iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Victoria @vicgillman.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

I’m very excited to have started my new postdoc with @ibaums.bsky.social / @marineconservation.bsky.social at @hifmb.de! 🪸🧬 Stay tuned for coral population genomics, climate adaptation & conservation genetics - and do get in touch if you’re working on similar questions! 🌊

Desk with mug on left, a welcome note from HIFMB Oldenburg saying "Welcome Victoria, it's great to have you here. Have a good start", and a keyboard on the right. Computer equipment in the background on the desk.

Interior of the HIFMB entrance in Oldenburg. Timber cladding on the walls, a staircase and a welcome sign in the foreground. Two open upper levels overlook the entrance area.

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Victoria @vicgillman.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Still thinking about last week’s @freshwaterbio.bsky.social conference. Great talks on eDNA to study freshwater biodiversity and pearl mussel restoration, alongside discussions on conservation and citizen science. A good reminder of the breadth and energy of UK freshwater research 🐟🧬🦪

A speaker stands beneath a projected slide titled “What can eDNA tell us about freshwater biodiversity?” by Bernd Hänfling (UHI Inverness)

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Victoria @vicgillman.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

People who have passed a PhD viva (or regularly examine them): what’s the best viva advice you were given? Or what’s the advice you now give your own students? I’ve been asked a couple of times recently about viva prep and thought it would be useful to have a range of perspectives.

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Victoria @vicgillman.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

Got your data chapters sorted but not sure how they come together to make a final PhD thesis? After submitting (and defending 🎉), I put together a simple guide covering thesis sections, formatting and practical tips - access it here victoriagillman.github.io/post/2026-04...

victoriagillman.github.io

A practical PhD thesis template and formatting guide

When I was writing my PhD thesis, I found that understanding formatting guidance in practice often involved piecing together information from different sources. This guide is intended to help you writ...

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Victoria @vicgillman.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

I've noticed GitHub is a tool a lot of people mean to learn and then put off. Here, I’ve written a simple guide to getting started with GitHub for research (R + HPC). With it hopefully I can convince you getting started is much easier than you think! 🔗 victoriagillman.github.io/posts/2026-0...

victoriagillman.github.io

Intro to GitHub with RStudio and HPC systems

GitHub is one of those things that many people in research have vaguely heard of, know they probably should be using, and then avoid for far too long. That was definitely me at first.

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Victoria @vicgillman.bsky.social · 05/04/2026

Coding a new academic website while having old Barbie films on in the background is certainly a vibe and I am here for it (certainly hyperfocused in). Everyone please say goodbye to the old victoriagillman.github.io

victoriagillman.github.io

Victoria Gillman | PhD Conservation Geneticist

Researcher at the University of Aberdeen specialising in conservation genomics and data visualisation.

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Reposted by Victoria

Lesley Lancaster @lancasterlt.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

Congrats @vicgillman.bsky.social!! Thank you for involving me in your awesome project!

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Kara Layton @molluscular.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

CONGRATS 🎉 to Dr. @vicgillman.bsky.social on passing her viva with no corrections! I’m so proud of you and so lucky to have been part of your journey! Special thank you to co-supervisors @lancasterlt.bsky.social & Vicky Pritchard and examiners @gretabocedi.bsky.social & @fishyomics.bsky.social!

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Victoria @vicgillman.bsky.social · 29/03/2026

Very happy to share I passed my PhD viva with no corrections on climate vulnerability in freshwater pearl mussels 🎉🎉 Thanks to my supervisors @molluscular.bsky.social @lancasterlt.bsky.social & Vicky Pritchard and examiners @fishyomics.bsky.social @gretabocedi.bsky.social for an engaging discussion!

Five people celebrating a PhD viva, smiling and holding drinks. Kara joins via a screen behind the group. From left to right: Lesley, Greta, Kara (on screen), me, and Arne.

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Kara Layton @molluscular.bsky.social · 04/12/2025

I’m so thrilled to share @vicgillman.bsky.social first first-author paper just published in Conservation Genetics 🎉🧬🦪 (not a FW mussel). This is just the tip of the iceberg of what’s to come from Victoria - stay tuned! link.springer.com/article/10.1...

link.springer.com

Genomic evidence of local adaptation in Scottish freshwater pearl mussels - Conservation Genetics

Conservation Genetics - Climate change is a global threat that is already impacting populations and species across diverse ecosystems. Local adaptation of populations, identified through...

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Reposted by Victoria

Charlie T @agentlaughingperch.bsky.social · 22/08/2025

Very moving presentation from one of the recipients of the EUEA award from @eseb.bsky.social . As a trans academic myself, seeing effort being put into inclusivity has been refreshing. Thank you for platforming this topic and supporting people like this speaker 🏳️‍⚧️

Another presentation slide which contains some Qr code links to resources and some steps which academics could take to make space for trans academics. These steps are as follows:
- apply for DEI grants
- support LGBTQ+ scholarship funds
- learn about local medical/legal systems to offer newly-arrived colleagues guidance
- Avoid harmful rhetoric and behaviours

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Flo Débarre @flodebarre.eurosky.social · 22/08/2025

Final words of the last #ESEB2025 plenary by @jmappes.bsky.social: "Science moves forward when we keep both our curiosity and our humility"

Photo of the final slide of J Mappes's plenary at ESEB
Text on the slide:
Take-home
Natural history matters
Ecological reality is complex
Fresh ideas matter
Be ready to reject your favourite hypothesis
Science moves forward when we keep both our curiosity and our humility

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Vicencio Oostra @climate-adaptation.bsky.social · 23/08/2025

Goodbye #eseb2025 @eseb2025.bsky.social see you next time! Perhaps what stuck most was powerful talk on resilience and survival by Palestinian researcher, play director, and ESEB EUEA awardee May Shehady. Let's not forget, let's not look away. 🇵🇸

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Victoria @vicgillman.bsky.social · 23/08/2025

Two unforgettable talks on the final day of #eseb2025 highlighting the extra steps trans & other researchers must take just to participate- balancing safety at institutions, conferences, field sites and even speaking publicly. I can’t imagine the toll. These lessons will stay with me 🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸

Photo of a conference slide next to an #ESEB2025 banner. The slide lists steps for supporting trans colleagues: “Apply for DEI grants; Support LGBTQ+ scholarship funds; Learn about local medical/legal systems to guide newly-arrived colleagues; Avoid harmful rhetoric and behaviours.” It also lists resources: Trans Europe and Central Asia, ILGA, and a SICB resource list.

Photo of a conference slide titled “What Resilience Looks Like: A Story of Research, Identity, and Survival” by May Shehady, next to an #ESEB2025 banner at the congress in Barcelona, 17–22 August 2025.

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Amanda Bretman @amandabretman.bsky.social · 22/08/2025

Incredible presentation from Sophia EO prize winner #eseb2025. Let’s hear her call for our evolutionary biology community to support trans colleagues facing such challenges.

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Tilly S Scott @tillysscott.bsky.social · 18/08/2025

I've had a wonderful 1st day at @eseb2025.bsky.social Here are the sketches from some of the talks I attended today. My highlights include Tristan on the adaptive genomics of colour spots on owls, Vicky on pearl mussel's response to climate change & Rebekah on firefly TEs & TE-induced mutations

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Victoria @vicgillman.bsky.social · 18/08/2025

There are almost 2,000 people at #ESEB2025 this year - what an incredible community to share science with!

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Victoria @vicgillman.bsky.social · 18/08/2025

Excited to give the final talk of my PhD at #ESEB2025 - don’t miss it! It’s at 4pm, room 114

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Jack 🦠 @jack-d-barber.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

we now have a ✨️poster✨️ you can print and put up on your campus - a great way to demonstrate your support! link: drive.google.com/file/d/1CvF0... #transphobia #transrights #LGBTSTEM #QueerInSTEM #PhDSky #AcademicSky

poster reading "show your solidarity- sign our open letter - support our call for action on transphobia at the University of aberdeen"

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Victoria @vicgillman.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

Attending a writing retreat in Cromarty, Highlands this week, organised by #SUPERdtp. Looking forward to a productive few days in beautiful surroundings and great company as I finish my paper on the adaptive landscape of Scottish mussels. Got my binos for bird and dolphin spotting in my breaks! 🐬

Grainy picture of a diving bird- maybe a cormorant? Maybe a shag?

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Victoria @vicgillman.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

Fantastic #MolluscanForum this week—great feedback and fresh ideas for my thesis chapter on adaptive landscapes of freshwater pearl mussels. Lovely to catch up with familiar faces and hear about their work—looking forward to wrap this chapter up soon!

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Victoria @vicgillman.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

I’m presenting my PhD chapter on Scottish freshwater pearl mussel genomics at the #MolluscanForum in London next week. Excited to hear from others and get fresh ideas! Let me know if you'll be there! 🧬🦪 Sneak peek below.

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Victoria @vicgillman.bsky.social · 05/04/2024

Now my next Audible credit has arrived for this month, what do you think I should listen to next? These are the books I have enjoyed this year. I'm thinking The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks or Decolonising University? Or maybe I should add another cosy fiction to balance things out

Graph of Genres versus number of books read. Going from most to least we have: Memoir 3, Feminism 2, Literary 2, Contemporary 2, Gender 1, Race 1, Sociology 1, LGBTQIA+ 1, Thriller 1, Science 1, Horror 1, Historical 1, Health 1, Autobiography 1

A graphic of book covers which are: Finding Me by Viola Davis; Wakenhyrst by Michelle Paver; Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin; Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Pérez; Strong Female Character by Fern Brady; Born a Crime by Trevor Noah and Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

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Victoria @vicgillman.bsky.social · 04/04/2024

I will lurk, like and repost from this account, just as I did on the old place

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