Alana Alexander
@laninsky.bsky.social
I study critters using DNA! 🐳🐬🐋 Ngāpuhi (Te Hikutū), Pākehā. He māmā ahau ki ngā tamariki e toru ki tua o te ārai me te pōtiki kua noho tonu ki te ao nei
Pinned
Alana Alexander
@laninsky.bsky.social
· Apr 8
Really proud of @sebasalco.bsky.social's mahi on this one, and grateful to the iwi and hapū who entrusted us with their ngā ika moana taonga. @royalsocietynz.bsky.social, University of Otago, Genomics Aotearoa and ORG.one provided funding, and thanks to all incl coauthors who provided tautoko!
Reposted by Alana Alexander
Only one week left to apply
☠️🧬 2-yr Postdoc in in Genomic Simulations and Extinction Risk Modelling!
Let's figure out the Genomic signs of Extinction @DTU in Denmark.
Start: Feb 2026 (flexible)
Application deadline: 24 Oct 2025
For details click here: tinyurl.com/BioExtPD
Reposts appreciated 😁
Let's figure out the Genomic signs of Extinction @DTU in Denmark.
Start: Feb 2026 (flexible)
Application deadline: 24 Oct 2025
For details click here: tinyurl.com/BioExtPD
Reposts appreciated 😁
October 17, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Only one week left to apply
Reposted by Alana Alexander
In case you are looking for Indigenous thrillers/horror stories this October. Fricking love libraries that put together lists like this.
pima.bibliocommons.com/v2/list/disp...?
pima.bibliocommons.com/v2/list/disp...?
Indigenous-Authored Chills and Thrills — a staff-created list from Pima County Public Library
The Many Nations team collected spooky titles by Indigenous authors to celebrate 2024's yíiyáh season. "Yíiyáh" is a Navajo expression that ranges in meaning from "scary" to "dangerous." Dive into the...
pima.bibliocommons.com
October 17, 2025 at 11:18 AM
In case you are looking for Indigenous thrillers/horror stories this October. Fricking love libraries that put together lists like this.
pima.bibliocommons.com/v2/list/disp...?
pima.bibliocommons.com/v2/list/disp...?
Reposted by Alana Alexander
One final bit of good news - 234600 people across the motu voted to remove Māori wards, 245800 to keep them - 51.1% of all votes were to keep them, 48.9% not to. The majority of the country that voted were in favour so suck it coalition!
October 11, 2025 at 10:44 AM
One final bit of good news - 234600 people across the motu voted to remove Māori wards, 245800 to keep them - 51.1% of all votes were to keep them, 48.9% not to. The majority of the country that voted were in favour so suck it coalition!
Reposted by Alana Alexander
I get that the news cycle is packed right now, but I just heard from a colleague at the Smithsonian that this is fully a GIANT SQUID BEING EATEN BY A SPERM WHALE and it’s possibly the first ever confirmed video according to a friend at NOAA
10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread 🧵)
10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread 🧵)
September 24, 2025 at 8:30 PM
I get that the news cycle is packed right now, but I just heard from a colleague at the Smithsonian that this is fully a GIANT SQUID BEING EATEN BY A SPERM WHALE and it’s possibly the first ever confirmed video according to a friend at NOAA
10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread 🧵)
10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread 🧵)
led by wahine toa Tara, I'm lucky enough to be beside a rōpū of awesome Māori and Pacific "earliesh" career researchers on this one - our advice to the rangatira o āpōpō who are entering into STEM research training (ki a au, he reta aroha nā ngā tuākana tēnei): www.journal.mai.ac.nz/system/files...
September 23, 2025 at 10:34 PM
led by wahine toa Tara, I'm lucky enough to be beside a rōpū of awesome Māori and Pacific "earliesh" career researchers on this one - our advice to the rangatira o āpōpō who are entering into STEM research training (ki a au, he reta aroha nā ngā tuākana tēnei): www.journal.mai.ac.nz/system/files...
Reposted by Alana Alexander
This TikTok should be titled:
“The Right Wing Explained”
Well worth 90s of your time, & very applicable to the incoherent hypocrisy & gaslighting we see from Seymour, Peters & the Luxo-pool Noodle.
This will get worse the longer NACT hold power here in NZ as it will feed their tantrum.
#nzpol
“The Right Wing Explained”
Well worth 90s of your time, & very applicable to the incoherent hypocrisy & gaslighting we see from Seymour, Peters & the Luxo-pool Noodle.
This will get worse the longer NACT hold power here in NZ as it will feed their tantrum.
#nzpol
Dam been writing a book about this and she just TikToked it in 90 seconds.
September 19, 2025 at 11:17 PM
This TikTok should be titled:
“The Right Wing Explained”
Well worth 90s of your time, & very applicable to the incoherent hypocrisy & gaslighting we see from Seymour, Peters & the Luxo-pool Noodle.
This will get worse the longer NACT hold power here in NZ as it will feed their tantrum.
#nzpol
“The Right Wing Explained”
Well worth 90s of your time, & very applicable to the incoherent hypocrisy & gaslighting we see from Seymour, Peters & the Luxo-pool Noodle.
This will get worse the longer NACT hold power here in NZ as it will feed their tantrum.
#nzpol
Reposted by Alana Alexander
“Overall, the message from this survey is positive; evolutionary biologists are readily employable outside of academia, generally well-prepared for those jobs, and report high levels of satisfaction” www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Leaving Academia: Insights from Evolutionary Biologists on Their Career Transitions and Job Satisfaction
Many who have obtained PhDs in evolutionary biology will ultimately pursue careers that fall outside a narrow definition of an academic career. At the same time, PhD students and supervisors of PhD st...
www.biorxiv.org
September 10, 2025 at 11:19 AM
“Overall, the message from this survey is positive; evolutionary biologists are readily employable outside of academia, generally well-prepared for those jobs, and report high levels of satisfaction” www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Alana Alexander
@taniawaikatolawyer.bsky.social has posted these on Facebook so I'm sharing the joy here because we all felt Ellen Tamati's mamae.
All of the mana, all of the time.✊✌️🥰
#ToitūTeTiriti
#OneTermGovernment
#nzpol
All of the mana, all of the time.✊✌️🥰
#ToitūTeTiriti
#OneTermGovernment
#nzpol
August 8, 2025 at 9:00 AM
@taniawaikatolawyer.bsky.social has posted these on Facebook so I'm sharing the joy here because we all felt Ellen Tamati's mamae.
All of the mana, all of the time.✊✌️🥰
#ToitūTeTiriti
#OneTermGovernment
#nzpol
All of the mana, all of the time.✊✌️🥰
#ToitūTeTiriti
#OneTermGovernment
#nzpol
@sebasalco.bsky.social doing an awesome job repping the team on the research we were lucky enough to conduct on these taonga.
www.rnz.co.nz/national/pro...
Sebastian Alvarez-Costes spoke to Melissa Chan-Green about endangered Hector and Maui dolphins! Must listen!
#conservation #animals #genomics
Sebastian Alvarez-Costes spoke to Melissa Chan-Green about endangered Hector and Maui dolphins! Must listen!
#conservation #animals #genomics
Scientists make breakthrough in tracking health of endangered dolphins
Scientists working to help track the health of endangered Hector and Maui dolphins have made a breakthrough which they compare to solving a 3 billion piece puzzle. Using that analogy, the puzzle piece...
www.rnz.co.nz
July 14, 2025 at 10:45 PM
@sebasalco.bsky.social doing an awesome job repping the team on the research we were lucky enough to conduct on these taonga.
Reposted by Alana Alexander
With fewer than 100 Māui dolphins left, and Hector’s also endangered, these rare subspecies are hard to find and even harder to study. But Otago researchers have cracked their DNA, revealing just how vulnerable they are and what it will take to protect them.💙🐬
Read more here🔗:
Read more here🔗:
Smart solution delivers on dolphin DNA
Creating genomes from DNA is hugely important for managing threatened species –understanding their past and how they have adapted to their environment helps conservationists protect them.
www.otago.ac.nz
July 8, 2025 at 2:47 AM
With fewer than 100 Māui dolphins left, and Hector’s also endangered, these rare subspecies are hard to find and even harder to study. But Otago researchers have cracked their DNA, revealing just how vulnerable they are and what it will take to protect them.💙🐬
Read more here🔗:
Read more here🔗:
Reposted by Alana Alexander
🧪 Great work on Hector’s & Māui genomes with @laninsky.bsky.social @emma-carroll.bsky.social
phys.org/news/2025-07...
phys.org/news/2025-07...
Innovative DNA assembly process produces high-quality reference genomes for endangered dolphins
Creating genomes from DNA is hugely important for managing threatened species—understanding their past and how they have adapted to their environment helps conservationists protect them.
phys.org
July 12, 2025 at 11:23 AM
🧪 Great work on Hector’s & Māui genomes with @laninsky.bsky.social @emma-carroll.bsky.social
phys.org/news/2025-07...
phys.org/news/2025-07...
Tēnā koe e te whānau - ka kimihia tētahi tumuaki hou ki tō Te Koha Waimarie (tō taku pēpi) kohanga - tēnā, horahia tēnei pānui ki ngā tāngata e hīkaka ana ki tēnei wero! www.seek.co.nz/job/85125985...
Head Teacher/Kaiako Kaiārahi Job in North Dunedin, Otago - SEEK
Become Kaiako kaiārahi at Otago's only bilingual early childhood centre. Where the team enjoys strong whānau support while providing early learning.
www.seek.co.nz
June 27, 2025 at 1:52 AM
Tēnā koe e te whānau - ka kimihia tētahi tumuaki hou ki tō Te Koha Waimarie (tō taku pēpi) kohanga - tēnā, horahia tēnei pānui ki ngā tāngata e hīkaka ana ki tēnei wero! www.seek.co.nz/job/85125985...
Reposted by Alana Alexander
That's appalling & Otago should protect & defend this esteemed & honourable thinker, scholar & Māori academic. I was honoured to learn from Anaru & look to his example at as a Social Worker, Academic Mana Tanē. Anaru has more mana & heart & mind in his little finger! He's obviously hit a nerve?
June 20, 2025 at 7:43 AM
That's appalling & Otago should protect & defend this esteemed & honourable thinker, scholar & Māori academic. I was honoured to learn from Anaru & look to his example at as a Social Worker, Academic Mana Tanē. Anaru has more mana & heart & mind in his little finger! He's obviously hit a nerve?
Reposted by Alana Alexander
Our problem is not a lack of young people who want a career in science, our problem is a lack of careers in science
June 4, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Our problem is not a lack of young people who want a career in science, our problem is a lack of careers in science
Reposted by Alana Alexander
Submissions are open on the Regulatory Standards bill. The Chair of the Finance and Expenditure Committee has opened them until 23 June, ie just over four weeks, instead of the more usual six weeks for a bill with a standard six month report back date.
www.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/mak...
www.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/mak...
Regulatory Standards Bill - New Zealand Parliament
Public submissions are now being invited on this Bill
www.parliament.nz
May 26, 2025 at 3:56 AM
Submissions are open on the Regulatory Standards bill. The Chair of the Finance and Expenditure Committee has opened them until 23 June, ie just over four weeks, instead of the more usual six weeks for a bill with a standard six month report back date.
www.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/mak...
www.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/mak...
Reposted by Alana Alexander
The good people behind the flu tracker study are searching for new participants, particularly young ones. It takes about two minutes once a week to tell them whether you've had the snuffles or COVID or anything in between. Easy as, plus you're helping SCIENCE.
www.flutracking.net/Join/NZ/inv2...
www.flutracking.net/Join/NZ/inv2...
Flutracking.net | Tracking respiratory illness across Australia and New Zealand
Flutracking is an online health surveillance system used to detect epidemics of influenza across Australia and New Zealand,
www.flutracking.net
May 7, 2025 at 2:29 AM
The good people behind the flu tracker study are searching for new participants, particularly young ones. It takes about two minutes once a week to tell them whether you've had the snuffles or COVID or anything in between. Easy as, plus you're helping SCIENCE.
www.flutracking.net/Join/NZ/inv2...
www.flutracking.net/Join/NZ/inv2...
Reposted by Alana Alexander
As a little kid, I was in an elevator at Boston’s Museum of Science, excitedly telling my grandparents about squid chromatophores.
The older man with us turned to me and told me that it *was* amazing, and that that kind of excitement is the mark of a great explorer.
Sir Edmund Hilary, folks.
The older man with us turned to me and told me that it *was* amazing, and that that kind of excitement is the mark of a great explorer.
Sir Edmund Hilary, folks.
Screw "never meeting your heroes." What were some times you met your heroes and they were super cool?
May 4, 2025 at 9:53 PM
As a little kid, I was in an elevator at Boston’s Museum of Science, excitedly telling my grandparents about squid chromatophores.
The older man with us turned to me and told me that it *was* amazing, and that that kind of excitement is the mark of a great explorer.
Sir Edmund Hilary, folks.
The older man with us turned to me and told me that it *was* amazing, and that that kind of excitement is the mark of a great explorer.
Sir Edmund Hilary, folks.
A Fulbright is what enabled me to travel to the states to study conservation genetics of sperm whales for my PhD, giving me lasting scientific skills, friendships, and understanding of a place that was not my own 💔
This is so tragic. Fulbright has been a consistent funder of amazing humanities and cultural work. I did evolutionary research in Belgium as a postbac. So sad these opportunities won’t exist anymore and for no good reason
Fulbright changes:
“The Fulbright Program is reauthorized solely for master’s-level study in national security–related disciplines, including but not limited to strategic studies, cybersecurity, nuclear policy, counterterrorism, intelligence, energy security, and regional or area studies.” contd..
“The Fulbright Program is reauthorized solely for master’s-level study in national security–related disciplines, including but not limited to strategic studies, cybersecurity, nuclear policy, counterterrorism, intelligence, energy security, and regional or area studies.” contd..
April 20, 2025 at 3:01 AM
A Fulbright is what enabled me to travel to the states to study conservation genetics of sperm whales for my PhD, giving me lasting scientific skills, friendships, and understanding of a place that was not my own 💔
Reposted by Alana Alexander
📢 📢📢📢📢
Every biologist who cares about biodiversity should provide public comment on this rule proposed by the Trump administration that would REMOVE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS for endangered species! This is extremely bad.
www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...
Every biologist who cares about biodiversity should provide public comment on this rule proposed by the Trump administration that would REMOVE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS for endangered species! This is extremely bad.
www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...
Rescinding the Definition of “Harm” Under the Endangered Species Act
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) (collectively referred to as the Services or we) are proposing to rescind the regulatory definition of "harm" ...
www.federalregister.gov
April 17, 2025 at 2:59 PM
📢 📢📢📢📢
Every biologist who cares about biodiversity should provide public comment on this rule proposed by the Trump administration that would REMOVE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS for endangered species! This is extremely bad.
www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...
Every biologist who cares about biodiversity should provide public comment on this rule proposed by the Trump administration that would REMOVE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS for endangered species! This is extremely bad.
www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...
Reposted by Alana Alexander
Scientists have assembled the first high-quality genomes of New Zealand’s Hector’s + critically endangered Māui dolphins using degraded DNA—an unprecedented breakthrough that offers insights for conservation and a new path forward for endangered species worldwide.
whalescientists.com/new-zealand-...
whalescientists.com/new-zealand-...
New Genome Assembly Approach Unlocks Secrets of Critically Endangered Dolphins in New Zealand
Despite working with degraded DNA, scientists assembled high-quality genomes of New Zealand's dolphins, with insights for conservation.
whalescientists.com
April 7, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Scientists have assembled the first high-quality genomes of New Zealand’s Hector’s + critically endangered Māui dolphins using degraded DNA—an unprecedented breakthrough that offers insights for conservation and a new path forward for endangered species worldwide.
whalescientists.com/new-zealand-...
whalescientists.com/new-zealand-...
Reposted by Alana Alexander
The recap of the study by Sebastian Alvarez-Costes on his new study! Super fascinating and inspiring work 🐬✨
April 7, 2025 at 9:21 PM
The recap of the study by Sebastian Alvarez-Costes on his new study! Super fascinating and inspiring work 🐬✨
Really proud of @sebasalco.bsky.social's mahi on this one, and grateful to the iwi and hapū who entrusted us with their ngā ika moana taonga. @royalsocietynz.bsky.social, University of Otago, Genomics Aotearoa and ORG.one provided funding, and thanks to all incl coauthors who provided tautoko!
April 8, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Really proud of @sebasalco.bsky.social's mahi on this one, and grateful to the iwi and hapū who entrusted us with their ngā ika moana taonga. @royalsocietynz.bsky.social, University of Otago, Genomics Aotearoa and ORG.one provided funding, and thanks to all incl coauthors who provided tautoko!
Reposted by Alana Alexander
I have tariffed
the penguins
that are on
Heard Island
and which
you were probably
assuming
did not export goods
forgive me
they were taking advantage of us
so cunning
and so cold
the penguins
that are on
Heard Island
and which
you were probably
assuming
did not export goods
forgive me
they were taking advantage of us
so cunning
and so cold
April 3, 2025 at 7:45 PM
I have tariffed
the penguins
that are on
Heard Island
and which
you were probably
assuming
did not export goods
forgive me
they were taking advantage of us
so cunning
and so cold
the penguins
that are on
Heard Island
and which
you were probably
assuming
did not export goods
forgive me
they were taking advantage of us
so cunning
and so cold