Michael Metzger
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metzgerm.bsky.social
Michael Metzger
@metzgerm.bsky.social
Assistant Investigator at the Pacific Northwest Research Institute. Clamcer and other things. Opinions my own.
Reposted by Michael Metzger
Federal funding cuts are having real consequences for biomedical research — including at PNRI. Long-term studies can’t simply be paused. Through Dec. 31, every gift is matched dollar-for-dollar. 👉https://bit.ly/4j1GTma
#raredisease #T1D #supportscience #genetics
December 18, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Reposted by Michael Metzger
Check if your property is in the floodplain: skagitcounty.net/GIS/Document...

Following evacuation orders and other guidance from local officials is critical.
December 11, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Reposted by Michael Metzger
The new Enabling Discovery through GEnomics (EDGE) Program page is posted. Please contact us at [email protected] if you have questions. www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
Enabling Discovery Through Genomics (EDGE)
www.nsf.gov
December 8, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Honest question: When they say AI will “do science” what on earth are they actually talking about?

Do they think LLMs will control armies of robots doing PCRs and running gels and doing cell culture and animal work and field work?
December 9, 2025 at 1:50 AM
Reposted by Michael Metzger
Today is #GivingTuesday. Funding cuts threaten the #raredisease + #type1diabetes research families rely on. Your gift helps protect lifesaving science. Give today: pnri.org/support/scie...
December 2, 2025 at 7:42 PM
How is it that the bidet signed by the Berserker Blothar is only at $5,000?!

Not that I am actually going to bid on it or want it in my house, but it gives me a warm feeling knowing this exists, (and that it will benefit pbs)

e.givesmart.com/events/LYw/i...
Last Week Tonight
Help Public Media Company c/o Partially Important Productions, LLC spread the word about Public Media Company C/O Last Week Tonight!
e.givesmart.com
November 20, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Reposted by Michael Metzger
A mysterious virus may be linked to mass die-offs of Pacific oysters. Curtis Suttle and Kevin Xu Zhong discuss the discovery of a previously unknown nidovirus and its potential implications for global aquaculture in the latest PNAS Science Sessions episode. Listen now: https://ow.ly/oRT750XsRNN
November 18, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Reposted by Michael Metzger
CAN LLMs write about science? @science.org decided to find out, and they did it the curious, scientific way. They did an experiment.

Love this thoughtful convo. www.lastwordonnothing.com/2025/11/12/w...
The Last Word On Nothing | Why AAAS won’t be using AI to write press releases anytime soon
www.lastwordonnothing.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Our first Crow Gift!

(Crumpled foil from Halloween candy that appeared on our doorstep right after I put out some peanuts)
November 7, 2025 at 2:54 AM
I just learned that the @burkemuseum.bsky.social has a new giant clam fossil named Chowder!

www.biology.washington.edu/news/news/17...
Christian Sidor in UW Magazine article about giant clam fossil named Chowder acquired by Burke Museum | UW Biology
www.biology.washington.edu
November 6, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Reposted by Michael Metzger
Spoke recently to the great folks at the science foundation on their efforts to fund curiosity-driven science. They have a new RFA out for catalytic awards (up to $10K).
Take a look if you’re itching to expand or try out a new idea.

science-foundation.org
Public Science, Public Good – Public Science, Public Good
science-foundation.org
November 4, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Reposted by Michael Metzger
📢 EvoMG-DN PhD applications are now open!
Join our EU-funded MSCA network and explore evolution, ageing, and disease.
👉 www.evomg-dn.eu

📅 Apply by 30 November 2025

#PhD #DoctoralTraining #MSCA #HorizonEurope #Genomics #EvolutionaryBiology #BiomedicalResearch#EarlyCareerResearchers
October 7, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Reposted by Michael Metzger
We're excited to be recruiting an NIH funded postdoc to work in the Coop lab at UC Davis. We're specifically interested in candidates who are want to work at the intersection of human genetics, GWAS, and population genetics modeling. Please RT
October 15, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Reposted by Michael Metzger
We have two fantastically well-funded #PhD studentships available through the @evomg-dn.bsky.social #EU doctoral network (led by brilliant @mirimiam.bsky.social, @crg.eu). These enable students to move to the UK and come and work with us @icr.ac.uk to exploit #cancer #evolution for patient benefit.
October 14, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Congratulations to Drs. Ramsdell, Brunkow, and Sakaguchi! I actually didn’t realize until today that PNRI’s David Galas was a part of the project to identify the genetic basis of the “scurfy” mice that led to Tregs. (@pnrigenetics.bsky.social) David’s legacy has touched more than I can imagine!
October 10, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Reposted by Michael Metzger
@sse-evolution.bsky.social just announced the following:

Call for Proposals: Research Synthesis Working Groups
The Society for the Study of Evolution (SSE) invites proposals for sponsored Research Synthesis Working Groups at the 2026 Evolution meeting (up to two in-person and one virtual). ...
October 9, 2025 at 10:23 PM
I am happy to share some good news from the lab! Our paper on the outcomes of Bivalve Transmissible Neoplasia is out this week in PLOS Pathogens!
doi.org/10.1371/jour...
October 9, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Reposted by Michael Metzger
Hey US scientists, the NY Times wants to hear from you if you've had your funding cut. 🌊🧪
Has Your Scientific Work Been Cut? We Want to Hear.
www.nytimes.com
October 9, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Before there was the Matrix doorknob shot…
October 9, 2025 at 5:11 AM
Reposted by Michael Metzger
Today my @nytimes.com colleagues and I are launching a new series called Lost Science. We interview US scientists who can no longer discover something new about our world, thanks to this year‘s cuts. Here is my first interview with a scientist who studied bees and fires. Gift link: nyti.ms/3IWXbiE
nyti.ms
October 8, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Reposted by Michael Metzger
Let’s talk about AI art.

theoatmeal.com/comics/ai_art
A cartoonist's review of AI art - The Oatmeal
This is a comic about AI art.
theoatmeal.com
October 7, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Reposted by Michael Metzger
Two new positions are available at the MPI for Evolutionary Biology to support development of our genomics facility. Both stand to become permanent. Both offer a ton of opportunity to engage in a wide range of creative science.

Pls repost 🙏

www.evolbio.mpg.de/3838377/job_...
Two full-time positions | Bioinformatician (m/f/d) + Applications Specialist (m/f/d) - Molecular Biology
The Genome Facility at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Plön is seeking to fill two positions (full time) to support and expand our core facility services.
www.evolbio.mpg.de
October 6, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Naive question for someone trained in molecular biology and infectious disease: What makes a question or a study ecology v. evolution or vice versa?

I find myself following interesting infectious disease questions into evolution and ecology and stepping on field boundaries without realizing it.
October 3, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Reposted by Michael Metzger
Advice: download PDFs of any documents you might need from government websites. The NIFA website went offline during the government shutdown during my PhD
In that vein, NSF's shutdown plans just went public: nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/files/nsf-sh...

Already-funded projects can continue. And proposals can be submitted. But don't expect a response from a program officer during the shutdown.
September 30, 2025 at 8:42 PM