Michael Henson, Ph.D.
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aquaticmicrolab.bsky.social
Michael Henson, Ph.D.
@aquaticmicrolab.bsky.social
1.1K followers 540 following 110 posts
Assistant Professor at Northern Illinois University #newpi
Aquatic Microbiology 🦠🌊☀️
https://www.theaquaticmicrobiologylab.com/
Posts Replies Media Videos
aquaticmicrolab.bsky.social
So excited for our #nsffunded research to kick off with an amazing team of researchers @viromegirl.bsky.social @ianhewson.bsky.social @drchriskellogg.bsky.social Dr. Marilyn Brandt (UVI).
newsroom.niu.edu/niu-biologis...
NIU biologist dives into coral reef mystery with NSF-funded research | NIU Newsroom
DEKALB, IL — When long-spined sea urchins across the Caribbean began dying by the thousands in 2022, marine scientists feared a repeat of an ecological...
newsroom.niu.edu
November 20, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Reposted by Michael Henson, Ph.D.
ianhewson.bsky.social
Many thanks to Moriah Sevier, Marilyn Brandt, @aquaticmicrolab.bsky.social @drchriskellogg.bsky.social @viromegirl.bsky.social Bella Ritchie and Brayan Vilanova Cuevas for making this trip such a success!
September 30, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Reposted by Michael Henson, Ph.D.
ianhewson.bsky.social
Day 2 of Diadema kickoff. Today was all about Diadema itself (cf environmental parameters). We were excited to see so many apparently healthy animals in shallow water! We also set up an experiment to examine microbial participation in echinoderm tissue decay. Such a great start to this time series!
September 28, 2025 at 12:28 AM
Reposted by Michael Henson, Ph.D.
ianhewson.bsky.social
Day 1 of NSF sponsored Diadema antillarum scuticociliatosis time series in Brewers Bay, St Thomas, USVI with @drchriskellogg.bsky.social @viromegirl.bsky.social @aquaticmicrolab.bsky.social and Prof Marilyn Brandt at UVI. After months of planning it was time to figure out what makes sense from
September 27, 2025 at 1:39 AM
aquaticmicrolab.bsky.social
🧬 Interested in aquatic micro, nutrient cycling, river-ocean interfaces

I’m seeking a postdoc candidate to apply with me for the 2026 Walder Biota Fellowship ($70k+/yr 2 yrs, $20k/yr research).

Details: www.biotaawards.org/2026-applica...
#biogeochemistry #BiotaFellowship #microsky #ecoSky #evoSky
www.biotaawards.org
July 22, 2025 at 12:43 AM
aquaticmicrolab.bsky.social
Notice of Award is in!
Join our team at NIU to study marine microbial ecology & disease dynamics in sea urchins 🧫🌊🦠
PhD | Spring/Fall 2026 start
Job Ad Here 👉 shorturl.at/fSMy9
Apply here 👉 forms.gle/gfMnHutijfqC...
More: theaquaticmicrobiologylab.com
@ianhewson.bsky.social @viromegirl.bsky.social
Funded Graduate Student Opportunity in Marine Microbial Ecology
**Applicants will be contacted if selected for next round. Applicants not selected will not receive any notice. If not selected, this is not indicative of your merit. ** Northern Illinois University |...
forms.gle
July 21, 2025 at 4:07 PM
aquaticmicrolab.bsky.social
🧬 Interested in aquatic micro, nutrient cycling, river-ocean interfaces

I’m seeking a postdoc candidate to apply with me for the 2026 Walder Biota Fellowship ($70k+/yr for 2 yrs, $20k/yr research).

Details: www.biotaawards.org/2026-applica...
#ecosky #biogeochemistry #BiotaFellowship #microsky
2026 Application — Biota Awards
www.biotaawards.org
July 9, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Reposted by Michael Henson, Ph.D.
jcamthrash.bsky.social
Ten simple rules for faculty members building just and equitable environments in academic science journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol... #jcampubs
Ten simple rules for faculty members building just and equitable environments in academic science
journals.plos.org
July 8, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Reposted by Michael Henson, Ph.D.
jcmcnch.bsky.social
So excited to announce the GRUMP paper is published! This global dataset provides relative abundances for plankton spanning Archaea to Zooplankton from unfractionated (>0.2µm) water samples using 3-domain universal primers that amplify 16S and 18S in one PCR reaction.

www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Characterizing organisms from three domains of life with universal primers from throughout the global ocean - Scientific Data
Scientific Data - Characterizing organisms from three domains of life with universal primers from throughout the global ocean
www.nature.com
July 2, 2025 at 12:52 PM
aquaticmicrolab.bsky.social
Check out our field sampling update on our lab website, work we continue to do in support of Diadema Scuticociliatosis outbreaks
Field Update: USVI Marine Disease Survey www.theaquaticmicrobiologylab.com/news CC @ianhewson.bsky.social #microsky #ecologysky #marinedisease 🌊🦠🧬
News in the Aquatic Microbiology Lab — The Aquatic Microbiology Lab
www.theaquaticmicrobiologylab.com
June 30, 2025 at 4:03 PM
aquaticmicrolab.bsky.social
Some updates to the lab website on awards and presentations! It's been a busy year in the Aquatic Microbiology lab.
www.theaquaticmicrobiologylab.com/news
News in the Aquatic Microbiology Lab — The Aquatic Microbiology Lab
www.theaquaticmicrobiologylab.com
June 29, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Reposted by Michael Henson, Ph.D.
jcamthrash.bsky.social
Our latest, lead by @ahoiching.bsky.social, uncovering physiological vulnerabilities and helping to explain growth rate limitation in SAR11.

Cell cycle dysregulation of globally important SAR11 bacteria resulting from environmental perturbation www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... #jcampubs
June 26, 2025 at 1:40 PM
aquaticmicrolab.bsky.social
Cell cycle dysregulation of globally important SAR11 bacteria resulting from environmental perturbation

t.co/8ohVSh9Esd
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.06.25.661606v1?rss=1
t.co
June 26, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Reposted by Michael Henson, Ph.D.
ianhewson.bsky.social
An amazing trip to USVI to study the ecology of DaScPc, the parasite responsible for urchin mass mortality 3 years ago. Over 150 samples, and an experiment completed. Fantastic to work with @aquaticmicrolab.bsky.social at NIU and Marilyn Brandt at UVI. Supported by NIU Biology and ACSF.
May 18, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Reposted by Michael Henson, Ph.D.
uncultured.carinilab.com
Happy birthday SAR11! 35 years old today!
uncultured.carinilab.com/p/happy-birt...
Happy Birthday SAR11
SAR11 turns 33 this month
uncultured.carinilab.com
May 2, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Reposted by Michael Henson, Ph.D.
drkatfish.bsky.social
During summer and winter, waters of the #GreatLakes typically separate into distinct temperature layers - a process called stratification. However, new research finds Lakes Michigan and Huron aren't consistently stratifying during winter anymore due to climate change www.jsonline.com/story/news/l...
In winter, the waters of Lakes Michigan and Huron separate into layers. Not anymore. Why?
Winters in particular are entering a new era in the world's largest surface freshwater system.
www.jsonline.com
April 7, 2025 at 11:32 PM
aquaticmicrolab.bsky.social
Help Support Student Research!
🔗 Donate : dog.niu.edu/giving-day/9...

#NIUHuskies #NIUBiology #STEMEducation #SupportStudentResearch #FirstGenCollege #ExperientialLearning #ScienceMatters #FutureScientists #HandsOnLearning #NIUAlumni #GiveBack #ResearchOpportunities #HuskiesGive #NIUCommunity
April 2, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Reposted by Michael Henson, Ph.D.
standupforscience.bsky.social
Welcome to the Bluesky account for Stand Up for Science 2025!

Keep an eye on this space for updates, event information, and ways to get involved. We can't wait to see everyone #standupforscience2025 on March 7th, both in DC and locations nationwide!

#scienceforall #sciencenotsilence
February 12, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Reposted by Michael Henson, Ph.D.
kennethwasmund.bsky.social
Sounds cool.

"Bacteria encode post-mortem protein catabolism that enables altruistic nutrient recycling"

www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Bacteria encode post-mortem protein catabolism that enables altruistic nutrient recycling - Nature Communications
Processes that occur after death have not received the same level of attention as the mechanisms of life. In this study, the authors show that bacteria have potentially evolved an altruistic trait to ...
www.nature.com
February 13, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Reposted by Michael Henson, Ph.D.
blackinmicro.bsky.social
A statement from the BMA Board Members to the BMA Community and Beyond.

Additional alt text to follow due to the character limit.
The statement reads: We are disappointed in the rapid capitulation by some U.S. institutions and organizations to recent attacks on diversity, equity, inclusion, and access. At their core, these weak arguments are fueled by the familiar underlying assumption that people from Black, Indigenous, and other marginalized identities cannot be excellent and therefore have not ‘earned’ our place in public intellectual life. However, we have always been competent, hardworking, and creative people who have contributed positively to society at large, across sectors but especially in science. We reject these attempts at silencing and erasure and will continue to be a place of respite and community in these turbulent times. To our members, your talent, skills, and safety are important! To our friends and allies, you may be feeling like everything happening is out of your control, but we want you to know that your voice and actions can make a difference. We want to point you towards some immediate actions that you can take. These are the top 3 issues we are concerned about and what you can do about it if you mirror our concerns. Freezing of federal funding and cutting grant programs for scientific research that have any connotation of being “DEI.” The potential confirmation of RFK Jr., a vocal anti-vaccination proponent, as the head of HHS. The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) removed their ABRCMS and IDEAAS webpages in addition to some scientist spotlights and written articles highlighting the current and historic contributions of microbiologists who are a part of marginalized communities including LGBTQIA+, Women, Indigenous and Black, as well as others page that could be considered “‘DEI”. Many have now been reinstated with changes to language (i.e. removing terms like “equity” and “marginalized”), and the statements released by ASM did not acknowledge the harm that they have caused to their members and showed no remorse for their actions.
February 4, 2025 at 7:46 PM
aquaticmicrolab.bsky.social
Got to attend the NIU Womens Basketball (@GoHuskiesWBB) game last night and head to center court to #humblebrag be honored as their faculty spotlight.
February 6, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Reposted by Michael Henson, Ph.D.
kyt-thatsme.bsky.social
🧪🧬🧫🦠
kyt-thatsme.bsky.social DEI Virologist @kyt-thatsme.bsky.social · Feb 3
Ok this is not ok. ASM actively sought out BMA and its members for Juneteenth and Black History month content for the last 4 years. Actively asked for black labor and then takes it down?! @asm.org this is unacceptable. You should be standing up for marginalized microbiologists not erasing them.
anigwe.bsky.social allie igwe @anigwe.bsky.social · Feb 3
Checked on the article I wrote about Juneteenth in 2023…
”under review”
February 3, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Reposted by Michael Henson, Ph.D.
jlgoff.bsky.social
Happy Black History Month! I’m not sure if ASM is celebrating this year, so I’ll share some links to ASM resources I had previously collated on black women in microbiology that are now deleted (or at risk of being deleted). Deleted content can be viewed via the internet archive (links provided).
February 3, 2025 at 2:26 PM
aquaticmicrolab.bsky.social
Detection of the Diadema antillarum scuticociliatosis Philaster clade on sympatric metazoa, plankton, and abiotic surfaces and assessment for its potential reemergence
www.int-res.com/abstracts/me... #Microsky
Detection of the Diadema antillarum scuticociliatosis Philaster clade on sympatric metazoa, plankton, and abiotic surfaces and assessment for its potential reemergence
www.int-res.com
January 30, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Reposted by Michael Henson, Ph.D.
jaytlennon.bsky.social
Read the January summary of science on climate change and microbes via @asm.org: tinyurl.com/2at395tz

And learn more about the American Academy of Microbiology's (AAM) "Climate Change & Microbes" scientific portfolio: tinyurl.com/ysyv5scj
January 24, 2025 at 2:49 AM