Brian O'Meara
@omearabrian.bsky.social
I study diversification, species delimitation, trait evolution & similar questions, often using new methods. Also random coding projects. College prof living in Oak Ridge, TN, USA. Opinions my own. He/Him
Reposted by Brian O'Meara
Slim 5 can now simulate genomes with multiple chromosomes like autosomes, sex chromosomes, mitochondria and chloroplast dna academic.oup.com/mbe/article/...
SLiM 5: Eco-evolutionary Simulations Across Multiple Chromosomes and Full Genomes
Abstract. Evolutionary simulations of multiple chromosomes, even up to the scale of full-genome simulations, are becoming increasingly important in populat
academic.oup.com
February 3, 2026 at 12:03 AM
Slim 5 can now simulate genomes with multiple chromosomes like autosomes, sex chromosomes, mitochondria and chloroplast dna academic.oup.com/mbe/article/...
Reposted by Brian O'Meara
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2025 Rosemary Grant Advanced Awards!
www.evolutionsociety.org/news/display...
www.evolutionsociety.org/news/display...
February 2, 2026 at 2:29 AM
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2025 Rosemary Grant Advanced Awards!
www.evolutionsociety.org/news/display...
www.evolutionsociety.org/news/display...
Reposted by Brian O'Meara
Please do not let all the focus on the funding environment in academia distract us from the real victims of these crimes and their enablers. Please do not look away from the misogyny. Please notice the gender differential. Please pay attention to how women are talked about in these emails.
While it may explain some of the context, this framing also hides that women scientists didn't cozy up to epstein the way men did. They also need funding, no? This is also about being part of a powerful boys club where one can act in despicable ways with impunity. Misogyny is a huge driving factor.
February 1, 2026 at 4:15 PM
Please do not let all the focus on the funding environment in academia distract us from the real victims of these crimes and their enablers. Please do not look away from the misogyny. Please notice the gender differential. Please pay attention to how women are talked about in these emails.
Reposted by Brian O'Meara
New paper out:
The flounder effect: disparities in taxonomic and ecological study intensity across extant and fossil marine organisms hamper conservation
with @fossildetective.bsky.social, @bigfacecats.bsky.social, Curtis Congreve & @jonhendricks.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s44... 🦑⚒️
The flounder effect: disparities in taxonomic and ecological study intensity across extant and fossil marine organisms hamper conservation
with @fossildetective.bsky.social, @bigfacecats.bsky.social, Curtis Congreve & @jonhendricks.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s44... 🦑⚒️
The flounder effect: disparities in taxonomic and ecological study intensity across extant and fossil marine organisms hamper conservation - npj Biodiversity
npj Biodiversity - The flounder effect: disparities in taxonomic and ecological study intensity across extant and fossil marine organisms hamper conservation
www.nature.com
February 1, 2026 at 4:22 PM
New paper out:
The flounder effect: disparities in taxonomic and ecological study intensity across extant and fossil marine organisms hamper conservation
with @fossildetective.bsky.social, @bigfacecats.bsky.social, Curtis Congreve & @jonhendricks.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s44... 🦑⚒️
The flounder effect: disparities in taxonomic and ecological study intensity across extant and fossil marine organisms hamper conservation
with @fossildetective.bsky.social, @bigfacecats.bsky.social, Curtis Congreve & @jonhendricks.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s44... 🦑⚒️
Reposted by Brian O'Meara
I was a postdoc at Harvard (in human evolutionary biology) from 2010 to 2012 and it’s grim how many men I interacted with during that time are popping up in the Epstein files trying to prove disgusting evo-psych theories about women *shudder*.
February 1, 2026 at 10:14 AM
I was a postdoc at Harvard (in human evolutionary biology) from 2010 to 2012 and it’s grim how many men I interacted with during that time are popping up in the Epstein files trying to prove disgusting evo-psych theories about women *shudder*.
Reposted by Brian O'Meara
This paper is a great for teaching phylogenetic trees.
"Ancient DNA reveals elephant birds and kiwi are sister taxa and clarifies ratite bird evolution"
Clearly written. It discusses hypotheses of relatedness among species via continental drift vs genetic data. 🧪
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
"Ancient DNA reveals elephant birds and kiwi are sister taxa and clarifies ratite bird evolution"
Clearly written. It discusses hypotheses of relatedness among species via continental drift vs genetic data. 🧪
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
January 31, 2026 at 11:16 PM
This paper is a great for teaching phylogenetic trees.
"Ancient DNA reveals elephant birds and kiwi are sister taxa and clarifies ratite bird evolution"
Clearly written. It discusses hypotheses of relatedness among species via continental drift vs genetic data. 🧪
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
"Ancient DNA reveals elephant birds and kiwi are sister taxa and clarifies ratite bird evolution"
Clearly written. It discusses hypotheses of relatedness among species via continental drift vs genetic data. 🧪
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Brian O'Meara
Our children call our Natural History Museum the “Dead Zoo” and honestly it’s a pretty fair assertion.
January 31, 2026 at 4:53 PM
Our children call our Natural History Museum the “Dead Zoo” and honestly it’s a pretty fair assertion.
Reposted by Brian O'Meara
January 31, 2026 at 4:23 PM
Oak Ridge, TN. A road that is the only egress for many neighborhoods (Michigan Ave) is unplowed and seemingly unsalted (see a minivan driving down it), contrasted to our shoveled sidewalk and driveway. About 2-3” of snow.
❄️ ☃️🌨️
❄️ ☃️🌨️
January 31, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Oak Ridge, TN. A road that is the only egress for many neighborhoods (Michigan Ave) is unplowed and seemingly unsalted (see a minivan driving down it), contrasted to our shoveled sidewalk and driveway. About 2-3” of snow.
❄️ ☃️🌨️
❄️ ☃️🌨️
Reposted by Brian O'Meara
sacred monophony leads to sacred monophyly
January 31, 2026 at 2:18 AM
sacred monophony leads to sacred monophyly
Reposted by Brian O'Meara
Macroevolution
Astrophysics
Music performance (violin)
Computational statistics
British poetry
This is an interesting list considering I was a geology major lol
Astrophysics
Music performance (violin)
Computational statistics
British poetry
This is an interesting list considering I was a geology major lol
Tell me five classes you took in college:
Medieval drama
Nuclear Ethics
Michelangelo
Coalescence
Phylogenetic Methods
Medieval drama
Nuclear Ethics
Michelangelo
Coalescence
Phylogenetic Methods
Tell me five classes you took in college:
History of Jazz
Macroeconomics
Plant Physiology
African American History
Environmental Philosophy
History of Jazz
Macroeconomics
Plant Physiology
African American History
Environmental Philosophy
January 31, 2026 at 2:14 AM
Macroevolution
Astrophysics
Music performance (violin)
Computational statistics
British poetry
This is an interesting list considering I was a geology major lol
Astrophysics
Music performance (violin)
Computational statistics
British poetry
This is an interesting list considering I was a geology major lol
Tell me five classes you took in college:
Medieval drama
Nuclear Ethics
Michelangelo
Coalescence
Phylogenetic Methods
Medieval drama
Nuclear Ethics
Michelangelo
Coalescence
Phylogenetic Methods
Tell me five classes you took in college:
History of Jazz
Macroeconomics
Plant Physiology
African American History
Environmental Philosophy
History of Jazz
Macroeconomics
Plant Physiology
African American History
Environmental Philosophy
Tell me five classes you took in college:
Music Theory
American Studies
History of Consciousness/STSS
Quantum Physics
Cosmology
Music Theory
American Studies
History of Consciousness/STSS
Quantum Physics
Cosmology
January 31, 2026 at 1:46 AM
Tell me five classes you took in college:
Medieval drama
Nuclear Ethics
Michelangelo
Coalescence
Phylogenetic Methods
Medieval drama
Nuclear Ethics
Michelangelo
Coalescence
Phylogenetic Methods
Reposted by Brian O'Meara
A sad day at NIH...
The NIH Record was a great way for NIH folks to find out what was going on across NIH.
Many important stories published there over the years.
nihrecord.nih.gov/2026/01/30/n...
The NIH Record was a great way for NIH folks to find out what was going on across NIH.
Many important stories published there over the years.
nihrecord.nih.gov/2026/01/30/n...
NIH Record Ceases Publication
This will be the final issue of the NIH Record.
nihrecord.nih.gov
January 30, 2026 at 10:24 PM
A sad day at NIH...
The NIH Record was a great way for NIH folks to find out what was going on across NIH.
Many important stories published there over the years.
nihrecord.nih.gov/2026/01/30/n...
The NIH Record was a great way for NIH folks to find out what was going on across NIH.
Many important stories published there over the years.
nihrecord.nih.gov/2026/01/30/n...
Reposted by Brian O'Meara
The Paleontological Research Institution invites applications from undergraduate students, graduate students, and post-doctoral researchers for the 2026 John W. Wells Grants-in-Aid of Research Program who want to visit PRI collections
www.priweb.org/collections/...
Deadline is March 2, 2026.
www.priweb.org/collections/...
Deadline is March 2, 2026.
Grant Opportunities — Paleontological Research Institution
www.priweb.org
January 30, 2026 at 11:30 PM
The Paleontological Research Institution invites applications from undergraduate students, graduate students, and post-doctoral researchers for the 2026 John W. Wells Grants-in-Aid of Research Program who want to visit PRI collections
www.priweb.org/collections/...
Deadline is March 2, 2026.
www.priweb.org/collections/...
Deadline is March 2, 2026.
Reposted by Brian O'Meara
Please feel free to respond to this thread with examples of GRFP RWR's that seem illegitimate: what state, what discipline, a little bit about the topic.
January 30, 2026 at 5:37 PM
Please feel free to respond to this thread with examples of GRFP RWR's that seem illegitimate: what state, what discipline, a little bit about the topic.
Reposted by Brian O'Meara
If you are a student whose NSF GRFP application was returned without review for vague 'eligibility' reasons:
1) Let your department chair & Graduate School know. Encourage them to contact NSF & congress
2) Write to your congressional reps.
3) Write to [email protected] to request re-consideration;
1) Let your department chair & Graduate School know. Encourage them to contact NSF & congress
2) Write to your congressional reps.
3) Write to [email protected] to request re-consideration;
January 30, 2026 at 5:15 PM
If you are a student whose NSF GRFP application was returned without review for vague 'eligibility' reasons:
1) Let your department chair & Graduate School know. Encourage them to contact NSF & congress
2) Write to your congressional reps.
3) Write to [email protected] to request re-consideration;
1) Let your department chair & Graduate School know. Encourage them to contact NSF & congress
2) Write to your congressional reps.
3) Write to [email protected] to request re-consideration;
Reposted by Brian O'Meara
Our new paper, out today! We resurrected ancient nitrogenases first used by life on Earth 3 billion years ago. We combined synthetic biology and geology & validated their chemical #biosignature in rocks that helps reveal ancient life on Earth!(and beyond!)
Link: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Link: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Resurrected nitrogenases recapitulate canonical N-isotope biosignatures over two billion years - Nature Communications
The study shows that nitrogenase enzymes have maintained stable isotope signatures over billions of years, revealing how ancient microbes shaped Earth’s nitrogen cycle and offering a new experimental ...
www.nature.com
January 30, 2026 at 9:12 PM
Our new paper, out today! We resurrected ancient nitrogenases first used by life on Earth 3 billion years ago. We combined synthetic biology and geology & validated their chemical #biosignature in rocks that helps reveal ancient life on Earth!(and beyond!)
Link: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Link: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Brian O'Meara
@agu.org has a tool to help you submit a comment to NSF on the importance of NCAR: agu.quorum.us/campaign/154...
#SaveNCAR
#SaveNCAR
Share your comments on NCAR with NSF
Tell NSF the future that you want for NCAR by 13 March
agu.quorum.us
January 30, 2026 at 2:43 AM
@agu.org has a tool to help you submit a comment to NSF on the importance of NCAR: agu.quorum.us/campaign/154...
#SaveNCAR
#SaveNCAR
A concrete impact: the Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology had to move its annual meeting (including all its hotel bookings, meals, etc) out of Lexington, KY, to Niagara Falls, NY. Months of volunteer effort wasted, people have to try to change travel plans, etc.
sbn.org/news/news/sb...
🧪
sbn.org/news/news/sb...
🧪
U. of Kentucky has "flagged for
cancellation or deeper review" 1200 partnerships/memberships over possible use of race, including
• Crossref
• Stanford
• Coursera
• Georgia Southern U
• Many scientific societies
Letter: pres.uky.edu/sites/defaul...
Website: pres.uky.edu/monitoring-f...
🧪
cancellation or deeper review" 1200 partnerships/memberships over possible use of race, including
• Crossref
• Stanford
• Coursera
• Georgia Southern U
• Many scientific societies
Letter: pres.uky.edu/sites/defaul...
Website: pres.uky.edu/monitoring-f...
🧪
January 30, 2026 at 11:38 AM
A concrete impact: the Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology had to move its annual meeting (including all its hotel bookings, meals, etc) out of Lexington, KY, to Niagara Falls, NY. Months of volunteer effort wasted, people have to try to change travel plans, etc.
sbn.org/news/news/sb...
🧪
sbn.org/news/news/sb...
🧪
Reposted by Brian O'Meara
A number of our students got the following comment back on a rejection for the NSF GFRP. They are in an eligible STEM field. Is this something people in other places are getting too? Is it a quirk or targeted?
January 29, 2026 at 2:19 PM
A number of our students got the following comment back on a rejection for the NSF GFRP. They are in an eligible STEM field. Is this something people in other places are getting too? Is it a quirk or targeted?
Reposted by Brian O'Meara
I saw a similar discussion from applicants in various fields yesterday: www.reddit.com/r/GRFPApps/s...
January 29, 2026 at 6:42 PM
I saw a similar discussion from applicants in various fields yesterday: www.reddit.com/r/GRFPApps/s...
Geology holidays:
Jan 27: “large boulder the size of a small boulder” day
Jan 28: “not sand even if sand-sized” day
Jan 29: stay tuned…?
Jan 27: “large boulder the size of a small boulder” day
Jan 28: “not sand even if sand-sized” day
Jan 29: stay tuned…?
January 29, 2026 at 12:14 PM
Geology holidays:
Jan 27: “large boulder the size of a small boulder” day
Jan 28: “not sand even if sand-sized” day
Jan 29: stay tuned…?
Jan 27: “large boulder the size of a small boulder” day
Jan 28: “not sand even if sand-sized” day
Jan 29: stay tuned…?
Reposted by Brian O'Meara
If you have developed outreach/education resources and want to get the word out— @sse-evolution.bsky.social has a deadline coming up for funding to present at an education focused session/conference. Grad students and Postdocs are very welcome to apply! evolutionsociety.org/index.php?mo...
Thomas Henry Huxley Award
Site description
evolutionsociety.org
January 29, 2026 at 2:21 AM
If you have developed outreach/education resources and want to get the word out— @sse-evolution.bsky.social has a deadline coming up for funding to present at an education focused session/conference. Grad students and Postdocs are very welcome to apply! evolutionsociety.org/index.php?mo...
This is so true and a good framing. In evolution we have traits like beak length, ploidy, color, etc. that are qualitative when you look closely enough, and we often ignore all the choices involved in making them numbers
This makes me think of something I saw on here once from a sociologist talking about how her students were arguing that obviously quantitative data is superior to qualitative data, and she told them quantitative data is just qualitative data that someone else has already turned into a number.
January 29, 2026 at 1:27 AM
This is so true and a good framing. In evolution we have traits like beak length, ploidy, color, etc. that are qualitative when you look closely enough, and we often ignore all the choices involved in making them numbers
Reposted by Brian O'Meara
Are you (or do you know someone) recently graduated from undergrad looking to beef up your skills and experience prior to starting grad school/career? Do you like social drama and parakeets? Come join my team! I'm looking for two people to start very soon!! tinyurl.com/59rf8jcy
January 28, 2026 at 10:05 PM
Are you (or do you know someone) recently graduated from undergrad looking to beef up your skills and experience prior to starting grad school/career? Do you like social drama and parakeets? Come join my team! I'm looking for two people to start very soon!! tinyurl.com/59rf8jcy