Kenny Kim
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nextstrain.bsky.social
Kenny Kim
@nextstrain.bsky.social
Currently looking for postdoc position.
PhD candidate in Robinson-Rechavi Group, University of Lausanne 🇨🇭Studying moulting and evolution of arthropods. 🐞🐝🐛🦋🦐🦀 #bioinformatics #genomics #evolution #biology

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6292-9948
Reposted by Kenny Kim
Interested in fossil arthropods, palaeoecology, dispersal, and interesting methods? 🦀 🌎
I'm hiring a 4-year, fully funded PhD student at the University of Geneva as part of my European Research Council (ERC) grant.

Deadline: 16th October.
Reach out if any questions!

www.unige.ch/sciences/ter...
September 7, 2026 at 11:26 AM
Reposted by Kenny Kim
The new transitional insect/crustacean fossil might not look very insectlike, if you think of modern insects like butterflies and beetles, but check out its reconstruction (left) next to a photo of the oldest living lineage of extant insects, the bristetails (right).

www.science.org/content/arti...
August 27, 2026 at 5:27 PM
Reposted by Kenny Kim
This tiny crab captured by Pedro Valencia of Blackwater Cozumel has me learning about crab life-cycles. Prepare for some vocabulary (& errors)!

This is a swimming stage called a 'megalopa'. The furious tail structures moving a mile a minute are 'pleopods' or swimmerets.

(📷: pedrovalenciam on IG)
September 4, 2026 at 1:46 PM
Reposted by Kenny Kim
Kim et al. investigate the evolutionary conservation of molting gene expression across five representative pancrustaceans, showing that some genes active in molting are shared between these species, while most are different.

🔗 academic.oup.com/gbe/article/...

#societyjournal #genome #evolution
September 4, 2026 at 9:51 AM
Reposted by Kenny Kim
What happens when evolution adds an extra pair of eyes?
Male mayflies evolve an extra pair of dorsal compound eyes, the Turbanate eyes, thought to help males detect females during mating swarms.
we have investigate how this remarkable evolutionary novelty develops.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
August 7, 2026 at 9:19 AM
Reposted by Kenny Kim
@vakirlis.bsky.social and I are proposing a new term in the de-novo genes / molecular evolution cinematic universe.

The term is: "Emergence Bias" and our perspective piece describing it was published in @genomebiolevol.bsky.social today!

So, what is an emergence bias? (1/7)
Emergence Biases in Molecular Evolution
Abstract. Biases in molecular evolution can significantly influence evolutionary trajectories. They have been described in a variety of contexts, such as d
academic.oup.com
August 19, 2026 at 10:49 AM
Reposted by Kenny Kim
That's not excessive. THIS is excessive:
August 21, 2026 at 9:43 PM
Reposted by Kenny Kim
Hot off the press @official-smbe.bsky.social MBE - a phylum-wide assessment to systematically evaluate, refine, and revise current understanding of the evolutionary dynamics of the #arthropod moulting genetic toolkit!

academic.oup.com/mbe/advance-...
Evolutionary dynamics of the arthropod moulting machinery
Abstract. Exoskeletons define arthropods, providing support for segmented bodies and appendages while protecting against environmental stress and predation
academic.oup.com
July 27, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Reposted by Kenny Kim
Our new commentary rdcu.be/ftx6h in @natecoevo.nature.com written with folks from @inaturalist.bsky.social and @cornellbirds.bsky.social shows that use of AI to manipulate existing or create new wildlife images undermines the huge value of vast citizen science databases. 🌍🪰🪶 #Ornithology 🧵 1/10
Citizen science platforms must mitigate against the threat of generative AI
Nature Ecology & Evolution - Citizen science platforms must mitigate against the threat of generative AI
rdcu.be
July 13, 2026 at 10:28 AM
Reposted by Kenny Kim
Happy #WorldHorseshoeCrabDay!


These spinning #horseshoecrab (Limulus polyphemus) embryos are developing inside their eggs, just weeks away from hatching. Despite their name, horseshoe crabs are closer relatives of spiders and scorpions than crustaceans.
June 20, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Reposted by Kenny Kim
First pre-print from the lab, a collaborative effort led by Jess Bourn @bournsupremacy.bsky.social, a fantastic PhD in my group.

We resolve a key problem in development + evolution: how do we quantify heterochrony and link temporal variation to phenotype?

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Quantitative mapping of heterochrony to species-specific phenotypes
The genetic program of animal development is conserved, but its rate of execution varies across species. Heterochrony, shifts in the relative timing of developmental events, generates phenotypic varia...
www.biorxiv.org
June 19, 2026 at 8:32 AM
Reposted by Kenny Kim
Gene family evolutionary dynamics reveal convergent genomic signatures in pancrustacean metamorphosis https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.05.06.723392v1
May 8, 2026 at 2:32 PM
Reposted by Kenny Kim
We present TaxonMatch, a tool designed to align taxonomic names, resolve synonymy, and correct typographical and structural inconsistencies across species name databases www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... #biodiversity #taxonomy #bioinformatics
www.biorxiv.org
March 25, 2026 at 5:26 PM
New preprint!! 🌟📝

Can we tell if a horseshoe crab will moult ?
Will it moult tomorrow or maybe in a week? 🤔👀

In this study, we developed a simple and non-invasive approach in determining the moult stage of the Atlantic #horseshoe crab by looking at key structures. #inverts #science
February 28, 2026 at 5:46 PM
Reposted by Kenny Kim
🎮 pokemon tree of life

for pokémon's 30th anniversary, explore a visualization and field guide to 1,000+ pokémon. what inspired them, where they came from, and how they connect.

포켓몬 30주년, 1,000개 이상의 포켓몬을 시각화했습니다!

➡️ str.sg/viz-poke30
February 27, 2026 at 5:18 AM
Reposted by Kenny Kim
From our project on arthropod moulting, see also this great paper
A very comprehensive assessement from PhD student Giulia Campli - broad taxonomic representation enables a phylum-wide assessment to systematically evaluate, refine, & revise current understanding of the evolutionary dynamics of the entire moulting genetic toolkit www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Evolutionary dynamics of the arthropod moulting machinery
Exoskeletons define arthropods, providing support for segmented bodies and appendages while protecting against environmental stress and predation. Although ubiquitous, this evolutionarily variable fea...
www.biorxiv.org
February 20, 2026 at 1:53 PM
New Preprint!! 🦐🪰🦀

In this study we compared moulting gene expression across insects and crustaceans. #insects #crustaceans

Thread ⬇️ (1/6) www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
www.biorxiv.org
February 20, 2026 at 12:07 PM
Just saw a video of a molting nauplius posted on reddit. 🤩🦀 #crustmas

www.reddit.com/r/microscopy...
December 21, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Reposted by Kenny Kim
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL OF YOU!🎄✨
December 19, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Reposted by Kenny Kim
Christmas miracle, anyone?
December 19, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Triops and their moults. #crustmas 🧪🎄
December 19, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Reposted by Kenny Kim
A new study shows that over 90% of insect biomass declines are driven by shrinking species numbers, posing a risk to ecosystem function. www.idiv.de/majority-of-... #biodiversity
Majority of local insect biomass decline linked to species loss
A new study shows that over 90% of insect biomass declines are driven by shrinking species numbers, posing a risk to ecosystem function.
www.idiv.de
December 8, 2025 at 1:38 PM
😯 🦀 🦀
🦀
December 3, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Reposted by Kenny Kim
RegEvol: detection of directional selection in regulatory sequences through phenotypic predictions and phenotype-to-fitness functions www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... 🧬🖥️🧪 github.com/mrrlab/RegEvol
November 30, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Reposted by Kenny Kim
link.springer.com/article/10.1...

@ebablab.bsky.social and I helped a bit in this really informative article by Robin Grob in the el Jundi lab on spatial orientation strategies in Lepidoptera. Have a read :-)
The diversity of lepidopteran spatial orientation strategies – neuronal mechanisms and emerging challenges in a changing world - Journal of Comparative Physiology A
The Lepidoptera, butterflies and moths, display an astonishing diversity of spatial orientation strategies essential for survival, reproduction, and ecological success. These spatial orientation strat...
link.springer.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:18 AM