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.
Not to flex or anything, but I have pet 5 different cats today.
And only 2 of them live in my house.
And only 2 of them live in my house.
November 28, 2025 at 3:47 AM
Not to flex or anything, but I have pet 5 different cats today.
And only 2 of them live in my house.
And only 2 of them live in my house.
Reposted by Mike Wiser
good news everyone the Mistaken Text From Grandma Thanksgiving buddy drama is still going strong
this story delights me every year
this story delights me every year
From text to tradition: Jamal Hinton and Wanda Dench mark 10th Thanksgiving together after accidental invitation.
Arizona pair celebrates decade of friendship that started with wrong text
From text to tradition: Jamal Hinton and Wanda Dench mark 10th Thanksgiving together after accidental invitation.
www.azfamily.com
November 28, 2025 at 2:34 AM
good news everyone the Mistaken Text From Grandma Thanksgiving buddy drama is still going strong
this story delights me every year
this story delights me every year
I suspect it also annoys many baseball fans.
All people from the U.S. are Yankees. I say this as a person born and raised in The South because pissing off That Specific Kind of Southerner is a moral good.
November 27, 2025 at 5:37 PM
I suspect it also annoys many baseball fans.
I'm going to a potluck Thanksgiving today.
Obviously, I am going to live up to my heritage (American sitcom suburbia) and bring substantially more than I will consume myself.
The question is: just *how* much more?
Obviously, I am going to live up to my heritage (American sitcom suburbia) and bring substantially more than I will consume myself.
The question is: just *how* much more?
November 27, 2025 at 5:22 PM
I'm going to a potluck Thanksgiving today.
Obviously, I am going to live up to my heritage (American sitcom suburbia) and bring substantially more than I will consume myself.
The question is: just *how* much more?
Obviously, I am going to live up to my heritage (American sitcom suburbia) and bring substantially more than I will consume myself.
The question is: just *how* much more?
Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal - Spice
Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal - Spice
www.smbc-comics.com
November 27, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Calvin has a point here, I say, as my cats demand snuggles each morning.
November 27, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Calvin has a point here, I say, as my cats demand snuggles each morning.
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)