Lindsey R. F. Backman
@lbackman.bsky.social
Whitehead Fellow and PI at Whitehead Institute | Exploring how human microbiome anaerobes cope with oxidative stress | Chemistry PhD at MIT, Chemistry BS at UF | she/her | Opinions are my own
Spending the weekend in Cape Cod with my parents, but we found a way to be part of today’s #HandsOff protests! Provicetown’s official rally isn’t until Monday, but we joined a small but passionate group today at their town hall.
April 19, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Spending the weekend in Cape Cod with my parents, but we found a way to be part of today’s #HandsOff protests! Provicetown’s official rally isn’t until Monday, but we joined a small but passionate group today at their town hall.
I defended my PhD thesis 3 years ago… it’s surreal to now be leading my own academic team. Times in science are bizarre and hard… the bacterial chemistry we’re studying is also bizarre, yet fun. I’m grateful to sometimes escape the stress of the world by focusing on how cool nature and microbes are.
April 15, 2025 at 1:53 AM
I defended my PhD thesis 3 years ago… it’s surreal to now be leading my own academic team. Times in science are bizarre and hard… the bacterial chemistry we’re studying is also bizarre, yet fun. I’m grateful to sometimes escape the stress of the world by focusing on how cool nature and microbes are.
Before and after… Time for a spring haircut for our unique chihuahua/poodle/yorkie mutt, Lumo ❤️🌸🌼🌱
April 5, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Before and after… Time for a spring haircut for our unique chihuahua/poodle/yorkie mutt, Lumo ❤️🌸🌼🌱
Today marks 2 years since I got my lab space. Being a new PI isn't easy, especially during these times... but my lab has grown, I've written many grants, and we've had some of the most exciting discoveries of my life that we are only on the cusp of exploring. Times are hard, but we are persisting.
April 4, 2025 at 3:26 AM
Today marks 2 years since I got my lab space. Being a new PI isn't easy, especially during these times... but my lab has grown, I've written many grants, and we've had some of the most exciting discoveries of my life that we are only on the cusp of exploring. Times are hard, but we are persisting.
Big day for the Backman lab! First student to submit a thesis from my lab. Annie Class, an undergrad student in the Harvard MCB program, submitted a beautiful senior thesis today. I’m so proud of all her hard work studying metalloprotrins associated with metabolic bacterial microcompartments. 👩🏻🔬🔬🦠
March 24, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Big day for the Backman lab! First student to submit a thesis from my lab. Annie Class, an undergrad student in the Harvard MCB program, submitted a beautiful senior thesis today. I’m so proud of all her hard work studying metalloprotrins associated with metabolic bacterial microcompartments. 👩🏻🔬🔬🦠
Was wonderful to have Leslie Vosshall (@leslievosshall.bsky.social) visit @whiteheadinstitute.bsky.social today. Here's just a few scientists who have benefitted from @hhmi.org programs. I'm not sure if I would have earned a PhD, much less be starting my own lab now, without HHMI Gilliam and EXROP.
March 11, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Was wonderful to have Leslie Vosshall (@leslievosshall.bsky.social) visit @whiteheadinstitute.bsky.social today. Here's just a few scientists who have benefitted from @hhmi.org programs. I'm not sure if I would have earned a PhD, much less be starting my own lab now, without HHMI Gilliam and EXROP.
Sadly couldn’t attend Boston’s Stand Up for Science rally in person due to mobility issues (a month of shingles on a leg and two sprained ankles), but grateful to @drennanlab.bsky.social for taking my sign and making my voice heard. I never thought my career would be controversial. Research matters.
March 8, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Sadly couldn’t attend Boston’s Stand Up for Science rally in person due to mobility issues (a month of shingles on a leg and two sprained ankles), but grateful to @drennanlab.bsky.social for taking my sign and making my voice heard. I never thought my career would be controversial. Research matters.
To bring some joy to your newsfeeds… my dog LUMO got a free professional photoshoot at our apartment, and these were her results. I truly adopted the most awkward (but adorable) dog at the shelter. Always rooting for the underdog 😂❤️🐕
March 6, 2025 at 7:48 PM
To bring some joy to your newsfeeds… my dog LUMO got a free professional photoshoot at our apartment, and these were her results. I truly adopted the most awkward (but adorable) dog at the shelter. Always rooting for the underdog 😂❤️🐕
Never have I been so relieved and proud to have submitted a grant to the NIH. Who knows what the outcome will be, but I believe in my lab and how cool I think our science is 🦠
February 3, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Never have I been so relieved and proud to have submitted a grant to the NIH. Who knows what the outcome will be, but I believe in my lab and how cool I think our science is 🦠
Branson advised many scientists including Marie Maynard Daly, the first Black woman to earn a PhD in chemistry in the US who did fundamental work in histone, protein synthesis, and cholesterol research in her independent career. #BlackHistoryMonth
February 2, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Branson advised many scientists including Marie Maynard Daly, the first Black woman to earn a PhD in chemistry in the US who did fundamental work in histone, protein synthesis, and cholesterol research in her independent career. #BlackHistoryMonth
Only a couple years ago I learned that the structure of the alpha helix was solved by Herman Branson, a Howard professor who was doing a sabbatical with Pauling at the time, despite initial pushback from Pauling and Corey that his proposed helix model was much too tight. #BlackHistoryMonth
February 2, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Only a couple years ago I learned that the structure of the alpha helix was solved by Herman Branson, a Howard professor who was doing a sabbatical with Pauling at the time, despite initial pushback from Pauling and Corey that his proposed helix model was much too tight. #BlackHistoryMonth
Cool to see “Most Delicious Poison” by @nkwhiteman.bsky.social as a featured holiday book choice at the MIT bookshop, so had to pick up a copy and I’m loving it so far!!
December 20, 2024 at 8:57 PM
Cool to see “Most Delicious Poison” by @nkwhiteman.bsky.social as a featured holiday book choice at the MIT bookshop, so had to pick up a copy and I’m loving it so far!!
When your #newPI lab buys the cheap and colorful Eppendorf tubes… that explode when they are frozen… you make Holiday tinsel and decoration ⭐️✨
December 19, 2024 at 4:01 AM
When your #newPI lab buys the cheap and colorful Eppendorf tubes… that explode when they are frozen… you make Holiday tinsel and decoration ⭐️✨
I’m often overwhelmed by the scientific talent that surrounds me, but last night I was amazed by the musical talent of two fellow Whitehead Fellows performing Bellini’s I Puritani with Pico Opera. Allison as lead soprano vocalist, and Aditya as the one-man-orchestra pianist. I’m in awe of you two 🤩
December 8, 2024 at 8:28 PM
I’m often overwhelmed by the scientific talent that surrounds me, but last night I was amazed by the musical talent of two fellow Whitehead Fellows performing Bellini’s I Puritani with Pico Opera. Allison as lead soprano vocalist, and Aditya as the one-man-orchestra pianist. I’m in awe of you two 🤩
Brief intro to the Backman lab at @whiteheadinstitute.bsky.social:
The anaerobic microbes in us and around us rely on oxygen-vulnerable chemistry… but how do they perform this chemistry in a world full of oxygen, much less in the presence of stronger oxidants? We think about this question everyday!
The anaerobic microbes in us and around us rely on oxygen-vulnerable chemistry… but how do they perform this chemistry in a world full of oxygen, much less in the presence of stronger oxidants? We think about this question everyday!
November 26, 2024 at 9:38 PM
Brief intro to the Backman lab at @whiteheadinstitute.bsky.social:
The anaerobic microbes in us and around us rely on oxygen-vulnerable chemistry… but how do they perform this chemistry in a world full of oxygen, much less in the presence of stronger oxidants? We think about this question everyday!
The anaerobic microbes in us and around us rely on oxygen-vulnerable chemistry… but how do they perform this chemistry in a world full of oxygen, much less in the presence of stronger oxidants? We think about this question everyday!
I didn’t realize until now that I might need a Christmas tree full of icosahedral bacterial microcompartment ornaments 😍
November 24, 2024 at 8:46 PM
I didn’t realize until now that I might need a Christmas tree full of icosahedral bacterial microcompartment ornaments 😍
One of these students who won a poster award was Nathalie Nieto Torres from my lab at @whiteheadinstitute.bsky.social! So incredibly proud and happy to see this award go to someone so deserving.
November 19, 2024 at 12:43 AM
One of these students who won a poster award was Nathalie Nieto Torres from my lab at @whiteheadinstitute.bsky.social! So incredibly proud and happy to see this award go to someone so deserving.
Congrats to two phenomenal undergrad scientists, Nathalie Nieto Torres and Sophie LaPeters, who worked in my lab this past summer on their beautiful poster presentations at #ABRCMS2024! They both have an infectious passion for science. We miss them in the lab and can’t wait to see what they do next!
November 16, 2024 at 11:27 PM
Congrats to two phenomenal undergrad scientists, Nathalie Nieto Torres and Sophie LaPeters, who worked in my lab this past summer on their beautiful poster presentations at #ABRCMS2024! They both have an infectious passion for science. We miss them in the lab and can’t wait to see what they do next!
Lumo is the size of Brienne of Tarth’s head. She says hi.
November 13, 2024 at 3:52 AM
Lumo is the size of Brienne of Tarth’s head. She says hi.
Life in the Backman lab lately… a little qualitative work to prioritize bacterial strains to focus on… detecting catalysis by blind smell tests 🧪
Thank you to Ross for sacrificing his nose for the cause.
Thank you to Ross for sacrificing his nose for the cause.
November 12, 2024 at 3:16 PM
Life in the Backman lab lately… a little qualitative work to prioritize bacterial strains to focus on… detecting catalysis by blind smell tests 🧪
Thank you to Ross for sacrificing his nose for the cause.
Thank you to Ross for sacrificing his nose for the cause.
Embarrassed it took me so long to also make the switch, but I’m here now and loving the scientific community that’s been built here (thank you to those who made that happen!)
My lab has recently been sending me pictures of our beautiful “sunset bacterial cultures”. Please enjoy 🦠🌅
My lab has recently been sending me pictures of our beautiful “sunset bacterial cultures”. Please enjoy 🦠🌅
November 10, 2024 at 3:13 PM
Embarrassed it took me so long to also make the switch, but I’m here now and loving the scientific community that’s been built here (thank you to those who made that happen!)
My lab has recently been sending me pictures of our beautiful “sunset bacterial cultures”. Please enjoy 🦠🌅
My lab has recently been sending me pictures of our beautiful “sunset bacterial cultures”. Please enjoy 🦠🌅
Just learned American Society for Microbiology has dog gear now?!? Lumo can’t wait for her “Trust Your Gut” hoodie to arrive. Happy to support the ASM, especially during a time in the US when the importance of infectious disease research is being so undermined.
www.customink.com/s/asm-24-pop...
www.customink.com/s/asm-24-pop...
November 9, 2024 at 9:26 PM
Just learned American Society for Microbiology has dog gear now?!? Lumo can’t wait for her “Trust Your Gut” hoodie to arrive. Happy to support the ASM, especially during a time in the US when the importance of infectious disease research is being so undermined.
www.customink.com/s/asm-24-pop...
www.customink.com/s/asm-24-pop...
Such a special Christmas gift! A biochemistry-themed quilt sewn by my mom for my office… she somehow found biochemistry fabrics online. The amount of handcrafted science decorations in my office from my mom is becoming quite impressive. 🧬👩🏻🔬🎄
Happy holidays to all!
Happy holidays to all!
December 26, 2023 at 12:36 AM
Such a special Christmas gift! A biochemistry-themed quilt sewn by my mom for my office… she somehow found biochemistry fabrics online. The amount of handcrafted science decorations in my office from my mom is becoming quite impressive. 🧬👩🏻🔬🎄
Happy holidays to all!
Happy holidays to all!