Ed Hollox
@edhollox.bsky.social
Professor of Genetics at U of Leicester. Genome structural variation.
"Anyone with gumption and a sharp mind will take the measure of two things: what's said and what's done." Views my own.
"Anyone with gumption and a sharp mind will take the measure of two things: what's said and what's done." Views my own.
Reposted by Ed Hollox
Confiscating jewellery from survivors of a war zone makes you look like a fucking Nazi. And the obscene thing is, that is the intention. It's there to look appropriately harsh. Indecent. Filthy. A moral stain. And no-one of good character would have ever proposed such a thing in the first place.
November 17, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Confiscating jewellery from survivors of a war zone makes you look like a fucking Nazi. And the obscene thing is, that is the intention. It's there to look appropriately harsh. Indecent. Filthy. A moral stain. And no-one of good character would have ever proposed such a thing in the first place.
Industrial action works. Well done colleagues at Nottingham. As for us, we carry on @leicesterucu.bsky.social
In response to our industrial action, the university proposed a resolution that removed the threat of compulsory redundancies for the next year and introduced a negotiation process over course closures. And at our branch meeting, we accepted this offer.
November 15, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Industrial action works. Well done colleagues at Nottingham. As for us, we carry on @leicesterucu.bsky.social
Reposted by Ed Hollox
Every university should renovate the disciplinary framework of its courses and ask whether it is responding to its global responsibilities. But no university should recognise any merit in withdrawing from the study of other languages, cultures & societies
www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/late...
www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/late...
The latest threat to UK modern languages is yet another faux pas
Nottingham and Leicester are taking a swing at language departments. But those proposing closures have taken their eye off the ball, say four linguists
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:32 AM
Every university should renovate the disciplinary framework of its courses and ask whether it is responding to its global responsibilities. But no university should recognise any merit in withdrawing from the study of other languages, cultures & societies
www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/late...
www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/late...
Reposted by Ed Hollox
Pickets across the country. A march through Leicester.
Hundreds of jobs on the line.
We’re not standing by while the sector burns.
We will continue to fight.
Congrats to all involved for yesterday!
Hundreds of jobs on the line.
We’re not standing by while the sector burns.
We will continue to fight.
Congrats to all involved for yesterday!
November 13, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Pickets across the country. A march through Leicester.
Hundreds of jobs on the line.
We’re not standing by while the sector burns.
We will continue to fight.
Congrats to all involved for yesterday!
Hundreds of jobs on the line.
We’re not standing by while the sector burns.
We will continue to fight.
Congrats to all involved for yesterday!
Reposted by Ed Hollox
Come join us in beautiful Britanny, France in May 2026 for a workshop that I am organizing with @lucievirevolte.bsky.social and @psudmant.bsky.social on Rapid host adaptations to infections:
sites.google.com/berkeley.edu...
sites.google.com/berkeley.edu...
October 23, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Come join us in beautiful Britanny, France in May 2026 for a workshop that I am organizing with @lucievirevolte.bsky.social and @psudmant.bsky.social on Rapid host adaptations to infections:
sites.google.com/berkeley.edu...
sites.google.com/berkeley.edu...
Reposted by Ed Hollox
UCU (@ucu.org.uk) has called a national demonstration against the planned redundancies at the University of Leicester.
Please come and march alongside us in Leicester on 12 November.
All welcome!
Please come and march alongside us in Leicester on 12 November.
All welcome!
October 30, 2025 at 9:11 AM
UCU (@ucu.org.uk) has called a national demonstration against the planned redundancies at the University of Leicester.
Please come and march alongside us in Leicester on 12 November.
All welcome!
Please come and march alongside us in Leicester on 12 November.
All welcome!
Reposted by Ed Hollox
@leicesterchem.bsky.social dream team taking a stand ✊ Some of these fine minds are directly in the firing line! ☠️ 🪓 saveleicesteruni.com
November 12, 2025 at 11:43 AM
@leicesterchem.bsky.social dream team taking a stand ✊ Some of these fine minds are directly in the firing line! ☠️ 🪓 saveleicesteruni.com
Reposted by Ed Hollox
New PhD studentship opportunity in my lab & with collaborators from the Pinniped Genomes Consortium. Come help us unravel the genomics of seal physiological super powers! Closing date 7th January 2026 🧪🦭🧬🌍🦑🐳 #marine #mammals
#consgen #popgen #phylo #molevol #evolution
yes-dtn.ac.uk/research/the...
#consgen #popgen #phylo #molevol #evolution
yes-dtn.ac.uk/research/the...
The evolutionary genomics of life-history adaptations in pinnipeds - Yorkshire Environmental Sciences • Doctoral Training Network
Project summary Pinnipeds (seals, sea lions, fur seals and walrus) are keystone marine predators, and sentinels for marine ecosystem health. Advances in genomic technology open up the possibility to u...
yes-dtn.ac.uk
November 10, 2025 at 8:23 AM
New PhD studentship opportunity in my lab & with collaborators from the Pinniped Genomes Consortium. Come help us unravel the genomics of seal physiological super powers! Closing date 7th January 2026 🧪🦭🧬🌍🦑🐳 #marine #mammals
#consgen #popgen #phylo #molevol #evolution
yes-dtn.ac.uk/research/the...
#consgen #popgen #phylo #molevol #evolution
yes-dtn.ac.uk/research/the...
Reposted by Ed Hollox
Senior management at Lancaster University insist cuts of 1 in 4 jobs are “difficult but necessary”
This means “we messed up the finances & you’ll be paying for it”
www.lancasterguardian.co.uk/news/nationa...
This means “we messed up the finances & you’ll be paying for it”
www.lancasterguardian.co.uk/news/nationa...
Lancaster University industrial action begins Monday with 1 in 4 jobs set to be axed
Staff at Lancaster University will begin industrial action on Monday November 10 over management’s threat to axe one in four staff, the University and College Union (UCU) announced.
www.lancasterguardian.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Senior management at Lancaster University insist cuts of 1 in 4 jobs are “difficult but necessary”
This means “we messed up the finances & you’ll be paying for it”
www.lancasterguardian.co.uk/news/nationa...
This means “we messed up the finances & you’ll be paying for it”
www.lancasterguardian.co.uk/news/nationa...
It is a deep loss to the East Midlands that it will be impossible to take a degree in any Modern Language in the region's universities. Nottingham and Leicester closing thier ML degree programmes. No planning, entire regions will be without key degrees, all institutions chasing the same students.
Excellent article here. Our students are our greatest advocates. Counter proposals will be put forward, and we are supporting colleagues in Music, Modern Languages, Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies at Nottingham with their campaigns www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
University of Nottingham students fight 'insane' cull of courses
Traitors composer Sam Watts is among those against plans to cut University of Nottingham courses.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 11:04 AM
It is a deep loss to the East Midlands that it will be impossible to take a degree in any Modern Language in the region's universities. Nottingham and Leicester closing thier ML degree programmes. No planning, entire regions will be without key degrees, all institutions chasing the same students.
Reposted by Ed Hollox
Okay, here are some first reflections on Watson.
Watson's life is a tragedy, really of Shakespearean proportions. He did not, as most bios will tell you, do one great thing when he was young and then collect laurels for it for the next 60 years. His career arc was unlike any in science.
Watson's life is a tragedy, really of Shakespearean proportions. He did not, as most bios will tell you, do one great thing when he was young and then collect laurels for it for the next 60 years. His career arc was unlike any in science.
November 8, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Okay, here are some first reflections on Watson.
Watson's life is a tragedy, really of Shakespearean proportions. He did not, as most bios will tell you, do one great thing when he was young and then collect laurels for it for the next 60 years. His career arc was unlike any in science.
Watson's life is a tragedy, really of Shakespearean proportions. He did not, as most bios will tell you, do one great thing when he was young and then collect laurels for it for the next 60 years. His career arc was unlike any in science.
Excellent response here, particularly how the restrictive post 16 system effectively limits choices to humanities OR sciences. Future scientists need training in the humanities.
Professor Ulrike Tillmann, Chair of the Royal Society Education Committee, responds to the Curriculum and Assessment Review 2025: royalsociety.org/news/2025/11...
Royal Society response to Curriculum and Assessment Review 2025 | Royal Society
Professor Ulrike Tillmann, Chair of the Royal Society Education Committee responds.
royalsociety.org
November 6, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Excellent response here, particularly how the restrictive post 16 system effectively limits choices to humanities OR sciences. Future scientists need training in the humanities.
Reposted by Ed Hollox
We have a 4 year fully-funded PhD opportunity to join our group @earlhaminst.bsky.social on an Eng Bio project: Engineering stable synthetic chromosomes. Jointly with the BioFoundry and @cgrandel.bsky.social. Read more about the project shorturl.at/GZMbB and about our research shorturl.at/HR6p5
November 5, 2025 at 1:57 PM
We have a 4 year fully-funded PhD opportunity to join our group @earlhaminst.bsky.social on an Eng Bio project: Engineering stable synthetic chromosomes. Jointly with the BioFoundry and @cgrandel.bsky.social. Read more about the project shorturl.at/GZMbB and about our research shorturl.at/HR6p5
Morning noon and night, damn ilku-duty. I have no time to observe the sun and moon, nor teach my students the scribal craft!
Academics in Assyria in the 7th c BC complain that admin is preventing them from doing research and teaching
November 4, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Morning noon and night, damn ilku-duty. I have no time to observe the sun and moon, nor teach my students the scribal craft!
Reposted by Ed Hollox
*macca voice*
Ozymandias
Legs over there but his body is here in the sand
Sneer of command.
Look at his works, kings.
Not much is left of his power and glorious reign.
Nothing remains
Ozymandias
Legs over there but his body is here in the sand
Sneer of command.
Look at his works, kings.
Not much is left of his power and glorious reign.
Nothing remains
October 30, 2025 at 3:31 PM
*macca voice*
Ozymandias
Legs over there but his body is here in the sand
Sneer of command.
Look at his works, kings.
Not much is left of his power and glorious reign.
Nothing remains
Ozymandias
Legs over there but his body is here in the sand
Sneer of command.
Look at his works, kings.
Not much is left of his power and glorious reign.
Nothing remains
Reposted by Ed Hollox
Yet another example of the importance of natural history collections. Here, helping to address two questions:
• Responses to climate change (here, temperature and precipitation mattered in different ways)
• What sets range limits
🧪
• Responses to climate change (here, temperature and precipitation mattered in different ways)
• What sets range limits
🧪
Herbarium specimens reveal shifts in species' elevational ranges
Zu et al.
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/VB8MUG...
Zu et al.
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/VB8MUG...
October 30, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Yet another example of the importance of natural history collections. Here, helping to address two questions:
• Responses to climate change (here, temperature and precipitation mattered in different ways)
• What sets range limits
🧪
• Responses to climate change (here, temperature and precipitation mattered in different ways)
• What sets range limits
🧪
Reposted by Ed Hollox
I’m old enough to remember when everybody agreed that higher education was a “market” and offering “choice” was how the universities were meant to grow
on.ft.com/3WTwBue
on.ft.com/3WTwBue
October 27, 2025 at 7:32 AM
I’m old enough to remember when everybody agreed that higher education was a “market” and offering “choice” was how the universities were meant to grow
on.ft.com/3WTwBue
on.ft.com/3WTwBue
Reposted by Ed Hollox
A neat tool I just came across: Viabundus, a digital road map of northern Europe 1350-1650, that lets you calculate contemporary travel routes/times. In 1500, going Amiens → Köln by horse took almost 7 days and 13 toll payments.
#medievalsky
www.landesgeschichte.uni-goettingen.de/handelsstras...
#medievalsky
www.landesgeschichte.uni-goettingen.de/handelsstras...
October 24, 2025 at 10:58 PM
A neat tool I just came across: Viabundus, a digital road map of northern Europe 1350-1650, that lets you calculate contemporary travel routes/times. In 1500, going Amiens → Köln by horse took almost 7 days and 13 toll payments.
#medievalsky
www.landesgeschichte.uni-goettingen.de/handelsstras...
#medievalsky
www.landesgeschichte.uni-goettingen.de/handelsstras...
Reposted by Ed Hollox
I am genuinely impressed by large language models - they can absorb disparate components of text into some consolidated view, they can produce extremely good language and - with the right model - translate pretty well between languages and they are an excellent text based UI for humans to use. But..
October 26, 2025 at 7:48 AM
I am genuinely impressed by large language models - they can absorb disparate components of text into some consolidated view, they can produce extremely good language and - with the right model - translate pretty well between languages and they are an excellent text based UI for humans to use. But..
So for the first time in my career, I have completed the move into newly refurbished office and lab space. Thanks to my PhD students and trojan dept technician for helping me wheel and carry everything, including the cupboards! A space with clean draught-free windows and effective heating! Luxury!!
October 25, 2025 at 6:02 PM
So for the first time in my career, I have completed the move into newly refurbished office and lab space. Thanks to my PhD students and trojan dept technician for helping me wheel and carry everything, including the cupboards! A space with clean draught-free windows and effective heating! Luxury!!
Reposted by Ed Hollox
Monty Python understood p-hacking
October 23, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Monty Python understood p-hacking
Reposted by Ed Hollox
The biologist's view of how flight works. Courtesy of Rory Maizels. #GenerativeBiology
October 21, 2025 at 1:40 PM
The biologist's view of how flight works. Courtesy of Rory Maizels. #GenerativeBiology
Reposted by Ed Hollox
New blogpost on my concerns about Wellcome LEAP new $50m program on autism/microbiome links. deevybee.blogspot.com/2025/10/a-le...
#autism #microbiome #biomarkers #diagnostic
#autism #microbiome #biomarkers #diagnostic
A LEAP into the future, or off a cliff: Wellcome LEAP's new $50M program
A few days ago, I saw this post on LinkedIn: How does the gut microbiome shape early brain development? That’s what FORM, a new $50 million...
deevybee.blogspot.com
October 20, 2025 at 1:53 PM
New blogpost on my concerns about Wellcome LEAP new $50m program on autism/microbiome links. deevybee.blogspot.com/2025/10/a-le...
#autism #microbiome #biomarkers #diagnostic
#autism #microbiome #biomarkers #diagnostic
I bet they proudly show thier Athena Swan badges though...
A UK university -- where a senior professor faces allegations of sexually harassment -- has been granted complete anonymity at Employment Tribunal
Truly shocking
No university should be granted anonymity
Public trust depends on transparency & accountability
www.personneltoday.com/hr/universit...
Truly shocking
No university should be granted anonymity
Public trust depends on transparency & accountability
www.personneltoday.com/hr/universit...
University granted anonymity in sexual harassment tribunal case
The case, reported by The Times, has seen media campaigners warn of a trend towards secret justice. Lawyers for claimant are appealing.
www.personneltoday.com
October 19, 2025 at 8:18 PM
I bet they proudly show thier Athena Swan badges though...