Sign in

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

PostsRepliesMedia
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
1113
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.
061
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!)
040
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!
1114
Reposted by Fiona J Whelan
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! 🙏
05298
Reposted by Fiona J Whelan
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.
044
Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Omg the carpets in that thumbnail are ridiculously similar to this place! I get it now.
000
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...
1267
Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
I think my ability to fall asleep last night the minute my head hit the pillow was largely in part due to not having seen the Shining. Am missing the British tradition of a hotel room kettle this morning though.
140
Reposted by Fiona J Whelan
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...
15625
Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Congratulations, Tami! Lovely news :)
010
Reposted by Fiona J Whelan
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...
24218
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).
140
Reposted by Fiona J Whelan
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...
25685
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
071
Reposted by Fiona J Whelan
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
0299
Reposted by Fiona J Whelan
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
191
Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
…Hannah Jones, and *award winning* presentations from @fgyapong.bsky.social and @melissalawson.bsky.social ! Thank you so much to everyone who volunteered their time to put this together including @dannagifford.bsky.social @mbottery.bsky.social & Will Smith in the Manchester hub #MEEHubs26 [2/2]
Certificates to celebrate Francis’s poster award and Mel’s oral presentation awards!Picture of Mel in action explaining how our culture isolated collection from cystic fibrosis is helping her unravel pathogen-microbe dynamics using a Drosophila model. Francis with his poster showcasing his work on culture enrichment of the stickleback fish skin microbiome.
0192
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.
3246
Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
I hope you enjoyed the downtime tonight. I’d love to chat with you tomorrow, Alasdair, and hear all you’ve been up to recently!
100
Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
This was so much fun! Thank you for those that contributed Qs- we were definitely kept on our toes with 🍦 🧮 🌖 🐎 💩
040
Reposted by Fiona J Whelan
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 🦠↔️🦠
1266
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!
060
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.
021
Reposted by Fiona J Whelan
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!
0125
Reposted by Fiona J Whelan
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
0164
Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Will do! Thanks @meehubs.bsky.social !
000
Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
It’s harder to keep up with what’s going on in other hubs that way though! :)
100
Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
We seem to be the only hub using this hashtag? #MEEHubs2026 vs #MEEHubs26
110
Reposted by Fiona J Whelan
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 🙌🏼🚀
1126
Reposted by Fiona J Whelan
Danna Gifford @dannagifford.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Manchester is very happy and excited to be the UK host for #MEEHubs26!
0134
Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
#MEEHubs26 (opps)
070
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.
0100
Reposted by Fiona J Whelan
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.
251005309
Reposted by Fiona J Whelan
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 ...
065
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)
1148
Reposted by Fiona J Whelan
Alan McNally @alanmcn1.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
A wee personal update from me below
21762
Reposted by Fiona J Whelan
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
11713
Reposted by Fiona J Whelan
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.
34819
Reposted by Fiona J Whelan
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. ⬇️
121
Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Are we also watching a different game, where Canadas leading in your version 😬
110
Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Ya we might be
100
Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
“The PM is fully engaged now”
110
Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Is this what I’m listening to via bbc?
220
Reposted by Fiona J Whelan
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 💛🧬
144
Reposted by Fiona J Whelan
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...
1228
Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
A reminder that this position closes in a few days time!
01421
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.
060
Reposted by Fiona J Whelan
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!
162
Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
If you applied in the last few days and are worried that your application didn't go through, please email me and I can check (or apply again).
021