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Julia Van Etten

@couchmicroscopy.bsky.social

1.6K followers 980 following 250 posts

Incoming assistant professor at University of Maryland, College Park • NSF PRFB postdoc • PhD from Bhattacharya lab @RutgersU • Passionate about algae / protists + genomics + evolutionary biology + microscopy • vanettenlab.org #NewPI Opinions are my own.

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Julia Van Etten @couchmicroscopy.bsky.social · Jul 16

I’m thrilled to announce that next summer I’ll be joining the University of Maryland Department of Biology as an assistant professor! The Van Etten lab will study how horizontal processes (DNA and gene transfer + organelle acquisition) drive and are driven by ecology and evolution. vanettenlab.org

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angela oliverio @oliverio.bsky.social · 10h

Accepted version of our article "Half of microbial eukaryote literature focuses on only twelve human parasites" now out in ISMEJ!

Awesome effort led by undergrad Joanna Lepper and with @hbrappap.bsky.social.

Ákos T Kovács @evolvedbiofilm.bsky.social · 14h

Half of microbial eukaryote literature focuses on only twelve human parasites

-in #ISMEJournal by Joanna Lepper, @hbrappap.bsky.social and @oliverio.bsky.social

academic.oup.com/ismej/advanc...

Half of microbial eukaryote literature focuses on only twelve human parasites

Abstract. Although microbial eukaryotes comprise the majority of eukaryotic phylogenetic diversity and inhabit nearly all ecosystems globally, most researc

academic.oup.com

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Reposted by Julia Van Etten

KevinDKohl @kevindkohl.bsky.social · 26d

Pleased to share new work tinkering with and testing the concept of the holobiont
@isme-microbes.bsky.social

"Experimental evolution of a mammalian holobiont: bank voles selected for herbivorous capability evolved distinct and robust gut bacterial communities"
🌾🐭🦠

academic.oup.com/ismecommun/a...

Experimental evolution of a mammalian holobiont: bank voles selected for herbivorous capability evolved distinct and robust gut bacterial communities

Abstract. According to the “hologenome” theory of evolution natural selection and evolution can act through a conglomerate biological unit, the “holobiont”

academic.oup.com

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Reposted by Julia Van Etten

Jarrett Byrnes @jebyrnes.bsky.social · 1d

Heeeeey #Microbial #Ecology folk! My department has a job opening for a tenure track Microbial Ecologist! Feel free to DM me with questions. Come join our awesome supportive whip-smart & kind crew in the Biology Department of @umassboston.bsky.social! employmentopportunities.umb.edu/boston/en-us...

The ISC - your new home at UMass Boston?

The view of Boston Harbor from front of campus

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Reposted by Julia Van Etten

Varsha Mathur @varshamathur.bsky.social · 2d

How to upgrade stolen organelles into permanent plastids: A comparative transcriptomic perspective | PNAS www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1... #protistsonsky

PNAS

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a peer reviewed journal of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) - an authoritative source of high-impact, original research that broadly spans...

www.pnas.org

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Thibaut Brunet @thibautbrunet.bsky.social · 3d

Latest from ours: www.cell.com/cell-reports...

This is two stories in one: a case study/cautionary tale on developing genetic tools in new organisms, and the first hint at a gene regulatory network for choanoflagellate multicellular development (which turn out to involve a Hippo/YAP/ECM loop!) A 🧵

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Reposted by Julia Van Etten

Jelena Godrijan 🫧❾🌊🦋 @godi.bsky.social · 3d

⚠️New paper ➡️ isolating >600 freshwater microbes using dilution-to-extinction and low-nutrient, lake-mimicking media.

🤯Expands cultured diversity to ~70 % of detected genera and enables physiological studies of streamlined oligotrophs.

🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#protistsonsky

Bringing the uncultivated microbial majority of freshwater ecosystems into culture - Nature Communications

A large fraction of aquatic bacteria remains uncultured. Here, the authors cultivated 627 strains of abundant freshwater bacteria from 14 European lakes, thus generating a collection that includes many previously uncultured, oligotrophic bacteria that may serve as model organisms.

www.nature.com

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Holly Moeller @mixotrophe.bsky.social · 5d

🚨GRFP DEADLINE ALERT!🚨 I missed this in my original solicitation read-through, so FYI 📣LETTERS ARE DUE BEFORE PROPOSALS📣 this year!

"Reference letters are due Friday, November 7 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET)."

www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)

www.nsf.gov

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Julia Van Etten @couchmicroscopy.bsky.social · 5d

Rutgers Newark is hiring multiple new profs who work in microbial pathogenesis, structural bio, human/microbial genetics, genomics, biochemistry, or computational biophysics. I loved doing my PhD at Rutgers and I LOVE New Jersey. Reach out if you’re applying and have questions about the school/area.

Open Rank Faculty Position on the Tenure Track - Newark, New Jersey (US) job with Rutgers | 12844885

MULTIPLE TENURE-TRACK FACULTY POSITIONS AVAILABLE The Dept. of Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Genetics at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

www.nature.com

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ISME - International Society for Microbial Ecology @isme-microbes.bsky.social · 6d

We are looking for photos or videos of microscopy images and microbial ecologists at work! The winning photos and videos will be used to promote the ISME Society and our publications. Submit your entry by 11 November! More information: isme-microbes.org/call-for-mic...
#MicrobialEcology #microbes

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Julia Van Etten @couchmicroscopy.bsky.social · 8d

Thanks 😊

Julia Van Etten @couchmicroscopy.bsky.social · 9d

Pics from a recent trip to Yellowstone where we collected microbial community samples from hot springs! We were led through the backcountry by collaborator Tim McDermott (MSU) who has been sampling at YNP for 31 years. I can’t share research photos (park rules) but here are some other highlights!

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Julia Van Etten @couchmicroscopy.bsky.social · 9d

I wish we knew what was going on in these decision-making processes right now but the lack of transparency is a troubling theme across the federal government these days. I believe the program managers are doing all they can to keep these programs alive and this must be demoralizing for them.

Under Trump, NSF faces worst crisis in its 75-year history

Political directives have undermined agency's independence and record of supporting the best basic research

www.science.org

Julia Van Etten @couchmicroscopy.bsky.social · 9d

I’m disappointed for the graduate students who were applying for the GRFP with hopes of being considered for a life-changing career opportunity, particularly those in their second year who had proposals written already, only to find out the rules have changed and they are no longer eligible.

Joshua Weitz @joshuasweitz.bsky.social · 10d

Here's my NSF GRFP OpEd. Who wants to publish it?

"Revert text of NSF 25-547 (GRFP FY26) to NSF 24-591 (GRFP FY25) and keep current competition dates so that all applicants have a fair chance and awards can be made in advance of April 2026 decisions for graduate school."

A proposal to address the late release of the NSF GRFP call (25-547).

Proposal: Revert text of NSF 25-547 (GRFP FY26) to
NSF 24-591 (GRFP FY25) and keep current competition dates so that all applicants have a fair chance and awards can be made in advance of April 2026 decisions for graduate school.

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Jason Williams @jasonwilliamsny.bsky.social · 13d

Please share with anyone who cares about NSF support for graduate students and take 30 seconds to sign and leave a comment.

The deadline for the 2025 Graduate Research Fellowship Program is about one month away and literally no one can apply. #NSFGRFP

jasonjwilliamsny.github.io/grfp2025/

An Open Letter to U.S. STEM Leadership on the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program

jasonjwilliamsny.github.io

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Julie Boisard @protistsforthewin.bsky.social · 11d

Now completely published :)
Really proud of this paper led with Karla at @cstairs.bsky.social lab.
doi.org/10.1093/isme...

Anaerobic breviate protist survival in microcosms depends on microbiome metabolic function

Abstract. Anoxic and hypoxic environments serve as habitats for diverse microorganisms, including unicellular eukaryotes (protists) and prokaryotes. To thr

doi.org

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Bill Kristol @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social · 24d

It should be needless to say, but it is perhaps at this moment worth saying, that transgender individuals have the same right as anyone else to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

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Julia Van Etten @couchmicroscopy.bsky.social · Sep 6

On our way to Yellowstone for a quick sampling trip! (And then I’m staying for bit to take a vacation 😊) @bhattacharyalab.bsky.social

Reposted by Julia Van Etten

Elizabeth Jacobs, PhD @elizabethjacobs.bsky.social · Sep 4

An absolute barnburner by @gregggonsalves.bsky.social!

www.thenation.com/article/soci...

RFK Jr., American Psycho

He needs to go. Now.

www.thenation.com

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Julia Van Etten @couchmicroscopy.bsky.social · Sep 4

I don’t even know what to say. He’s screaming his intentions and half of us are still not taking it seriously.

Reposted by Julia Van Etten

Vesna Grujcic @vesnagrujcic.bsky.social · Aug 30

How do microbes become permanent partners? 🌊🔬🦠 Check out our new study published in Current Biology showing how cyanobacterial genomes evolve step-by-step into endosymbionts of diatoms. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
@currentbiology.bsky.social @mehrshmali.bsky.social

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Mike Wiser @drmikewiser.bsky.social · Aug 29

Honestly, the only thing even in the same league as vaccines is sanitation.

Antibiotics are the next level down.

Solomon @solomonmissouri.bsky.social · Aug 29

Vaccines have been the foremost breakthrough in medical history

Not of this year
Not this decade
Not this century

Vaccines are the foremost medical breakthrough in history

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Reposted by Julia Van Etten

Joshua Weitz @joshuasweitz.bsky.social · Aug 29

The executive branch has deep antipathy towards scientists and researchers because what we do - collect, examine, and interpret evidence - is incompatible with what they do - demand fealty.

But we have choices & power.

A 🧵

www.cnn.com/2025/08/29/p...

Analysis: Science or Trump? The impossible choice faced by the ousted CDC chief | CNN Politics

The purge at the top of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention crystalizes the dilemma facing many professional officials across the US government.

www.cnn.com

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Thiago Carvalho @cyrilpedia.bsky.social · Aug 29

"We are seven months into the new administration, and no CDC subject matter expert from my Center has ever briefed the Secretary. I am not sure who the Secretary is listening to, but it is quite certainly not to us."

The Resignation Letter Of Dr. Demetre C. Daskalakis Of The Centers For Disease Control

"FIRE HIM"- wrote Senator Patty Murray tonight about the deeply malevolent Robert Kennedy after a day of extraordinary chaos

www.hopiumchronicles.com

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Julia Van Etten @couchmicroscopy.bsky.social · Aug 29

The C.D.C.’s Vaccine Chief on Why Quitting Was His Only Option

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

The C.D.C.’s Vaccine Chief on Why Quitting Was His Only Option

Podcast Episode · The Daily · 08/29/2025 · 29m

podcasts.apple.com

Reposted by Julia Van Etten

Kristina Prokina @kristina-prokina.bsky.social · Aug 26

New paper is out! We have studied the cute tiny Discocelia plataet sp. n. to obtain the first molecular data of the order Discocelida and clarify its cell structure. All this for a better understanding of the evolution of Cercozoa.

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....

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