Forrest C. Walker, PhD

Postdoctoral researcher with @michele__leroux studying phage defense
Former postdoc @IsabelleDerre
PhD @baldridge_lab
MS @crisprcas10
he/him
🧫🧬🏳️‍🌈

[Forrest C. Walker, PhD @ForrestCWalker]

Looking for a primer on what interferons do, why there are three types of them, and how they act differently in the context of mucosal viral infections? Check out this review I wrote with an excellent undergrad and @baldridge_lab! https://t.co/VNuNByyXQ0

[Forrest C. Walker, PhD @ForrestCWalker]

@MotaherH2020 @crisprcas10 Congrats! Happy to see it out there. Great work!

[bioRxiv Microbiology @biorxiv_micrbio]

Phages carry orphan antitoxin-like enzymes to neutralize the DarTG1 toxin-antitoxin defense system https://t.co/WefDZFpY9x #biorxiv_micrbio

[Forrest C. Walker, PhD @ForrestCWalker]

Thanks to Current Opinion in Microbiology and editor @StallingsLab for working with us on this!

[Forrest C. Walker, PhD @ForrestCWalker]

Check out my newest review, on models for Chlamydia infections, with @IsabelleDerre! We discuss how different models have provided distinct insights into Chlamydia-host interactions and where we go from here.

https://t.co/uf46cmKJFC

[Isabelle Derré @IsabelleDerre]

Check out our latest paper led by postdoc María Eugenia Cortina in @mSphereJ @ASMicrobiology
#ThePowerOfChlamydiaGenetics
#InclusionMembraneProteins
#IncS
#MembraneContactSites
#STIM1
#InclusionLysis
#SpeciesSpecificity
#LotsOfOpenQuestions

[Forrest C. Walker, PhD @ForrestCWalker]

@Notorious_MHC @baldridge_lab This is adorable! Sad that @EA_Kennedy left before this could happen.

[NIH @NIH]

#NIH is seeking input on challenges affecting retention in the postdoctoral trainee community. Better understanding of these challenges will help NIH support competitiveness & innovation within biomedical research & its workforce. RFI deadline is 4/14: https://t.co/Fq9DUSsZJ3

[Anna Cliffe @AnnaCliffe1]

Our department is growing! We're hiring Assistant Professors in Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology. Ours is an incredibly supportive department with a diverse range of expertise. Plus, Charlottesville is a really great place to live.
Apply here 👇
https://t.co/7Pg1w6r2de

[Forrest C. Walker, PhD @ForrestCWalker]

To anyone interested in genomics looking to expand your bioinformatic skills- I highly recommend this course!
Great training in a beautiful location- I took it back in 2020 and learned a ton.

[Forrest C. Walker, PhD @ForrestCWalker]

@NirDrayman Excellent point! Hopefully we're starting to get past vague survival-based CRISPR KO screens as the majority of what we see. They're great for certain purposes, but we really need careful consideration of design to get at more specific (and maybe more interesting) questions.

[Project SHORT @ProjectShort]

Are you a grad student in STEM? Join the Project SHORT Team!

We pair diverse and underrepresented grad school applicants with mentors to help them navigate the admissions process. Our goal is to pay it forward and close the socioeconomic gap in grad school admissions!

[Forrest C. Walker, PhD @ForrestCWalker]

@AnnaCliffe1 That's unfortunate, but I really appreciate you openly sharing this!

It helps remove stigma around funding challenges and it's encouraging to see that even successful PIs have those moments too. I'm sure it'll turn around next cycle!

[ASM @ASMicrobiology]

Want to improve your #scicomm skills? Sign up for "Science Communication for Microbiologists," our online training program that covers the basics of effective communication and provides tips and techniques for engaging with audiences. Course begins 7/6 https://t.co/2CzhhQQHUg

[Forrest C. Walker, PhD @ForrestCWalker]

@ShaunTCross That's the one! Thank you!!

[Forrest C. Walker, PhD @ForrestCWalker]

I had seen a list of postdoc fellowship opportunities being shared a few months ago on here, but can't find it now- anyone happen to have it (or any other resources re: postdoc fellowships) handy?

[Forrest C. Walker, PhD @ForrestCWalker]

@arnavm1 @rfriedman22 Thank you!! This was exactly the one I was looking for.

[BaldridgeLab @baldridge_lab]

Congratulations to the newly-minted Dr. Walker @ForrestCWalker, who gave a brilliant thesis defense yesterday!!! Somehow managed to simultaneously study the involvement of IFNs in both regulation of viral dissemination and microbiota-mediated maintenance of hematopoiesis

[Forrest C. Walker, PhD @ForrestCWalker]

I'm only a week late on this, but I'm very happy to be able to update my Twitter name and announce that I successfully defended my PhD! I'm eternally grateful to @baldridge_lab for the past 5 years, and can't wait for what's coming next.

[Forrest C. Walker, PhD @ForrestCWalker]

@drdeannasanter @baldridge_lab Just wanted to send a quick update- we were able to get this corrected! The current version has changed the sentence to reflect that the effects were more potent in patients with higher viral load, rather than higher severity. Thank you again for bringing it to our attention!

[Forrest C. Walker, PhD @ForrestCWalker]

Looking for a primer on what interferons do, why there are three types of them, and how they act differently in the context of mucosal viral infections? Check out this review I wrote with an excellent undergrad and @baldridge_lab! https://t.co/VNuNByyXQ0

[Forrest C. Walker, PhD @ForrestCWalker]

@drdeannasanter @baldridge_lab They should really be everyone's favorite cytokines, I think! And thank you for the correction- that's certainly an important distinction and we're currently working to see if we can rectify that in the review.