Dr. Bethany Allen
@bethanyjallen.bsky.social
Palaeobiologist interested in biodiversity patterns over long timescales 📉
Postdoc at @gfz.bsky.social 🇩🇪
Co-chair of @besmacro.bsky.social, member of @paleodb.bsky.social committee and @palaeoverse.bsky.social dev team 👩💻
She/her
Postdoc at @gfz.bsky.social 🇩🇪
Co-chair of @besmacro.bsky.social, member of @paleodb.bsky.social committee and @palaeoverse.bsky.social dev team 👩💻
She/her
Pinned
Huge thanks to @palaeopercs.bsky.social for inviting and hosting me! If you missed my talk on Tuesday, you can now catch up via their YouTube channel 👇
www.youtube.com/watch?v=x19X...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=x19X...
Reposted by Dr. Bethany Allen
🌍📢 Postdoc alert | 3-yr starting early 2026
Please 🔁!
Understand how ecosystem stability is changing across space and through time using niche modelling, pinpoint at-risk species/regions, and build tools that drive conservation action🌿🧭📈
👉 tinyurl.com/2mafwru3
#Ecology #Jobs #Biodiversity
Please 🔁!
Understand how ecosystem stability is changing across space and through time using niche modelling, pinpoint at-risk species/regions, and build tools that drive conservation action🌿🧭📈
👉 tinyurl.com/2mafwru3
#Ecology #Jobs #Biodiversity
November 26, 2025 at 2:47 PM
🌍📢 Postdoc alert | 3-yr starting early 2026
Please 🔁!
Understand how ecosystem stability is changing across space and through time using niche modelling, pinpoint at-risk species/regions, and build tools that drive conservation action🌿🧭📈
👉 tinyurl.com/2mafwru3
#Ecology #Jobs #Biodiversity
Please 🔁!
Understand how ecosystem stability is changing across space and through time using niche modelling, pinpoint at-risk species/regions, and build tools that drive conservation action🌿🧭📈
👉 tinyurl.com/2mafwru3
#Ecology #Jobs #Biodiversity
Reposted by Dr. Bethany Allen
🎓 Looking for an exciting PhD project?
Check out some amazing opportunities on our page! 🌍🔬
👉 palass.org/phd-opportun...
Have a PhD opportunity to share?
You can easily add it using the “Add a PhD Opportunity” button! 📝✨
#phd #phdlife #advertising #palass
Check out some amazing opportunities on our page! 🌍🔬
👉 palass.org/phd-opportun...
Have a PhD opportunity to share?
You can easily add it using the “Add a PhD Opportunity” button! 📝✨
#phd #phdlife #advertising #palass
November 24, 2025 at 7:03 PM
🎓 Looking for an exciting PhD project?
Check out some amazing opportunities on our page! 🌍🔬
👉 palass.org/phd-opportun...
Have a PhD opportunity to share?
You can easily add it using the “Add a PhD Opportunity” button! 📝✨
#phd #phdlife #advertising #palass
Check out some amazing opportunities on our page! 🌍🔬
👉 palass.org/phd-opportun...
Have a PhD opportunity to share?
You can easily add it using the “Add a PhD Opportunity” button! 📝✨
#phd #phdlife #advertising #palass
Reposted by Dr. Bethany Allen
Paleo folks: Please recommend researchers (incl yourselves) interested in phylogenetic reconstruction in deep time, molecular clocks (discord w/ fossil clocks), foundational/methodological issues in phylo/paleo-reconstruction & who'd be interested in hanging w/ historians & philosophers of science ⚒️
November 24, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Paleo folks: Please recommend researchers (incl yourselves) interested in phylogenetic reconstruction in deep time, molecular clocks (discord w/ fossil clocks), foundational/methodological issues in phylo/paleo-reconstruction & who'd be interested in hanging w/ historians & philosophers of science ⚒️
Reposted by Dr. Bethany Allen
Read the new article by Hannah Ritchie and Fiona Spooner, “Just ten species make up almost half the weight of all wild mammals on Earth”: ourworldindata.org/wild-mammal-...
Just ten species make up almost half the weight of all wild mammals on Earth
A small number of species dominate the distribution of wild mammal biomass.
ourworldindata.org
November 24, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Read the new article by Hannah Ritchie and Fiona Spooner, “Just ten species make up almost half the weight of all wild mammals on Earth”: ourworldindata.org/wild-mammal-...
Reposted by Dr. Bethany Allen
Study after study shows that using LLMs is bad for cognition, bad for learning, bad for understanding, bad for mental health. So why are our schools and universities still relentlessly pushing them?
Relying on ChatGPT to teach you about a topic leaves you with shallower knowledge than Googling and reading about it, according to new research that compared what more than 10,000 people knew after using one method or the other.
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
November 21, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Study after study shows that using LLMs is bad for cognition, bad for learning, bad for understanding, bad for mental health. So why are our schools and universities still relentlessly pushing them?
Reposted by Dr. Bethany Allen
Funded PhD opportunity!!🧪🌎
Wanna improve how biodiversity is monitored & protected?
Keen to work with large datasets & quantitative methods?
This PhD could be for you!
Fully-funded PhD at University of Reading with IoZ & UKCEH
(UK or settled status applicants)
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Wanna improve how biodiversity is monitored & protected?
Keen to work with large datasets & quantitative methods?
This PhD could be for you!
Fully-funded PhD at University of Reading with IoZ & UKCEH
(UK or settled status applicants)
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
CR2026_23: Monitoring and protecting biodiversity across all its dimensions – taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic at University of Reading on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - CR2026_23: Monitoring and protecting biodiversity across all its dimensions – taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic at University of Reading, listed on FindAPhD.com
www.findaphd.com
November 21, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Funded PhD opportunity!!🧪🌎
Wanna improve how biodiversity is monitored & protected?
Keen to work with large datasets & quantitative methods?
This PhD could be for you!
Fully-funded PhD at University of Reading with IoZ & UKCEH
(UK or settled status applicants)
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Wanna improve how biodiversity is monitored & protected?
Keen to work with large datasets & quantitative methods?
This PhD could be for you!
Fully-funded PhD at University of Reading with IoZ & UKCEH
(UK or settled status applicants)
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Are you a fan of Python, geological data and digital twins? 🐍🪨🌐
Apply to join us in the Earth Surface Process Modelling section at @gfz.bsky.social as a scientific programmer! Deadline is 14th December
Apply to join us in the Earth Surface Process Modelling section at @gfz.bsky.social as a scientific programmer! Deadline is 14th December
Scientific programmer (f_m_x) - Integrating Databases into Digital Twin - GFZ Helmholtz-Zentrum für Geoforschung
GFZ Helmholtz-Zentrum für Geoforschung looks for Scientific programmer (f_m_x) - Integrating Databases into Digital Twin in Potsdam - apply now!
www.academics.com
November 21, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Are you a fan of Python, geological data and digital twins? 🐍🪨🌐
Apply to join us in the Earth Surface Process Modelling section at @gfz.bsky.social as a scientific programmer! Deadline is 14th December
Apply to join us in the Earth Surface Process Modelling section at @gfz.bsky.social as a scientific programmer! Deadline is 14th December
Reposted by Dr. Bethany Allen
The geology department at the University of Leicester, where myself and countless others did our palaeontology PhDs, is at serious risk of closure
Please show your support by signing the below!
c.org/KtYyZB8dHk
Please show your support by signing the below!
c.org/KtYyZB8dHk
Save Geology at the University of Leicester
Can you spare a minute to help this campaign?
c.org
November 19, 2025 at 9:50 AM
The geology department at the University of Leicester, where myself and countless others did our palaeontology PhDs, is at serious risk of closure
Please show your support by signing the below!
c.org/KtYyZB8dHk
Please show your support by signing the below!
c.org/KtYyZB8dHk
Reposted by Dr. Bethany Allen
*Gain skills and training in journal publishing!* Open Palaeontology is looking for Managing Editors and Steering Committee members! Please consider helping to shape community open-access publishing in palaeontology, and spread the word!
openpalaeo.org
@openpalaeo.bsky.social
openpalaeo.org
@openpalaeo.bsky.social
November 19, 2025 at 10:49 AM
*Gain skills and training in journal publishing!* Open Palaeontology is looking for Managing Editors and Steering Committee members! Please consider helping to shape community open-access publishing in palaeontology, and spread the word!
openpalaeo.org
@openpalaeo.bsky.social
openpalaeo.org
@openpalaeo.bsky.social
Reposted by Dr. Bethany Allen
I’ve released a tool to sketch and edit phylogenetic trees!
yawak.jp/PhyloWeaver/
Load a Newick file and intuitively add/remove/resize branches.
Useful for quick conceptual trees, extracting subtrees, or turning ideas into Newick.
yawak.jp/PhyloWeaver/
Load a Newick file and intuitively add/remove/resize branches.
Useful for quick conceptual trees, extracting subtrees, or turning ideas into Newick.
PhyloWeaver – Interactive phylogenetic tree editor
Edit and visualize phylogenetic trees directly in your browser. PhyloWeaver lets you interactively rearrange tree topologies and export high-quality figures for publications and presentations.
yawak.jp
November 18, 2025 at 1:59 AM
I’ve released a tool to sketch and edit phylogenetic trees!
yawak.jp/PhyloWeaver/
Load a Newick file and intuitively add/remove/resize branches.
Useful for quick conceptual trees, extracting subtrees, or turning ideas into Newick.
yawak.jp/PhyloWeaver/
Load a Newick file and intuitively add/remove/resize branches.
Useful for quick conceptual trees, extracting subtrees, or turning ideas into Newick.
Reposted by Dr. Bethany Allen
ppgm: an R package for integrating neontological, palaeontological & climate data in a phylogenetic comparative framework onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... #SVP2025 @alexh-palaeo.bsky.social @datadryad.bsky.social @tamueccb.bsky.social
November 15, 2025 at 8:09 AM
ppgm: an R package for integrating neontological, palaeontological & climate data in a phylogenetic comparative framework onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... #SVP2025 @alexh-palaeo.bsky.social @datadryad.bsky.social @tamueccb.bsky.social
Reposted by Dr. Bethany Allen
Check out this new paper in Systematic Biology! Aside from the author list including leaders in the field who happen to be some of my favorite scientists, this paper discusses * both * phylogeny inference incorporating continuous characters AND dicynodont evolution. How cool is that? 🧪
Incorporating continuous characters in joint estimation of dicynodont phylogeny
Abstract. Continuous characters have received comparatively little attention in Bayesian phylogenetic estimation. This is predominantly because they cannot
academic.oup.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Check out this new paper in Systematic Biology! Aside from the author list including leaders in the field who happen to be some of my favorite scientists, this paper discusses * both * phylogeny inference incorporating continuous characters AND dicynodont evolution. How cool is that? 🧪
Reposted by Dr. Bethany Allen
We are hiring: 4 PhD Positions in Ecology / Data Science and one Ecological Data Scientist. For more information, see www.uni-regensburg.de/universitaet...
We are hiring: 4 PhD Positions in Ecology / Data Science and one Ecological Data Scientist
We are looking for 4 PhD Positions and one Scientific Programmer / Ecological Data Scientist to join the AG Hartig (Theoretical Ecology)
www.uni-regensburg.de
November 13, 2025 at 4:14 PM
We are hiring: 4 PhD Positions in Ecology / Data Science and one Ecological Data Scientist. For more information, see www.uni-regensburg.de/universitaet...
Reposted by Dr. Bethany Allen
🚨Palaeoverse Lecture Series🚨
🗓️20th November 2025, 15:00 UTC🗓️
Join us next week to hear from Dr Carrie Tyler from University of Nevada, Las Vegas, on “The high fidelity of trophic structure in ancient marine ecosystems: from functional diversity to food webs” 🎣
Register here: bit.ly/palaeoverse-...
🗓️20th November 2025, 15:00 UTC🗓️
Join us next week to hear from Dr Carrie Tyler from University of Nevada, Las Vegas, on “The high fidelity of trophic structure in ancient marine ecosystems: from functional diversity to food webs” 🎣
Register here: bit.ly/palaeoverse-...
November 13, 2025 at 12:17 PM
🚨Palaeoverse Lecture Series🚨
🗓️20th November 2025, 15:00 UTC🗓️
Join us next week to hear from Dr Carrie Tyler from University of Nevada, Las Vegas, on “The high fidelity of trophic structure in ancient marine ecosystems: from functional diversity to food webs” 🎣
Register here: bit.ly/palaeoverse-...
🗓️20th November 2025, 15:00 UTC🗓️
Join us next week to hear from Dr Carrie Tyler from University of Nevada, Las Vegas, on “The high fidelity of trophic structure in ancient marine ecosystems: from functional diversity to food webs” 🎣
Register here: bit.ly/palaeoverse-...
Reposted by Dr. Bethany Allen
Want to do a PhD linking palaeontology, ecological modelling and polar ecosystems? Look no further than this NERC GW4+ DLTP funded project with @rowanwhittlebas.bsky.social at @bas.ac.uk & @bristolpalaeo.bsky.social and others (inc me).
www.bristol.ac.uk/media-librar...
www.bristol.ac.uk/media-librar...
www.bristol.ac.uk
November 12, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Want to do a PhD linking palaeontology, ecological modelling and polar ecosystems? Look no further than this NERC GW4+ DLTP funded project with @rowanwhittlebas.bsky.social at @bas.ac.uk & @bristolpalaeo.bsky.social and others (inc me).
www.bristol.ac.uk/media-librar...
www.bristol.ac.uk/media-librar...
Reposted by Dr. Bethany Allen
Come and join us here in Cambridge! Applications open for a new faculty position, for a researcher in computational and/or theoretical biology, based jointly in Genetics and Mathematics. Happy to answer questions about research, teaching and working here.
www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/faculty...
www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/faculty...
Faculty Position in Computational Biology
Applications are invited for an Assistant/ Associate Professorship in Computational Biology to commence on 1 April 2026 or shortly thereafter. This is a joint post between the Department of Applied
www.cam.ac.uk
November 11, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Come and join us here in Cambridge! Applications open for a new faculty position, for a researcher in computational and/or theoretical biology, based jointly in Genetics and Mathematics. Happy to answer questions about research, teaching and working here.
www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/faculty...
www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/faculty...
Reposted by Dr. Bethany Allen
NERC GW4+ PhD: Genome duplication, extinction and diversification in the evolution of flowering plants, supervised by Phil Donoghue, James Clark and Ilia Leitch. Deets soon but get in touch with @phil-donoghue.bsky.social if interested. Jan 8 application deadline @bristolpalaeo.bsky.social
November 5, 2025 at 11:03 AM
NERC GW4+ PhD: Genome duplication, extinction and diversification in the evolution of flowering plants, supervised by Phil Donoghue, James Clark and Ilia Leitch. Deets soon but get in touch with @phil-donoghue.bsky.social if interested. Jan 8 application deadline @bristolpalaeo.bsky.social
I reviewed The Tree of Life by @maxjtelford.bsky.social for @natecoevo.nature.com 🌳
You can access my review for free here: rdcu.be/eOcYY
You can access my review for free here: rdcu.be/eOcYY
November 6, 2025 at 8:05 AM
I reviewed The Tree of Life by @maxjtelford.bsky.social for @natecoevo.nature.com 🌳
You can access my review for free here: rdcu.be/eOcYY
You can access my review for free here: rdcu.be/eOcYY
Reposted by Dr. Bethany Allen
Neat paper: A Guided Tour of Phylogenetic Comparative Methods for Studying Trait Evolution
www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...
www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...
A Guided Tour of Phylogenetic Comparative Methods for Studying Trait Evolution
Phylogenetic comparative methods are important tools in biology, providing insights into the way traits evolve. There are many technical resources describing how these methods work. Our aim here is to...
www.annualreviews.org
November 4, 2025 at 3:05 AM
Neat paper: A Guided Tour of Phylogenetic Comparative Methods for Studying Trait Evolution
www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...
www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...
Reposted by Dr. Bethany Allen
New @nhm-london.bsky.social 5-day course on integrative biodiversity discovery! Learn how to collect specimens, obtain genomic data, and interpret biodiversity using cutting edge phylogenomic analysis. It's free, and aimed at early career researchers: www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/...
Integrative biodiversity discovery | Natural History Museum
An introduction to field collection, laboratory analysis and phylogenomics.
www.nhm.ac.uk
November 4, 2025 at 3:25 PM
New @nhm-london.bsky.social 5-day course on integrative biodiversity discovery! Learn how to collect specimens, obtain genomic data, and interpret biodiversity using cutting edge phylogenomic analysis. It's free, and aimed at early career researchers: www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/...
Reposted by Dr. Bethany Allen
Interested in corals, dispersal, and diversification dynamics? 🪸
We're offering a PhD project on how the Tethys closure shaped global marine biodiversity — supervised by me, Bridget Wade, Nadia Santodomingo, & Francesca Bosellini.
🗓️ Apply by 17th December 2025
www.trees-dla.ac.uk/projects/how...
We're offering a PhD project on how the Tethys closure shaped global marine biodiversity — supervised by me, Bridget Wade, Nadia Santodomingo, & Francesca Bosellini.
🗓️ Apply by 17th December 2025
www.trees-dla.ac.uk/projects/how...
How did the closure of the Tethys Ocean impact global marine biodiversity? | TREES DLA
The closure of the Tethys Ocean during the Miocene represents one of the most profound reorganisations of Earth’s surface systems in the Cenozoic. Once a vast marine corridor linking the Indo-Pacific ...
www.trees-dla.ac.uk
November 3, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Interested in corals, dispersal, and diversification dynamics? 🪸
We're offering a PhD project on how the Tethys closure shaped global marine biodiversity — supervised by me, Bridget Wade, Nadia Santodomingo, & Francesca Bosellini.
🗓️ Apply by 17th December 2025
www.trees-dla.ac.uk/projects/how...
We're offering a PhD project on how the Tethys closure shaped global marine biodiversity — supervised by me, Bridget Wade, Nadia Santodomingo, & Francesca Bosellini.
🗓️ Apply by 17th December 2025
www.trees-dla.ac.uk/projects/how...
Reposted by Dr. Bethany Allen
Applications are currently being accepted for UBC's ✨️ Biodiversity Postdoctoral Fellowship ✨️ (two positions!!), due Jan. 15
Please share far and wide 🚀
(See thread)
Please share far and wide 🚀
(See thread)
Postdoctoral Fellowship Opportunities
Biodiversity Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2-year (2026-2028) - 2 positions OPENAt UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in resea...
biodiversity.ubc.ca
November 3, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Applications are currently being accepted for UBC's ✨️ Biodiversity Postdoctoral Fellowship ✨️ (two positions!!), due Jan. 15
Please share far and wide 🚀
(See thread)
Please share far and wide 🚀
(See thread)
Reposted by Dr. Bethany Allen
TLDR; The PSF has made the decision to put our community and our shared diversity, equity, and inclusion values ahead of seeking $1.5M in new revenue. Please read and share. pyfound.blogspot.com/2025/10/NSF-...
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🧵
The official home of the Python Programming Language
www.python.org
October 27, 2025 at 2:47 PM
TLDR; The PSF has made the decision to put our community and our shared diversity, equity, and inclusion values ahead of seeking $1.5M in new revenue. Please read and share. pyfound.blogspot.com/2025/10/NSF-...
🧵
🧵
Reposted by Dr. Bethany Allen
🚨New paper out in Palaeontology! Check it out if you're interested morphological evolution, fossil phylogenetics, and macroevolution 🧪
"Assessing the impact of character evolution models on phylogenetic and macroevolutionary inferences from fossil data"
"Assessing the impact of character evolution models on phylogenetic and macroevolutionary inferences from fossil data"
Assessing the impact of character evolution models on phylogenetic and macroevolutionary inferences from fossil data
Understanding the evolution and phylogenetic distribution of morphologic traits is fundamental to macroevolutionary research. Despite decades of major advances and key insights from molecular systema...
dx.doi.org
October 27, 2025 at 2:17 PM
🚨New paper out in Palaeontology! Check it out if you're interested morphological evolution, fossil phylogenetics, and macroevolution 🧪
"Assessing the impact of character evolution models on phylogenetic and macroevolutionary inferences from fossil data"
"Assessing the impact of character evolution models on phylogenetic and macroevolutionary inferences from fossil data"
Reposted by Dr. Bethany Allen
Just in time for #FossilFriday! Our paper is out today in Palaeontology @thepalass.bsky.social
Ten simple rules to follow when cleaning occurrence data in palaeobiology 🧹🦕
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Another great @palaeoverse.bsky.social team effort to offer a community resource!
Ten simple rules to follow when cleaning occurrence data in palaeobiology 🧹🦕
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Another great @palaeoverse.bsky.social team effort to offer a community resource!
Ten simple rules to follow when cleaning occurrence data in palaeobiology
Large datasets of fossil occurrences, often downloaded from online community-maintained databases, are a vital resource for understanding broad-scale evolutionary patterns, such as how biodiversity h...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
October 24, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Just in time for #FossilFriday! Our paper is out today in Palaeontology @thepalass.bsky.social
Ten simple rules to follow when cleaning occurrence data in palaeobiology 🧹🦕
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Another great @palaeoverse.bsky.social team effort to offer a community resource!
Ten simple rules to follow when cleaning occurrence data in palaeobiology 🧹🦕
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Another great @palaeoverse.bsky.social team effort to offer a community resource!