April 2026

Papers:

Emergent predictability in microbial ecosystems

Moran J., et al. 2026. Science 392: eadr1440.

A fascinating look at how we can understand and predict complex bacterial communities. It suggests that bacterial communities exhibit an "emergent predictability." The authors claim species are constrained by physiological or environmental variables that they all share. The feedback between the species and these variables generates the emergent predictability. Seems like it is time for experimentalists to find these variables and show that understanding the feedback creates understanding of the community!

Books:

"The Sirens' Call" By Chris Hayes

I've enjoyed learning about how technology is sapping our attention and how we can work to grab it back. While I admit I am a work in progress, I continue to struggle to plug my ears with wool and avoid the siren.

Podcasts:

Really enjoyed this interview and commentary from Andrew Akbashev. It provides some tough truths about the academic job market, as well as some things that I don't necessarily agree with. I personally think doing a longer post doc isn't necessarily a bad thing, and gave me the chance to further develop expertise and skills.

March 2026

Papers:

Interferometric Image Scanning Microscopy for label-free imaging at 120 nm lateral resolution inside live cells

Küppers M and Moerner W.E. 2026. Light: Science & Applications 15: 129.

A fantastic work from my graduate lab combining iSCAT and ISM! I remember being intrigued by ISM while I was in grad school, but never quite having the opportunity to apply it, so it's nice to see an elegant application. I am interested to see how much iSCAT can be pushed for label-free imaging in the future. How reliable is it? How much can you differentiate in messy biological samples? What to very different things look like (like bacteria)?

Enantiomer sensing enables social avoidance by bacterial spores

Comerci C.J. et al. 2026. iScience 29: 114967.

A bit of a selfless plug for my own work ...

Books:

Finishing up "Project Hail Mary" By Andy Weir

Podcasts:

Behind the Microscope - Working my way through their catalogue and largely enjoying it. It's a bit focused on MD/PhD, but still a lot of great advice for academics.

February 2026

Papers:

From sequence to function: Bridging single-molecule kinetics and molecular diversity

Kapanidis A.N. et al. 2026. Science 391: 458-65.

As a graduate student, I remember critiquing a single-molecule paper and a peer mentioning the low N. The professor (a SM expert) immediately pointed out how much time it probably took to get that many N. With SM experience of my own, I deeply appreciate now the work that goes into SM experiments. It's great to have a review highlighting how we can multiplex some of these experiments and garner even more information.

The cell as a collection of protein machines: Preparing the next generation of molecular biologists

Alberts, B. 1998. Cell 92: 291-294.

I have always been fascinated with how cells manage to coordinate the seeming randomness of molecular biology to achieve specific functions. This extends beyond the protein machines so elegantly described in this overview to include using noise to their advantage and complex genetic and biochemical circuits to provide precise outcomes dictated by signaling inputs. As a biophysicist, I of course love to see biology students encouraged to take chemistry and physics, since they open up so many of the cell's mysteries.

Books:

"Project Hail Mary" By Andy Weir

Podcasts:

"Are we turning the tide on superbugs?" from Behind the Science

I'm looking forward to hearing more from the Fleming Initiative in the future. Also, it's great to hear the argument being made for more people to get involved in this VERY impactful field!