Jill Wegrzyn
Associate Prof @UConn, Computational Biology Core Director, TreeGenes Database, Plant Computational Genomics, Conservation Genetics, Forests
Artist, Foodie, Tree Hugger
- Reposted by Jill WegrzynMy grad student, who got RWR and appealed, got an email from GRFP program today that said "Your application was screened by NSF program officers with expertise in your proposed field of study and was determined to be ineligible according to the solicitation requirements." No details were given. 😡
- Reposted by Jill WegrzynNSF GRFP applicants (and mentors): Was your application Returned Without Review and deemed ineligible despite fitting in the allowed topics? 1) Write NSF 2) Write your Congressperson 3) CC us at grfp@grant-witness.us so we can compile + follow up Details and template at grant-witness.us/grfp-letter
- Reposted by Jill Wegrzyn
Join us Feb 20–Apr 24 for a 10-week Introduction to R Workshop! 🔢 Learn data import, wrangling, visualization, functions, pipelines, and basic stats with R and the tidyverse. No prior experience needed. 🕐 Fridays, 1–2 PM EST 📍 UConn Storrs (room TBD) 💰 $600 ($500 UConn affiliates) - Reposted by Jill WegrzynSpecial Feature: A new special issue explores genomic forecasting, a promising, but developing tool for conservation. The verdict: it's a useful approach, but its reliability often depends on the context. Read now ahead of print! www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
- Reposted by Jill WegrzynIf you are a student whose NSF GRFP application was returned without review for vague 'eligibility' reasons: 1) Let your department chair & Graduate School know. Encourage them to contact NSF & congress 2) Write to your congressional reps. 3) Write to grfp@nsf.gov to request re-consideration;
- Calling all @uconn.bsky.social undergrads! Integrated @uconnresearch.bsky.social training program for #biodiversity #genomics! Sum2026-Spr2027: Research how species respond to environmental change. Gain experience w/ #genetics & #bioinformatics: generate a reference genome for a threatened species
- Biennial Conference of the North American Forest Genetics Society: Université Laval in Québec City, QC - June 15-19th! Abstract submission & registration are open! Deadline for abstract submission (posters & talks): March 1st Early registration closes: March 31st www.nafgs.org/conference2026
- Reposted by Jill WegrzynSCBNA strongly opposes the decision of the U.S. to withdraw from more than 60 international scientific, environmental, and cultural organizations. Full statement: tinyurl.com/5n7s9wk8
- Join us Sat night (Jan 10th) at #PAG33 for our #CartograPlant workshop: integration of genotype, phenotype, and environment for georeferenced plant populations @agbiodata.bsky.social @usdagov.bsky.social @uconnresearch.bsky.social Presentations by @meghanmyles.bsky.social & @brandonlind.bsky.social
- Improve the accuracy and efficiency of the structural and functional #genome annotation! Learn more from lead developer, @cynthiawebster.bsky.social at the #EASEL and #EnTAP session at #PAG33 on Jan 11th! Demonstration + invited talks! @ebpgenome.bsky.social
- Excited to host our @nanoporetech.com Org.one workshop: #Genomes for the #Conservation of Endangered Species at #PAG33 on Fri Jan 9th 10:30am! Join us for a set of biodiverse talks 🌳🦜 🐸 🧬 @uconnresearch.bsky.social @ebpgenome.bsky.social @vertebrategenomes.bsky.social
- #PAG33 marathon! Trees 🌲🌳: MichelleNeitzey, @vuruputoor.bsky.social, EmilyLesinski, @cynthiawebster.bsky.social, KristianaStover CartograPlant📍: @brandonlind.bsky.social @meghanmyles.bsky.social Pangenomes 🧬: @airianna-mcguire.bsky.social Deep-sea inverts: SamiraObbu Birds & parasites: RuiwenLin
- North American Forest Genetics Society (NAFGS) 2026 Conference | June 15–19, Quebec City 🇨🇦 Abstracts open now (deadline March 13) | Registration opens Jan 26th Theme: Connecting Research Across Scales & Disciplines for Evolutionary Potential & Forest Resilience 🌳 🌲 www.nafgs.org/conference2026
- Reposted by Jill WegrzynCancer research costs too much but we have the money to run Venezuela
- Reposted by Jill WegrzynDOGE did NOT yield savings, but DID harm vulnerable people around the world www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/u...
- Reposted by Jill WegrzynWe present: The Art of #InverteFest - December 2025 Edition A digital art book showcasing the work of 100 artists from around the world, in celebration of overlooked invertebrate fauna. Thank you to the artists who contributed to our book! Download: drive.google.com/file/d/1JCXz... #Art #SciArt
- Virtual workshop on #genomics analysis for #RADSeq - spaces available Jan 13-16th! Live instruction by @noahreid.bsky.social Learn #NGS read QC, #variant detection, and data analysis via common #bioinformatic tools - #Stacks #Freebayes @uconnresearch.bsky.social @cbcuconn.bsky.social
- Virtual workshop on #genomics analysis for #RadSeq - spaces available still for next week - Dec 16-18th! Live instruction by @noahreid.bsky.social Learn QC through data analysis using common #bioinformatic tools - #Stacks #Freebayes @uconnresearch.bsky.social @cbcuconn.bsky.social
- Reposted by Jill WegrzynExcellent news:
- Reposted by Jill Wegrzyn🦣🧬🦣🤯💥We are pleased to share our new paper about ancient RNA expression profiles from the Woolly Mammoth, now published in Cell @cellpress.bsky.social www.cell.com/cell/fulltex... If you want to know more, read the 🧵 below:
- Developing #genomic resources for species of #conservation concern? Submit an abstract for the upcoming #PAG33 conference! @ebpgenome.bsky.social @sangerinstitute.bsky.social @vertebrategenomes.bsky.social @jgi.doe.gov @alliancegenome.bsky.social @genomecanada.ca @canadianbiogenome.bsky.social
- We are seeking speakers for #pag33 hosted in San Diego: Jan 9th at 10:30am. Talk to us about your current/planned efforts to develop genomic resources for threatened/endangered species! @ebpgenome.bsky.social - hosted by @uconneeb.bsky.social @nanoporetech.com Abstracts by Oct 27th! 🧬 🦜 🌱 🐛 🐢
- Reposted by Jill WegrzynNo Kings protest at the State Capital, Hartford, CT
- We are seeking speakers for #pag33 hosted in San Diego: Jan 9th at 10:30am. Talk to us about your current/planned efforts to develop genomic resources for threatened/endangered species! @ebpgenome.bsky.social - hosted by @uconneeb.bsky.social @nanoporetech.com Abstracts by Oct 27th! 🧬 🦜 🌱 🐛 🐢
- Reposted by Jill Wegrzyn15 US states and territories have formed a new Public Health Alliance, which will counter the absence of federal leadership by tracking outbreaks, issuing guidance, buying vaccines and more. Members of the new alliance include CA, CO, CT, DE, GU, HI, IL, MD, MA, NJ, NY, NC, OR, RI, WA.
- Reposted by Jill Wegrzyn
- Reposted by Jill WegrzynThe GRFP lives!! (due end of October) www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
- Reposted by Jill WegrzynMy new @science.org editorial on the role of scientists in defending democracy is out today. As authoritarianism takes hold in the US, we must fight for the democratic principles that enable a free society and scientists have a key role. I hope you'll join us. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
- Reposted by Jill WegrzynA new, MUCH improved #Eucalyptus genome: - haplotype-resolved - 99.4% complete - 700x better contiguity - 35k annotated genes Kudos to Anneri Lötter, @tomasbruna.bsky.social and @jotlovell.bsky.social at @jgi.doe.gov, @jillwegrzyn.bsky.social, Alexander Myburg et al. doi.org/10.1093/g3jo...
- Researchers report a new reference genome for eucalyptus. Haplotype-resolved, it has 700-fold greater contiguity— meaning the genome is reconstructed in larger, more complete segments. 🖥️🧬 🌱 More on our Plant Program: jgi.doe.gov/science-prog... @axelvisel.bsky.social @biosci.lbl.gov
- Reposted by Jill Wegrzyn🌏🌿 The Earth BioGenome Project has collectively surpassed another genome milestone! 🙌 🎉 Congratulations to everyone involved in this monumental global effort to sequence life on Earth. 🌍🧬 #EarthBioGenome #Genomics #Biodiversity #MilestoneMoment
- Reposted by Jill WegrzynThanks Kew! The paper itself can be found here: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
- Reposted by Jill WegrzynSo impressed by our Featured Student Speakers presenting in the keynote sessions. Just: wow! The future of forest genetics is bright #forestgenetics2025
- #CartograPlant & #TreeGenes Workshop at #ForestGenetics2025 - bringing together genotype, phenotype, and environmental data for georeferenced plant populations presented by @uconneeb.bsky.social PhD student @meghanmyles.bsky.social & developer Gabe Barrett #FAIRdata
- First season @toolikfieldstation.bsky.social #arctic - #EVOME is investigating species’ responses to rapid climatic changes in stream environs @uconnresearch.bsky.social @uconneeb.bsky.social @brandonlind.bsky.social SamiraObbu @airianna-mcguire.bsky.social MaryRutter #REU SarahAntebi #NSF-funded
- Very excited to announce @vuruputoor.bsky.social upcoming #PhD defense in @uconneeb.bsky.social ! #genomics marathon on land plant genome evolution, from the smallest to largest - special focus on conservation genomics in #hemlocks @nature.org @ebpgenome.bsky.social @uconnresearch.bsky.social
- Reposted by Jill WegrzynCheck out this interview with BSA member and BSA Director at Large for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Karolina Heyduk! botany.one/2025/06/karo...
- Reposted by Jill WegrzynOne week to go!!! So excited to host our colleagues next week in the Happy Valley of Pennsylvania! Over 150 registrants from around the world!! If you’re interested in coming but unable to join in person - email me to learn about virtual options forestgeneticsconference2025.com #forestgenetics2025
- Save the Date! North American Forest Genetics Society #NAFGS June 15-19 2026 in Quebec City, Canada🍁 More information coming soon at www.nafgs.org/conference2026 Join us next year!
- Reposted by Jill WegrzynAn NIH staffer reacts to today's ruling: "I'm looking forward to the day that we are so slammed with work trying to reinstate everything that we had to terminate illegally — I'll work 24/7 to make that happen if I can."
- Reposted by Jill WegrzynVery happy that our manuscript "Annotation of protein-coding genes in 49 diatom genomes from the Bacillariophyta clade" is now published with Scientific Data: rdcu.be/eqwO5 Great team work with Natalia, Clara, Cynthia, Alex, @miamynta.bsky.social , & @jillwegrzyn.bsky.social
- Reposted by Jill WegrzynWelp, there's the Friday 🧪 hit
- Reposted by Jill WegrzynReminder that SSE members in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, India, and 152 low-income countries around the world can still get FREE registration for the virtual Evolution meeting! Please share with your colleagues: www.evolutionsociety.org/index.php?mo...
- Reposted by Jill WegrzynIf you have tenure and you’re carrying on as normal: you are a part of the problem. The leopard doesn’t discriminate between faces. These are extraordinary times and we need you in the fight. It’s not comfortable, there is risk, and it will add more to your plate. But without you, science dies.
- Reposted by Jill Wegrzyn🚨 A new rule would let career scientists like NSF/NIH program officers be replaced by political appointees Already 14,000+ public comments, deadline is Friday 📣 Comments can be short. Courts consider them—and scientists with NSF/NIH experience are especially impactful Speak up! shorturl.at/WKuBj
- Spaces are still available in our upcoming genomics workshops! Join us for Variant Detection: May 20–22 and/or Genome Annotation, May 27-29 - Participants receive guided tutorials, live instruction, & daily recordings to support continued learning. bioinformatics.uconn.edu/cbc-workshops/
- It’s NSF’s 75th & college graduation season, both reminders of how far basic science funding can go. With NSF support, I’ve mentored 130+ students who are innovators in genomics, conservation, data science & more. The lab is pictured here. Please keep investing in science #ThanksNSF #NSF75 #FundNSF
- Reposted by Jill WegrzynHAPPY 75th, NSF! We’re celebrating this milestone by highlighting some of NSF’s most transformative accomplishments—innovations that have shaped our world and continue to drive progress in health, technology, the environment, and beyond. Read on 🧵(1/11):
- Reposted by Jill WegrzynJoin us May 27–29 for a Virtual Genome Annotation Workshop! 🧬 Learn Linux, genome assembly, evidence-based annotation, and evaluation. No experience needed! 📅 10 AM – 2 PM ET 💻 Zoom + recording 💰 $500 ($400 UConn) Register: bioinformatics.uconn.edu/cbc-workshops/ #GenomeAnnotation #Bioinformatics
- A fantastic virtual workshop to get started or expand your skills with the informatics of variant detection! Spaces available! Instruction by @noahreid.bsky.social
- Join us May 20-22 for a Virtual Variant Detection Workshop! 🧬 Learn genome prep, QC, alignment, variant calling, and annotation. 📅 10 AM - 2 PM EST 💻 Zoom + recordings 💰 $500 ($400 UConn) Register: bioinformatics.uconn.edu/cbc-workshops/ #VariantDetection #Bioinformatics #Workshop
- Reposted by Jill Wegrzyn👏👏👏 "[we] invite manuscripts for a new, first-of-its-kind special collection focused on climate change in the US. This catalog of over 29 peer-reviewed journals covers all aspects of climate, including observations, projections, impacts, risks, and solutions" www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
- Reposted by Jill Wegrzyn🚨SCIENCE UNDER SIEGE: TRUMP’S FIRST 100 DAYS 🚨 In his first 100 days, Trump has declared war on science—slashing budgets, censoring facts, and meddling in research. From climate to cancer care, real lives are at risk. Here’s a thread on Trump’s assault on science so far—and why it matters: (🧵)
- Reposted by Jill WegrzynNSF director to resign amid grant terminations, job cuts, and controversy www.science.org/content/arti...
- Reposted by Jill WegrzynPhD Timeline xkcd.com/3081
- Perfect spring day in the conifer collection @arnoldarboretum.bsky.social for the @nature.org Trees In Peril meeting: inspiring discussions to continue conservation efforts @uconnresearch.bsky.social @vuruputoor.bsky.social @meghanmyles.bsky.social @airianna-mcguire.bsky.social #beech #hemlock #ash
- Reposted by Jill WegrzynCongratulations to the new members elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences including in evolution and ecology: Anurag Agrawal (@anurag-asclepias.bsky.social), Graham Coop (@gcbias.bsky.social), and Jennifer Martiny, among others! www.amacad.org/new-members-...
- Reposted by Jill WegrzynWe've put together a (starter) starter pack of UConn Researchers on Bluesky! Reply to be added 🌌 go.bsky.app/L1aw6JMat://did:plc:pakjarbpehkr6m6qqmfiht7a/app.bsky.graph.starterpack/3lbx2jfewju2k
- Reposted by Jill WegrzynWhen do we start a “Grants revoked by DOGE” section of our CVs? Cause yeah, this stings….
- BREAKING:The National Science Foundation (NSF) has put a cork in its grantmaking pipeline after billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) set up shop at the agency this week. | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...
- Reposted by Jill Wegrzyn😃😃 TOMORROW is the #DayofActionforHigherEd and we can’t wait! There are now 1️⃣7️⃣5️⃣ events planned in 44 states + online panels and workshops. There are so many ways to participate + there’s still time to plan an action on your campus. Visit our site for details! 👇 www.dayofactionforhighered.org/events
- Reposted by Jill WegrzynA scene to meditate on for a minute before you write your senators and representative. Spring beauty (Claytonia virginica) in the East Woods of The Morton Arboretum. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/14/b... www.house.gov/representati...
- @uconneeb.bsky.social is excited to welcome @soltislab.bsky.social to @uconnresearch.bsky.social for the Biodiversity Bonanza this Thurs! Free & open to the public - RSVP: csmnh.uconn.edu/biodiversity... - join us for this amazing seminar, reception & showcase of UConn's biodiversity collections! 🌱🐛
- Space available next week in our virtual genome assembly workshop!
- Join us April 15-17 for a Virtual Genome Assembly Workshop! 🧬 Learn sequencing, assembly & QC—all from your laptop. 📅 10 AM - 2 PM EST 💻 Live on Zoom + recordings 💰 $500 ($400 UConn affiliates) Register: bioinformatics.uconn.edu/cbc-workshops/ #GenomeAssembly #Bioinformatics #Workshop
- Reposted by Jill WegrzynHartford,CT #handsoff
- Reposted by Jill WegrzynAbsolutely proud of you all! HUG! So far, 3.1 million protesters counted today — that’s nearly 1% of the U.S. population! Photos are flooding social media everywhere. Still waiting on more numbers to come in.
- #Handsoff Hartford, CT
- Reposted by Jill WegrzynTrump just signed an EO consolidating ALL federal payments under the treasury and requiring a pre-certification to be able to receive any and all federal payments. This would enable the Trump admin to cut off funding at any time for any reason to any institution. www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
- Reposted by Jill WegrzynFrom October, but new to me as I write about biodiversity tonight: 38% of the world’s trees are at risk of extinction according to the first Global Tree Assessment
- Reposted by Jill WegrzynThe attacks on academia will be compounded by the looming college student enrollment cliff. Why aren't more people talking about this??? www.npr.org/2025/01/08/n... #college #university #academia
- See you there!
- Want to learn more about our event in Hartford TOMORROW? ☀️ Thank you for the feature, Daily Campus! dailycampus.com/2025/03/06/a...
- The past few weeks have been a relentless and unhinged assault on science & reason. Join us on Friday! www.nature.com/articles/d41... Find your local event: standupforscience2025.org
- Reposted by Jill WegrzynToday, a broad coalition of scientific professional societies who represent over 92,000 scientists are speaking out against the politicization and demonization of Federally funded science and government scientist jobs. It was an honor to help the Union of Concerned Scientists with this! 🧪🌎
- We are excited to be hiring here in the Computational Biology Core in the Institute for Systems Genomics!! This temp to full research associate position is based out of CT! We support genomics research for over 230 labs across UConn campuses.
- 🚀 Join Our Team! The Computational Biology Core at UConn’s Institute for Systems Genomics is looking for a Research Technician to dive into genomic data analysis, HPC support, and training. Check out the flyer for details and how to apply! 🧬✨ #Bioinformatics #Genomics #ResearchJobs
- Reposted by Jill WegrzynCome work with us! The New York Botanical Garden is hiring a Curator at the Assist. or Associate level. Profile: a productive and FUN Mycologist or Cryptogamic Botanist. Happy to talk to candidates about how wonderful one of the best botanical research centers is, easy. www.nybg.org/about/work-w...
- Reposted by Jill WegrzynReally happy that the @marineevoeco.com lab played a very small part in this really cool paper published with the @roneilllab.bsky.social, @vuruputoor.bsky.social, @noahreid.bsky.social, @jillwegrzyn.bsky.social and others! Big thanks to Gabe Barrett for connecting UConn and URI research teams
- Reposted by Jill WegrzynThere’s a google doc trying to keep track of funding/grad school admission/hiring freezes & status please share 🧪 docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
- Reposted by Jill WegrzynThe court ordered that NIH grant funding be unfrozen, so The Regime found a way around it. For NIH grants to be funded, a review panel must rank them. In order for a review panel to meet, they must post it on the Federal Register. Submissions to the Federal Register are now on hold “indefinitely”.
- Reposted by Jill WegrzynThe Epidemic Intelligence Service, a nationally recognized program that has run since the 1950s, is a critical component of Americas public health training landscape. 🦠 (1/)
