Ben Parker
Assistant Professor @ UNC Chapel Hill Biology. Symbiosis, immunity, evolution, insects
Parkerlab.net
- Reposted by Ben ParkerHoly shit: it's an RFP for the NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology (PRFB). Hello old friend www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
- Reposted by Ben ParkerNew perspective on the evolutionary potential of symbiotic interactions! Is there something special about symbiosis that leads to new traits and adaptations? If so, how would we know and how would this work? academic.oup.com/jeb/advance-...
- Reposted by Ben ParkerA snowy North Carolina from space this morning. 😍
- Reposted by Ben ParkerNew preprint! Symbionts provide critical functions—but how do they impact host phenotypes in nature? We show a horizontally transferred plasmid in a heritable symbiont drives divergence in defensive traits across insect populations, revealing how mobile DNA rapidly shapes pathogen resistance. 👇
- Reposted by Ben ParkerResearchers found three previously unknown whole-genome duplications in yeast, challenging the long-held view that such events are rare in fungi. The work reveals these ancient duplications occurred 100-200 million years ago.
- Reposted by Ben ParkerAmericans will do ANYTHING to avoid using the metric system. 😑
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- Reposted by Ben ParkerI think some folks might be happy to see this. NIGMS MIRA R35 for EI/NI has been published. PAR-26-121 files.simpler.grants.gov/opportunitie...
- Reposted by Ben ParkerThe new Enabling Discovery through GEnomics (EDGE) Program page is posted. Please contact us at BIOEDGE@nsf.gov if you have questions. www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
- Reposted by Ben ParkerGreat question! 1) First and foremost, we evaluate a candidate based on the departmental guidelines and expectations provided. We don't hold the candidate to arbitrary standards, or even to those of our own institution unless asked to do so. We assess the materials against the guidelines provided.
- Reposted by Ben ParkerEvery biologist knows the story of Fleming's chance discovery of penicillin. But is it true? Here, with @asimovpress.bsky.social, I write about inconsistencies in the canonical story, and explore a few alternative theories about what really happened in that St. Mary's lab in the summer of 1928.
- Reposted by Ben ParkerNice looking review by @ben-parker.bsky.social Paul Rozo-Lopez "Heritable Viruses as Hidden Drivers of Insect Phenotypes and Evolution" doi.org/10.1146/annu...
- Reposted by Ben ParkerThe Lariviere lab at UMiami is recruiting PhD students! Incoming students will join us in studying host-microbe interactions in the honey bee gut, using molecular and genetic approaches. Please see the attached flyer for more details. #Symbiosis #SymbioSky #MicroSky #PhDOpportunity #AcademicJobs
- Reposted by Ben ParkerMy department at UT Austin is looking to hire an Assistant Professor in Evolutionary Biology, broadly defined. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions you may have. apply.interfolio.com/177547
- Reposted by Ben Parker@jcv.bsky.social penned an obituary for Ham Smith in @nature.com. Since the early 90s, Ham has been a key figure at the Institute for his invaluable contributions and mentorship. "Ham was the best colleague that one could ever have in science and a great friend." www.nature.com/articles/d41...
- Reposted by Ben ParkerUNC Chancellor Lee Roberts told faculty leaders the university does not plan on signing President Donald Trump’s administration’s “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” in exchange for favorable consideration of federal funding.
- Reposted by Ben ParkerIt's been 4 months *to the day* since Tropical Storm #Chantal damaged a key non-car transportation corridor in #ChapelHillNC. Yesterday, temporary repairs on #BolinCreekTrail were finished and it's open for business!!! WOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOO
- "Each year the grades rise a little more; each year we feel it less. And the bureaucratic strangle that leads to this inflation continues its creep."
- Reposted by Ben ParkerNew biology: stink bugs inoculate their eggs with a fungus that protects them from parasitoids www.sciencemagazinedigital.org/sciencemagaz...
- Reposted by Ben ParkerFungal #GenomeSize variation is largely driven by TEs & lineage-specific genome defenses. @tbadet.bsky.social & @danielcroll.bsky.social show that presence/absence of RIP mutation systems influences #genome architecture, identifying a likely novel defense mechanism @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/4hcC5tx
- Reposted by Ben ParkerI'm very excited to announce that UNC Biology has 6 faculty positions open this year! The first is for an Asst Professor who studies organismal resilience using an integrative approach 1/n unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/307...
- Reposted by Ben ParkerUNC Chapel Hill is hiring an Assistant Professor in Plant Molecular Biology. Per Jeff Dangl MPMI candidates are also highly desired in the search. unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/307...
- Reposted by Ben Parker🚨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...
- Reposted by Ben ParkerThe Department of Biology at the University of Kentucky is hiring a Microbiologist (broadly defined). Microbial eco-evo folks, this is your sign to come work with us. Not in the search committee, but happy to answer questions. ukjobs.uky.edu/postings/600... #microbiology #ecology
- Reposted by Ben ParkerDon’t use ChatGPT to reach out to prospective PhD advisors.
- new GRFP solicitation says "Individuals enrolled in graduate degree programs can apply only once, in the first year of their first graduate program" - does this mean 2nd year students who didn't not apply last year are now ineligible?
- Ooof - "First-year graduate student in their first graduate degree program with less than one academic year completed in the degree program (according to institution’s academic calendar)" - this really stinks for now 2nd year students who waited to apply based on how this worked in the past.
- Reposted by Ben ParkerConfused writing is usually a symptom of confused thinking. As we struggle to clarify writing, we clarify our thoughts. AI writing aids rob us of that struggle, leaving clean-looking text and thoughts still confused for lack of inspection. Writing is not just a product; it is a diagnostic tool.
- Reposted by Ben ParkerAncient organisms may have left microscopic "biosignatures" on Mars. That's according to NASA scientists, who say a rock sample offers the most concrete proof yet that the red planet once hosted life.
- Reposted by Ben ParkerThe Department of Biology at Colorado State University is hiring an Assistant Professor in the area of plant-microbe interactions! Please spread the word! jobs.colostate.edu/postings/165...
- Reposted by Ben ParkerDavid Baltimore, giant of molecular biology, has died.
- Reposted by Ben ParkerIf anyone happens to be around UNC Chapel Hill this week, I'll be speaking on Tuesday: www.med.unc.edu/cgibd/event/... @microbiomeunc.bsky.social #microbiome
- Reposted by Ben ParkerUNC Biology's first seminar this week is by Dr. Lillian Fritz-Laylin (Tues 9/9 12:30 PM). Her talk is titled, “Cytoskeletal specification and the diversification of cell function” 1/n 🧪
- Reposted by Ben ParkerLook at this crazy thing! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
- Reposted by Ben ParkerIf you are a college student, maybe a week or two into the semester, why not visit office hours and ask your professor that question? You know, that thing you were wondering in class? Or when you were doing the homework? Go ask them! That’s why they are there. They will be excited to see you.
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- Reposted by Ben ParkerThis is the science I want funded (alongside curing cancer etc) A defined microbial community reproduces attributes of fine flavour chocolate fermentation www.nature.com/articles/s41...
- Reposted by Ben ParkerPlease repost and amplify ! We are hiring a faculty position in Evolutionary Genetics in the Biology Department at U of South Carolina! Check us out and come be our colleague! sc.edu/study/colleg... Deadline for applications is Oct 1 #AcademicJobs #EvoBio
- Reposted by Ben ParkerGood news for NIH MIRA applicants. Grants.gov recently published the forecast notice for the reissuance of the EI/NI MIRA notice of funding opportunity. As indicated at the link, the estimated post date for the NOFO is Nov 3. www.grants.gov/search-resul...
- Reposted by Ben Parker"Fungi can see and react to a wide range of colors." journals.asm.org/doi/abs/10.1...
- The Parker Lab at UNC Biology is hiring a postdoc to work on insect–microbe interactions. Support available for multiple years from startup; we are open to a range of project ideas. Come join us to study symbiosis in a supportive, collaborative environment! unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/303...
- Reposted by Ben ParkerPlease help get the word out - We are hiring at all levels (graduate students, technicians, and postdocs)! If you are interested in sponges, cell biology, evolution, immunity, and symbiosis, please don’t hesitate to contact me to learn more.
- Reposted by Ben ParkerDo dogs really understand words or are they just responding to inflection & body language? This 2018 study using fMRI brain-mapping says they *DO* understand our words. I'll explain, but first, let's acknowledge the adorable participants, 12 dogs who were trained at home to retrieve two objects.
- Reposted by Ben ParkerCorey Allard et al asks how “solar-powered” slugs maintain stolen chloroplasts from their diet for photosynthesis and starvation resistance. @cellpress.bsky.social, @harvardmcb.bsky.social, @harvardmed.bsky.social www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
- Reposted by Ben ParkerStarted a starter pack for the presenters and attendees of the 2025 Animal-Microbe Symbiosis Gordon Research Conference. Let me know if I should add (or remove) you! go.bsky.app/Pnzz1R9at://did:plc:qpm2agf5ej3xe233jktonelw/app.bsky.graph.starterpack/3lrqnrhfvq52m
- Reposted by Ben ParkerIf you're planning to apply for an #NSF CAREER this year, I highly recommend attending (even if you don't plan to apply to IOS): www.nsf.gov/events/nsf-i...
- Reposted by Ben ParkerLooking for a postdoc on bacterial-insect symbiosis, combining evolution and molecular mechanisms? I'll have one open in my lab starting Sept 2025. If interested contact me (or find me at the GRC on Animal-microbe symbiosis if you'll be there). #SymbioSky
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- Reposted by Ben ParkerHey y'all! My department is conducting a search for an assistant or associate professor in bacteriology. It's pretty broadly defined. If you know anyone who's looking for a great department that does awesome science - please send them our way! You can DM me with any questions you have 😀
- Hopeful that Chicago Pope can finally bring real pizza to Italy
- Reposted by Ben ParkerWow www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... A cellular entity retaining only its replicative core: Hidden archaeal lineage with an ultra-reduced genome
- Reposted by Ben Parker🎉 We’re hiring! Two ERC-funded #PostdocJobs on insect–phytopathogen mutualisms are available in my lab. Explore the chemical and molecular evolution of symbioses! 🧪Chemical ecology: tinyurl.com/chem-ecol-symb 🦠Phytopathology & mutualisms: tinyurl.com/symb-plantpath #SymbioSky #PlantPathology
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