Sarah J Tucker
@sjtucker.bsky.social
Microbial ecology & evolution 🦠👩🏻🔬 interested in genomic, metabolic, and physiological diversity and their impacts on aquatic systems 🌊🏝️🐠
Keen on oligotrophs 💫
Post-doc @ MBL 🦀
Previous Knauss Fellow in Arctic Ocean Observing ❄️
https://sarahjtucker.com/
Keen on oligotrophs 💫
Post-doc @ MBL 🦀
Previous Knauss Fellow in Arctic Ocean Observing ❄️
https://sarahjtucker.com/
Pinned
Sarah J Tucker
@sjtucker.bsky.social
· Oct 20
Habitat-specificity in SAR11 is associated with a few genes under high selection
Abstract. The order Pelagibacterales (SAR11) is the most abundant group of heterotrophic bacteria in the global surface ocean, where individual sublineages
doi.org
I'm delighted our paper is out: doi.org/10.1093/isme...
With new SAR11 isolate genomes and time-series metagenomes, we reveal coastal and offshore SAR11 ecotypes, identify associated metabolic traits, and pinpoint selective gene sweeps as a likely evolutionary driver to niche partitioning. 🌊🦠
With new SAR11 isolate genomes and time-series metagenomes, we reveal coastal and offshore SAR11 ecotypes, identify associated metabolic traits, and pinpoint selective gene sweeps as a likely evolutionary driver to niche partitioning. 🌊🦠
Reposted by Sarah J Tucker
A few py2Dmol updates 🧬
py2dmol.solab.org
Integration with AlphaFoldDB (will auto fetch results). Drag and drop results from AF3-server or ColabFold for interactive experience! (1/4)
py2dmol.solab.org
Integration with AlphaFoldDB (will auto fetch results). Drag and drop results from AF3-server or ColabFold for interactive experience! (1/4)
November 19, 2025 at 8:15 AM
A few py2Dmol updates 🧬
py2dmol.solab.org
Integration with AlphaFoldDB (will auto fetch results). Drag and drop results from AF3-server or ColabFold for interactive experience! (1/4)
py2dmol.solab.org
Integration with AlphaFoldDB (will auto fetch results). Drag and drop results from AF3-server or ColabFold for interactive experience! (1/4)
Reposted by Sarah J Tucker
Starting this week, I set aside one hour each week to meet ECRs outside my group who want to discuss career development, mentorship, or any non-technical professional questions.
Here is a blog that explains my motivation for this and how to schedule a meeting:
merenlab.org/2025/11/16/E...
Here is a blog that explains my motivation for this and how to schedule a meeting:
merenlab.org/2025/11/16/E...
ECR connection: Meet Meren when you need to
A means for ECRs to get advice from a senior scientist outside of their support network
merenlab.org
November 16, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Starting this week, I set aside one hour each week to meet ECRs outside my group who want to discuss career development, mentorship, or any non-technical professional questions.
Here is a blog that explains my motivation for this and how to schedule a meeting:
merenlab.org/2025/11/16/E...
Here is a blog that explains my motivation for this and how to schedule a meeting:
merenlab.org/2025/11/16/E...
Reposted by Sarah J Tucker
Diving through the purple sulfur bacteria layer of Fayetteville Green Lake with our ROV last month. This is the most intense density of PSB that I've seen in many years!
November 8, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Diving through the purple sulfur bacteria layer of Fayetteville Green Lake with our ROV last month. This is the most intense density of PSB that I've seen in many years!
Reposted by Sarah J Tucker
A wonderful collaboration between my lab and Andy Ellington and Edward Marcotte here at UT.
We obtained lots of thermal stable plastic degrading enzymes from the deep sea (Guaymas Basin, Gulf of California)
We obtained lots of thermal stable plastic degrading enzymes from the deep sea (Guaymas Basin, Gulf of California)
Plastic degradation by enzymes from uncultured deep sea microorganisms
Abstract. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)-hydrolyzing enzymes (PETases) are a recently discovered enzyme class capable of plastic degradation. PETases are
academic.oup.com
November 10, 2025 at 6:04 PM
A wonderful collaboration between my lab and Andy Ellington and Edward Marcotte here at UT.
We obtained lots of thermal stable plastic degrading enzymes from the deep sea (Guaymas Basin, Gulf of California)
We obtained lots of thermal stable plastic degrading enzymes from the deep sea (Guaymas Basin, Gulf of California)
A big thank you to @amydwillis.bsky.social and @titus.idyll.org for all your hard work and leadership. It is incredible the education, resources, network, and memories the STAMPS course has provided. There is nothing else like it and it will be missed.
Team villagers >> team werewolves 💗🐺
Team villagers >> team werewolves 💗🐺
November 12, 2025 at 2:53 AM
A big thank you to @amydwillis.bsky.social and @titus.idyll.org for all your hard work and leadership. It is incredible the education, resources, network, and memories the STAMPS course has provided. There is nothing else like it and it will be missed.
Team villagers >> team werewolves 💗🐺
Team villagers >> team werewolves 💗🐺
Reposted by Sarah J Tucker
Kudos to the @seattletimes.com for spelling with diacritical marks used in the Hawaiian language, the ʻokina and the kahakō.
A few years ago, when I asked the NY Times to spell my affiliation as University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, they refused because it went against their style guide.
A few years ago, when I asked the NY Times to spell my affiliation as University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, they refused because it went against their style guide.
Why we're using this spelling of Hawaiʻi
You may notice a change in how we spell Hawaiʻi and other Native Hawaiian words at The Seattle Times. Here's why.
www.seattletimes.com
November 8, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Kudos to the @seattletimes.com for spelling with diacritical marks used in the Hawaiian language, the ʻokina and the kahakō.
A few years ago, when I asked the NY Times to spell my affiliation as University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, they refused because it went against their style guide.
A few years ago, when I asked the NY Times to spell my affiliation as University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, they refused because it went against their style guide.
Reposted by Sarah J Tucker
Are you looking for a #tenuretrack or #openrank job in #biostatistics or #statistics? @fredhutch.org is hiring! Seattle is a wonderful place to grow your career; the bio/stat & science scene here is world-class; and you will work w/ amazing UW Biostat students. Apply!
apply.interfolio.com/176402
apply.interfolio.com/176402
Apply - Interfolio
{{$ctrl.$state.data.pageTitle}} - Apply - Interfolio
apply.interfolio.com
November 4, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Are you looking for a #tenuretrack or #openrank job in #biostatistics or #statistics? @fredhutch.org is hiring! Seattle is a wonderful place to grow your career; the bio/stat & science scene here is world-class; and you will work w/ amazing UW Biostat students. Apply!
apply.interfolio.com/176402
apply.interfolio.com/176402
I'm delighted our paper is out: doi.org/10.1093/isme...
With new SAR11 isolate genomes and time-series metagenomes, we reveal coastal and offshore SAR11 ecotypes, identify associated metabolic traits, and pinpoint selective gene sweeps as a likely evolutionary driver to niche partitioning. 🌊🦠
With new SAR11 isolate genomes and time-series metagenomes, we reveal coastal and offshore SAR11 ecotypes, identify associated metabolic traits, and pinpoint selective gene sweeps as a likely evolutionary driver to niche partitioning. 🌊🦠
Habitat-specificity in SAR11 is associated with a few genes under high selection
Abstract. The order Pelagibacterales (SAR11) is the most abundant group of heterotrophic bacteria in the global surface ocean, where individual sublineages
doi.org
October 20, 2025 at 7:40 PM
I'm delighted our paper is out: doi.org/10.1093/isme...
With new SAR11 isolate genomes and time-series metagenomes, we reveal coastal and offshore SAR11 ecotypes, identify associated metabolic traits, and pinpoint selective gene sweeps as a likely evolutionary driver to niche partitioning. 🌊🦠
With new SAR11 isolate genomes and time-series metagenomes, we reveal coastal and offshore SAR11 ecotypes, identify associated metabolic traits, and pinpoint selective gene sweeps as a likely evolutionary driver to niche partitioning. 🌊🦠
Reposted by Sarah J Tucker
I am recruiting a Ph.D. student in microbial ecology, evolution, and systems biology for fall 2026. Please share!
Details: qevomicrolab.org/Documents/Gr...
Apply by October 1 here: forms.gle/38pPS1Ky84HB...
Details: qevomicrolab.org/Documents/Gr...
Apply by October 1 here: forms.gle/38pPS1Ky84HB...
September 2, 2025 at 5:24 PM
I am recruiting a Ph.D. student in microbial ecology, evolution, and systems biology for fall 2026. Please share!
Details: qevomicrolab.org/Documents/Gr...
Apply by October 1 here: forms.gle/38pPS1Ky84HB...
Details: qevomicrolab.org/Documents/Gr...
Apply by October 1 here: forms.gle/38pPS1Ky84HB...
Reposted by Sarah J Tucker
Very happy to see this one out: doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf192
Here, we assessed the contribution of natural transformation to the acquisition of novel genes. See preprint thread. @molbioevol.bsky.social #microsky #evobio
Here, we assessed the contribution of natural transformation to the acquisition of novel genes. See preprint thread. @molbioevol.bsky.social #microsky #evobio
August 27, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Very happy to see this one out: doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf192
Here, we assessed the contribution of natural transformation to the acquisition of novel genes. See preprint thread. @molbioevol.bsky.social #microsky #evobio
Here, we assessed the contribution of natural transformation to the acquisition of novel genes. See preprint thread. @molbioevol.bsky.social #microsky #evobio
So much said in one (not so little) word 😆🙏
We have a winner! Verschlimmbessern - the German word for making things worse by trying to make them better.
It is a compound verb formed from two words: verschlimmern ("to make worse") and verbessern ("to improve")
The corresponding noun is die Verschlimmbesserung.
It is a compound verb formed from two words: verschlimmern ("to make worse") and verbessern ("to improve")
The corresponding noun is die Verschlimmbesserung.
a man in a sweater says thank you so much for this in yellow letters
ALT: a man in a sweater says thank you so much for this in yellow letters
media.tenor.com
August 29, 2025 at 1:07 PM
So much said in one (not so little) word 😆🙏
Reposted by Sarah J Tucker
Applications are open for SFI's 2026 Complexity Postdoctoral Fellowships
If you’ve recently earned a Ph.D. in any scientific field and want to pursue independent, transdisciplinary research, consider applying.
Deadline: October 1, 2025
Apply here: santafe.edu/sfifellowship
If you’ve recently earned a Ph.D. in any scientific field and want to pursue independent, transdisciplinary research, consider applying.
Deadline: October 1, 2025
Apply here: santafe.edu/sfifellowship
July 28, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Applications are open for SFI's 2026 Complexity Postdoctoral Fellowships
If you’ve recently earned a Ph.D. in any scientific field and want to pursue independent, transdisciplinary research, consider applying.
Deadline: October 1, 2025
Apply here: santafe.edu/sfifellowship
If you’ve recently earned a Ph.D. in any scientific field and want to pursue independent, transdisciplinary research, consider applying.
Deadline: October 1, 2025
Apply here: santafe.edu/sfifellowship
Reposted by Sarah J Tucker
📣 New C-CoMP Pub. Alert!
Interested in marine microbial metabolites 🌊🦠? If so, check out this new pub., led by Bryndan Durham & Winn Johnson, that emerged from C-CoMP's Labile DOM workshop: An ecological framework for microbial metabolites in the ocean ecosystem.
tinyurl.com/54bu2xm7
Interested in marine microbial metabolites 🌊🦠? If so, check out this new pub., led by Bryndan Durham & Winn Johnson, that emerged from C-CoMP's Labile DOM workshop: An ecological framework for microbial metabolites in the ocean ecosystem.
tinyurl.com/54bu2xm7
An ecological framework for microbial metabolites in the ocean ecosystem
The ocean microbe-metabolite network involves thousands of individual metabolites that encompass a breadth of chemical diversity and biological functions. These microbial metabolites mediate biogeoch....
aslopubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
July 24, 2025 at 4:54 PM
📣 New C-CoMP Pub. Alert!
Interested in marine microbial metabolites 🌊🦠? If so, check out this new pub., led by Bryndan Durham & Winn Johnson, that emerged from C-CoMP's Labile DOM workshop: An ecological framework for microbial metabolites in the ocean ecosystem.
tinyurl.com/54bu2xm7
Interested in marine microbial metabolites 🌊🦠? If so, check out this new pub., led by Bryndan Durham & Winn Johnson, that emerged from C-CoMP's Labile DOM workshop: An ecological framework for microbial metabolites in the ocean ecosystem.
tinyurl.com/54bu2xm7
Reposted by Sarah J Tucker
Its that time again - the list of Ecology/Evolution/Marine Bio Labs recruiting grad students for Fall 2026 is live!
PIs enter your position info here: forms.gle/2XTHBP6CZGEn...
Prospective students (and PIs not recruiting) share the composite list: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Please share! 🧪
PIs enter your position info here: forms.gle/2XTHBP6CZGEn...
Prospective students (and PIs not recruiting) share the composite list: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Please share! 🧪
Ecology/Evolution/Marine Biology labs recruiting for Fall 2026
Please complete this form if you are a PI recruiting graduate students for a Fall 2026 start. If you are NOT recruiting, feel free to share the response sheet with prospective students looking for lab...
forms.gle
May 15, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Its that time again - the list of Ecology/Evolution/Marine Bio Labs recruiting grad students for Fall 2026 is live!
PIs enter your position info here: forms.gle/2XTHBP6CZGEn...
Prospective students (and PIs not recruiting) share the composite list: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Please share! 🧪
PIs enter your position info here: forms.gle/2XTHBP6CZGEn...
Prospective students (and PIs not recruiting) share the composite list: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Please share! 🧪
Reposted by Sarah J Tucker
A short preprint describing the GlobDB is now on arXiv: arxiv.org/abs/2506.11896
If you find the resource useful, please also check globdb.org for info on how to cite the underlying resources and tools.
If you find the resource useful, please also check globdb.org for info on how to cite the underlying resources and tools.
I'm happy to announce the latest release of the GlobDB, available at globdb.org.
The GlobDB is a database of "species dereplicated" microbial genomes, and as of release 226 contains twice the number of species-representative genomes (306,260) than the latest GTDB release.
The GlobDB is a database of "species dereplicated" microbial genomes, and as of release 226 contains twice the number of species-representative genomes (306,260) than the latest GTDB release.
home | GlobDB
globdb.org
June 16, 2025 at 8:44 PM
A short preprint describing the GlobDB is now on arXiv: arxiv.org/abs/2506.11896
If you find the resource useful, please also check globdb.org for info on how to cite the underlying resources and tools.
If you find the resource useful, please also check globdb.org for info on how to cite the underlying resources and tools.
Reposted by Sarah J Tucker
Is this the mechanism by which excess substrate inhibits growth in oligotrophs?
Very important and cool work by @ahoiching.bsky.social @jcamthrash.bsky.social and others
Very important and cool work by @ahoiching.bsky.social @jcamthrash.bsky.social and others
Cell cycle dysregulation of globally important SAR11 bacteria resulting from environmental perturbation https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.06.25.661606v1
June 26, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Is this the mechanism by which excess substrate inhibits growth in oligotrophs?
Very important and cool work by @ahoiching.bsky.social @jcamthrash.bsky.social and others
Very important and cool work by @ahoiching.bsky.social @jcamthrash.bsky.social and others
Reposted by Sarah J Tucker
‼️I'm looking for a postdoc‼️ Come join effort in using metagenomes to quantify microbial catabolic potential and carbon substrate availability at the ecosystem level. We seek to understand evolutionary forces shaping the carbon cycle. Part of ccomp-stc.org
careers.peopleclick.com/careerscp/cl...
careers.peopleclick.com/careerscp/cl...
Postdoctoral Associate
MIT - Postdoctoral Associate - Cambridge MA 02139
careers.peopleclick.com
June 18, 2025 at 2:39 PM
‼️I'm looking for a postdoc‼️ Come join effort in using metagenomes to quantify microbial catabolic potential and carbon substrate availability at the ecosystem level. We seek to understand evolutionary forces shaping the carbon cycle. Part of ccomp-stc.org
careers.peopleclick.com/careerscp/cl...
careers.peopleclick.com/careerscp/cl...
Reposted by Sarah J Tucker
Our latest on the microbiology of SAR116, led by the indefatigable Jordan Coelho:
Culture-supported ecophysiology of the SAR116 clade demonstrates metabolic and spatial niche partitioning academic.oup.com/ismej/advanc... #jcampubs
Culture-supported ecophysiology of the SAR116 clade demonstrates metabolic and spatial niche partitioning academic.oup.com/ismej/advanc... #jcampubs
June 17, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Our latest on the microbiology of SAR116, led by the indefatigable Jordan Coelho:
Culture-supported ecophysiology of the SAR116 clade demonstrates metabolic and spatial niche partitioning academic.oup.com/ismej/advanc... #jcampubs
Culture-supported ecophysiology of the SAR116 clade demonstrates metabolic and spatial niche partitioning academic.oup.com/ismej/advanc... #jcampubs
Happy #WorldOceanDay! Resharing a piece I wrote about NOAA’s collaborative event to share the passion, science, and curiosities of ocean observing with local colleagues and community members in Cape Town 🌊🌍 globalocean.noaa.gov/gomo-support...
GOMO Supports Successful International World Ocean Day Celebration - Global Ocean Monitoring and Observing
From June 8-11th, roughly 1,000 high school students and 4,000 members of the public gathered to celebrate and learn about the oceans during a multi-day outreach event for World Ocean Day in Cape Town...
globalocean.noaa.gov
June 8, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Happy #WorldOceanDay! Resharing a piece I wrote about NOAA’s collaborative event to share the passion, science, and curiosities of ocean observing with local colleagues and community members in Cape Town 🌊🌍 globalocean.noaa.gov/gomo-support...
Reposted by Sarah J Tucker
Simons Graduate Fellowships in Ecology and Evolution www.simonsfoundation.org/grant/simons...
Application Deadline July 31, 2025
Application Deadline July 31, 2025
Simons Graduate Fellowships in Ecology and Evolution
The purpose of these awards is to provide support for students entering U.S.-based Ph.D. programs with a plan to perform research in ecology and evolution. While we will consider all projects in ecolo...
www.simonsfoundation.org
June 2, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Simons Graduate Fellowships in Ecology and Evolution www.simonsfoundation.org/grant/simons...
Application Deadline July 31, 2025
Application Deadline July 31, 2025
Check out our new publication 🎉: doi.org/10.1002/lno....
We used time-series analyses to identify trends in biogeochemistry and phytoplankton communities across estuarine waters within Kāneʻohe Bay of the Hawaiian island of Oʻahu to the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. 🏝️
We used time-series analyses to identify trends in biogeochemistry and phytoplankton communities across estuarine waters within Kāneʻohe Bay of the Hawaiian island of Oʻahu to the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. 🏝️
Seasonal and spatial transitions in phytoplankton assemblages spanning estuarine to open ocean waters of the tropical Pacific
Islands in the tropical Pacific supply elevated nutrients to nearshore waters that enhance phytoplankton biomass and create hotspots of productivity in otherwise nutrient-poor oceans. Despite the imp...
doi.org
May 15, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Check out our new publication 🎉: doi.org/10.1002/lno....
We used time-series analyses to identify trends in biogeochemistry and phytoplankton communities across estuarine waters within Kāneʻohe Bay of the Hawaiian island of Oʻahu to the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. 🏝️
We used time-series analyses to identify trends in biogeochemistry and phytoplankton communities across estuarine waters within Kāneʻohe Bay of the Hawaiian island of Oʻahu to the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. 🏝️
Reposted by Sarah J Tucker
After a lot of hard work, the Global Ocean Observing System #GOOS Bio-Eco panel has released their Essential Ocean Variable spec sheets for expert review. If you're doing work with anything biological in the ocean, take a look at goosocean.org/news/call-fo... and give us your expert opinion! #IOOS
Call for Expert Input: Consultation on Biology and Ecosystems Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs) – Global Ocean Observing System
goosocean.org
May 8, 2025 at 2:23 PM
After a lot of hard work, the Global Ocean Observing System #GOOS Bio-Eco panel has released their Essential Ocean Variable spec sheets for expert review. If you're doing work with anything biological in the ocean, take a look at goosocean.org/news/call-fo... and give us your expert opinion! #IOOS
Reposted by Sarah J Tucker
Please, #microbiome and #sequencing data are NOT zero-inflated. Let's stop repeating this nonsense. Zero-inflated compared to what?? Those zeroes carry important information about abundance and sequencing depth, and are not "inflated" in any sense. 1/6
May 6, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Please, #microbiome and #sequencing data are NOT zero-inflated. Let's stop repeating this nonsense. Zero-inflated compared to what?? Those zeroes carry important information about abundance and sequencing depth, and are not "inflated" in any sense. 1/6
Congrats and thank you @floriantrigodet.bsky.social, for sharing these important and sometimes surprising considerations for your long-read assemblies! 👏👏
I am very happy (and anxious) to share with you our most recent work in which we evaluated four of the most popular long-read assemblers,
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
and tell you just a little bit about it in the following 🧵
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
and tell you just a little bit about it in the following 🧵
Assemblies of long-read metagenomes suffer from diverse errors
Genomes from metagenomes have revolutionised our understanding of microbial diversity, ecology, and evolution, propelling advances in basic science, biomedicine, and biotechnology. Assembly algorithms...
www.biorxiv.org
April 29, 2025 at 6:05 AM
Congrats and thank you @floriantrigodet.bsky.social, for sharing these important and sometimes surprising considerations for your long-read assemblies! 👏👏