Sebastian R.vH
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sebastianrvh.bsky.social
Sebastian R.vH
@sebastianrvh.bsky.social
4.4K followers 1K following 450 posts
PhD Researcher using eDNA for wildlife conservation & forensics 🧬 🐾

University of Aberdeen 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 | QUADRAT DTP
MSc² | he/him 🏳️‍🌈 | Views my own

Getting back into photography after a 10 year hiatus | 📷 FujiFilm X-Pro1

https://linktr.ee/sebastianrvh
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sebastianrvh.bsky.social
Sebastian R.vH @sebastianrvh.bsky.social · Jan 11
Hello y'all! I wanted to take a beat and re-introduce myself;

👋, I’m a PhD student in Aberdeen 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 trying to make #wildlife conservation more accessible by using #eDNA and other methods 🧬🧪🧑‍🔬👇

More recently, I have rekindled my love with #photography & I'll be sharing my journey with my FujiFilm 📷 ✨
Picture of me, on the left, wearing a dark rain coat in front of a green, mossy floor. I am looking through my camera, trying to take a close up picture of mushrooms that are in front of me A picture of a robin bird in the centre, with its distinctive red breast, surrounded by branches covered in heavy white snow Poster header containing the title of one of my chapters: Next-generation diagnostic technologies for DNA based biosurveillance of non-native mussels in the South Atlantic. The picture contains logos of both the University of Aberdeen and the Environmental Research Institute of the South Atlantic, as well as the names of the researcher in question (Sebastian van Hellemondt) and collaborators and supervisory team. Another picture shows the map of South America, highlighting the island of the Falklands, combined with a picture of the target species the Blue Mussel (Mytilus edulis). Two textboxes, namely Introduction and Research Question, highlight the need for a rapid species identification method for the invasive blue mussel in the Falklands. This is being done by applying isothermal amplification and lateral flow assays.
Reposted by Sebastian R.vH
sheardcat.bsky.social
Like big trait databases? Think biology should think about humans more? Fascinated by house plants?

My fantastic colleagues and I are advertising a PhD project based at the University of Aberdeen on the ornamental plant trade. Come join us!

www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
QUARTILES DLA CASE: Trait-based drivers of the ornamental plant trade at University of Aberdeen on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - QUARTILES DLA CASE: Trait-based drivers of the ornamental plant trade at University of Aberdeen , listed on FindAPhD.com
www.findaphd.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Reposted by Sebastian R.vH
sheardcat.bsky.social
Also, if instead of plants 🪴 you want to work on dolphins 🐬, my colleague David Fisher is offering the coolest-sounding project on dolphin behaviour: www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
QUARTILES DLA: Bottlenose dolphin responses to shipping traffic: sociality, behaviour and welfare outcomes at University of Aberdeen on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - QUARTILES DLA: Bottlenose dolphin responses to shipping traffic: sociality, behaviour and welfare outcomes at University of Aberdeen , listed on FindAPhD.com
www.findaphd.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:29 PM
sebastianrvh.bsky.social
An absolutely EYE catching project, with a great group & and an even greater supervisor!
November 20, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Reposted by Sebastian R.vH
agentlaughingperch.bsky.social
Looking forward to this week's department seminar with Rob Wilson @robwilsonmncn.bsky.social from the #science museum in Madrid, invited by @camilarocabado.bsky.social
A seminar slide in a lecture theatre which reads: population and community effects of global change revealed by butterflies
November 20, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Reposted by Sebastian R.vH
rowankuminski.bsky.social
Last year I wrote this for Transgender Awareness Week because of the challenges I've faced in my institution. Sharing it again as this week we celebrate trans identities and remember those who have been targeted for being themselves
www.britishecologicalsociety.org/five-steps-t...
Five steps towards being a trans ally - BES
Five steps towards being a trans ally - BES is the largest scientific society for ecologists in Europe. We're working towards a world in which nature and people thrive.
www.britishecologicalsociety.org
November 18, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Reposted by Sebastian R.vH
838carlisle.bsky.social
edited photo of a bear with a glamour shots background
September 10, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Reposted by Sebastian R.vH
alexbrighten1.bsky.social
Reflecting on #BESMove2025, nice couple days chatting all things #MovementEcology and meeting friends old & new. Thank you @besmovesig.bsky.social and the meeting organisers for your hard work to deliver a stacked and smooth running schedule and fun socials. Looking forward to the next one!
Top left; UEA broad just after sunrise; top right meeting welcome sign; lower left reflections of a bridge; lower right my poster and me.
September 5, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Reposted by Sebastian R.vH
tillysscott.bsky.social
Here are all the talks I attended and sketched at #ESEB2025 ! Only a fraction of the 642 speakers at the conference 😮

I had an absolutely amazing week chatting about lots of fascinating science

#sciart #eseb #esebcongress @eseb2025.bsky.social
September 2, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Reposted by Sebastian R.vH
alexbrighten1.bsky.social
It’s already been a week since #EOU2025! Fun week meeting and chatting cool bird science & geeking out at the cool tech! Presented another poster made from my tent in Bulgaria. 😅 Even got work done on the 14hr train journey, 🌱 but France took my Leatherman; rookie error not checking my field pack! 🥲
Collage of photos from the European Ornithological Union (EOU) conference 2025. Clockwise from top left: an amazing plenary about robust avian science by Antica Culina with a slide on FAIR data; a tiny solar GPS transmitter, the Menai bridge at sunrise; me and my poster; Welsh flag with bonus Welsh jackdaw; Vogelwarte research group; first Guinness after 2.5 months in Switzerland; cool hummingbird mural on a house; and in the centre: Vogelwarte research group - Team Alpine Swift-Barn Owl-Dipper et al!
August 30, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Reposted by Sebastian R.vH
agentlaughingperch.bsky.social
Very moving presentation from one of the recipients of the EUEA award from @eseb.bsky.social . As a trans academic myself, seeing effort being put into inclusivity has been refreshing. Thank you for platforming this topic and supporting people like this speaker 🏳️‍⚧️
A picture of a presentation slide which reads "The path to freedom, surviving as a trans academic". To the left is also a banner displaying the logo of the ESEB conference and in front are a few chairs facing the stage. Another presentation slide which contains some Qr code links to resources and some steps which academics could take to make space for trans academics. These steps are as follows: - apply for DEI grants - support LGBTQ+ scholarship funds - learn about local medical/legal systems to offer newly-arrived colleagues guidance - Avoid harmful rhetoric and behaviours
August 22, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Reposted by Sebastian R.vH
tillysscott.bsky.social
I'm excited for my @eseb2025.bsky.social presentation later today. I'm part of the symposium on the Genomic Basis of Evolutionary Innovations! I will have stickers to give out too (if bribery is required for attendance) 😁

#eseb2025 #sciart #eseb
August 19, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Reposted by Sebastian R.vH
tillysscott.bsky.social
I've had a wonderful 1st day at @eseb2025.bsky.social Here are the sketches from some of the talks I attended today. My highlights include Tristan on the adaptive genomics of colour spots on owls, Vicky on pearl mussel's response to climate change & Rebekah on firefly TEs & TE-induced mutations
August 18, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Reposted by Sebastian R.vH
agentlaughingperch.bsky.social
Looking forward to presenting my poster later at ESEB 2025 🐸 board 166 come find me if you're here
A person standing in front of a scientific poster and smiling
August 18, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Reposted by Sebastian R.vH
ellalillyy.bsky.social
I have been trying to make time for pottery alongside my PhD. I did my first official market last weekend at the Bowhouse. I was very nervous before but it was so lovely to speak to so many people about my work! I have added a few leftover pieces to my new website the-puffins-burrow.sumupstore.com 🐧
August 17, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Reposted by Sebastian R.vH
blahttodea.bsky.social
the big butterfly count starts this friday! all you have to do is spend 15 mins outside and log your butterfly/day-flying moth sightings. it's super easy to log your sessions on the website or app (click the link in the below post) and they have id guides to help too! 🦋
savebutterflies.bsky.social Butterfly Conservation @savebutterflies.bsky.social · Jul 2
Here are just a few of the brilliant butterflies and moths to look out for in your gardens and green spaces this month! 🦋🌻🌿
See how many you can spot in the Big Butterfly Count from 18 July - 10 August 👉 bigbutterflycount.org
Butterflies and moths to see in July. 9 species are shown including the common blue, painted lady, peacock and garden tiger.
July 16, 2025 at 3:11 PM
sebastianrvh.bsky.social
why did nobody tell me that there is a small strait between two small islands off the westcoast of Scotland that has the worlds THIRD largest whirlpool, which also caused George Orwell (YES THAT ORWELL) to shipwreck with his 3-year old son
July 3, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Reposted by Sebastian R.vH
meta-kittiwake.bsky.social
Using #genetics to sex #Seabirds? 👉 New #openaccess #Methods note published today (optimize don't reinvent👍). No PhD student is an island: huge thanks to co-authors, collaborators and funders. #ornithology @ukri.org @uniofaberdeen.bsky.social doi.org/10.1007/s126... @springernature.com
A modified primer-pair designed for the molecular sex identification of black-legged Kittiwake (Laridae: Rissa tridactyla) - Conservation Genetics Resources
In studies of avian populations accurate sex identification facilitates the study of sex-linked behaviour, ecology, social structure, decision-making, and life histories. To improve molecular sex iden...
doi.org
July 2, 2025 at 3:51 PM
sebastianrvh.bsky.social
#Question! For the #eDNA crowd.

My lab has polyethersulfone membrane filters, but the expiration date is December 2023. Does anybody know if I can still use these filters? They're still sealed etc.

#PhDSky #AcademicSky #environmentalDNA 🧪🧬
July 2, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Reposted by Sebastian R.vH
rowankuminski.bsky.social
At the end of #Pride every year I post this because I would not be where I am without the friends, mentors, and Allies who have gotten me through the hardest years of my life at Aberdeen. Happy Pride to those who provide me with support, safety, and hope so I can do what I love, study seabirds 💙
A light pink background with a digital drawing of several seabkrds standing together in a group: the bird in the front center is a fulmar, which has the colours of the non-binary flag (yellow, white, purple, black); the birds behind it are seabirds (gulls, auklets, penguins, terns, and a guillemot) in their normal colours
June 27, 2025 at 1:28 PM
sebastianrvh.bsky.social
I just got informed that whales are considered as ungulates. I am unhappy.

(please don’t ask me to elaborate I still don’t fully understand)

#phylogeny #whales #ungulates
June 27, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Reposted by Sebastian R.vH
gallowayselkie.bsky.social
Got to hang out with a bunch of cool people from Biota Trace testing out an automated sampler (lovingly known as my wee robot pal) to collect water samples from Loch Craignish. @seawilding.bsky.social were also kind enough to let us use their shed and kept us company 😁 🐟 🤖
June 26, 2025 at 8:07 PM
sebastianrvh.bsky.social
I’ve reached the point in my PhD where I need to redo my experiments because the initial analysis was wrong

which I found out by reanalysing said results a SECOND time with a different (better) program

so I can generate results and analyse those for a THIRD time.

ah joy

#PhDSky #AcademicSky
A nonsensical picture of a non-descript person with smooth mannikin-esk head, wearing a white labcoat and pink gloves holding a flask with pink liquid. They are standing in front of a pink/purple background with scribbles of chemical reagents. In big back letters in the left hand corner of the picture it reads “SCOIENS”
June 25, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Reposted by Sebastian R.vH
blahttodea.bsky.social
first day back in work after a few weeks and it brings me a lot of joy seeing our pride month noticeboard 💕 (also knowing how mad this board makes the department bigot)
blue noticeboard covered in various posters and flyers and decorated with progress flag bunting along the top and side. many of the posters are related to pride month, as well as others advertising various activities around the department/uni/local community
June 24, 2025 at 11:59 AM
sebastianrvh.bsky.social
uhm since when can you catch pokemon in google!?

There’s a progress bar and animation and everything!!?

#Pokemon #Google #PokemonGo
A screenshot of googling the Pokemon Medicham, which shows pictures of the Pokemon and a small Pokeball in the righthand corner A screenshow showing the option to “Carch a Pokemon”. There is a button to “Search to Catch” and a progress bar of 0/151 Pokemon caught. The Pokemon’s silhouette is Graveler, with the hint being “Evolves into Golem” A screenshot of the Pokemon Haunter being caught with a Pokeball, infront of the google search screen
June 23, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Reposted by Sebastian R.vH
tegangaetano.bsky.social
I have to highlight this amazing profile created for #PollinatorWeek and the folks studying them by the @uniofaberdeen.bsky.social Zoo & Roots student organisation.

❤️🐝❤️🐝
June 20, 2025 at 6:53 PM