Rob Lanfear
@roblanfear.bsky.social
phylogenetics, molecular evolution, some genomes, kids, dogs, and eclectic hobbies none of which I am much good at but I think for me that's the point
Reposted by Rob Lanfear
In answer to the question of how you should write a philosophy essay one of my teachers - Malcom Budd - said ‘Answer the question clearly and simply.’ Superb answer and an example of itself. I’ve tried to follow in all I do.
What’s the most significant advice you received from a teacher?
I had a Geology prof who always said “have strong opinions, loosely held”
Be passionate, assess alternatives with conviction, take sides. But don’t fall so in love with your opinions that you can’t change them with better data.
I had a Geology prof who always said “have strong opinions, loosely held”
Be passionate, assess alternatives with conviction, take sides. But don’t fall so in love with your opinions that you can’t change them with better data.
November 21, 2025 at 3:53 AM
In answer to the question of how you should write a philosophy essay one of my teachers - Malcom Budd - said ‘Answer the question clearly and simply.’ Superb answer and an example of itself. I’ve tried to follow in all I do.
Anyone know what’s going on with these ( maybe dead?) pairs of leafcutter bees in Australia?
November 21, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Anyone know what’s going on with these ( maybe dead?) pairs of leafcutter bees in Australia?
Reposted by Rob Lanfear
I recently discovered Conventional Comments (conventionalcomments.org) for providing a pseudo-standard set of labels for feedback and just tried it for an article review and it was really helpful to specify issues vs. thoughts vs. suggestions, etc. Hopefully it's helpful for the authors too!
November 17, 2025 at 3:52 PM
I recently discovered Conventional Comments (conventionalcomments.org) for providing a pseudo-standard set of labels for feedback and just tried it for an article review and it was really helpful to specify issues vs. thoughts vs. suggestions, etc. Hopefully it's helpful for the authors too!
Reposted by Rob Lanfear
We are recruiting‼️A permanent university lecturer position in BIOSTATISTICS is available at @helsinki.fi Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences. Great colleagues, excellent infrastructures and startup support 🙌🏻
DL 14 September
jobs.helsinki.fi/job/Helsinki...
DL 14 September
jobs.helsinki.fi/job/Helsinki...
University Lecturer in Biostatistics
University Lecturer in Biostatistics
jobs.helsinki.fi
August 26, 2025 at 11:01 AM
We are recruiting‼️A permanent university lecturer position in BIOSTATISTICS is available at @helsinki.fi Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences. Great colleagues, excellent infrastructures and startup support 🙌🏻
DL 14 September
jobs.helsinki.fi/job/Helsinki...
DL 14 September
jobs.helsinki.fi/job/Helsinki...
Reposted by Rob Lanfear
📢We're #hiring Group Leaders!
Apply to lead a lab at Janelia & advance biology using theory, computational modeling & machine learning.
🔹5-year renewable appointment
🔹Pioneer new tools & approaches
🔹Collaborate across disciplines
Apply by Nov. 4👉 https://janelia.link/groupleader
Apply to lead a lab at Janelia & advance biology using theory, computational modeling & machine learning.
🔹5-year renewable appointment
🔹Pioneer new tools & approaches
🔹Collaborate across disciplines
Apply by Nov. 4👉 https://janelia.link/groupleader
August 26, 2025 at 7:00 PM
📢We're #hiring Group Leaders!
Apply to lead a lab at Janelia & advance biology using theory, computational modeling & machine learning.
🔹5-year renewable appointment
🔹Pioneer new tools & approaches
🔹Collaborate across disciplines
Apply by Nov. 4👉 https://janelia.link/groupleader
Apply to lead a lab at Janelia & advance biology using theory, computational modeling & machine learning.
🔹5-year renewable appointment
🔹Pioneer new tools & approaches
🔹Collaborate across disciplines
Apply by Nov. 4👉 https://janelia.link/groupleader
Let's find leaders for ANU who act as if higher ed actually matters.
www.megaphone.org.au/petitions/pe...
www.megaphone.org.au/petitions/pe...
Petition to ANU Council
In support of our petition, we observe that:
• ANU Council has the entire control and management of the University and is required to act in all matters concerning the ANU in the way it thinks w...
www.megaphone.org.au
August 26, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Let's find leaders for ANU who act as if higher ed actually matters.
www.megaphone.org.au/petitions/pe...
www.megaphone.org.au/petitions/pe...
I just love this paper. If you are interested in germlines, go read it.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Early germline sequestration in a basidiomycete fungus
In sexual organisms, inheritance of new mutations is highly dependent on the timing of germline definition. Here, we used the fairy ring–forming fungus Marasmius oreades to challenge the general assum...
www.science.org
August 25, 2025 at 7:48 PM
I just love this paper. If you are interested in germlines, go read it.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Right now I'm responding to grant comments, and one of the reviewers appears to have mostly relied on AI to generate their (sometimes hilariously off-base) critiques.
I am not enjoying this.
I am not enjoying this.
July 7, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Right now I'm responding to grant comments, and one of the reviewers appears to have mostly relied on AI to generate their (sometimes hilariously off-base) critiques.
I am not enjoying this.
I am not enjoying this.
Reposted by Rob Lanfear
BEAST X v10.5.0 finally released – you can't just do beta releases forever. github.com/beast-dev/be...
Details and instructions for installing on the BEAST website: beast.community
Details and instructions for installing on the BEAST website: beast.community
July 2, 2025 at 8:32 PM
BEAST X v10.5.0 finally released – you can't just do beta releases forever. github.com/beast-dev/be...
Details and instructions for installing on the BEAST website: beast.community
Details and instructions for installing on the BEAST website: beast.community
Reposted by Rob Lanfear
Mesquite 4.0 released! A major update — many new features, small and large (phylogenomics, visualizations, workflow management, &c). Check out the trailer video: www.mesquiteproject.org.
Come discuss in our new Google Group (groups.google.com/g/mesquite-project). @bembidion.bsky.social 🧪 #evolbio
Come discuss in our new Google Group (groups.google.com/g/mesquite-project). @bembidion.bsky.social 🧪 #evolbio
June 27, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Mesquite 4.0 released! A major update — many new features, small and large (phylogenomics, visualizations, workflow management, &c). Check out the trailer video: www.mesquiteproject.org.
Come discuss in our new Google Group (groups.google.com/g/mesquite-project). @bembidion.bsky.social 🧪 #evolbio
Come discuss in our new Google Group (groups.google.com/g/mesquite-project). @bembidion.bsky.social 🧪 #evolbio
Reposted by Rob Lanfear
www.wehi.edu.au/careers/make...
WEHI is looking for new lab heads! New and experienced lab heads welcome. Check out the ad, consider applying and share. We’re a collaborative bunch, in Australia, with fabulous technology, great colleagues at a values-driven organisation. @wehi-research.bsky.social
WEHI is looking for new lab heads! New and experienced lab heads welcome. Check out the ad, consider applying and share. We’re a collaborative bunch, in Australia, with fabulous technology, great colleagues at a values-driven organisation. @wehi-research.bsky.social
Make your future Melbourne | WEHI
Lead the next wave of biomedical discovery
www.wehi.edu.au
May 13, 2025 at 11:44 PM
www.wehi.edu.au/careers/make...
WEHI is looking for new lab heads! New and experienced lab heads welcome. Check out the ad, consider applying and share. We’re a collaborative bunch, in Australia, with fabulous technology, great colleagues at a values-driven organisation. @wehi-research.bsky.social
WEHI is looking for new lab heads! New and experienced lab heads welcome. Check out the ad, consider applying and share. We’re a collaborative bunch, in Australia, with fabulous technology, great colleagues at a values-driven organisation. @wehi-research.bsky.social
Reposted by Rob Lanfear
look at how they're geared up to arrest unarmed civilians. Fucking absurd. And hats off to the people who backed them down.
San Diego neighborhood makes ICE agents retreat
June 2, 2025 at 11:16 PM
look at how they're geared up to arrest unarmed civilians. Fucking absurd. And hats off to the people who backed them down.
Reposted by Rob Lanfear
We will send the open letter to ANU executive and Council today at 3pm.
At 7.30am, we have 434 signatures. How high can we get before 3pm?
Tell your colleagues, spread the word!
At 7.30am, we have 434 signatures. How high can we get before 3pm?
Tell your colleagues, spread the word!
Open letter: The ANU executive is planning a new round of unnecessary and damaging cuts and forced redundancies. We are asking staff to sign this open letter calling on the executive to cancel planned CMPs and to be transparent about ANU’s finances.
ANU colleagues please sign and share widely.
ANU colleagues please sign and share widely.
Open letter: Staff call on the ANU executive to stop these unnecessary cuts
Fact sheet on 'Renew ANU so far': https://shorturl.at/iYVjc
Open Letter PDF for print with QR codes to sign: https://shorturl.at/5KYs3
__________________________________________________
Letter to AN...
forms.gle
May 28, 2025 at 9:35 PM
We will send the open letter to ANU executive and Council today at 3pm.
At 7.30am, we have 434 signatures. How high can we get before 3pm?
Tell your colleagues, spread the word!
At 7.30am, we have 434 signatures. How high can we get before 3pm?
Tell your colleagues, spread the word!
Reposted by Rob Lanfear
Is this related to why announcements for Linkage Projects & Laureate Fellowships are delayed?
Maybe RMS couldn’t handle new grants being awarded when the other changes were being made?
Why doesn’t the ARC tell anyone what’s going on?
Simple transparency & expectations management would be nice.
Maybe RMS couldn’t handle new grants being awarded when the other changes were being made?
Why doesn’t the ARC tell anyone what’s going on?
Simple transparency & expectations management would be nice.
May 28, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Is this related to why announcements for Linkage Projects & Laureate Fellowships are delayed?
Maybe RMS couldn’t handle new grants being awarded when the other changes were being made?
Why doesn’t the ARC tell anyone what’s going on?
Simple transparency & expectations management would be nice.
Maybe RMS couldn’t handle new grants being awarded when the other changes were being made?
Why doesn’t the ARC tell anyone what’s going on?
Simple transparency & expectations management would be nice.
Reposted by Rob Lanfear
Time to speak up again. Here’s our latest open letter against unnecessary and damaging cuts and redundancies: forms.gle/SmuBaMz6PPGT...
Open letter: Staff call on the ANU executive to stop these unnecessary cuts
Fact sheet on 'Renew ANU so far': https://shorturl.at/iYVjc
Open Letter PDF for print with QR codes to sign: https://shorturl.at/5KYs3
__________________________________________________
Letter to AN...
forms.gle
May 26, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Time to speak up again. Here’s our latest open letter against unnecessary and damaging cuts and redundancies: forms.gle/SmuBaMz6PPGT...
Reposted by Rob Lanfear
In 1987 I took Stephen Jay Gould’s “Science B16 course” that helped convince me to be major in Biology w/ a focus on Evolution. But it was my TA Wayne Madison showing us early versions of MacClade that really did the trick.
May 23, 2025 at 2:08 AM
In 1987 I took Stephen Jay Gould’s “Science B16 course” that helped convince me to be major in Biology w/ a focus on Evolution. But it was my TA Wayne Madison showing us early versions of MacClade that really did the trick.
Reposted by Rob Lanfear
Reposted by Rob Lanfear
Mesquite 4 beta released! Many new features, esp. phylogenomic. Check out the trailer and longer video on the home page: www.mesquiteproject.org, and use the download link there to get a copy.
Feedback welcome! Ask and discuss on our new Google Group (groups.google.com/g/mesquite-p...).
Feedback welcome! Ask and discuss on our new Google Group (groups.google.com/g/mesquite-p...).
May 23, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Mesquite 4 beta released! Many new features, esp. phylogenomic. Check out the trailer and longer video on the home page: www.mesquiteproject.org, and use the download link there to get a copy.
Feedback welcome! Ask and discuss on our new Google Group (groups.google.com/g/mesquite-p...).
Feedback welcome! Ask and discuss on our new Google Group (groups.google.com/g/mesquite-p...).
Reposted by Rob Lanfear
ANU colleagues, stand up and protect your workplace and each other. Let's stop the reputational and psycho-social damage being done by the disproportionately heavy-handed response of the executive. Please sign and share widely in your networks. #ourANU
If you're part of #ourANU, please read this open letter to the ANU executive, and consider signing it.
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Open letter: Staff call on the ANU executive to stop these unnecessary cuts
Fact sheet on 'Renew ANU so far': https://shorturl.at/iYVjc
Open Letter PDF for print with QR codes to sign: https://shorturl.at/5KYs3
__________________________________________________
Letter to AN...
docs.google.com
May 22, 2025 at 10:36 PM
ANU colleagues, stand up and protect your workplace and each other. Let's stop the reputational and psycho-social damage being done by the disproportionately heavy-handed response of the executive. Please sign and share widely in your networks. #ourANU
If you're part of #ourANU, please read this open letter to the ANU executive, and consider signing it.
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Open letter: Staff call on the ANU executive to stop these unnecessary cuts
Fact sheet on 'Renew ANU so far': https://shorturl.at/iYVjc
Open Letter PDF for print with QR codes to sign: https://shorturl.at/5KYs3
__________________________________________________
Letter to AN...
docs.google.com
May 22, 2025 at 3:11 AM
If you're part of #ourANU, please read this open letter to the ANU executive, and consider signing it.
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Reposted by Rob Lanfear
The cybernetics school is a very curious beast, formerly led by the now VC Bell. A protected species?
Whistleblower reveals potential grade anomalies at ANU VC Bell’s school www.afr.com/work-and-car...
Grade inflation: 90pc of ANU cybernetics marks are high distinctions
In one course at ANU more than 90 per cent of marks were at the highest possible level.
www.afr.com
May 14, 2025 at 11:54 PM
The cybernetics school is a very curious beast, formerly led by the now VC Bell. A protected species?
Reposted by Rob Lanfear
Hi, do you have examples in your field for 20th century scientists who said something crazy that has been ignored since, but YOU think that maybe, just maybe, there's something there that's worth re-visiting?
May 15, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Hi, do you have examples in your field for 20th century scientists who said something crazy that has been ignored since, but YOU think that maybe, just maybe, there's something there that's worth re-visiting?
Reposted by Rob Lanfear
If you're wondering how things are going at #ourANU, it's not good. A lot of voluntary redundancy folks still waiting to hear if they are can go. College budgets slashed, layoffs imminent, but zero communication. So we rely on Reddit posts like this:
www.reddit.com/r/Anu/commen...
www.reddit.com/r/Anu/commen...
From the Anu community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the Anu community
www.reddit.com
May 14, 2025 at 9:11 PM
If you're wondering how things are going at #ourANU, it's not good. A lot of voluntary redundancy folks still waiting to hear if they are can go. College budgets slashed, layoffs imminent, but zero communication. So we rely on Reddit posts like this:
www.reddit.com/r/Anu/commen...
www.reddit.com/r/Anu/commen...
If you're wondering how things are going at #ourANU, it's not good. A lot of voluntary redundancy folks still waiting to hear if they are can go. College budgets slashed, layoffs imminent, but zero communication. So we rely on Reddit posts like this:
www.reddit.com/r/Anu/commen...
www.reddit.com/r/Anu/commen...
From the Anu community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the Anu community
www.reddit.com
May 14, 2025 at 9:11 PM
If you're wondering how things are going at #ourANU, it's not good. A lot of voluntary redundancy folks still waiting to hear if they are can go. College budgets slashed, layoffs imminent, but zero communication. So we rely on Reddit posts like this:
www.reddit.com/r/Anu/commen...
www.reddit.com/r/Anu/commen...