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Reposted by Michael Henson, Ph.D.

Ian Hewson @ianhewson.bsky.social · 8d

Many thanks to Moriah Sevier, Marilyn Brandt, @aquaticmicrolab.bsky.social @drchriskellogg.bsky.social @viromegirl.bsky.social Bella Ritchie and Brayan Vilanova Cuevas for making this trip such a success!

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Reposted by Michael Henson, Ph.D.

Ian Hewson @ianhewson.bsky.social · 10d

Day 2 of Diadema kickoff. Today was all about Diadema itself (cf environmental parameters). We were excited to see so many apparently healthy animals in shallow water! We also set up an experiment to examine microbial participation in echinoderm tissue decay. Such a great start to this time series!

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Reposted by Michael Henson, Ph.D.

Ian Hewson @ianhewson.bsky.social · 11d

Day 1 of NSF sponsored Diadema antillarum scuticociliatosis time series in Brewers Bay, St Thomas, USVI with @drchriskellogg.bsky.social @viromegirl.bsky.social @aquaticmicrolab.bsky.social and Prof Marilyn Brandt at UVI. After months of planning it was time to figure out what makes sense from

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Michael Henson, Ph.D. @aquaticmicrolab.bsky.social · Jul 22

Fixed link
www.biotaawards.org/2026-applica...

2026 Application — Biota Awards

www.biotaawards.org

Michael Henson, Ph.D. @aquaticmicrolab.bsky.social · Jul 22

🧬 Interested in aquatic micro, nutrient cycling, river-ocean interfaces

I’m seeking a postdoc candidate to apply with me for the 2026 Walder Biota Fellowship ($70k+/yr 2 yrs, $20k/yr research).

Details: www.biotaawards.org/2026-applica...
#biogeochemistry #BiotaFellowship #microsky #ecoSky #evoSky

www.biotaawards.org

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Michael Henson, Ph.D. @aquaticmicrolab.bsky.social · Jul 21

@drchriskellogg.bsky.social #microsky #academicsky #MEvoSky #Ecoevosky #ecosky #evosky

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Michael Henson, Ph.D. @aquaticmicrolab.bsky.social · Jul 21

Notice of Award is in!
Join our team at NIU to study marine microbial ecology & disease dynamics in sea urchins 🧫🌊🦠
PhD | Spring/Fall 2026 start
Job Ad Here 👉 shorturl.at/fSMy9
Apply here 👉 forms.gle/gfMnHutijfqC...
More: theaquaticmicrobiologylab.com
@ianhewson.bsky.social @viromegirl.bsky.social

Funded Graduate Student Opportunity in Marine Microbial Ecology

**Applicants will be contacted if selected for next round. Applicants not selected will not receive any notice. If not selected, this is not indicative of your merit. ** Northern Illinois University |...

forms.gle

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Michael Henson, Ph.D. @aquaticmicrolab.bsky.social · Jul 9

🧬 Interested in aquatic micro, nutrient cycling, river-ocean interfaces

I’m seeking a postdoc candidate to apply with me for the 2026 Walder Biota Fellowship ($70k+/yr for 2 yrs, $20k/yr research).

Details: www.biotaawards.org/2026-applica...
#ecosky #biogeochemistry #BiotaFellowship #microsky

2026 Application — Biota Awards

www.biotaawards.org

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Reposted by Michael Henson, Ph.D.

Cameron Thrash @jcamthrash.bsky.social · Jul 8

Ten simple rules for faculty members building just and equitable environments in academic science journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol... #jcampubs

Ten simple rules for faculty members building just and equitable environments in academic science

journals.plos.org

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Reposted by Michael Henson, Ph.D.

Jesse McNichol @jcmcnch.bsky.social · Jul 2

So excited to announce the GRUMP paper is published! This global dataset provides relative abundances for plankton spanning Archaea to Zooplankton from unfractionated (>0.2µm) water samples using 3-domain universal primers that amplify 16S and 18S in one PCR reaction.

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Characterizing organisms from three domains of life with universal primers from throughout the global ocean - Scientific Data

Scientific Data - Characterizing organisms from three domains of life with universal primers from throughout the global ocean

www.nature.com

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Michael Henson, Ph.D. @aquaticmicrolab.bsky.social · Jun 30

Check out our field sampling update on our lab website, work we continue to do in support of Diadema Scuticociliatosis outbreaks
Field Update: USVI Marine Disease Survey www.theaquaticmicrobiologylab.com/news CC @ianhewson.bsky.social #microsky #ecologysky #marinedisease 🌊🦠🧬

News in the Aquatic Microbiology Lab — The Aquatic Microbiology Lab

www.theaquaticmicrobiologylab.com

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Michael Henson, Ph.D. @aquaticmicrolab.bsky.social · Jun 29

Some updates to the lab website on awards and presentations! It's been a busy year in the Aquatic Microbiology lab.
www.theaquaticmicrobiologylab.com/news

News in the Aquatic Microbiology Lab — The Aquatic Microbiology Lab

www.theaquaticmicrobiologylab.com

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Reposted by Michael Henson, Ph.D.

Cameron Thrash @jcamthrash.bsky.social · Jun 26

Our latest, lead by @ahoiching.bsky.social, uncovering physiological vulnerabilities and helping to explain growth rate limitation in SAR11.

Cell cycle dysregulation of globally important SAR11 bacteria resulting from environmental perturbation www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... #jcampubs

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Michael Henson, Ph.D. @aquaticmicrolab.bsky.social · Jun 26

Cell cycle dysregulation of globally important SAR11 bacteria resulting from environmental perturbation

t.co/8ohVSh9Esd

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.06.25.661606v1?rss=1

t.co

Reposted by Michael Henson, Ph.D.

Ian Hewson @ianhewson.bsky.social · May 18

An amazing trip to USVI to study the ecology of DaScPc, the parasite responsible for urchin mass mortality 3 years ago. Over 150 samples, and an experiment completed. Fantastic to work with @aquaticmicrolab.bsky.social at NIU and Marilyn Brandt at UVI. Supported by NIU Biology and ACSF.

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Reposted by Michael Henson, Ph.D.

Paul Carini @uncultured.carinilab.com · May 2

Happy birthday SAR11! 35 years old today!
uncultured.carinilab.com/p/happy-birt...

Happy Birthday SAR11

SAR11 turns 33 this month

uncultured.carinilab.com

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Reposted by Michael Henson, Ph.D.

Katie O'Reilly @drkatfish.bsky.social · Apr 7

During summer and winter, waters of the #GreatLakes typically separate into distinct temperature layers - a process called stratification. However, new research finds Lakes Michigan and Huron aren't consistently stratifying during winter anymore due to climate change www.jsonline.com/story/news/l...

In winter, the waters of Lakes Michigan and Huron separate into layers. Not anymore. Why?

Winters in particular are entering a new era in the world's largest surface freshwater system.

www.jsonline.com

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Michael Henson, Ph.D. @aquaticmicrolab.bsky.social · Apr 2

Help Support Student Research!
🔗 Donate : dog.niu.edu/giving-day/9...

#NIUHuskies #NIUBiology #STEMEducation #SupportStudentResearch #FirstGenCollege #ExperientialLearning #ScienceMatters #FutureScientists #HandsOnLearning #NIUAlumni #GiveBack #ResearchOpportunities #HuskiesGive #NIUCommunity

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Michael Henson, Ph.D. @aquaticmicrolab.bsky.social · Feb 20

Still am ... 😜🫣😑

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Michael Henson, Ph.D. @aquaticmicrolab.bsky.social · Feb 20

Sorry to hear Scott. I wrote to a bunch of my POs just to say thank you and from what I gathered it meant a lot to most of them.
DO you know what section of the BRC0BIO you were reviewed in? MCB DEB IOS?

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Reposted by Michael Henson, Ph.D.

Stand Up for Science! @standupforscience.bsky.social · Feb 12

Welcome to the Bluesky account for Stand Up for Science 2025!

Keep an eye on this space for updates, event information, and ways to get involved. We can't wait to see everyone #standupforscience2025 on March 7th, both in DC and locations nationwide!

#scienceforall #sciencenotsilence

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Reposted by Michael Henson, Ph.D.

Kenneth Wasmund @kennethwasmund.bsky.social · Feb 13

Sounds cool.

"Bacteria encode post-mortem protein catabolism that enables altruistic nutrient recycling"

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Bacteria encode post-mortem protein catabolism that enables altruistic nutrient recycling - Nature Communications

Processes that occur after death have not received the same level of attention as the mechanisms of life. In this study, the authors show that bacteria have potentially evolved an altruistic trait to ...

www.nature.com

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Reposted by Michael Henson, Ph.D.

Black Microbiologists Assoc (Black In Micro) @blackinmicro.bsky.social · Feb 4

A statement from the BMA Board Members to the BMA Community and Beyond.

Additional alt text to follow due to the character limit.

The statement reads: We are disappointed in the rapid capitulation by some U.S. institutions and organizations to recent attacks on diversity, equity, inclusion, and access. At their core, these weak arguments are fueled by the familiar underlying assumption that people from Black, Indigenous, and other marginalized identities cannot be excellent and therefore have not ‘earned’ our place in public intellectual life. However, we have always been competent, hardworking, and creative people who have contributed positively to society at large, across sectors but especially in science. We reject these attempts at silencing and erasure and will continue to be a place of respite and community in these turbulent times.

To our members, your talent, skills, and safety are important! To our friends and allies, you may be feeling like everything happening is out of your control, but we want you to know that your voice and actions can make a difference. We want to point you towards some immediate actions that you can take. These are the top 3 issues we are concerned about and what you can do about it if you mirror our concerns.

Freezing of federal funding and cutting grant programs for scientific research that have any connotation of being “DEI.”
The potential confirmation of RFK Jr., a vocal anti-vaccination proponent, as the head of HHS.
The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) removed their ABRCMS and IDEAAS webpages in addition to some scientist spotlights and written articles highlighting the current and historic contributions of microbiologists who are a part of marginalized communities including LGBTQIA+, Women, Indigenous and Black, as well as others page that could be considered “‘DEI”. Many have now been reinstated with changes to language (i.e. removing terms like “equity” and “marginalized”), and the statements released by ASM did not acknowledge the harm that they have caused to their members and showed no remorse for their actions.

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Michael Henson, Ph.D. @aquaticmicrolab.bsky.social · Feb 6

Got to attend the NIU Womens Basketball (@GoHuskiesWBB) game last night and head to center court to #humblebrag be honored as their faculty spotlight.

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Reposted by Michael Henson, Ph.D.

DEI Virologist @kyt-thatsme.bsky.social · Feb 3

🧪🧬🧫🦠

DEI Virologist @kyt-thatsme.bsky.social · Feb 3

Ok this is not ok. ASM actively sought out BMA and its members for Juneteenth and Black History month content for the last 4 years. Actively asked for black labor and then takes it down?! @asm.org this is unacceptable. You should be standing up for marginalized microbiologists not erasing them.

allie igwe @anigwe.bsky.social · Feb 3

Checked on the article I wrote about Juneteenth in 2023…
”under review”

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