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Fiona J Whelan

@whelanfj.bsky.social
2.1K followers 1.2K following 354 posts

Senior Lecturer, Lister Prize Fellow, & UKRI Future Leaders Fellow at U of Manchester. Bioinf, microbes, evol bio, running, cycling, & pub chats. she/her 🇨🇦. whelanlab.co.uk

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Reposted by Fiona J Whelan
Will Smith @willpjsmith.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Diving into the microverse today! Really looking forward to this wonderful showcase of @manchester.ac.uk MICROBIOLOGY! 🦠🧫💡💊🫀🌤️ Huge thanks @atmicroverse.bsky.social and particularly @flanagella.bsky.social for setting this up
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Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
@rebeccawallis.bsky.social is part-time microbiologist, part-time artist 🎨 👩‍🎨. While she's working hard growing cystic fibrosis lung microbes on McKay agar, she's also finding a tiny microverse.
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Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
The Whelan lab was well represented at @atmicroverse.bsky.social yesterday by @ambercutcliffe.bsky.social who gave a flask talk on her PhD thesis work! (what a great title!)
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Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
So proud of UoM & @mermanchester.bsky.social ECRs for putting together this amazing day of microbiology. Fully ECR conceptualized, organized, and led - brilliant!
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Stephen Montgomery @ebablab.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Are you a #NewPI in Ecology & Evolution? Would you like to meet with peers to chat about work, the future and life as a new PI? 🍪☕️ Then I have the form for you! 📋 Help us gauge interest in a new network/event by filling in this short survey: forms.cloud.microsoft/e/K4wUiuLuFn Please RT! 🙏
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Peter Mulhair @petermulhair.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
It’s that time of year again! If you’re an early career researcher (anywhere) working on systematics (of anything), join us on November 13th for YSF2026 This is a friendly forum showcasing the brightest young talent globally. Abstract deadline 24 Oct.
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Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Lovely news from @microbiologysociety.org that our recent Perspective was one of the most viewed article in MGen last month. The idea was all @halllab.bsky.social 's. We gravitate towards using the newest, shiniest methods to answer a Q but sometimes the tried and true is still the best option.
microbiologyresearch.org
An ode to the 16S rRNA gene: its history, importance, caveats and future in microbiome research
The 16S rRNA gene has - and continues to - play an important role in microbiology. It’s universality across prokaryotes and variation across species has allowed the sequencing of its hypervariable reg...
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Tami Lieberman @contaminatedsci.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Two announcements regarding AccuSNV, which calls high precision SNVs across microbial genomes: Version 1.1 is now incredibly easy to install, run, and perform downstream analyses with (see image of typical output!). The manuscript was also published this summer in Genome Research! Links next...
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Rachel M. Wheatley @rachelmwheatley.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Our special issue on the social lives of bacteria is out today 🎉 it was a pleasure to edit this collection over the last year with @friendlymicrobe.bsky.social. Read our editorial here: portlandpress.com/essaysbioche...
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Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
@samstudio8.bsky.social I am 99% sure you tweeted once (back when scitwitter was 👌) something about how you needed to tattoo on your arm the syntax to rotate an axis legend in R ggplot2. you don't know how often I think about this tweet (twice today already).
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Curtis Suttle @virosphere.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Professor in Bacteriophage Biology & Evolution at the University of British Columbia (UBC). Closing date 1 October, with an expected start date no earlier than January 1, 2027, and a salary within the range of $200,000 to $270,000 per year. For details: ubc.wd10.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/ubcfac...
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Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Such a fun article to write! Thank you @friendlymicrobe.bsky.social & @rachelmwheatley.bsky.social for the invitation!
lymicrobe.bsky.social
Bluesky
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MEEhubs @meehubs.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
What, is it over already? MEEHubs2026 concluded just minutes ago. It's been a blast, and here are some stats for you: 711 registrations, 241 posters, 71 talks, 3 days, participants from 32 countries. Bye from all the hubs 🩵🩵🩵 #MEEHubs2026 #MEEHubs26
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Francis @fgyapong.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
I learnt a lot from the amazing research all over the world and special thanks to the Whelan Lab @whelanfj.bsky.social for making this possible. 🎉🎉. #MEEhubs2026
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Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
A huge thank you from the Whelan lab for an excellent #MEEHubs26 conference! Amazing talks, chats, & intl networking! We’re so thankful to have a chance to showcase our work with posters from @ambercutcliffe.bsky.social @fionapoulter.bsky.social @rebeccawallis.bsky.social Michelle Hardman… [1/2]
Amber presenting her poster on Drosophila bacterial infections with Pseudomonas and Streptococcus species. Becky in action explaining her poster on culture enriched metagenomics in the cystic fibrosis lung. Fiona with her poster on comparative genomics of epidemic Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains. Michelle with her poster on high-throughput microbe-microbe competition in the context of cystic fibrosis.
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Will Smith @willpjsmith.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
#Manchester #MEEhubs26 Day 2 is on! Fantastic talks from @olimeacock.bsky.social @melissalawson.bsky.social @evokait.bsky.social on microbial community interactions with keynote by @dundee.ac.uk's Prof. Sarah Coulthurst 🦠↔️🦠
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Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
What a story to kick off #MEEHubs26 day 2 (at least in our time zone). Such an elegant story from Sarah Coulthurst!
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Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
I’m embarrassed that this is the first I’ve heard of the amazing courage of Linda Guamán. Amazing read on what it means to be a scientist in the face of political pressure.
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MEEhubs @meehubs.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
The next few sessions were hosted by Chernihiv, Morelia, and Montreal. That's excellent science spanning 9h of time difference! #MEEHubs2026 Sad you missed out on one of these talks? Don't worry! They're all recorded so you can view whenever you want!
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MEEhubs @meehubs.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Day 1 wrapped up with the Irvine and Ann Arbor hubs hosting. Thanks all for an amazing first day and see you tomorrow! Grab a beer, a coffee, or finish off your z's to prep for a fully packed Day 2. #MEEHubs26 #MEEHubs2026
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Anna S. Weiss @annasophieweiss.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
You know it’s @meehubs.bsky.social if one hub has beer while another has breakfast. The Zürich hub is concluding a fantastic first day of #MEEHubs26 - can’t wait to rewatch what we’ll be missing out on tonight and excited for two more days of science and fun across hubs 🙌🏼🚀
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Danna Gifford @dannagifford.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Manchester is very happy and excited to be the UK host for #MEEHubs26!
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Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
#MEEHubs26 (opps)
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Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
a few days in the Peak District to reset the brain before #meehubs starts tomorrow!
Image of me hiking with a large backpack in the forefront with the glory of the Peak District hills in the background.
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Carl T. Bergstrom @carlbergstrom.com · 21/07/2026
13. Hence our dismal conclusion: rather than finding that LLMs free us to do a better job of what we were doing before they came along, they shift scientific incentives (and the playing field of academic competition) in ways that compel us to do more and more, faster and faster, less and less well.
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Lavisha Parab @lavishaparab.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Our next speaker will be @dagivi.bsky.social speaking about his preprint on metagenomic analysis of communities in urinary tract infections. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
biorxiv.org
Cross-study metagenomics analysis reveals distinct microbial signatures of urinary tract infections
Background Urinary tract infections (UTIs) represent a major public health concern, increasingly complicated by rising antibiotic resistance, diminishing treatment efficacy, and increasing prevalence ...
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Reposted by Fiona J Whelan
Lavisha Parab @lavishaparab.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
Hi #microbiomesky and #mevosky and also #phagesky maybe? Some of us want a microbiome journal club to catch up on microbiology/evolution related microbiome research. Monthly@15:00 CET/09:00 EST/18:30 IST or so Please text my LMU email address if you're interested (not typing it here to avoid spam)
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Alan McNally @alanmcn1.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
A wee personal update from me below
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MEEhubs @meehubs.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
🚨The program for MEEHubs2026 is now online, as is more detailed information about the hubs! Check it out at meehubs.org and register‼️ Less than a month before the conference kicks off! 🦠
meehubs.org
Home
A hub-based conference on Microbial Ecology and Evolution
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Daniel Bolnick @danielbolnick.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
I often give similar advice to my former postdocs / students as they begin faculty jobs: the first year or two are really really hard. It gets much better and is worth it. The successful senior faculty had shitty first years too.
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MIC Drop Podcast @micdroppodcast.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
What is MIC Drop? The MIC Drop Podcast is hosted by the Microbiome Innovation Centre based at the University of Liverpool, bringing you all things microbiome-related. ⬇️
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Rebecca Wallis D @rebeccawallis.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
Today is #CFWeek and the Whelan lab are in yellow for #WearYellowDay to raise awareness and funds for the life-limiting genetic condition Cystic Fibrosis (CF). CF is without a cure and dominates thousands of lives everyday. Explore @cysticfibrosis.org.uk's great resources to learn more 💛🧬
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Peter Mulhair @petermulhair.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
Latest paper lead by Asia Hoile with @peterhox.bsky.social is out! 🦋 Nymphalid butterflies have reduced forelegs. Gene expression patterns show support for more palp-like genes involved in sensory processes in the forelegs relative to the walking legs. doi.org/10.1111/imb....
doi.org
Distinctive gene expression in the reduced first thoracic legs of a nymphalid butterfly
Transcriptome analysis reveals that the small non-walking front legs of a butterfly have distinct gene expression to the four walking legs. Reduced front legs express a gene with putative mechanosen...
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Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
A reminder that this position closes in a few days time!
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Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
It was a thrill to host @dtertigas.bsky.social from @mcmasteriidr.bsky.social today in Manchester! It’s been amazing watching Dominique progress from eager undergrad to PhD extraordinaire! Thank you so much to @mermanchester.bsky.social for being such a captive audience.
Dominique presenting her title slide to a captive audience.
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MERMan Research Group (University of Manchester) @mermanchester.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
In last week’s seminar we heard from @rebeccawallis.bsky.social about her work on the ecology and evolution of pathogens in CF 🫁 And @flanagella.bsky.social taught us about the importance of strain context in antibiotic resistance 💊 Thank you to @microbesng.bsky.social for our snacks!
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Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
After a few technical glitches... 📣 Whelan lab is hiring 📣 We are looking for an entry level technician to help us with our culturing and DNA sequencing prep of cystic fibrosis lung microbiome samples. Applications close 28 May 2026 Any queries, please reach out!
jobs.manchester.ac.uk
Research Technician in Microbiology and Molecular Biology:Oxford Road
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Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
There appears to be some technical issues regarding the further particulars document and the pre-screening questions. We are working to get these sorted out asap, please bare with us and check back here for updates!
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Dr Christophe Patterson @christophe-patt.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
Back from two weeks of field work in the Outer Hebrides. Studying stickleback by trapping, wading, snorkeling, drones, and my first field experience of using @bento.bio lab. Normally we guess what the mitochondrial lineage of the crosses we're making but this year we got to know in the field!
A bento box in the field overlooking a beachA gel with two different band types.Underwater drone shot of seaweed and a transect
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Rebecca Shapiro @shapirorebecca.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
It's been a long time coming to finally see this in print! While not the first paper from my lab, it is one of the very first projects we started working on from day 1 links.springernature.com/f/a/1IP7gCfA...
links.springernature.com
Pooled CRISPRi screening reveals fungal-specific drug target candidates - Nature Microbiology
This study presents a pooled CRISPRi screening approach in Candida albicans to investigate essential genes at scale, revealing environment- and strain-dependent gene sensitivities and conserved vulner...
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Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
📣 Whelan lab is hiring 📣 We are looking for an entry level technician to help us with our culturing and DNA sequencing prep of cystic fibrosis lung microbiome samples. Applications close 20 May 2026. www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...
jobs.manchester.ac.uk
Research Technician in Microbiology and Molecular Biology:Oxford Road
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Michael Brockhurst @brockhurstlab.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
Less than 1 week to apply for this postdoc! If you want to find out more about the project have a look at our recent preprint: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... #mevosky
biorxiv.org
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Michael Brockhurst @brockhurstlab.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
Join us! @wellcometrust.bsky.social postdoc position using experimental evolution to understand real-world resistance dynamics. See preprint for the 🤯 strain collection we will be working with www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... Closing 15 May. Apply: www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai... #mevosky
biorxiv.org
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Michael Brockhurst @brockhurstlab.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
We have a PhD studentship available to develop genome safeguarding technologies for synthetic phage therapeutics www.findaphd.com/phds/project... It is part of an exciting new @officialuom.bsky.social PhD by Enterprise programme www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/resear...
findaphd.com
(PhD by Enterprise) Genome safeguarding technologies for synthetic phage therapeutics against multidrug resistant bacterial infections at The University of Manchester on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - (PhD by Enterprise) Genome safeguarding technologies for synthetic phage therapeutics against multidrug resistant bacterial infections at The University of Manchester, listed on FindAPhD...
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Tami Lieberman @contaminatedsci.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
Interested in a *staff computational scientist* position? We are looking for an experienced computational biologist (ideally with microbiology experience) to support published packages while also driving new research. Pay range $73k-$111k w excellent benefits. careers.peopleclick.com/careerscp/cl...
careers.peopleclick.com
Computational Biology Program Scientist
MIT - Computational Biology Program Scientist - Cambridge MA 02139
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EvolDir @evoldir.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
ALL EvolDir subscribers - take action to continue receiving emails from us: EvolDir is subject to different data protection regulations in the EU; ESEB must have your consent to send you EvolDir emails. Look out for an email soon to update your preferences on the content you would like to receive.
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EvolDir @evoldir.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
📣 EvolDir is now managed by @eseb.bsky.social! We are delighted to be taking the reins and express our gratitude to both Brian Golding who began this service to the community in the mid-1980s and to @rdmpage.bsky.social who ran this account until now 👏 You can now find evoldir here: evoldir.net
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Siobhán O'Brien @siderophile.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
Just over two weeks left to register for MENI 2026! A !!free!! microbial evolution meeting in Ireland with some fantastic keynote speakers @jpjhall.bsky.social @rachelmwheatley.bsky.social @drrebeccajhall.bsky.social @tweethinking.bsky.social #Evolution #microbes www.eventbrite.com/e/3rd-microb...
eventbrite.com
3rd Microbial Evolution Network Ireland meeting
2026 Microbial Evolution Network Ireland meeting, at Trinity College Dublin
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Freya Harrison @friendlymicrobe.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
My super department @warwicklifesci.bsky.social is hiring 6 assistant profs in the wake of recent retirements. We're looking for people in microbiology/infection, cellular disease / immunity; environmental biology; and plant/crop science. #MicroSky warwick-careers.tal.net/vx/lang-en-G...
warwick-careers.tal.net
Assistant Professor x6 (111522-0426) - University of Warwick
Title: Assistant Professor x6 (111522-0426). Application Deadline: . Position Type: Permanent
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Jessica Blair @jessicamablair.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
Applications are officially OPEN for the 2027 Gordon Research Conference on Multidrug Efflux Systems. 📅 When: March 21–26, 2027 📍 Where: Ventura, California 🔗 Apply here: www.grc.org/multi-drug-e... #GRC #MultidrugEfflux
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