal Resilience Team Competition Funding Award from NC Sea Grant! $20,000 for a 2-year project, leading to more resilient habitats & communities on NC’s coastal plain. Christie shares, "Ghost forests offer a visually stark example of sea-level rise." bit.ly/ResStudentTeam
bit.ly
UNCW Student Team Wins Coastal Resilience Team Competition Funding - North Carolina Sea Grant
Students from the University of North Carolina Wilmington are winners of North Carolina Sea Grant’s Resilience Team Competition funding. This award provides up to $20,000 to conduct a two-year project...
075 0
Bradley Tolar (he/him) @tolarchaeota.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
You can’t stop what I believe in. You can’t silence my community within or outside science. You can’t keep us from persevering and continuing to make places better and more accessible. You can’t make me change. I’m not going to stop. I dedicated my life to this, so buckle up.
050 0
Reposted by Bradley Tolar (he/him)
Beronda L. Montgomery @berondam.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
There's a lot of organizations declaring "we're doing this based on legal advice about EOs" going around. As an administrator I always knew that advice is not a mandate. It takes a leader's directive to convert advice to action. Leaders need to be prepared to own that directive AND its consequences.
mandate.it
216157 0
Reposted by Bradley Tolar (he/him)
Dr. Kat Napaaqtuk❄️ @napaaqtuk.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
I was going to respond to the ASM press release after having my coffee, but this is such a better response. ASMs last email was Jan 30 and does not mention taking down IDEAA sites or spotlights on Black, Indigenous, or other underrepresented microbiologists, or anything about DEI. Disappointed.
313137 0
Bradley Tolar (he/him) @tolarchaeota.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
So, I study microbial “community diversity” and that means I’ll get flagged. Didn’t think I’d end up in a career/country where my work got censored. (We aren’t even going to get started on how this list and EOs are against my personal beliefs and how I run my lab and envision future science)
060 0
Bradley Tolar (he/him) @tolarchaeota.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
And our photography folks really loved the "band photo" highlight in front of the #CapeHatteras #CFCC, but this is my favorite. Collaborate with folks you enjoy hanging out with :)
Image of five UNCW scientists smiling and posing after planning for the upcoming TEAL-SHIPS expedition on board the R/V Cape Hatteras at Cape Fear Community College. Left to Right: Matt McLean, Winn Johnson, Bradley Tolar, Christian Briseño-Avena, and Ata Suanda
040 0
Bradley Tolar (he/him) @tolarchaeota.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
Selfishly, of course, my students and I can't wait to characterize the #microbialecology gradients from the #CapeFearRiver offshore, especially #nitrogen cycling #Archaea!
110 0
Bradley Tolar (he/him) @tolarchaeota.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
Excited to explore biological, chemical, and physical processes from our #NorthCarolina coast to the #GulfStream and how it changes over time. Updates and a future expedition blog here: uncw.edu/research/pro...
uncw.edu
UNC ROI TEAL SHIPS
This UNC System Research partnership will characterize key interactions between marine habitats spanning the NC coastal shelf to the Gulf Stream.
110 0
Bradley Tolar (he/him) @tolarchaeota.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
Some good news today: our #TEAL-SHIPS project is officially announced! Read more from #UNCW here: uncw.edu/news/2025/01... Thanks to the #UNC System and our state for investing in interdisciplinary #MarineResearch including #biology #chemistry and #physics within the ocean.
uncw.edu
UNCW Awarded $1.5M for Coastal Research
UNCW has received $1.5 million in grant funding to lead the TEAL-SHIPS Transect Expedition, a groundbreaking project aimed at studying coastal land-to-sea habitats.
7183 0
Reposted by Bradley Tolar (he/him)
Angelo Villagomez @taotaotasi.bsky.social · 01/01/2025
I think fetch is finally going to happen in 2025
1335 0
Reposted by Bradley Tolar (he/him)
Michael Henson, Ph.D. @aquaticmicrolab.bsky.social · 05/12/2024
BIOS313 (Intro. microbiology) Students created “microbial wiki” pages on an organism of their choosing n presented their findings in a poster session. So proud of how awesome the students did n the effort n fun they had (thanks @tolarchaeota.bsky.social for the idea). #academicSky #newpi 🦠🌊🧬🧫🪸🧪
4297 0
Bradley Tolar (he/him) @tolarchaeota.bsky.social · 05/12/2024
Yaaaaay!!!! So glad it worked out for you! Excited to peruse the pages (especially if you had any #Archaea entries - I only had one this year 🤣)
010 0
Bradley Tolar (he/him) @tolarchaeota.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
Even if it consumes a lot of time, one of my favorite parts being a #NewPI is working with students to refine their personal and research statements. Often these students under-sell or dilute their achievements, and it feels great to see their application truly shine for the next stage. #ProudMentor
031 0
Reposted by Bradley Tolar (he/him)
Group of Researchers Across Microbiomes - CSU @gram-csu.bsky.social · 25/11/2024
Great article detailing the work of Colorado State Microbiome (CoSMic) Network Research Professor Mikayla Borton, #CoSMic Co-Director Kelly Wrighton, and collaborators. In addition to the article below, check out the publication here in Nature: www.nature.com/articles/s41... #GRAM #Microbiome
nature.com
A functional microbiome catalogue crowdsourced from North American rivers - Nature
GROWdb defines US river microbiomes at the genome level.
02710 0
Bradley Tolar (he/him) @tolarchaeota.bsky.social · 25/11/2024
My biggest fear when sending an email is that I'll forget to correct the sticky shift key that inserts "DR." in front of my name when signing (to a student)... I promise I am never aggressive about having a PhD...unless you're a condescending MD or a university donations office. #ProfessorLife
000 0
Reposted by Bradley Tolar (he/him)
Kim Martini 🏳️‍🌈 @rejectedbanana.bsky.social · 25/11/2024
Making the great social media leap and reintroducing myself! I'm a physical oceanographer with a passion for ocean technology, data, and accessibility. I founded a startup with @vgwschutte.bsky.social. Entrepreneur, #LGBTQ+, wife, parent, recycle+repair aficionado.
Kim at the beach with with Virginia Schutte showing off her smartwatch with a giant smile.
2365 0
Bradley Tolar (he/him) @tolarchaeota.bsky.social · 23/11/2024
Basically yes! Nitrogen fixation is N2 -> ammonia Ammonia oxidation to nitrite is the first step of nitrification. Not the same process at all!
000 0
Bradley Tolar (he/him) @tolarchaeota.bsky.social · 21/11/2024
So exciting to see this live!! Will share with my Micro class :)
000 0
Bradley Tolar (he/him) @tolarchaeota.bsky.social · 21/11/2024
Congrats Yesmarie!!!!!!
020 0
Bradley Tolar (he/him) @tolarchaeota.bsky.social · 20/11/2024
You can tell we are approaching holiday season so strongly with this 🤣
010 0