Melissa Pespeni

[Melissa Pespeni @mpespeni]

Postdoc in Molecular Genetics of Adaptation – Pespeni Lab, University of Vermont. Flexible project, expertise in linking genotype to phenotype. 2+ years of funding; NIH pay scale; Ideal start Sept 1. Email mpespeni at uvm dot edu if interested! Pls RT! https://t.co/m7cBXQkBb1

[Melissa Pespeni @mpespeni]

Take home: The tipping point between health and disease is likely shaped by host condition, low oxygen conditions, and microbial dysbiosis. These results are also supported by our field-sampled naïve, exposed, and wasting sunflower stars in Alaska: https://t.co/K4cCE8jmRl

[Melissa Pespeni @mpespeni]

New paper out today on Sea Star Wasting in Proc B @RSocPublishing – Longitudinal gene expression and microbiome data: visibly healthy stars = active immune and collagen systems + stable microbiome. Wasting stars = hypoxia + turnover to anaerobic microbes. https://t.co/uOZPuQC3No

[Melissa Pespeni @mpespeni]

Beautiful and inspiring talk and visit with @chengsbrian. From atmospheric rivers, to oyster drills, to MPAs! Thanks for visiting @BiologyUVM!

[Melissa Pespeni @mpespeni]

New paper @FrontMarineSci – The microbiomes of Naïve, Exposed, and Wasting sunflower stars sampled in the wild in Alaska as the disease spread north implicate Vibrio and low oxygen conditions. Amazing collaboration among @QuestUvm trainees and AKDF&G!
https://t.co/K4cCE8jmRl

[Rashid Sumaila @DrRashidSumaila]

Today is a big news day for ocean science and economics @UBC. See below. @ubcSPPGA @SSHRC_CRSH @KillamTrusts @TylerPrize @envpriz @pewenvironment @oceana @OceanCanada @SolvingFCB @SeaAroundUs

[Melissa Pespeni @mpespeni]

#SeaUrchin larvae don’t grow or survive well when exposed to compounds that leach from #plastics into the ocean. Surprise - the most detrimental effects were at intermediate doses! Project started by a curious undergrad and finished by Master @EmilyShore8! https://t.co/3Ll2h9DCzU

[Melissa Pespeni @mpespeni]

Big picture take home: 1+1 ≠ 2 when it comes to global change adaptation!

Amazing collaborators!:
@reidbrennan @Jimmy_deMayo @planktonomics @vsbuffalo @Baumannlab1

[Melissa Pespeni @mpespeni]

New paper! 25 gens of exptl evol of copepods - ambient, ocean acidification, warming, and combined -> warming is the strongest selective pressure, but the combination results in a unique synergistic response https://t.co/6CI4z4xJC9
@PNASNews @BiologyUVM
See our cartoon abstract!

[Melissa Pespeni @mpespeni]

Congrats, Dr. Ashlock! In one week, @AshlockLauren defended their dissertation and lined up a postdoc! Lauren’s work explored the effects of pop, life history, and enviro history on copepod temp and salinity tolerance. The oceans thank you, Dr. Ashlock! @QuestUvm @BiologyUVM

[Melissa Pespeni @mpespeni]

Learn more and apply here: https://t.co/pZKOY5YG8E
Please RT and get in touch if interested!

[Melissa Pespeni @mpespeni]

We're #hiring a Program Coordinator for QuEST (https://t.co/i0bJHVGDUr). Please #share with anyone who might be interested! https://t.co/0Xy2tmR8cg

[Melissa Pespeni @mpespeni]

@QuESTUVM is looking to hire a #ProgramCoordinator! Someone who’s upbeat, organized, and deeply committed to justice, equity, diversity and inclusion! All backgrounds & disciplines encouraged to apply: https://t.co/pZKOY5ZdYc Please RT! https://t.co/i0bJHVHbJZ

[Melissa Pespeni @mpespeni]

Big picture: Nature is both resilient and vulnerable. We need to make and encourage Earth-friendly choices to protect and preserve the beauty and complexity that exists on this world.

For a fun and accessible press release: https://t.co/6tXYxBK7n2

[Melissa Pespeni @mpespeni]

New paper @NatureComms! We show that rapid adaptation of #copepods to #GlobalChange leads to a loss of plasticity – costs revealed even w/ return to benign conditions https://t.co/ViFxuIXzPi
Amazing collaborators @reidbrennan @Jimmy_deMayo @planktonomics @Baumannlab1
#UVMresearch

[Melissa Pespeni @mpespeni]

25 generations of experimental evolution in copepods + genomics + beautiful analyses and visualizations show that adaptation to ocean warming and acidification is synergistic rather than additive. Check out our new preprint just up!
https://t.co/nEnAZZvu49

[Melissa Pespeni @mpespeni]

We measured fitness across 25 generations of experimental evolution to find “Rapid, but limited, zooplankton adaptation to simultaneous warming and acidification” Out this week @NatureClimate with @planktonomics and @reidbrennan! #UVMResearch #copepods

https://t.co/z9LNdUbdg3

[Melissa Pespeni @mpespeni]

@pinskylab @ntherk @JessicaLWareLab Yes! Human population genetics offers a great opportunity to distinguish race (social construct), from genetic ancestry and ethnicity. Totally agree on highlighting work from folks w/ marginalized identities and using author photos. Also check out "decolonizing" your syllabus.

[Melissa Pespeni @mpespeni]

Awesome new synthesis of global patterns in copepod thermal tolerance by @Matt_Sasaki just out! What a useful product of the pandemic! Thanks, Matt!

[Melissa Pespeni @mpespeni]

#Copepods have slower pop. growth and slower sinking poop when they eat #microplastics. This may be bad news for the oceanic food chain and carbon settling. Emily Shore’s MS thesis @BiologyUVM just out in #Environmental #Pollution! Free PDF til Jul 23! https://t.co/gh874A0nzt