Mike Wiser
@drmikewiser.bsky.social
Evolutionary biologist, teaching-track professor (knowledge transmitter), board game and cat enthusiast, budding archer, teller of Dad jokes. Sarcasm doesn't have to be mean. Also a "damn greenblooded hobgoblin". Ursula said I'm cool. I read a lot.
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Mike Wiser
@drmikewiser.bsky.social
· Nov 11
Since I seem to suddenly have a bunch of new followers: Hello!
I'm a full time, non tenure track, teaching-focused biology faculty member. (There are some non abusive options here; it isn't all just adjuncting) My PhD is in evolutionary biology, but half the time I'm teaching molecular biology.
I'm a full time, non tenure track, teaching-focused biology faculty member. (There are some non abusive options here; it isn't all just adjuncting) My PhD is in evolutionary biology, but half the time I'm teaching molecular biology.
I'm biased in favor of finding power laws interesting (those familiar with my research will know why). But even if I wasn't, I still think the latest Veritasium video about power laws would be worth your time if you're interested in relations across different domains
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBlu...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBlu...
This Graph Changes The Way You View The World
YouTube video by Veritasium
www.youtube.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:30 AM
I'm biased in favor of finding power laws interesting (those familiar with my research will know why). But even if I wasn't, I still think the latest Veritasium video about power laws would be worth your time if you're interested in relations across different domains
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBlu...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBlu...
Attendance of about 60 people, compared to about 120 on a typical day.
I have a 4:10 - 5:30 large enrollment intro lecture class that meets today.
Somehow, I do not expect high turnout.
Somehow, I do not expect high turnout.
November 26, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Attendance of about 60 people, compared to about 120 on a typical day.
Reposted by Mike Wiser
Sorry! That first post got cut off:
CWRU Anatomy is recruiting. For more info and application: apply.interfolio.com/151831
CWRU Anatomy is recruiting. For more info and application: apply.interfolio.com/151831
November 26, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Sorry! That first post got cut off:
CWRU Anatomy is recruiting. For more info and application: apply.interfolio.com/151831
CWRU Anatomy is recruiting. For more info and application: apply.interfolio.com/151831
Reposted by Mike Wiser
a thing about immigrants is that every single one of them is a person, a full human being, no exceptions, whether deemed by this vicious state to be "peaceful" or not smh
This is the scandal. Trump isn’t targeting dangerous people. He’s targeting peaceful immigrants. Almost exclusively.
November 26, 2025 at 2:36 PM
a thing about immigrants is that every single one of them is a person, a full human being, no exceptions, whether deemed by this vicious state to be "peaceful" or not smh
I have a 4:10 - 5:30 large enrollment intro lecture class that meets today.
Somehow, I do not expect high turnout.
Somehow, I do not expect high turnout.
November 26, 2025 at 2:56 PM
I have a 4:10 - 5:30 large enrollment intro lecture class that meets today.
Somehow, I do not expect high turnout.
Somehow, I do not expect high turnout.
Reposted by Mike Wiser
"Let me get this straight. Your lab has bred a dragon?"
"A wyvern, director. It has two legs, two wings, whereas a-."
"Which flies, breathes fire, and is intelligent?"
"About as intelligent as a border collie."
"So, intelligent. Why?"
"You asked us to invent measures to take down small drones."
"A wyvern, director. It has two legs, two wings, whereas a-."
"Which flies, breathes fire, and is intelligent?"
"About as intelligent as a border collie."
"So, intelligent. Why?"
"You asked us to invent measures to take down small drones."
November 26, 2025 at 2:40 PM
"Let me get this straight. Your lab has bred a dragon?"
"A wyvern, director. It has two legs, two wings, whereas a-."
"Which flies, breathes fire, and is intelligent?"
"About as intelligent as a border collie."
"So, intelligent. Why?"
"You asked us to invent measures to take down small drones."
"A wyvern, director. It has two legs, two wings, whereas a-."
"Which flies, breathes fire, and is intelligent?"
"About as intelligent as a border collie."
"So, intelligent. Why?"
"You asked us to invent measures to take down small drones."
Every winter I hope we’re going to get just a huge amount of snow and end up feeling a bit underwhelmed by reality.
This is probably a side effect of having grown up in the largest US city with that level of snowfall, in decades when it stayed cold long enough for multiple storms to accumulate.
This is probably a side effect of having grown up in the largest US city with that level of snowfall, in decades when it stayed cold long enough for multiple storms to accumulate.
November 26, 2025 at 4:13 AM
Every winter I hope we’re going to get just a huge amount of snow and end up feeling a bit underwhelmed by reality.
This is probably a side effect of having grown up in the largest US city with that level of snowfall, in decades when it stayed cold long enough for multiple storms to accumulate.
This is probably a side effect of having grown up in the largest US city with that level of snowfall, in decades when it stayed cold long enough for multiple storms to accumulate.
Reposted by Mike Wiser
Scientists: have you been the target of an online harassment campaign, doxxing, or weaponized FOIA requests? I'd like to talk to you about steps you had to take to protect your digital security for an upcoming Nature story. (You can be anonymous if necessary.)
RTs appreciated.
RTs appreciated.
November 26, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Scientists: have you been the target of an online harassment campaign, doxxing, or weaponized FOIA requests? I'd like to talk to you about steps you had to take to protect your digital security for an upcoming Nature story. (You can be anonymous if necessary.)
RTs appreciated.
RTs appreciated.
Reposted by Mike Wiser
Did you receive a Student Research Award from the American Society of Naturalists @asn-amnat.bsky.social ? We'd love to hear what you achieved with those awards (or, please share with someone who had one), even going back many years:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
American Society of Naturalists Student Research Award Outcomes
The American Society of Naturalists (ASN) gives out student research awards (generally $2000 each) to support activities of our student members. We request that Student Research Award recipients provi...
docs.google.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Did you receive a Student Research Award from the American Society of Naturalists @asn-amnat.bsky.social ? We'd love to hear what you achieved with those awards (or, please share with someone who had one), even going back many years:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
I don't know exactly when my cats were born, but from their size and behavior when I got them, it's likely it was around (US) Thanksgiving.
17 years ago.
So here we have how it started:
17 years ago.
So here we have how it started:
November 25, 2025 at 7:48 PM
I don't know exactly when my cats were born, but from their size and behavior when I got them, it's likely it was around (US) Thanksgiving.
17 years ago.
So here we have how it started:
17 years ago.
So here we have how it started:
Your Mileage May Vary, but:
My experience has been that saying something like "I'd like to write a book in retirement" is going to land very differently to current authors when the context is "because there's no way I have time to do it while working another job" instead of "it seems easy".
My experience has been that saying something like "I'd like to write a book in retirement" is going to land very differently to current authors when the context is "because there's no way I have time to do it while working another job" instead of "it seems easy".
November 25, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Your Mileage May Vary, but:
My experience has been that saying something like "I'd like to write a book in retirement" is going to land very differently to current authors when the context is "because there's no way I have time to do it while working another job" instead of "it seems easy".
My experience has been that saying something like "I'd like to write a book in retirement" is going to land very differently to current authors when the context is "because there's no way I have time to do it while working another job" instead of "it seems easy".
I know that we all have issues with The Algorithm. But this evening, YouTube showed me videos about attempts to better harness quantum randomness to get better random number generation, who might be a US monarch had George Washington been appointed king, and efforts to clean up a superfund lake.
November 25, 2025 at 3:05 AM
I know that we all have issues with The Algorithm. But this evening, YouTube showed me videos about attempts to better harness quantum randomness to get better random number generation, who might be a US monarch had George Washington been appointed king, and efforts to clean up a superfund lake.
Tradeoffs: Not just for ecology any more!
(But, seriously, please don't be upset with people for making something that isn't exactly what you would want most)
(But, seriously, please don't be upset with people for making something that isn't exactly what you would want most)
The unfortunate reality of trying to create cool opportunities out of nothing, is that you inevitably fall short of being able to get everyone an opportunity who wants one, and people get upset with you. It's a bummer.
One small example
One small example
November 25, 2025 at 2:04 AM
Tradeoffs: Not just for ecology any more!
(But, seriously, please don't be upset with people for making something that isn't exactly what you would want most)
(But, seriously, please don't be upset with people for making something that isn't exactly what you would want most)
I am not a design professional. But I think I would put the large “Order Here” where customers should order, rather than over a television. Novel idea, but it might work.
November 24, 2025 at 11:35 PM
I am not a design professional. But I think I would put the large “Order Here” where customers should order, rather than over a television. Novel idea, but it might work.
Reposted by Mike Wiser
Open faculty position (Assistant or Associate) in UW Medical Genetics. As you might expect, faculty often end up also interacting with Genome Sciences, so we're hoping for some great prospects! Note the clinical requirements for the position. apply.interfolio.com/176466
Apply - Interfolio
{{$ctrl.$state.data.pageTitle}} - Apply - Interfolio
apply.interfolio.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Open faculty position (Assistant or Associate) in UW Medical Genetics. As you might expect, faculty often end up also interacting with Genome Sciences, so we're hoping for some great prospects! Note the clinical requirements for the position. apply.interfolio.com/176466
Not a recent event, but thinking about it. How to respond to bigotry aimed at me based on someone assuming an identity I don't have. Do I tell them that they're wrong? Does that convey a signal that it would have been fine if it was accurate (which, obviously, it wouldn't be; still bigotry)?
November 24, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Not a recent event, but thinking about it. How to respond to bigotry aimed at me based on someone assuming an identity I don't have. Do I tell them that they're wrong? Does that convey a signal that it would have been fine if it was accurate (which, obviously, it wouldn't be; still bigotry)?
Dental hygienist: We’re short on time so we can only do half of what we discussed today. Let’s get you back here on 2 weeks to finish the rest.
Me: That would great. That’s finals week so my schedule is more flexible than normal.
Reception: So we’re scheduling now for February…
Me: That would great. That’s finals week so my schedule is more flexible than normal.
Reception: So we’re scheduling now for February…
November 24, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Dental hygienist: We’re short on time so we can only do half of what we discussed today. Let’s get you back here on 2 weeks to finish the rest.
Me: That would great. That’s finals week so my schedule is more flexible than normal.
Reception: So we’re scheduling now for February…
Me: That would great. That’s finals week so my schedule is more flexible than normal.
Reception: So we’re scheduling now for February…
One year in my PhD, one of the programs I was part of changed its responsible conduct of research reporting date, so I scrambled. After taking all the relevant things, I still needed an extra 30 minutes. I found myself debating between the online modules for Ladder Safety and Forklift Operation
A CLE marathon is when you haven’t done any of your required Continuing Legal Education hours so you sign up for a 12 hour set of courses on the last day of the reporting period with topics like “The ethical and legal considerations of basket weaving in aquatic environments”
November 24, 2025 at 1:08 PM
One year in my PhD, one of the programs I was part of changed its responsible conduct of research reporting date, so I scrambled. After taking all the relevant things, I still needed an extra 30 minutes. I found myself debating between the online modules for Ladder Safety and Forklift Operation
Reposted by Mike Wiser
a colleague in my dept has instituted a test format of a 3-min presentation and a 3-min question period from the prof. it's become evident in doing so that over half his students have no clue what they've been submitting essays on (it seems they haven't written a word of the essays)
November 24, 2025 at 3:26 AM
a colleague in my dept has instituted a test format of a 3-min presentation and a 3-min question period from the prof. it's become evident in doing so that over half his students have no clue what they've been submitting essays on (it seems they haven't written a word of the essays)
Reposted by Mike Wiser
I don’t know who needs to hear this, but a day spent reading Agatha Christie in a Scottish Highlands Cottage in front of a crackling fireplace whilst indulging in a plate of emotional support scones will indeed fix you.
Anyone who tells you otherwise is not worthy of your friendship.
Anyone who tells you otherwise is not worthy of your friendship.
November 23, 2025 at 5:14 PM
I don’t know who needs to hear this, but a day spent reading Agatha Christie in a Scottish Highlands Cottage in front of a crackling fireplace whilst indulging in a plate of emotional support scones will indeed fix you.
Anyone who tells you otherwise is not worthy of your friendship.
Anyone who tells you otherwise is not worthy of your friendship.
Just a quick reminder that music doesn't have to be extremely complex to still be beautiful.
November 23, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Just a quick reminder that music doesn't have to be extremely complex to still be beautiful.
Reposted by Mike Wiser
I'm on the hunt for artists/illustrators that specialise in landscapes and scenery, or who love drawing nature! 🌷🏞️🌳
I'd especially love to hear from BIPOC artists, but this is an open call! Self promo welcome, please comment with examples/portfolio links if possible ☺️
#art #illustration
I'd especially love to hear from BIPOC artists, but this is an open call! Self promo welcome, please comment with examples/portfolio links if possible ☺️
#art #illustration
November 23, 2025 at 11:14 AM
I'm on the hunt for artists/illustrators that specialise in landscapes and scenery, or who love drawing nature! 🌷🏞️🌳
I'd especially love to hear from BIPOC artists, but this is an open call! Self promo welcome, please comment with examples/portfolio links if possible ☺️
#art #illustration
I'd especially love to hear from BIPOC artists, but this is an open call! Self promo welcome, please comment with examples/portfolio links if possible ☺️
#art #illustration
Reposted by Mike Wiser
Fungal friends: The University of Minnesota is hiring a tenure track medical mycologist, with emphasis on emergence of pathogens, genomics and evolution!
www.nature.com/naturecareer...
www.nature.com/naturecareer...
New Assistant Professor: Tenure Track - Fungal Biology/Medical Mycology - Minneapolis, Minnesota job with University of Minnesota - Medical School | 12848307
About the Job: The Department of Microbiology & Immunology and the Institute on Infectious Diseases (UMIID) at the University of Minnesota Medical ...
www.nature.com
November 23, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Fungal friends: The University of Minnesota is hiring a tenure track medical mycologist, with emphasis on emergence of pathogens, genomics and evolution!
www.nature.com/naturecareer...
www.nature.com/naturecareer...
Reposted by Mike Wiser
somebody on here suggested awhile back that a pretty compelling 2028 Democrat campaign promise would be "on day one I will deploy a WPA-scale army of forensic accountants across every square inch of the federal government" and I think about that every day
It’s crazy to think about the crimes we’re going to learn about after this regime ends.
We’re already hearing about Watergate level crimes every week. Imagine what will come out after it’s over.
We’re going to need a full accounting of all that’s been done in violation of the constitution.
We’re already hearing about Watergate level crimes every week. Imagine what will come out after it’s over.
We’re going to need a full accounting of all that’s been done in violation of the constitution.
November 23, 2025 at 12:25 AM
somebody on here suggested awhile back that a pretty compelling 2028 Democrat campaign promise would be "on day one I will deploy a WPA-scale army of forensic accountants across every square inch of the federal government" and I think about that every day
The high school subjects I enjoyed the most were AP Bio and AP Chem, so I declared a Biochemistry major, and figured I could always go to law school if it turned out I didn't want to do science long term.
I found my chem classes easier, but thought the research in bio was more interesting.
I found my chem classes easier, but thought the research in bio was more interesting.
November 23, 2025 at 12:36 AM
The high school subjects I enjoyed the most were AP Bio and AP Chem, so I declared a Biochemistry major, and figured I could always go to law school if it turned out I didn't want to do science long term.
I found my chem classes easier, but thought the research in bio was more interesting.
I found my chem classes easier, but thought the research in bio was more interesting.