Elena Francesca Nika
@franc1elle.bsky.social
Evolutionary biology graduate, currently searching for a PhD in ecology and genomics of morphological traits and/or behaviour. 🦋
Scientific illustrator and film photographer 🎞️
Scientific illustrator and film photographer 🎞️
Pinned
My first scientific poster presentation from my MSc thesis at the Swedish Nordic Society Oikos conference!!
Come and check it out tomorrow and on Wednesday (4-5th February) at the Natural History museum in Stockholm!
So excited 🦋
Come and check it out tomorrow and on Wednesday (4-5th February) at the Natural History museum in Stockholm!
So excited 🦋
Reposted by Elena Francesca Nika
🚨RA/PhD position available in evolutionary neurobiology 🚨
Working on a deep dive into circuit changes during mushroom body expansion in Heliconius butterflies @camzoology.bsky.social
- employment benefits
- 4 years funding
- 1000% fun
Deadline: 14/1/2026
Details:
www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/researc...
Working on a deep dive into circuit changes during mushroom body expansion in Heliconius butterflies @camzoology.bsky.social
- employment benefits
- 4 years funding
- 1000% fun
Deadline: 14/1/2026
Details:
www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/researc...
November 21, 2025 at 2:31 PM
🚨RA/PhD position available in evolutionary neurobiology 🚨
Working on a deep dive into circuit changes during mushroom body expansion in Heliconius butterflies @camzoology.bsky.social
- employment benefits
- 4 years funding
- 1000% fun
Deadline: 14/1/2026
Details:
www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/researc...
Working on a deep dive into circuit changes during mushroom body expansion in Heliconius butterflies @camzoology.bsky.social
- employment benefits
- 4 years funding
- 1000% fun
Deadline: 14/1/2026
Details:
www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/researc...
Reposted by Elena Francesca Nika
New PhD position: Butterfly Evolution at High Elevations 🦋⛰️
The project aims to understand the rapid evolution and adaptation of white butterflies at high elevations.
DEADLINE: January 11, 2025
More info: pavelmatos.wordpress.com/join-us/
The project aims to understand the rapid evolution and adaptation of white butterflies at high elevations.
DEADLINE: January 11, 2025
More info: pavelmatos.wordpress.com/join-us/
Join us
Opportunities Below are the positions currently open in our lab. Fully-funded PhD position The project aims to understand rapid evolution and adaptation in white butterflies flying at high elevatio…
pavelmatos.wordpress.com
November 29, 2025 at 12:44 PM
New PhD position: Butterfly Evolution at High Elevations 🦋⛰️
The project aims to understand the rapid evolution and adaptation of white butterflies at high elevations.
DEADLINE: January 11, 2025
More info: pavelmatos.wordpress.com/join-us/
The project aims to understand the rapid evolution and adaptation of white butterflies at high elevations.
DEADLINE: January 11, 2025
More info: pavelmatos.wordpress.com/join-us/
Reposted by Elena Francesca Nika
@nicolasdussex.bsky.social et al. investigate the genomic basis of adaptation in the Svalbard reindeer, an endemic subspecies that colonized the High Arctic ~7,000 years ago, adapting to extreme cold, day length changes, and resource scarcity.
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf160
#genome #evolution
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf160
#genome #evolution
September 19, 2025 at 9:58 AM
@nicolasdussex.bsky.social et al. investigate the genomic basis of adaptation in the Svalbard reindeer, an endemic subspecies that colonized the High Arctic ~7,000 years ago, adapting to extreme cold, day length changes, and resource scarcity.
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf160
#genome #evolution
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf160
#genome #evolution
My MSc. thesis is published on DiVa in case anyone is interested in some butterfly research!🦋
www.diva-portal.org/smash/record...
www.diva-portal.org/smash/record...
The genetic background of parallel seasonal adaptation in a range-expanding butterfly
DiVA portal is a finding tool for research publications and student theses written at the following 50 universities and research institutions.
www.diva-portal.org
October 4, 2025 at 6:33 PM
My MSc. thesis is published on DiVa in case anyone is interested in some butterfly research!🦋
www.diva-portal.org/smash/record...
www.diva-portal.org/smash/record...
Reposted by Elena Francesca Nika
Funded PhD position available 🎉 Come and work with me in Helsinki to uncover the pathways producing colourful tiger moth wings. Lots of options for genomics, CRISPR, fieldwork, behaviour experiments… Email with questions! jobs.helsinki.fi/job/Helsinki...
September 24, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Funded PhD position available 🎉 Come and work with me in Helsinki to uncover the pathways producing colourful tiger moth wings. Lots of options for genomics, CRISPR, fieldwork, behaviour experiments… Email with questions! jobs.helsinki.fi/job/Helsinki...
Reposted by Elena Francesca Nika
New paper in @pnas.org — and this is my favourite one out of my PhD thesis! Field transplants of wall brown butterflies show life history evolution during climate change-driven range expansion, BUT non-evolving winter tolerance still sets the range limit.🧵1/12. doi.org/10.1073/pnas...
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...
doi.org
June 24, 2025 at 11:18 AM
New paper in @pnas.org — and this is my favourite one out of my PhD thesis! Field transplants of wall brown butterflies show life history evolution during climate change-driven range expansion, BUT non-evolving winter tolerance still sets the range limit.🧵1/12. doi.org/10.1073/pnas...
(1) Happy to report that a few weeks ago I successfully defended my MSc thesis about parallel evolution of adaptation in butterflies at @uu.se, and it went extremely well! I now finalized my manuscript and it will be out in DiVA portal soon for anyone interested in reading my research!🦋
June 26, 2025 at 2:24 PM
(1) Happy to report that a few weeks ago I successfully defended my MSc thesis about parallel evolution of adaptation in butterflies at @uu.se, and it went extremely well! I now finalized my manuscript and it will be out in DiVA portal soon for anyone interested in reading my research!🦋
Reposted by Elena Francesca Nika
Great PhD position on gull foraging behaviour ecology at sea!
#ornithology
Apply before 20-7-2025 or spread the word!
#ornithology
Apply before 20-7-2025 or spread the word!
New PhD position in our group! Join us to study gull foraging ecology at sea using GPS and accelerometry data! You will be working here Amsterdam Movement Ecology group under supervision of @judyshamounb.bsky.social, @rooskentie.bsky.social and me. Apply here werkenbij.uva.nl/en/vacancies...
Vacancy — PhD Position Gull Foraging Ecology in the North Sea - NO-REGRETS Project
Are you passionate about animal movement ecology? Interested in studying gull foraging ecology at sea? Apply for this unique PhD opportunity at the Department of Theoretical and Computational Ecology ...
werkenbij.uva.nl
June 19, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Great PhD position on gull foraging behaviour ecology at sea!
#ornithology
Apply before 20-7-2025 or spread the word!
#ornithology
Apply before 20-7-2025 or spread the word!
Reposted by Elena Francesca Nika
Our lab is moving! I’m thrilled to be joining the Department of Ecology & Evolution at the University of Chicago this fall. I’ll be recruiting PhD students so please spread the word and reach out if interested!
June 2, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Our lab is moving! I’m thrilled to be joining the Department of Ecology & Evolution at the University of Chicago this fall. I’ll be recruiting PhD students so please spread the word and reach out if interested!
Reposted by Elena Francesca Nika
PhD student grants for research in ecology and evolution: www.simonsfoundation.org/grant/simons...
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 5, 2025 at 10:48 PM
PhD student grants for research in ecology and evolution: www.simonsfoundation.org/grant/simons...
Reposted by Elena Francesca Nika
Join the Programming for Evolutionary Biology course in Berlin from Feb 17 - Mar 6, 2026. Apply by May 13, 2025. Learn Python, R, and data analysis for evolutionary research. More info: http://evop.bioinf.uni-leipzig.de/ #course
Programming for Evolutionary Biology School (EVOP) | February 17th – March 6th 2026
Programming for Evolutionary Biology School (EVOP) | February 17th – March 6th 2026
evop.bioinf.uni-leipzig.de
April 16, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Join the Programming for Evolutionary Biology course in Berlin from Feb 17 - Mar 6, 2026. Apply by May 13, 2025. Learn Python, R, and data analysis for evolutionary research. More info: http://evop.bioinf.uni-leipzig.de/ #course
Reposted by Elena Francesca Nika
1/4🧵 Are you a Master's or #PhD student in #ecology based in #Europe? 🌍 Join us at the Science School of Quantitative Ecology 2025 (SSoQE2025)! 🧑💻🌿📈
📝 Registration is open until 6 May—don’t miss your chance!
🔗 bit.ly/SSoQE
#SSoQE #SSoQE2025 #Science #School
📝 Registration is open until 6 May—don’t miss your chance!
🔗 bit.ly/SSoQE
#SSoQE #SSoQE2025 #Science #School
April 9, 2025 at 11:52 AM
1/4🧵 Are you a Master's or #PhD student in #ecology based in #Europe? 🌍 Join us at the Science School of Quantitative Ecology 2025 (SSoQE2025)! 🧑💻🌿📈
📝 Registration is open until 6 May—don’t miss your chance!
🔗 bit.ly/SSoQE
#SSoQE #SSoQE2025 #Science #School
📝 Registration is open until 6 May—don’t miss your chance!
🔗 bit.ly/SSoQE
#SSoQE #SSoQE2025 #Science #School
Reposted by Elena Francesca Nika
I feel honored that our work: "On the origin of an insular hybrid butterfly lineage" was picked as "Editor's choice" and that my picture of a mating couple (🧡🤎) covers the latest issue of Evolution @journal-evo.bsky.social. Link to paper: academic.oup.com/evolut/artic... (1/8)
April 3, 2025 at 2:38 PM
I feel honored that our work: "On the origin of an insular hybrid butterfly lineage" was picked as "Editor's choice" and that my picture of a mating couple (🧡🤎) covers the latest issue of Evolution @journal-evo.bsky.social. Link to paper: academic.oup.com/evolut/artic... (1/8)
Let’s introduce Art in Science!
This is my favourite illustration piece, and a short, fast forward video of its process. I’m currently experimenting on my study species, the Wall Brown butterfly, hopefully to include it at the cover of my thesis project.
PS. Looks even better with colour!
This is my favourite illustration piece, and a short, fast forward video of its process. I’m currently experimenting on my study species, the Wall Brown butterfly, hopefully to include it at the cover of my thesis project.
PS. Looks even better with colour!
April 7, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Let’s introduce Art in Science!
This is my favourite illustration piece, and a short, fast forward video of its process. I’m currently experimenting on my study species, the Wall Brown butterfly, hopefully to include it at the cover of my thesis project.
PS. Looks even better with colour!
This is my favourite illustration piece, and a short, fast forward video of its process. I’m currently experimenting on my study species, the Wall Brown butterfly, hopefully to include it at the cover of my thesis project.
PS. Looks even better with colour!
Reposted by Elena Francesca Nika
In this paper, we present the Sarah from a 3-year common garden experiment, including a food manipulation experiment during hand rearing. Tons of work by many people.
New publication: Size in the city: #morphological differences between city and forest great tits have a genetic basis, by @babimt.bsky.social @keesvanoers.bsky.social @mevisser.bsky.social and others.
#urbanisation #eggmass #parusmajor #tarsuslength
doi.org/10.1093/evle...
#urbanisation #eggmass #parusmajor #tarsuslength
doi.org/10.1093/evle...
Size in the city: morphological differences between city and forest great tits have a genetic basis
Abstract. Animals living in cities are smaller than their conspecifics from rural areas but whether such differences are caused by genetic differences or f
doi.org
March 22, 2025 at 2:42 PM
In this paper, we present the Sarah from a 3-year common garden experiment, including a food manipulation experiment during hand rearing. Tons of work by many people.
Reposted by Elena Francesca Nika
European wolves are reclaiming their old hunting grounds!
"After previously being targeted in a negative light, pushed to the brink of extinction due to hunting practices, wolves are up 58% as of 2022 in Europe."
Gray Wolf Numbers Are On The Rise In Europe www.thetravel.com/gray-wolf-nu...
"After previously being targeted in a negative light, pushed to the brink of extinction due to hunting practices, wolves are up 58% as of 2022 in Europe."
Gray Wolf Numbers Are On The Rise In Europe www.thetravel.com/gray-wolf-nu...
Gray Wolf Numbers Are On The Rise In Europe
The population is increasing over the course of the last 10 years, growing by 58%
www.thetravel.com
March 22, 2025 at 7:34 PM
European wolves are reclaiming their old hunting grounds!
"After previously being targeted in a negative light, pushed to the brink of extinction due to hunting practices, wolves are up 58% as of 2022 in Europe."
Gray Wolf Numbers Are On The Rise In Europe www.thetravel.com/gray-wolf-nu...
"After previously being targeted in a negative light, pushed to the brink of extinction due to hunting practices, wolves are up 58% as of 2022 in Europe."
Gray Wolf Numbers Are On The Rise In Europe www.thetravel.com/gray-wolf-nu...
I’m extremely grateful to announce that I won the best poster competition of the Swedish @nordicoikos.bsky.social conference! I couldn’t have imagined that my first scientific poster ever would be so good to win the first place in a competition among so many wonderful other projects!
Thank you 🧡🦋
Thank you 🧡🦋
February 5, 2025 at 5:38 PM
I’m extremely grateful to announce that I won the best poster competition of the Swedish @nordicoikos.bsky.social conference! I couldn’t have imagined that my first scientific poster ever would be so good to win the first place in a competition among so many wonderful other projects!
Thank you 🧡🦋
Thank you 🧡🦋
Reposted by Elena Francesca Nika
🚨 Call for abstracts 🚨
Abstract submission for 17th Ecology & Behaviour annual meeting is now open until March 28th!
To submit:
➡️ ecobhvr2025.sciencesconf.org?forward-acti...
➡️ Create an account
➡️ "New submission"
➡️ Fill in the requested information
➡️ Submit
Abstract submission for 17th Ecology & Behaviour annual meeting is now open until March 28th!
To submit:
➡️ ecobhvr2025.sciencesconf.org?forward-acti...
➡️ Create an account
➡️ "New submission"
➡️ Fill in the requested information
➡️ Submit
Ecology & Behaviour 2025 Meeting - 17th edition - Sciencesconf.org
ecobhvr2025.sciencesconf.org
January 15, 2025 at 6:41 PM
🚨 Call for abstracts 🚨
Abstract submission for 17th Ecology & Behaviour annual meeting is now open until March 28th!
To submit:
➡️ ecobhvr2025.sciencesconf.org?forward-acti...
➡️ Create an account
➡️ "New submission"
➡️ Fill in the requested information
➡️ Submit
Abstract submission for 17th Ecology & Behaviour annual meeting is now open until March 28th!
To submit:
➡️ ecobhvr2025.sciencesconf.org?forward-acti...
➡️ Create an account
➡️ "New submission"
➡️ Fill in the requested information
➡️ Submit
My first scientific poster presentation from my MSc thesis at the Swedish Nordic Society Oikos conference!!
Come and check it out tomorrow and on Wednesday (4-5th February) at the Natural History museum in Stockholm!
So excited 🦋
Come and check it out tomorrow and on Wednesday (4-5th February) at the Natural History museum in Stockholm!
So excited 🦋
February 3, 2025 at 7:18 PM
My first scientific poster presentation from my MSc thesis at the Swedish Nordic Society Oikos conference!!
Come and check it out tomorrow and on Wednesday (4-5th February) at the Natural History museum in Stockholm!
So excited 🦋
Come and check it out tomorrow and on Wednesday (4-5th February) at the Natural History museum in Stockholm!
So excited 🦋
Reposted by Elena Francesca Nika
This 👇.
Specifically, for people in the quantitative sciences, I recommend:
- Have a well-tended ORCID
- GitHub/GitLab repository with some of your research outputs
- Personal webpage (e.g. quarto) on a static hosting service such as GitHub/GitLab Pages, Netlify, Posit Connect, ...
Specifically, for people in the quantitative sciences, I recommend:
- Have a well-tended ORCID
- GitHub/GitLab repository with some of your research outputs
- Personal webpage (e.g. quarto) on a static hosting service such as GitHub/GitLab Pages, Netlify, Posit Connect, ...
Probably an unpopular opinion but:
LinkedIn is a closed, for-profit service. If you don't have an account, you can't see someone else's profile.
I do not have LinkedIn. I can't see your profile.
If you are job/internship/PhD hunting I recommend having an open online presence!
LinkedIn is a closed, for-profit service. If you don't have an account, you can't see someone else's profile.
I do not have LinkedIn. I can't see your profile.
If you are job/internship/PhD hunting I recommend having an open online presence!
February 1, 2025 at 8:56 AM
This 👇.
Specifically, for people in the quantitative sciences, I recommend:
- Have a well-tended ORCID
- GitHub/GitLab repository with some of your research outputs
- Personal webpage (e.g. quarto) on a static hosting service such as GitHub/GitLab Pages, Netlify, Posit Connect, ...
Specifically, for people in the quantitative sciences, I recommend:
- Have a well-tended ORCID
- GitHub/GitLab repository with some of your research outputs
- Personal webpage (e.g. quarto) on a static hosting service such as GitHub/GitLab Pages, Netlify, Posit Connect, ...
Reposted by Elena Francesca Nika
🚨 New paper published in... Nature 😱
I never thought that I would write these words, but here is a Nature-paper that I contributed to. We found global loss in genetic diversity. But conservation strategies may maintain or increase genetic diversity.
Full paper here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
I never thought that I would write these words, but here is a Nature-paper that I contributed to. We found global loss in genetic diversity. But conservation strategies may maintain or increase genetic diversity.
Full paper here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
January 29, 2025 at 4:48 PM
🚨 New paper published in... Nature 😱
I never thought that I would write these words, but here is a Nature-paper that I contributed to. We found global loss in genetic diversity. But conservation strategies may maintain or increase genetic diversity.
Full paper here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
I never thought that I would write these words, but here is a Nature-paper that I contributed to. We found global loss in genetic diversity. But conservation strategies may maintain or increase genetic diversity.
Full paper here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Elena Francesca Nika
Our long term project has finally been published - genetic diversity is lost worldwide, but we can also make a difference and conservation actions matters.
Find out more in the Science news here
www.science.org/content/arti...
#Consgen
Find out more in the Science news here
www.science.org/content/arti...
#Consgen
Wide range of Earth’s species are showing a decline in diversity
The loss of genetic variation means species may be less resilient to climate change and other stressors
www.science.org
January 29, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Our long term project has finally been published - genetic diversity is lost worldwide, but we can also make a difference and conservation actions matters.
Find out more in the Science news here
www.science.org/content/arti...
#Consgen
Find out more in the Science news here
www.science.org/content/arti...
#Consgen
Reposted by Elena Francesca Nika
🌍🌡️ Dangerous temperatures could kill 50% more Europeans by 2100
A new study projects a net increase of 80,000 deaths annually in the hottest scenario, with milder winters failing to redress the balance.
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#ClimateCrisis #PublicHealth 🧪 #SciComm
A new study projects a net increase of 80,000 deaths annually in the hottest scenario, with milder winters failing to redress the balance.
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#ClimateCrisis #PublicHealth 🧪 #SciComm
Estimating future heat-related and cold-related mortality under climate change, demographic and adaptation scenarios in 854 European cities - Nature Medicine
Modeled analyses of 854 European cities show that net temperature-related mortality will increase because of an increase in heat-related mortality exceeding future reductions in cold-related mortality...
www.nature.com
January 28, 2025 at 9:04 PM
🌍🌡️ Dangerous temperatures could kill 50% more Europeans by 2100
A new study projects a net increase of 80,000 deaths annually in the hottest scenario, with milder winters failing to redress the balance.
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#ClimateCrisis #PublicHealth 🧪 #SciComm
A new study projects a net increase of 80,000 deaths annually in the hottest scenario, with milder winters failing to redress the balance.
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#ClimateCrisis #PublicHealth 🧪 #SciComm
Reposted by Elena Francesca Nika
Pretty much my entire job is funded by federal grants. My projects relate to the effects of climate change on birds, multiple long-term demographics studies that show which birds are declining and which are doing well, & now a newer project on under-studied endangered tropical island avifauna 🧪🪶👩🔬
January 28, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Pretty much my entire job is funded by federal grants. My projects relate to the effects of climate change on birds, multiple long-term demographics studies that show which birds are declining and which are doing well, & now a newer project on under-studied endangered tropical island avifauna 🧪🪶👩🔬