Willem van Schaik
@wvschaik.bsky.social
6.9K followers 1K following 2.6K posts
Microbiology, microbiome, antimicrobial resistance. Sometimes UK politics. Head of Research of the School of Infection, Inflammation and Immunology, University of Birmingham. Also Co-Director of @target-amr.bsky.social.
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
wvschaik.bsky.social
Why not use their full names (or if it does not fit in the tweet, only their surnames)?
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
eventswcs.bsky.social
Present your #AMR work at our dedicated forum for global researchers and practitioners! 🧫

🗓️ 23-25 March 2026
Submit abstract by 1 December 📩

Share #genomics and big data approaches for navigating the growing complexities in the AMR field.

📎bit.ly/3SWzJUm
#MicroSky #AMR2026
Wellcome Connecting Science hybrid conference 
Antimicrobial Resistance – Genomes, Big Data and Emerging Technologies
Conference dates: 23–25 March 2026
Location: Hinxton Hall Conference Centre, Wellcome Genome Campus, UK and online

Bursary deadline: 01 December 2025
Abstract deadline: 15 December 2025
Registration deadlines: In person: 24 February 2026 | Virtual: 17 March 2026
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
biolucy.bsky.social
Come see me and chat about phage resistance (please)
wvschaik.bsky.social
Unfortunately, I am not going myself this year, but several of my group will be attending the excellent BSAC Antibiotic Resistance and Mechanisms Workshop (Nov 27-28th) in Birmingham.

I understand there is still a small number of places available at the conference.

bsac.org.uk/antibiotic-r...
Antibiotic Resistance and Mechanisms (ARM) Workshop for Researchers 2025 - The British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
bsac.org.uk
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
pwgtennant.bsky.social
But simply blaming luck can blind us from our agency. There are some things that an academic can do to improve their chances of survival (and hopefully flourishing).

The first, and most important, is to chose the right environment. And if you're not in the right environment: get out.
wvschaik.bsky.social
Unfortunately, I am not going myself this year, but several of my group will be attending the excellent BSAC Antibiotic Resistance and Mechanisms Workshop (Nov 27-28th) in Birmingham.

I understand there is still a small number of places available at the conference.

bsac.org.uk/antibiotic-r...
Antibiotic Resistance and Mechanisms (ARM) Workshop for Researchers 2025 - The British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
bsac.org.uk
wvschaik.bsky.social
We had the in-person meeting of the @target-amr.bsky.social leadership team today.

We have some great plans for AMR genomics for the next year (and beyond), so follow us for updates!
From left to right:

Rivie Mayele-Tamina, Tess Johnson, Paul Flowers, Nikki Adderley, Steph Johnson, Kate Baker and me.

We are standing in front of a large 1930s yellow-brick building.
wvschaik.bsky.social
We got a mailing from Reform, posted with my wife's and my names and address, today.

How do they get this information? Can I haul Reform over hot coals for breaching GDPR? I believe we opted out of the open electoral register.
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
agagambus.bsky.social
We are looking for a senior technician (can undertake PhD) at Uni of Birmingham (UK) to study chromatin replication and ubiquitylation using Xenopus egg extract. Deadline 28/10/25. Get in touch with me or @m-saponaro.bsky.social for informal inquiries. Please share.
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DOW912/s...
Senior Research Technician at University of Birmingham
Explore an exciting academic career as a Senior Research Technician. Don't miss out on other academic jobs. Click to apply and explore more opportunities.
www.jobs.ac.uk
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
alanmcn1.bsky.social
After being with the journal since its very inception, the time has come for me to step back from Microbial Genomics. This is a wonderful opportunity to have a leadership role in one of the leading journals for microbial genomics research

microbiologysociety.org/news/society...
<i>Microbial Genomics </i> Deputy Editor-in-Chief: Call for Expressions of interest
microbiologysociety.org
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
alanmcn1.bsky.social
T-Regs win the Nobel prize.

And our School's very own Profs Ye Oo and Graham Anderson were just awarded a Wellcome Discovery grant with Prof Sakaguchi as a Co-I on their project.........

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Scientists win Nobel Prize for groundbreaking immune system work
The prize-winning discovery explains how the immune system attacks hostile infections, but not the body's own cells.
www.bbc.co.uk
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
jamesemcdonald.bsky.social
MMEG is coming to @unibirmingham.bsky.social in December - look out for some exciting announcements about the programme in the next few weeks! Abstract submission and registration is open 👇🏻
amiposts.bsky.social
Save the Date: #MMEG2025 is coming to Birmingham!

Join us on 15–16 December 2025 for the 31st edition of MMEG. This year's event is your chance to:
🔬 Share your research
🤝 Connect with peers
🦠 Discover the latest in molecular microbial ecology

Register now: appliedmicrobiology.org/ems-event-ca...
wvschaik.bsky.social
Apart from the fun insights into our famous Noodlococcus strain of K. rhizophila, we also uncover that the species K. rhizophila is much more diverse than anticipated, with a separate clade that should probably be considered a separate species (K. pseudorhizophila).
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
nature.com
BREAKING: The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded jointly to Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi "for their discoveries concerning peripheral immune tolerance"

Stay tuned for more.
#NobelPrize
A photo of a Nobel medal
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
brockhurstlab.bsky.social
New preprint!

Ever wondered why only a fraction of genomes encode CRISPR immunity? 🧬 🦠

Turns out CRISPR is rarely beneficial against virulent phages, being most beneficial against those for which resistance mutations are rare!

An epic effort by Rosanna Wright

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Resistance mutation supply modulates the benefit of CRISPR immunity against virulent phages
Only a fraction of bacterial genomes encode CRISPR-Cas systems but the selective causes of this variation are unexplained. How naturally virulent bacteriophages (phages) select for CRISPR immunity has...
www.biorxiv.org
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
tunglejic.bsky.social
Independent research fellowships leading to tenured positions at the John Innes Centre.

Repost = nice. Thank you very much!!!
johninnescentre.bsky.social
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to give a seminar at the Fellows Conference, which will be held on 10 March 2026.

Candidates who win Fellowships will be offered a Tenure Track Group Leader position from the outset, initially for 5 years.

Find out more: www.jic.ac.uk/training-car...
Independent Research Fellowships Leading to Tenured Faculty Positions | John Innes Centre
The John Innes Centre (JIC), is a world leading centre of excellence in plant and microbial sciences based on the Norwich Research Park, UK. We are inviting applications from outstanding researchers…
www.jic.ac.uk
wvschaik.bsky.social
Impressive
kojamf.bsky.social
Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
greenrat.bsky.social
Neat trick if you polycolonal ab's suck. Incubate them with fixed cells with a KO of your protein of interest, then spin. Protocol here: www.med.upenn.edu/markslab/ass...
I was amazed how well it worked on first try (I'm sure that I can completely eliminate unspecific bands)
#WesternBlot #cellsky
On the left - western blot of B16F10 cells wt and KO for CDK8. Our in house produced antibodies give a lot of unspecific bands. On the right same probes with antibodies preincubated with fixed CDK8 KO cells - there is a specific band and faint unspecific bands, which can be probably eliminated with increase of amount of KO cells.
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
roberthutton.co.uk
"I see gangs of masked thugs roaming the streets rounding up anyone the wrong colour, and I think: *this* is what Britain needs."
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
simongosden.bsky.social
Today is the 89th anniversary of The Battle of Cable Street when the people of the East End of London halted the march of Oswald Mosley’s Blackshirts through Stepney.
Reposted by Willem van Schaik