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Susan Eshelman

@s-eshelman.bsky.social

860 followers 720 following 28 posts

(she/her) Postdoc at RBGE, Research Associate Univ. of Edinburgh| Exploring global grassland diversity & drivers of grass functional traits 🌾🌍 🔎 Open to postdoc & research associate roles from early 2026 📬 DM to connect! 😊 linktr.ee/susan.eshelman

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Susan Eshelman @s-eshelman.bsky.social · Dec 14

Hi Bluesky!🦋 I’m a botanist/ecologist studying global grassland dynamics, 🌾 particularly how grass traits interact with disturbances like grazing. 🐄🦏🐑🦓 I’ve been lucky to work across Europe and Africa! 🌍 Currently doing my PhD at the University of Edinburgh 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 and Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh 🌱

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Susan Eshelman @s-eshelman.bsky.social · 7d

Had such a beautiful day last week at @thebotanics.bsky.social new staff induction 🌿 Learned about the garden’s history, met new colleagues from across departments, and even got a peek 👀 inside the refurbished glasshouse before the plants return! #science #postdoclife

Reposted by Susan Eshelman

Dr. Hilary Rose Dawson @hilaryrosed.bsky.social · 19d

Three years ago, I joined this fabulous group of researchers in western Norway for the sixth Plant Functional Traits Course. Now, we've published the dataset covering morphological traits, spectroscopy, carbon flux, and more:

doi.org/10.1038/s41597-025-05509-4

🧪 #OpenAccess #Botany #PlantTraits 🧵

A group of forty people arranged in chromatic order based on their colourful rain gear

A diagram describing the PFTC6 dataset, including leaf traits, leaf assimilation temperature responses, hyperspectral readings, canopy leaf temperatures, airborne multi-spectral imagery, CO2 fluxes, and microclimate, linking in with existing datasets on plant community and biomass.

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Susan Eshelman @s-eshelman.bsky.social · Sep 2

Really enjoyed the ACE Early Career Symposium yesterday! Great to present my work on intraspecific adaptations of Scottish grasses, chat with other early career academics, and hear from the panel on the many different ways careers can develop. Thanks to the ACE team for hosting an incredible event!

Susan Eshelman @s-eshelman.bsky.social · Aug 12

Yesterday I started as a Research Fellow in Biodiversity Science at @thebotanics.bsky.social ! 🌿 Over the next 6 months I’ll be continuing my work exploring Madagascar’s biodiversity and ecosystem dynamics… and enjoying more time in the beautiful gardens😍 #postdoc

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Susan Eshelman @s-eshelman.bsky.social · Jul 17

Last week I was at the @bes-rewildinggroup.bsky.social workshop in Northumberland 🌿 Great to connect with researchers & practitioners from northern England & Scotland to discuss UK #rewilding- challenges, new tech 🎮, long-term monitoring, & the value of collaboration! Lots to think about! 🤔

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Reposted by Susan Eshelman

Rebecca Senior @rebeccasenior.bsky.social · Jul 11

That's a wrap! Thank you to the wonderful attendees of our inaugural @bes-rewildinggroup.bsky.social field event with @northwildlife.bsky.social and with support from @britishecologicalsociety.org . I have learnt loads & met many excellent people working on #rewilding in the region! 👍🌱

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Reposted by Susan Eshelman

Jess Rickenback @jess-rickenback.bsky.social · Jun 27

Brilliant day this week on the Tropical East Asian Savanna Network workshop- out on Salisbury Crags with the Global Grassy Group practicing ground layer data collection and loving the #grasses! @s-eshelman.bsky.social @wieczor.bsky.social @naomibschwartz.bsky.social @royalsoced.bsky.social

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Susan Eshelman @s-eshelman.bsky.social · Jun 26

Thanks so much to @jess-rickenback.bsky.social for organising such a fantastic symposium and workshop!

Susan Eshelman @s-eshelman.bsky.social · Jun 26

This week I attended the Tropical East Asian Savanna Symposium at RBGE and helped lead a Global Grassy Group Surveying workshop with visiting researchers in Holyrood Park. It’s been great connecting with scientists working in a region I haven’t explored much in my own research 🌏🌾😊

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Susan Eshelman @s-eshelman.bsky.social · Jun 24

We’re experiencing technical difficulties but will have the presentations up ASAP. Sorry for the delay and thank you to everyone for your patience 🙏

Reposted by Susan Eshelman

Jess Rickenback @jess-rickenback.bsky.social · Jun 24

The Tropical East Asian Savanna Symposium is today! Join us in person or online to hear from some truly fantastic speakers. Online via teams
Meeting ID: 374 127 860 994 5
Passcode: Yq3je9Jo
or in person at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh 9:30-4:30
@royalsoced.bsky.social
🌐🌏 #ecology #savanna

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Susan Eshelman @s-eshelman.bsky.social · Jun 5

Out in the Pentlands yesterday with the first-year field ecology students, playing the role of ‘grass specialist’. Shared some ID tips for common UK grasses –fingers crossed I converted a few into budding grass enthusiasts. 🌾👀 #grassgang #fieldecology

🧪 🌍 🌱

Susan Eshelman @s-eshelman.bsky.social · May 16

The effects of these new guidelines will likely take years to see, but it’s unfortunate that so many people are becoming collateral damage. (6/6)

Susan Eshelman @s-eshelman.bsky.social · May 16

These changes affect many immigrants from diverse backgrounds. I wanted to share my experience but I know I am just one of many impacted. For those of us who have worked hard to make a life in the UK, these changes are deeply discouraging and will likely hinder growth and development in the UK (5/6)

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Susan Eshelman @s-eshelman.bsky.social · May 16

After investing so much in building a life here, it’s disheartening to feel that our future in the UK is now so uncertain. These changes aren’t just policies—they’re life-altering barriers for those of us who have made the UK our home (4/6)

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Susan Eshelman @s-eshelman.bsky.social · May 16

Reducing the graduate visa from 3 years to 18 months for PhDs (and 2 years to 18 months for other graduates ) limits the time to establish connections and find jobs. Furthermore, extending the residency requirement to 10 years means more uncertainty for many who are working toward residency (3/6)

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Susan Eshelman @s-eshelman.bsky.social · May 16

I’ve dedicated years to building a life here and my plan was to extend my visa for 3 years to develop my career, secure a fellowship or postdoc, and eventually work toward residency on a skilled worker or global talent visa. These new guidelines put that future at risk. (2/6)

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Susan Eshelman @s-eshelman.bsky.social · May 16

As an international PhD graduate who has lived in the UK for almost 5 years, the recent changes to immigration guidelines are devastating. (1/6)

#InternationalStudents #AcademicLife #UKImmigration #PhDLife

Colin Yeo @colinyeo.bsky.social · May 14

“We recognise the importance of graduate visa holders getting good jobs. Therefore we will make it harder for them to do so by making their prospects more insecure and deterring employers from offering them good jobs.”

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Susan Eshelman @s-eshelman.bsky.social · May 9

Also a special thanks to my amazing supervisors, Caroline Lehmann (@caroaceae.bsky.social) and Graham Stone, for your unwavering guidance and support over the last 4+ years! #DreamTeam

Susan Eshelman @s-eshelman.bsky.social · May 9

Yesterday, I successfully defended my thesis! 🍾🥳🎉 Huge thanks to my committee –James Bullock (@jmbecologist.bsky.social), Tiina Särkinen, and Catherine Kidner – for an incredible viva experience discussing grasslands, traits, and conservation management. From now on, it’s Dr. Eshelman! 👩🏻‍🎓🌍🧪 #PhDone

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Susan Eshelman @s-eshelman.bsky.social · Mar 27

Submitted my thesis today 🥳🥳🥳 It’s been a journey—wild, exhausting, amazing 🌾🌾🌾Thanks to everyone who help me along the way! Next step… viva (after some well deserved weeks off 😊)

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Reposted by Susan Eshelman

Caroline Lehmann @caroaceae.bsky.social · Mar 15

Fantastic FunkyBio presentations from @anyacourtenay.bsky.social @wieczor.bsky.social @adamdevenish.bsky.social @s-eshelman.bsky.social @jess-rickenback.bsky.social at the Savanna Science Network Meeting. Thanks to SANParks for always hosting a brilliantly collegiate conference. Till 2026!

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Susan Eshelman @s-eshelman.bsky.social · Mar 8

Feeling grateful for the opportunity to attend #SSNM2025 and share my work on Malagasy grasses 🌾. After an incredible week in the bush🐆🦓🦏🐘🦒, it’s time to head back to reality—just three weeks left to wrap up my PhD! 😅

Susan Eshelman @s-eshelman.bsky.social · Mar 5

Tomorrow (9.30), I’ll be giving a quick talk at #SSNM2025 on Malagasy 🇲🇬 grassy flora—using herbarium traits to explore how top-down and bottom-up drivers shape grass structures and life history strategies. Looking forward to sharing this work from my PhD! 🌾🌾🌾

Susan Eshelman @s-eshelman.bsky.social · Mar 4

Halfway through #SSNM2025 and it’s been wild so far! 🐘🐆🦓Great science, great people, and great game drives! What more could I ask for? 🤷🏻‍♀️