Fiona J Whelan
@whelanfj.bsky.social
Senior Lecturer, Lister Prize Fellow, & UKRI Future Leaders Fellow at U of Manchester. Bioinf, microbes, evol bio, running, cycling, & pub chats. she/her ๐จ๐ฆ. whelanlab.co.uk
๐
I am devastated by the horrific shootings in Tumbler Ridge, B.C. My prayers and deepest condolences are with the families and friends who have lost loved ones to these horrific acts of violence.
www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/stat...
www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/stat...
Statement by Prime Minister Carney on the tragic shootings in Tumbler Ridge
I join Canadians in grieving with those whose lives have been changed irreversibly today, and in gratitude for the courage and selflessness of the first responders who risked their lives to protect th...
www.pm.gc.ca
February 11, 2026 at 8:06 PM
๐
This blog looks super slick! #microbialgenomics #bioinformatics
For anyone in the bioinformatics/ evolutionary biology world my friend and previous colleague has created this blog with some very nice resources for getting into the area! ๐งฌ
sequence-gazing.co.uk
#bioinformatics #evolutionarybiology
sequence-gazing.co.uk
#bioinformatics #evolutionarybiology
- Sequence Gazing
Welcome to sequence-gazing!
sequence-gazing.co.uk
February 11, 2026 at 5:15 PM
This blog looks super slick! #microbialgenomics #bioinformatics
Reposted by Fiona J Whelan
๐จ PhD Studentship available! ๐จ
We're hiring a UK student to start in Oct '26 via the BBSRC CODEM scheme. Full studentship plus ยฃ10k top-up PA. Study the mysterious ZOMBIE PHAGES ๐ง ๐ฆ with our fabulous @mermanchester.bsky.social and @uommib.bsky.social communities!
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
We're hiring a UK student to start in Oct '26 via the BBSRC CODEM scheme. Full studentship plus ยฃ10k top-up PA. Study the mysterious ZOMBIE PHAGES ๐ง ๐ฆ with our fabulous @mermanchester.bsky.social and @uommib.bsky.social communities!
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
(CODE M) Losing your head: how do bacterial viruses evolve into anti-competitor weapons? at The University of Manchester on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - (CODE M) Losing your head: how do bacterial viruses evolve into anti-competitor weapons? at The University of Manchester, listed on FindAPhD.com
www.findaphd.com
February 9, 2026 at 9:30 AM
๐จ PhD Studentship available! ๐จ
We're hiring a UK student to start in Oct '26 via the BBSRC CODEM scheme. Full studentship plus ยฃ10k top-up PA. Study the mysterious ZOMBIE PHAGES ๐ง ๐ฆ with our fabulous @mermanchester.bsky.social and @uommib.bsky.social communities!
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
We're hiring a UK student to start in Oct '26 via the BBSRC CODEM scheme. Full studentship plus ยฃ10k top-up PA. Study the mysterious ZOMBIE PHAGES ๐ง ๐ฆ with our fabulous @mermanchester.bsky.social and @uommib.bsky.social communities!
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Reposted by Fiona J Whelan
Calling all microbial genomics early-career researchers in the Midlands, great event in Nottingham (5 June)
๐จ Get your abstract in NOW for POPUP Nottingham with @bugsinyourguts.bsky.social & Microbiome-Net deadline 9th Feb ๐ linktr.ee/microbesng
#MicrobialGenomics & #Microbiome symposium 5th Jun
Focus on #ECRs present/chair
Keynotes @halllab.bsky.social & @alexmsalmeida.bsky.social
#MNGPopUp #MicroSky
#MicrobialGenomics & #Microbiome symposium 5th Jun
Focus on #ECRs present/chair
Keynotes @halllab.bsky.social & @alexmsalmeida.bsky.social
#MNGPopUp #MicroSky
February 4, 2026 at 10:01 PM
Calling all microbial genomics early-career researchers in the Midlands, great event in Nottingham (5 June)
Reposted by Fiona J Whelan
New round of PhD studentships in microbial engineering, including one with me on engineering non-canonical DNA mismatch repair into E. coli ๐ฆ ๐งฌ
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
February 6, 2026 at 6:50 PM
New round of PhD studentships in microbial engineering, including one with me on engineering non-canonical DNA mismatch repair into E. coli ๐ฆ ๐งฌ
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Reposted by Fiona J Whelan
PhD projects in microbial engineering now up, including one with @whelanfj.bsky.social @willpjsmith.bsky.social and me! ๐ฆ
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
February 6, 2026 at 8:16 PM
PhD projects in microbial engineering now up, including one with @whelanfj.bsky.social @willpjsmith.bsky.social and me! ๐ฆ
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Iโm in my science happy place this week!
Despite the jet lag, @surettem.bsky.social , @sharok.bsky.social , Hooman Derakhshani, & I kicked off their research visit with our first of 9 (๐ฑ) directed brainstorm sessions. A huge thank you to @manchester.ac.uk & @ukri.org for making this possible!
Despite the jet lag, @surettem.bsky.social , @sharok.bsky.social , Hooman Derakhshani, & I kicked off their research visit with our first of 9 (๐ฑ) directed brainstorm sessions. A huge thank you to @manchester.ac.uk & @ukri.org for making this possible!
February 3, 2026 at 7:24 AM
Iโm in my science happy place this week!
Despite the jet lag, @surettem.bsky.social , @sharok.bsky.social , Hooman Derakhshani, & I kicked off their research visit with our first of 9 (๐ฑ) directed brainstorm sessions. A huge thank you to @manchester.ac.uk & @ukri.org for making this possible!
Despite the jet lag, @surettem.bsky.social , @sharok.bsky.social , Hooman Derakhshani, & I kicked off their research visit with our first of 9 (๐ฑ) directed brainstorm sessions. A huge thank you to @manchester.ac.uk & @ukri.org for making this possible!
Seconded!!! And thatโs even if an email address was included on that paper.
Add your email to your orcid, lab webpage, bluesky, or use GitHub to host a really simple (and free) website with your contact details.
Add your email to your orcid, lab webpage, bluesky, or use GitHub to host a really simple (and free) website with your contact details.
A plea from an editor:
postdocs & grad students who want to review manuscripts, please (!) have an online presence with your current email. I try to solicit reviews from ECRs, but we all move a lot, and it's hard to know if we'll be able to reach you at the email address on your last paper ๐งช๐
postdocs & grad students who want to review manuscripts, please (!) have an online presence with your current email. I try to solicit reviews from ECRs, but we all move a lot, and it's hard to know if we'll be able to reach you at the email address on your last paper ๐งช๐
January 20, 2026 at 6:32 PM
Seconded!!! And thatโs even if an email address was included on that paper.
Add your email to your orcid, lab webpage, bluesky, or use GitHub to host a really simple (and free) website with your contact details.
Add your email to your orcid, lab webpage, bluesky, or use GitHub to host a really simple (and free) website with your contact details.
Reposted by Fiona J Whelan
Since 1947, the Canadian Rangers have provided a military presence in the Canadian North.
Experts in wilderness survival, they cover areas of Canada that are not practical for conventional Army units.
Considered to be "always on duty", this is their legendary story.
๐งต1/10
Experts in wilderness survival, they cover areas of Canada that are not practical for conventional Army units.
Considered to be "always on duty", this is their legendary story.
๐งต1/10
January 20, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Since 1947, the Canadian Rangers have provided a military presence in the Canadian North.
Experts in wilderness survival, they cover areas of Canada that are not practical for conventional Army units.
Considered to be "always on duty", this is their legendary story.
๐งต1/10
Experts in wilderness survival, they cover areas of Canada that are not practical for conventional Army units.
Considered to be "always on duty", this is their legendary story.
๐งต1/10
I also love that (almost as) long standing host Bob McDonald predicted he would be retired in the year 2025 but is very much still hosting (thankfully)!
January 16, 2026 at 5:01 PM
I also love that (almost as) long standing host Bob McDonald predicted he would be retired in the year 2025 but is very much still hosting (thankfully)!
CBCโs long standing science podcast Quirks & Quarks did a 25 year anniversary special in 2000 predicting what kind of scientific advancements weโd see in 2025. It is amazing for so many reasons & well worth a listen:
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...
Bobโs 2-min monologue at the end alone is ๐คฏ
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...
Bobโs 2-min monologue at the end alone is ๐คฏ
Predictions about science in 2025, recorded 25 years ago
Podcast Episode ยท Quirks and Quarks ยท 25/12/2025 ยท 54m
podcasts.apple.com
January 16, 2026 at 4:59 PM
CBCโs long standing science podcast Quirks & Quarks did a 25 year anniversary special in 2000 predicting what kind of scientific advancements weโd see in 2025. It is amazing for so many reasons & well worth a listen:
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...
Bobโs 2-min monologue at the end alone is ๐คฏ
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...
Bobโs 2-min monologue at the end alone is ๐คฏ
Reposted by Fiona J Whelan
I was absolutely delighted to give a talk at the University of Manchester Ecology and Evolution day yesterday. An incredible collection of talks and posters were presented and we had some great discussions - thank you to @whelanfj.bsky.social and @knightjar.bsky.social for organising!
January 13, 2026 at 8:31 AM
I was absolutely delighted to give a talk at the University of Manchester Ecology and Evolution day yesterday. An incredible collection of talks and posters were presented and we had some great discussions - thank you to @whelanfj.bsky.social and @knightjar.bsky.social for organising!
Such a gorgeous poster @magdalenakurteu.bsky.social ! Sorry I didnโt get a chance to chat with you about it :)
Excited to learn and chat about ecology & evolution today at #UoM_EEday ๐ฑ๐งฌ
January 12, 2026 at 8:12 PM
Such a gorgeous poster @magdalenakurteu.bsky.social ! Sorry I didnโt get a chance to chat with you about it :)
Great to see Beckyโs first poster of her PhD here at #UoM_EEday today ๐
Presenting ideas for my PhD project at #UoMEEday and learning about all things evolution !
January 12, 2026 at 8:11 PM
Great to see Beckyโs first poster of her PhD here at #UoM_EEday today ๐
What a great, welcoming community for Amberโs first poster of her PhD! #proudPI #UoM_EEday
A very enjoyable day, finishing up with my PhD poster presentation. ๐ฆ #UoMEEDay
January 12, 2026 at 8:10 PM
What a great, welcoming community for Amberโs first poster of her PhD! #proudPI #UoM_EEday
Last but certainly not least @evol-molly.bsky.social speaking about genome-type and phenome-types at #UoM_EEday
January 12, 2026 at 3:14 PM
Last but certainly not least @evol-molly.bsky.social speaking about genome-type and phenome-types at #UoM_EEday
Last ECR talk of the day from Logan Sauers on IgA transcriptomics #UoM_EEday
January 12, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Last ECR talk of the day from Logan Sauers on IgA transcriptomics #UoM_EEday
Next ECR talk is from Priya Gordon on simulating gene exchange #UoM_EEday
January 12, 2026 at 2:34 PM
Next ECR talk is from Priya Gordon on simulating gene exchange #UoM_EEday
Full of a yummy vegan-based lunch, James Moura is kicking off the afternoon session discussing participatory and communicated based biodiversity monitoring. #UoM_EEday
January 12, 2026 at 2:10 PM
Full of a yummy vegan-based lunch, James Moura is kicking off the afternoon session discussing participatory and communicated based biodiversity monitoring. #UoM_EEday
PhD student @andrewhalls.bsky.social up next at #UoM_EEday speaking on protozoan infections in domestic and wild ungulates
January 12, 2026 at 12:44 PM
PhD student @andrewhalls.bsky.social up next at #UoM_EEday speaking on protozoan infections in domestic and wild ungulates
Next ECR talk from Postdoc Joesph Violet on Saccharomyces evolution #UoM_EEday
January 12, 2026 at 12:25 PM
Next ECR talk from Postdoc Joesph Violet on Saccharomyces evolution #UoM_EEday
Continuing on after a coffee break with Harry Walker speaking on intra-genotypic trait variation #UoM_EEday
January 12, 2026 at 12:04 PM
Continuing on after a coffee break with Harry Walker speaking on intra-genotypic trait variation #UoM_EEday
Last ECR talk before the coffee break is from PhD student Ed Tancredi on fungal hyphal networks. #UoM_EEday
January 12, 2026 at 11:11 AM
Last ECR talk before the coffee break is from PhD student Ed Tancredi on fungal hyphal networks. #UoM_EEday
Qiuyu Chen now telling us about their PDRA work on microbial-mediated soil orangish matter dynamics #UoM_EEday
January 12, 2026 at 10:54 AM
Qiuyu Chen now telling us about their PDRA work on microbial-mediated soil orangish matter dynamics #UoM_EEday