Connor Bamford
@connorggbamford.bsky.social
910 followers 610 following 120 posts
Scientist and educator interested in viruses, , innate immunity and evolution. Currently lecturer at Queen’s University Belfast and member of Young Academy Ireland.
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connorggbamford.bsky.social
🦠 "Social Virology at the Tri-Kingdom Interface in Birds and Mammals" 🐥

We have a new 4y (open to intl students) PhD project advertised through the NorthWestBio Doctoral Training Partnership (lnkd.in/ee8hRpN6 ) between QUBelfast and Lancaster on virus-bacterial interactions across vertebrates!
Reposted by Connor Bamford
ukhsa.bsky.social
#UKHSAVirusWatch is back, a summary of our weekly winter surveillance report .🦠🧵
This week's data shows an increase in COVID-19 activity, which is circulating at medium levels. Flu activity has also increased, particularly in those aged 15 to 24, but remains at baseline levels.
Graph showing COVID-19 positive tests rising steadily from spring 2025 after a low in early 2025. Data from October 2024 to October 2025, England only. Graph showing flu-positive tests peaking sharply in winter 2024–25 before declining and then beginning to rise again in autumn 2025. Data from October 2024 to October 2025, England only. Graph showing flu-positive tests peaking sharply in winter 2024–25 before declining and then beginning to rise again in autumn 2025. Data from October 2024 to October 2025.
connorggbamford.bsky.social
Wow - hadn’t heard of this. Thanks
connorggbamford.bsky.social
Yeah that is important as it’s an old debate really so I focused on new vaccines (eg RSV), global changes like RFKjr, and - at least the UKs - ever decreasing childhood vaccination rate
connorggbamford.bsky.social
Could try googling for State of Us BBC NI podcast but there could be some restriction with it being BBC. Unless it’s a conspiracy!
connorggbamford.bsky.social
It was great to speak with the BBC’s State of Us podcast about the science behind vaccines in the wake of the pandemic, alongside a local politician Paul Frew

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
Reposted by Connor Bamford
gunnarns.bsky.social
SAVE THE DATE!

The 2026 UK CellularMicrobiologyNetwork meeting will be held 22nd - 23rd of June at @wwiem-qub.bsky.social in Belfast.

Researchers from the UK and beyond are invited to share exciting work on the mechanisms of host-pathogen interactions.

Follow us to stay tuned! www.ukcellmicro.org
connorggbamford.bsky.social
Phew thankfully I waited until an hour before my T cell lecture to update my slides
connorggbamford.bsky.social
🦠 "Social Virology at the Tri-Kingdom Interface in Birds and Mammals" 🐥

We have a new 4y (open to intl students) PhD project advertised through the NorthWestBio Doctoral Training Partnership (lnkd.in/ee8hRpN6 ) between QUBelfast and Lancaster on virus-bacterial interactions across vertebrates!
connorggbamford.bsky.social
Wonderful early morning on my first day lecturing this semester - teaching second years about all things antibodies and their uses!
Early morning sun peeking over a tree in the central quad of the Queen’s University Belfast main building
Reposted by Connor Bamford
timskvortsov.bsky.social
Are you interested a fully funded PhD? We would like to understand the role phages play in well- and poorly-performing broiler flocks using AI!
Learn more here: sustain-cdt.ai/advertised-p...
Apply by Friday, 17 October @ 12:00:
S3140 | SUSTAIN
sustain-cdt.ai
connorggbamford.bsky.social
Inspiring day at the @yai.ie ‘s “evidence for policy summit” with a big focus on how early career researchers fit into the system across the island, with a focus on sustainability and a fair and inclusive society. Big thanks to Johnathan Dalzell from DAERA coming down from NI.
Reposted by Connor Bamford
connorggbamford.bsky.social
Congrats Kevin - well deserved, and sounds a really cool project!
Reposted by Connor Bamford
gingerhowley.bsky.social
I will be recruiting two PhDs for my ERC Project HERDPATH - let's discover out how livestock and pathogens evolved together using #aDNA. Projects will be animal or pathogen focused but will be in dialogue.

Details at my quaint website below. Deadline 3rd October.

kevingdaly.github.io
Ruminant Palaeogenomics - Kevin G. Daly: Ruminant Palaeogenomics
kevingdaly.github.io
Reposted by Connor Bamford
claireldonald.bsky.social
Really enjoyed working with MSc Science Communication student Hannah to produce this video as part of her summer project. It's a great opportunity to look at science from a different perspective. Great work Hannah!
cvrinfo.bsky.social
🦟 Dengue, a mosquito-borne disease, is expected to rise in a warming world.

This video by MSc student Hannah Stephens explores how #dengue transmission may shift with climate change and how innovative research could help control it.

@uofglasgow.bsky.social

youtu.be/zY1F875_M80
Dengue in a Warming World: Can We Control It?
YouTube video by MRC - UofGlasgow Centre for Virus Research
youtu.be
Reposted by Connor Bamford
yai.ie
Last few places available to attend our Evidence for Policy Summit in Dublin next week. Visit: www.yai.ie for sign up details. If you can't attend in person, email [email protected] for livestream details! #evidenceforpolicy #youngacademyireland #EfP25 @emmaefarrell.bsky.social @karinadoorley.bsky.social
Reposted by Connor Bamford
biorxiv-microbiol.bsky.social
Human Rhinovirus 16 impacts cilia structure in 3D cultured primary bronchial epithelial tissue through alternative splicing of host cilia RNAs. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.08.26.672366v1
Reposted by Connor Bamford
researchireland.ie
#REMINDER: The Expression of Interest deadline for Global Talent Ireland is this Thursday, 28th August. Global Talent Ireland aims to attract exceptional mid-career and established researchers from across the globe to Ireland. For more visit: www.researchireland.ie/funding/global-talent-ireland/
Global Talent Ireland Decorative Graphic
Reposted by Connor Bamford
brennanlab.bsky.social
Thread: How Viruses Hijack Tick RNA Machinery 🧬🕷️

Post 1/5 🧵
We just published the first map of how viruses rewire tick cell RNA machinery! Led by Alexandra Wilson & Wael Kamel!

We Found 283 proteins that change RNA-binding during Uukuniemi virus infection.

📄 Our paper: doi.org/10.1371/jour...
Uukuniemi virus infection causes a pervasive remodelling of the RNA-binding proteome in tick cells
Author summary In host cells, RNA-binding proteins play essential roles in the life cycle of many viruses by influencing how viral RNA is processed, translated, replicated and assembled into virions. ...
doi.org