Lena Grinsted
@lenagrinsted.bsky.social
Evolutionary biologist; social spiders; animal behaviour. Equity, diversity and inclusion in science. Senior Lecturer in Zoology @ University of Portsmouth, UK
Pinned
Lena Grinsted
@lenagrinsted.bsky.social
· Jan 19
Perhaps time to properly introduce myself: I study the ecology and evolution of group living in spiders 🕷️ I care about fair and open research, mental health in academia, and decolonising higher education.
Reposted by Lena Grinsted
Holy CRAP.
Retired engineer takes random pics of *kids*, without consent or attribution, bins them into “autistic” or “not autistic”, and uploads that “data” for free on Kaggle.
Well over a HUNDRED papers are published, 38 in Springer Nature, 25 in IEEE, using it.
And no reviewers objected? WTF.🧪
Retired engineer takes random pics of *kids*, without consent or attribution, bins them into “autistic” or “not autistic”, and uploads that “data” for free on Kaggle.
Well over a HUNDRED papers are published, 38 in Springer Nature, 25 in IEEE, using it.
And no reviewers objected? WTF.🧪
Springer Nature retracts, removes nearly 40 publications
The dataset contains images of children’s faces downloaded from websites about autism, which sparked concerns at Springer Nature about consent and reliability.
www.thetransmitter.org
December 8, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Holy CRAP.
Retired engineer takes random pics of *kids*, without consent or attribution, bins them into “autistic” or “not autistic”, and uploads that “data” for free on Kaggle.
Well over a HUNDRED papers are published, 38 in Springer Nature, 25 in IEEE, using it.
And no reviewers objected? WTF.🧪
Retired engineer takes random pics of *kids*, without consent or attribution, bins them into “autistic” or “not autistic”, and uploads that “data” for free on Kaggle.
Well over a HUNDRED papers are published, 38 in Springer Nature, 25 in IEEE, using it.
And no reviewers objected? WTF.🧪
Reposted by Lena Grinsted
Interested in doing a PhD in biodiversity predictions 📈🐦🌸🪲📈? The Ciaxa Foundation has launched a call for PhD fellowships in 🇪🇸 Excellence Research Centers. @ebdonana.bsky.social is one of them: lacaixafoundation.org/en/doctoral-... 🧪🌎
December 12, 2025 at 6:48 AM
Interested in doing a PhD in biodiversity predictions 📈🐦🌸🪲📈? The Ciaxa Foundation has launched a call for PhD fellowships in 🇪🇸 Excellence Research Centers. @ebdonana.bsky.social is one of them: lacaixafoundation.org/en/doctoral-... 🧪🌎
Reposted by Lena Grinsted
⏰ 1 month left to apply for these fully-funded #PhD opportunities with us investigating social monitoring & manipulation. #bioacoustics #mammals
UK-domiciled black-heritage scheme: tinyurl.com/aja54nr6
NERC DLTP: tinyurl.com/4jfy47pp
DM or email me if you have questions.
Please spread the word. ☺️
UK-domiciled black-heritage scheme: tinyurl.com/aja54nr6
NERC DLTP: tinyurl.com/4jfy47pp
DM or email me if you have questions.
Please spread the word. ☺️
Funded PhD open to UK-domiciled, home fee applicants of Black African, Black Caribbean or other Black or mixed Black heritage - Biological market monitoring and manipulation in social animals at Unive...
PhD Project - Funded PhD open to UK-domiciled, home fee applicants of Black African, Black Caribbean or other Black or mixed Black heritage - Biological market monitoring and manipulation in social an...
tinyurl.com
December 5, 2025 at 4:05 PM
⏰ 1 month left to apply for these fully-funded #PhD opportunities with us investigating social monitoring & manipulation. #bioacoustics #mammals
UK-domiciled black-heritage scheme: tinyurl.com/aja54nr6
NERC DLTP: tinyurl.com/4jfy47pp
DM or email me if you have questions.
Please spread the word. ☺️
UK-domiciled black-heritage scheme: tinyurl.com/aja54nr6
NERC DLTP: tinyurl.com/4jfy47pp
DM or email me if you have questions.
Please spread the word. ☺️
Reposted by Lena Grinsted
Are you a UK national/resident and identify as Black, Asian, or a minoritised ethnic community? You can apply for a PhD with me and colleagues at Swansea as part of our NERC CROCUS doctoral training programme... and we develop the topic together. Please get in touch if eligible and interested!
December 5, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Are you a UK national/resident and identify as Black, Asian, or a minoritised ethnic community? You can apply for a PhD with me and colleagues at Swansea as part of our NERC CROCUS doctoral training programme... and we develop the topic together. Please get in touch if eligible and interested!
Reposted by Lena Grinsted
🕷️🌍🕸️ Spiders aren't creepy crawlies—they're ecosystem heroes! From pest control to biotech inspiration to key figures in our collective culture, a new review reveals the many services spiders provide:
🔗 doi.org/10.1111/brv....
(drawing by @jmalumbresolarte.bsky.social)
🔗 doi.org/10.1111/brv....
(drawing by @jmalumbresolarte.bsky.social)
June 4, 2025 at 7:44 AM
🕷️🌍🕸️ Spiders aren't creepy crawlies—they're ecosystem heroes! From pest control to biotech inspiration to key figures in our collective culture, a new review reveals the many services spiders provide:
🔗 doi.org/10.1111/brv....
(drawing by @jmalumbresolarte.bsky.social)
🔗 doi.org/10.1111/brv....
(drawing by @jmalumbresolarte.bsky.social)
Reposted by Lena Grinsted
🕷️🕸️ New Reference genome available: Leviellus thorelli, a orb-weaving spider - a key resource for comparative studies of the #genomic basis of orb web and silk #evolution.
🔗https://open-research-europe.ec.europa.eu/articles/5-365
#Spider #genomics #genomes for #biodiversity @cnag-eu.bsky.social
🔗https://open-research-europe.ec.europa.eu/articles/5-365
#Spider #genomics #genomes for #biodiversity @cnag-eu.bsky.social
December 4, 2025 at 10:36 AM
🕷️🕸️ New Reference genome available: Leviellus thorelli, a orb-weaving spider - a key resource for comparative studies of the #genomic basis of orb web and silk #evolution.
🔗https://open-research-europe.ec.europa.eu/articles/5-365
#Spider #genomics #genomes for #biodiversity @cnag-eu.bsky.social
🔗https://open-research-europe.ec.europa.eu/articles/5-365
#Spider #genomics #genomes for #biodiversity @cnag-eu.bsky.social
Reposted by Lena Grinsted
An all-too-common interaction I've had:
Scientist: Our research can help shape policy to protect this endangered animal.
Me: Neat! How? What policy? What is it now, and what should it be instead?
Scientist: Uhhhhh.....
Our new paper can help!
www.southernfriedscience.com/shark-scient... 🧪🦑🌍🦈
Scientist: Our research can help shape policy to protect this endangered animal.
Me: Neat! How? What policy? What is it now, and what should it be instead?
Scientist: Uhhhhh.....
Our new paper can help!
www.southernfriedscience.com/shark-scient... 🧪🦑🌍🦈
Shark scientists want their research to help save threatened species, but don’t know how. Our new paper can help.
Sharks are some of the most threatened animals on Earth, and accordingly many scientists who study sharks want their research to be useful for conservation. However, most scientific training does n…
www.southernfriedscience.com
December 4, 2025 at 7:50 PM
An all-too-common interaction I've had:
Scientist: Our research can help shape policy to protect this endangered animal.
Me: Neat! How? What policy? What is it now, and what should it be instead?
Scientist: Uhhhhh.....
Our new paper can help!
www.southernfriedscience.com/shark-scient... 🧪🦑🌍🦈
Scientist: Our research can help shape policy to protect this endangered animal.
Me: Neat! How? What policy? What is it now, and what should it be instead?
Scientist: Uhhhhh.....
Our new paper can help!
www.southernfriedscience.com/shark-scient... 🧪🦑🌍🦈
Reposted by Lena Grinsted
🚨 PhD position 🚨
New PhD position available! For applicants keen to combine evolutionary ecology, neuroscience and animal cognition. Based at UCL with me, @maxreuter.bsky.social, @fcamus.bsky.social and Tamara Boto (Bristol). Directly funded, see here for details and eligibility: www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
How Memory Evolves: Integrating Cognitive Ecology, Neuroscience, and Experimental Evolution in Drosophila at University College London on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - How Memory Evolves: Integrating Cognitive Ecology, Neuroscience, and Experimental Evolution in Drosophila at University College London, listed on FindAPhD.com
www.findaphd.com
December 4, 2025 at 8:46 PM
🚨 PhD position 🚨
Reposted by Lena Grinsted
🚨Two funded PhDs on the evolutionary ecology of antipredator colouration 🦋 with myself and Iliana Medina.
One in Swansea tinyurl.com/4thtbph6 deadline Jan 12th @crocus-dla.bsky.social
The other in Melbourne - deadline Jan 1st
Please share among potential students!
One in Swansea tinyurl.com/4thtbph6 deadline Jan 12th @crocus-dla.bsky.social
The other in Melbourne - deadline Jan 1st
Please share among potential students!
December 1, 2025 at 2:40 PM
🚨Two funded PhDs on the evolutionary ecology of antipredator colouration 🦋 with myself and Iliana Medina.
One in Swansea tinyurl.com/4thtbph6 deadline Jan 12th @crocus-dla.bsky.social
The other in Melbourne - deadline Jan 1st
Please share among potential students!
One in Swansea tinyurl.com/4thtbph6 deadline Jan 12th @crocus-dla.bsky.social
The other in Melbourne - deadline Jan 1st
Please share among potential students!
Reposted by Lena Grinsted
First PhD position is on the evolutionary basis of empathy using infrared thermography in Barbary macaques at Affenberg Salem, southern Germany
👉 tinyurl.com/2e8wzkfz
⏰ deadline 20 Dec 2025
👉 tinyurl.com/2e8wzkfz
⏰ deadline 20 Dec 2025
Stellenanzeigen - Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
Webseiten der Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
tinyurl.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:25 PM
First PhD position is on the evolutionary basis of empathy using infrared thermography in Barbary macaques at Affenberg Salem, southern Germany
👉 tinyurl.com/2e8wzkfz
⏰ deadline 20 Dec 2025
👉 tinyurl.com/2e8wzkfz
⏰ deadline 20 Dec 2025
Reposted by Lena Grinsted
second PhD position is on social and ecological cognition in wild Assamese macaques at our long-term field site in the beautiful Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand
👉 tinyurl.com/ypefnbxp
⏰ deadline 20 Dec 2025
👉 tinyurl.com/ypefnbxp
⏰ deadline 20 Dec 2025
Stellenanzeigen - Georg-August-University Göttingen
Website of the Georg-August-University Göttingen
tinyurl.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:25 PM
second PhD position is on social and ecological cognition in wild Assamese macaques at our long-term field site in the beautiful Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand
👉 tinyurl.com/ypefnbxp
⏰ deadline 20 Dec 2025
👉 tinyurl.com/ypefnbxp
⏰ deadline 20 Dec 2025
Reposted by Lena Grinsted
and finally, we offer a field assistant opportunity at our Assamese Macaque Project at Phu Khieo WS in Thailand
👉 tinyurl.com/5n77797r
⏰ deadline 18 Dec 2025
👉 tinyurl.com/5n77797r
⏰ deadline 18 Dec 2025
a paid student assistant position
The Primate Social Evolution Group at the German Primate Center (DPZ) is searching for a motivated research assistant to conduct behavioral observations of wild Assamese macaques at Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary in Thailand.
tinyurl.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:25 PM
and finally, we offer a field assistant opportunity at our Assamese Macaque Project at Phu Khieo WS in Thailand
👉 tinyurl.com/5n77797r
⏰ deadline 18 Dec 2025
👉 tinyurl.com/5n77797r
⏰ deadline 18 Dec 2025
Reposted by Lena Grinsted
Harmony in the hive? Think again! 🐝⚔️
Insect societies are famous for cooperation, but beneath the surface lies a brutal conflict over who gets to wear the crown!
Our new review in Biological Reviews explores the evolutionary battleground caused by such caste fate conflict. 🧵
Insect societies are famous for cooperation, but beneath the surface lies a brutal conflict over who gets to wear the crown!
Our new review in Biological Reviews explores the evolutionary battleground caused by such caste fate conflict. 🧵
November 24, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Harmony in the hive? Think again! 🐝⚔️
Insect societies are famous for cooperation, but beneath the surface lies a brutal conflict over who gets to wear the crown!
Our new review in Biological Reviews explores the evolutionary battleground caused by such caste fate conflict. 🧵
Insect societies are famous for cooperation, but beneath the surface lies a brutal conflict over who gets to wear the crown!
Our new review in Biological Reviews explores the evolutionary battleground caused by such caste fate conflict. 🧵
Reposted by Lena Grinsted
This Perspective discusses how the field of behavioural ecology has contributed to fundamental science and global challenges, ranging from understanding how natural selection leads to adaptation to optimizing biocontrol of pest species www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Free to read: rdcu.be/eRKbv
Free to read: rdcu.be/eRKbv
Behavioural ecology in the twenty-first century - Nature Ecology & Evolution
This Perspective discusses how the field of behavioural ecology has contributed to fundamental science and tackling global challenges, ranging from understanding how natural selection leads to adaptat...
www.nature.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:03 PM
This Perspective discusses how the field of behavioural ecology has contributed to fundamental science and global challenges, ranging from understanding how natural selection leads to adaptation to optimizing biocontrol of pest species www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Free to read: rdcu.be/eRKbv
Free to read: rdcu.be/eRKbv
Reposted by Lena Grinsted
PLEASE SHARE
🚨🚨 6-month RA position available at the Univ. of St Andrews to work with Sue Healy (@cogwild.bsky.social), Simone Meddle (@simonemeddle.bsky.social) and I on the behavioural neuroendocrinology of early reproduction in zebra finches.
tinyurl.com/577cx9tj
Deadline: 03/12/2025
⬇️
🚨🚨 6-month RA position available at the Univ. of St Andrews to work with Sue Healy (@cogwild.bsky.social), Simone Meddle (@simonemeddle.bsky.social) and I on the behavioural neuroendocrinology of early reproduction in zebra finches.
tinyurl.com/577cx9tj
Deadline: 03/12/2025
⬇️
November 19, 2025 at 6:23 PM
PLEASE SHARE
🚨🚨 6-month RA position available at the Univ. of St Andrews to work with Sue Healy (@cogwild.bsky.social), Simone Meddle (@simonemeddle.bsky.social) and I on the behavioural neuroendocrinology of early reproduction in zebra finches.
tinyurl.com/577cx9tj
Deadline: 03/12/2025
⬇️
🚨🚨 6-month RA position available at the Univ. of St Andrews to work with Sue Healy (@cogwild.bsky.social), Simone Meddle (@simonemeddle.bsky.social) and I on the behavioural neuroendocrinology of early reproduction in zebra finches.
tinyurl.com/577cx9tj
Deadline: 03/12/2025
⬇️
Reposted by Lena Grinsted
Oh, I love this. A new species of sea anemone was discovered recently that parks itself on top of a hermit crab shell like a hat. It seems to feed partly off the crab's faeces, but it also excretes a hard shell that extends the crab's home. In return, it's carried around the seafloor like a king.
November 10, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Oh, I love this. A new species of sea anemone was discovered recently that parks itself on top of a hermit crab shell like a hat. It seems to feed partly off the crab's faeces, but it also excretes a hard shell that extends the crab's home. In return, it's carried around the seafloor like a king.
Reposted by Lena Grinsted
Thinking only of Rosalind Franklin today, and what was stolen from her (and so many other female scientists alongside her).
Rosalind Franklin and the damage of gender harassment
Spurred by a recent report on sexual harassment in academia, our columnist revisits a historical case and reflects on what has changed—and what hasn’t
www.science.org
November 7, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Thinking only of Rosalind Franklin today, and what was stolen from her (and so many other female scientists alongside her).
Reposted by Lena Grinsted
The conference is next week!✨
Join us on 13–14 November for a rich two-day schedule of fascinating talks on animal behaviour 🦋🐟🐆
💻 Free, online & open to all worldwide
👉 Explore the program and register 🔗 ablaoc25.sciencesconf.org/resource/pag...
Join us on 13–14 November for a rich two-day schedule of fascinating talks on animal behaviour 🦋🐟🐆
💻 Free, online & open to all worldwide
👉 Explore the program and register 🔗 ablaoc25.sciencesconf.org/resource/pag...
November 4, 2025 at 8:13 AM
The conference is next week!✨
Join us on 13–14 November for a rich two-day schedule of fascinating talks on animal behaviour 🦋🐟🐆
💻 Free, online & open to all worldwide
👉 Explore the program and register 🔗 ablaoc25.sciencesconf.org/resource/pag...
Join us on 13–14 November for a rich two-day schedule of fascinating talks on animal behaviour 🦋🐟🐆
💻 Free, online & open to all worldwide
👉 Explore the program and register 🔗 ablaoc25.sciencesconf.org/resource/pag...
Reposted by Lena Grinsted
When the suspects appear to be white guys, it’s not a bombing — it’s an intentional explosion.
November 3, 2025 at 7:00 AM
When the suspects appear to be white guys, it’s not a bombing — it’s an intentional explosion.
Reposted by Lena Grinsted
Years ago, I attempted a self-assessment of my potential gender biases in an academic research setting:
ecoevoevoeco.blogspot.com/2016/04/subt...
Today, I happened on a very nice summary of how to avoid such biases in letters of recommendation, which provides an comprehensive outline. Check it out
ecoevoevoeco.blogspot.com/2016/04/subt...
Today, I happened on a very nice summary of how to avoid such biases in letters of recommendation, which provides an comprehensive outline. Check it out
October 31, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Years ago, I attempted a self-assessment of my potential gender biases in an academic research setting:
ecoevoevoeco.blogspot.com/2016/04/subt...
Today, I happened on a very nice summary of how to avoid such biases in letters of recommendation, which provides an comprehensive outline. Check it out
ecoevoevoeco.blogspot.com/2016/04/subt...
Today, I happened on a very nice summary of how to avoid such biases in letters of recommendation, which provides an comprehensive outline. Check it out
Best time of year to be an arachnologist 🕷️ Although the finer morphological details seem to be missing on this fine specimen drawing, preventing ID at species level
October 31, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Best time of year to be an arachnologist 🕷️ Although the finer morphological details seem to be missing on this fine specimen drawing, preventing ID at species level
Reposted by Lena Grinsted
We’re thrilled to announce the ABC's fourth mentorship-matching event!! 📣📣
This is a unique opportunity for you to meet and connect with experienced mentors. The mentorship match event - more of an informal "vibe check" - will be on Nov 6 2025 at 14:00 GMT 🐝🐝
Help us spread the word!! #mentorship
This is a unique opportunity for you to meet and connect with experienced mentors. The mentorship match event - more of an informal "vibe check" - will be on Nov 6 2025 at 14:00 GMT 🐝🐝
Help us spread the word!! #mentorship
October 29, 2025 at 1:50 PM
We’re thrilled to announce the ABC's fourth mentorship-matching event!! 📣📣
This is a unique opportunity for you to meet and connect with experienced mentors. The mentorship match event - more of an informal "vibe check" - will be on Nov 6 2025 at 14:00 GMT 🐝🐝
Help us spread the word!! #mentorship
This is a unique opportunity for you to meet and connect with experienced mentors. The mentorship match event - more of an informal "vibe check" - will be on Nov 6 2025 at 14:00 GMT 🐝🐝
Help us spread the word!! #mentorship
Reposted by Lena Grinsted
In his only interview before next month’s Cop30 climate summit, UN secretary-general António Guterres acknowledged it is now “inevitable” that humanity will overshoot the target in the Paris climate agreement, with “devastating consequences” for the world.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘Change course now’: humanity has missed 1.5C climate target, says UN head
Exclusive: ‘Devastating consequences’ now inevitable but emissions cuts still vital, says António Guterres in sole interview before Cop30
www.theguardian.com
October 28, 2025 at 8:55 AM
In his only interview before next month’s Cop30 climate summit, UN secretary-general António Guterres acknowledged it is now “inevitable” that humanity will overshoot the target in the Paris climate agreement, with “devastating consequences” for the world.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Lena Grinsted
My lab is hiring a 2-yr hummingbird evolution and genomics postdoc and a 1-yr salaried research and lab tech. Both with full U. Wyoming benefits. Please spread the word! Info below. Best consideration date Nov 1, start dates early Spring 2026.
October 14, 2025 at 8:08 PM
My lab is hiring a 2-yr hummingbird evolution and genomics postdoc and a 1-yr salaried research and lab tech. Both with full U. Wyoming benefits. Please spread the word! Info below. Best consideration date Nov 1, start dates early Spring 2026.