Julian Liber
@liberjulian.bsky.social
Phyllosphere yeasts & assembling the leaf microbiome | Postdoc at Ohio State | PhD Duke Biology | MSU Plant Bio | he/him
liberjul.github.io
Interested in birding, photography, food, cycling, fiber crafts. Now in Columbus, OH!
liberjul.github.io
Interested in birding, photography, food, cycling, fiber crafts. Now in Columbus, OH!
Reposted by Julian Liber
In case you hadn't been following this disturbing sequence of events, here's a recap:
RFK Jr wanted to fund a randomized trial, run by Danes, involving newborn babies in Guinea-Bissau
Ethicists across the world, including in Nigeria, Cameroon, & Ethiopia, were horrified: it's an unethical study
RFK Jr wanted to fund a randomized trial, run by Danes, involving newborn babies in Guinea-Bissau
Ethicists across the world, including in Nigeria, Cameroon, & Ethiopia, were horrified: it's an unethical study
RFK Jr is funding a grotesquely unethical study on newborn babies in Guinea-Bissau; ethicists, pediatricians, clinical trial experts, & infectious disease experts are calling this horrific trial The New Tuskegee.
It is unethical to withhold a life saving intervention from half of newborns FFS.
It is unethical to withhold a life saving intervention from half of newborns FFS.
The CDC just re-opened a previously shelved study that would withhold the hepatitis B vaccine from children in Guinea-Bissau, despite decades of evidence showing it is safe and effective.
This is a violation of human rights, using “science” to harm some of the most vulnerable people in the world.
This is a violation of human rights, using “science” to harm some of the most vulnerable people in the world.
October 8, 2026 at 4:00 PM
In case you hadn't been following this disturbing sequence of events, here's a recap:
RFK Jr wanted to fund a randomized trial, run by Danes, involving newborn babies in Guinea-Bissau
Ethicists across the world, including in Nigeria, Cameroon, & Ethiopia, were horrified: it's an unethical study
RFK Jr wanted to fund a randomized trial, run by Danes, involving newborn babies in Guinea-Bissau
Ethicists across the world, including in Nigeria, Cameroon, & Ethiopia, were horrified: it's an unethical study
Reposted by Julian Liber
Friends, I'm taking a big step back from social media - it feels GREAT - but I am briefly posting here to alert you to my latest article about *fungus-infected cheese*. Enjoy!
www.the-scientist.com/a-mysterious...
www.the-scientist.com/a-mysterious...
A Mysterious Fungus Threatens Cheese in the Northeast US | The Scientist
A multi-year investigation identified Aspergillus westerdijkiae as the culprit behind decaying cheese rinds and provided a way to stop this fungal menace.
www.the-scientist.com
October 8, 2026 at 8:03 AM
Friends, I'm taking a big step back from social media - it feels GREAT - but I am briefly posting here to alert you to my latest article about *fungus-infected cheese*. Enjoy!
www.the-scientist.com/a-mysterious...
www.the-scientist.com/a-mysterious...
Reposted by Julian Liber
The bubbles have arrived!
October 5, 2026 at 11:19 PM
The bubbles have arrived!
The crabapple to cider experiment begins. 4.7 kg fruit > 2.6 kg juice. Pasteurized now let's see what this champagne yeast can do!
October 4, 2026 at 4:59 PM
The crabapple to cider experiment begins. 4.7 kg fruit > 2.6 kg juice. Pasteurized now let's see what this champagne yeast can do!
Reposted by Julian Liber
Recently scientists identified the specific mushroom that, when consumed undercooked, made you see tiny people. (Mushrooms are cool)
phys.org/news/2026-08...
phys.org/news/2026-08...
October 3, 2026 at 2:16 PM
Recently scientists identified the specific mushroom that, when consumed undercooked, made you see tiny people. (Mushrooms are cool)
phys.org/news/2026-08...
phys.org/news/2026-08...
Reposted by Julian Liber
This is bad and it sucks, obviously.
I'm guessing most of us doing this work (protesting, observing) correctly assumed this was the case. It'll likely continue to be the case.
A short-term solution? We all need to get out there. These data are less relevant if we're all in the database.
I'm guessing most of us doing this work (protesting, observing) correctly assumed this was the case. It'll likely continue to be the case.
A short-term solution? We all need to get out there. These data are less relevant if we're all in the database.
NEW: DHS agents tracked people observing ICE arrests, photographed them, ran their plates, pulled personal information, and added them to a Palantir database, according to newly unsealed court filings.
w/ @regret.bsky.social
w/ @regret.bsky.social
ICE Has Been Dumping Protester Photos Into a Palantir Database
DHS agents not only tracked and intimidated people observing ICE activity in Maine, but stored information about them in a Palantir-built database, newly unsealed court filings say.
www.wired.com
October 3, 2026 at 12:06 AM
This is bad and it sucks, obviously.
I'm guessing most of us doing this work (protesting, observing) correctly assumed this was the case. It'll likely continue to be the case.
A short-term solution? We all need to get out there. These data are less relevant if we're all in the database.
I'm guessing most of us doing this work (protesting, observing) correctly assumed this was the case. It'll likely continue to be the case.
A short-term solution? We all need to get out there. These data are less relevant if we're all in the database.
Reposted by Julian Liber
UConn EEB is hiring a tropical horticulturalist for our greenhouses! It's an awesome collection of both research+teaching/public display, and you get to work with pretty amazing folks (I may be biased). Job listing: jobs.hr.uconn.edu/en-us/job/49... Closes 10/14! 🌴🌿🌵🌺
UConn Careers | UConn Careers | University of Connecticut
jobs.hr.uconn.edu
September 30, 2026 at 3:21 PM
UConn EEB is hiring a tropical horticulturalist for our greenhouses! It's an awesome collection of both research+teaching/public display, and you get to work with pretty amazing folks (I may be biased). Job listing: jobs.hr.uconn.edu/en-us/job/49... Closes 10/14! 🌴🌿🌵🌺
Reposted by Julian Liber
Spread the word! I’m looking to recruit a PhD student to grow the Paulinella project. Some details can be found here: www.vanettenlab.org/join
September 29, 2026 at 1:35 AM
Spread the word! I’m looking to recruit a PhD student to grow the Paulinella project. Some details can be found here: www.vanettenlab.org/join
Reposted by Julian Liber
We're sort of having the same week, I think.
To Starve a Whale: Letter from a Hot Planet
I've gotten tough or resilient or case-hardened to the ugly things I read up on daily as part of my writing and civic life. Some of them, the amoral destructiveness of the tech industry and the Trump ...
www.meditationsinanemergency.com
September 29, 2026 at 11:00 PM
We're sort of having the same week, I think.
Reposted by Julian Liber
I'm excited to share our new preprint: Generation of a transgenic cephalopod
tinyurl.com/pc86jxz8
Cephalopods (cuttlefish, octopus & squid) are crazy critters that dynamically camouflage to their surroundings by changing the color, pattern, & texture of their skin, which they control w their brain.
tinyurl.com/pc86jxz8
Cephalopods (cuttlefish, octopus & squid) are crazy critters that dynamically camouflage to their surroundings by changing the color, pattern, & texture of their skin, which they control w their brain.
September 29, 2026 at 1:41 AM
I'm excited to share our new preprint: Generation of a transgenic cephalopod
tinyurl.com/pc86jxz8
Cephalopods (cuttlefish, octopus & squid) are crazy critters that dynamically camouflage to their surroundings by changing the color, pattern, & texture of their skin, which they control w their brain.
tinyurl.com/pc86jxz8
Cephalopods (cuttlefish, octopus & squid) are crazy critters that dynamically camouflage to their surroundings by changing the color, pattern, & texture of their skin, which they control w their brain.
Reposted by Julian Liber
Plant-Microbe enthusiasts! The next Road to Jeju Legends of ISMPMI series speaker is Jonathan Jones. The webinar is free to attend, but you must register: uchicago.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Attend live on September 30, 2026 3pm UTC or watch it later on the ismpmi.org.
Attend live on September 30, 2026 3pm UTC or watch it later on the ismpmi.org.
August 24, 2026 at 7:14 PM
Plant-Microbe enthusiasts! The next Road to Jeju Legends of ISMPMI series speaker is Jonathan Jones. The webinar is free to attend, but you must register: uchicago.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Attend live on September 30, 2026 3pm UTC or watch it later on the ismpmi.org.
Attend live on September 30, 2026 3pm UTC or watch it later on the ismpmi.org.
Reposted by Julian Liber
JOB ALERT: UNC Bio is hiring 2 tenure track assistant profs doing molecular, cell, and dev bio. The search is intentionally broad, so please share widely and spread the word!
Find more information and apply here: unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/325...
Application review begins Nov 1.
Find more information and apply here: unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/325...
Application review begins Nov 1.
September 28, 2026 at 6:32 PM
JOB ALERT: UNC Bio is hiring 2 tenure track assistant profs doing molecular, cell, and dev bio. The search is intentionally broad, so please share widely and spread the word!
Find more information and apply here: unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/325...
Application review begins Nov 1.
Find more information and apply here: unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/325...
Application review begins Nov 1.
Reposted by Julian Liber
Eight years and thousands of samples later, results from one of our biggest long-term projects are finally published! 🌍💧🍄
The FunAqua dataset brings together aquatic fungal biodiversity data from 1,452 sites across 87 countries.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
The FunAqua dataset brings together aquatic fungal biodiversity data from 1,452 sites across 87 countries.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
The FunAqua dataset of global fungal biodiversity in aquatic ecosystems - Scientific Data
Scientific Data - The FunAqua dataset of global fungal biodiversity in aquatic ecosystems
www.nature.com
September 28, 2026 at 7:50 AM
Eight years and thousands of samples later, results from one of our biggest long-term projects are finally published! 🌍💧🍄
The FunAqua dataset brings together aquatic fungal biodiversity data from 1,452 sites across 87 countries.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
The FunAqua dataset brings together aquatic fungal biodiversity data from 1,452 sites across 87 countries.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
If you want to see how transformational an ebike can be, just look at the reviews here. Age, chronic illness, or simply not having to drive.
Luckily found a quality used one!
www.velotricbike.com/products/vel...
Luckily found a quality used one!
www.velotricbike.com/products/vel...
Velotric Fold 1 | Reliable Folding Ebike for Everyday Use
Explore the Velotric Fold 1 — a compact, durable folding ebike with 750W power, 55-mile range, and easy fold design for city commutes or travel.
www.velotricbike.com
September 28, 2026 at 11:40 PM
If you want to see how transformational an ebike can be, just look at the reviews here. Age, chronic illness, or simply not having to drive.
Luckily found a quality used one!
www.velotricbike.com/products/vel...
Luckily found a quality used one!
www.velotricbike.com/products/vel...
Reposted by Julian Liber
I will be attending #SICB2027 this year! I am also actively looking for a postdoc position and would love to connect with PIs looking for postdocs! I have interest/expertise in behavior, mate choice/sexual selection, host-parasite interactions, and disability/neurodivergent advocacy in biology.
September 27, 2026 at 6:54 PM
I will be attending #SICB2027 this year! I am also actively looking for a postdoc position and would love to connect with PIs looking for postdocs! I have interest/expertise in behavior, mate choice/sexual selection, host-parasite interactions, and disability/neurodivergent advocacy in biology.
Reposted by Julian Liber
Doesn't surprise me that this is their (garbage) take
But it does remind me that so many social movements (successful and failed alike) were driven by underemployed, overcredentialed, and aggrieved young people, even movements that primarily benefit other groups
we're dangerous to the WSJ types
But it does remind me that so many social movements (successful and failed alike) were driven by underemployed, overcredentialed, and aggrieved young people, even movements that primarily benefit other groups
we're dangerous to the WSJ types
September 27, 2026 at 9:20 PM
Doesn't surprise me that this is their (garbage) take
But it does remind me that so many social movements (successful and failed alike) were driven by underemployed, overcredentialed, and aggrieved young people, even movements that primarily benefit other groups
we're dangerous to the WSJ types
But it does remind me that so many social movements (successful and failed alike) were driven by underemployed, overcredentialed, and aggrieved young people, even movements that primarily benefit other groups
we're dangerous to the WSJ types
Reposted by Julian Liber
A beautiful, bittersweet story of science and camaraderie, a quest for understanding, and the pointless obstacle course scientists now navigate.
September 27, 2026 at 2:20 AM
A beautiful, bittersweet story of science and camaraderie, a quest for understanding, and the pointless obstacle course scientists now navigate.
Reposted by Julian Liber
David Quammen's essay in The New York Times today closes with this paragraph. It's both a scientific falsehood, and an incredibly dangerous narrative. If you're willing to give me five minutes of your time, I'd like to explain why.
September 25, 2026 at 7:23 PM
David Quammen's essay in The New York Times today closes with this paragraph. It's both a scientific falsehood, and an incredibly dangerous narrative. If you're willing to give me five minutes of your time, I'd like to explain why.
Reposted by Julian Liber
in today's newsletter, @davidswanson.bsky.social explores how a bread roll from the Vienna World's Fair became a beloved Latin American sandwich.... with much discussion of how World's Fairs came about and sometimes caused cholera epidemics: buttondown.com/theswordandt...
Notable Sandwiches #151: Pebete
Welcome back to Notable Sandwiches, the feature where my editor David Swanson and I eat our way through Wikipedia’s List of Notable Sandwiches. This week,...
buttondown.com
September 25, 2026 at 4:16 PM
in today's newsletter, @davidswanson.bsky.social explores how a bread roll from the Vienna World's Fair became a beloved Latin American sandwich.... with much discussion of how World's Fairs came about and sometimes caused cholera epidemics: buttondown.com/theswordandt...
Is this too much squash? Time to find out!
September 24, 2026 at 11:30 PM
Is this too much squash? Time to find out!
Reposted by Julian Liber
It’s here! WE ARE EATING THE EARTH in paperback, with a new afterword. Just in time for NY Climate Week!
(I’m still skipping NY Climate Week.)
www.simonandschuster.com/books/We-Are...
(I’m still skipping NY Climate Week.)
www.simonandschuster.com/books/We-Are...
We Are Eating the Earth
From the author of New York Times bestseller The New New Deal, a groundbreaking piece of reportage from the trenches of the next climate war: the f...
www.simonandschuster.com
September 23, 2026 at 7:40 PM
It’s here! WE ARE EATING THE EARTH in paperback, with a new afterword. Just in time for NY Climate Week!
(I’m still skipping NY Climate Week.)
www.simonandschuster.com/books/We-Are...
(I’m still skipping NY Climate Week.)
www.simonandschuster.com/books/We-Are...
Reposted by Julian Liber
Moral panics are manufactured concerns created to push an agenda, don't hold up under scrutiny, and the fallout always harms more people than will ever be helped.
Stand up for trans people.
Stand up for trans people.
stand up for trans people: it is the right thing to do and it just will not hurt you, not now, not in this environment
and maybe folks can start to relearn that trans people are pretty fucking cool, actually
and maybe folks can start to relearn that trans people are pretty fucking cool, actually
September 22, 2026 at 7:59 PM
Moral panics are manufactured concerns created to push an agenda, don't hold up under scrutiny, and the fallout always harms more people than will ever be helped.
Stand up for trans people.
Stand up for trans people.
Reposted by Julian Liber
Thank you Lucas County Stonewall Democrats.
September 21, 2026 at 11:11 PM
Thank you Lucas County Stonewall Democrats.
Reposted by Julian Liber
Fantastic Asst Professor positions open across multiple UC Berkeley departments
@ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social
Plant/Algae/Microb
aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05522
Plant/Env
aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05382
Gen/Dev/Evo
aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05481
Eco
aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05489
@ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social
Plant/Algae/Microb
aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05522
Plant/Env
aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05382
Gen/Dev/Evo
aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05481
Eco
aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05489
Assistant Professor – Plant or Macroalgae-Associated Microbial Communities and Interactions - Plant and Microbial Biology
University of California, Berkeley is hiring. Apply now!
aprecruit.berkeley.edu
September 21, 2026 at 9:31 PM
Fantastic Asst Professor positions open across multiple UC Berkeley departments
@ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social
Plant/Algae/Microb
aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05522
Plant/Env
aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05382
Gen/Dev/Evo
aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05481
Eco
aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05489
@ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social
Plant/Algae/Microb
aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05522
Plant/Env
aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05382
Gen/Dev/Evo
aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05481
Eco
aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05489