It was amazing to work on this with so many amazing people from every career stage imaginable. So special to be a small part of this paper. A huge shoutout to @oceanfilly.bsky.social to getting this over the finish line!

Brooke Fitzwater, PhD (she/her) 🐟🪱🏳️‍🌈♾️@oceanfilly.bsky.social · 7d ago

I am beyond excited to share that our paper, "Neurodivergent Perceptions, Experiences, and Perspectives in Academic Biological Sciences Spaces" has been published! A 🧵incoming because this paper is so special to me and the co-authors. doi.org/10.1093/icb/...

I am beyond excited to share that our paper, "Neurodivergent Perceptions, Experiences, and Perspectives in Academic Biological Sciences Spaces" has been published! A 🧵incoming because this paper is so special to me and the co-authors. doi.org/10.1093/icb/...

Neurodivergent Perceptions, Experiences, and Perspectives in Academic Biological Sciences Spaces

Abstract. Neurodiversity has received considerable attention recently from the general population and academic researchers, coinciding with an increase in

doi.org

This paper shares perspectives from myself, @taorminalepore.bsky.social, @chronictox.bsky.social, @neurocait.bsky.social, @wobbologist.bsky.social, @arielsteele.bsky.social, @schulzscience.bsky.social, @sarahknutie.bsky.social, @noahwithfish.bsky.social + others. go.bsky.app/1hJWgm

Methods used to study these systems—CT scanning, histology, finite element analysis, & mechanical testing—directly influence how the biological principles of armor are defined and understood. @karlycohen.bsky.social @cmdonatelli.bsky.social @schulzscience.bsky.social et al doi.org/10.1093/icb/...

Thank you @maxplanck.de for introducing the network! My local institute published a post about an interview I did - is.mpg.de/news/a-netwo...

A network for all neurodivergent employees of the Max Planck Society

This article is based on an interview with Andrew K. Schulz, an Alexander von Humboldt postdoctoral fellow and postdoctoral researcher in the Haptic Intelligence Department at the Max Planck Institute...

is.mpg.de

Max-Planck-Gesellschaft@maxplanck.de · 4mo ago

NeurodivergNet is a grassroots network founded by and for neurodivergent employees of the Max Planck Society. A place where people can connect & support one another, as well as a platform for collaboration on raising awareness and advocating for accessibility in the field of #neurodiversity.

Very, very happy about receiving this grant!!! Thank you @hfspo.bsky.social for supporting us.

MPI for Biological Intelligence@mpiforbi.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Congratulations to our Research Group leader @susannehoffmann.bsky.social on receiving a Human Frontier Science Program (@hfspo.bsky.social) Research Grant! 👏 🎉 Together with her Colombian collaborator, she will investigate how birds navigate using echolocation. 📸 phototrip.cz – stock.adobe.com

NeurodivergNet is a grassroots network founded by and for neurodivergent employees of the Max Planck Society. A place where people can connect & support one another, as well as a platform for collaboration on raising awareness and advocating for accessibility in the field of #neurodiversity.

Neurodivergnet | A network by and for neurodivergent scientists

A grassroots network created by and for neurodivergent scientists in academia.

neurodivergnet.net

With an emphasis on first-hand accounts, this collection @elife.bsky.social provides insights into the diverse experiences of #neurodivergent academics. It also highlights ways that research could become more neuroinclusive. elifesciences.org/collections/... w/th @schulzscience.bsky.social

Elefanten können mit ihrem Rüssel einen Tortillachip greifen, ohne ihn zu zerdrücken. Wie das geht? Ihre Tasthaare sind besitzen einen einzigartigen Härteverlauf – eine Art physische Intelligenz, die nun erstmals entschlüsselt wurde. #repost

Intelligente Rüsselhaare: Forscher entschlüsseln den feinfühligen Tastsinn von Elefanten

Warum Elefantentasthaare im Tierreich einzigartig sind – und was die Robotik davon lernen kann.

spektrum.de

Feinfühliges Tastorgan Warum Elefanten mit ihrem Rüssel so geschickt sind ===== Functional gradients facilitate tactile sensing in elephant whiskers www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... ===== Elefanten können mit ihrem Rüssel Erstaunliches leisten. Forschende haben jetzt herausgefunden,

Functional gradients facilitate tactile sensing in elephant whiskers

Keratin composites enable animals to hike with hooves, fly with feathers, and sense with skin. Mammalian whiskers are elongated keratin rods attached to tactile skin structures that extend the animal’...

science.org

Elephant trunks can both rip down trees and gently pluck peanuts because their trunk whiskers contain a stiffness gradient, allowing them to sense fine contours and adjust their grip strength accordingly! 🧪 www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

So great! Mechanical engineers study the physics of elephant whiskers. Unlike mice, elephants don’t whisk. The physics of their whiskers suggests they amplify touch. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Functional gradients facilitate tactile sensing in elephant whiskers

Keratin composites enable animals to hike with hooves, fly with feathers, and sense with skin. Mammalian whiskers are elongated keratin rods attached to tactile skin structures that extend the animal’...

science.org

How does an elephant peel a banana? The answer involves whiskers, a new study says. Researchers have studied rat and mouse whiskers, but these key organs for elephants have been largely overlooked and may help explain their extraordinary dexterity.

Scientists have discovered one of elephants’ most sensitive secrets

Researchers have studied rat and mouse whiskers, but these key organs for elephants have been largely overlooked.

washingtonpost.com

Unique structure of elephant whiskers give them built-in sensing “intelligence.” The material properties change gradually from base to tip for better navigation, more precise manipulation. arstechnica.com/science/2026...

Unique structure of elephant whiskers give them built-in sensing "intelligence"

The material properties change gradually from base to tip for better navigation, more precise manipulation.

arstechnica.com

The secret to the elephant's amazing sense of touch is in its unusual whiskers. The findings will be used in the development of new robot-assisted sensor technologies that mimic the stiffness of the #elephant tactile hairs. www.mpg.de/26113474/ele... @mpi-is.bsky.social

Elephant whiskers exhibit material intelligence for touch sensing

YouTube video by Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems

youtube.com

Another story here-- congrats to the authors for their excellent science and broad attention! www.nytimes.com/2026/02/12/s...

An Elephant Is Blind Without Its Whiskers

nytimes.com

Hello world. One of my favorite fun facts to share about elephants…their trunks are covered in whiskers, with built-in intelligence! If that got your attention…check out our new paper in @science.org www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

On the sensitivity of elephant trunk whiskers that derives from their anatomy and mechanical properties; work by bsky.app/profile/schu... et al. : www.scientificamerican.com/article/elep... (with a little end statement from me)

How the elephant got its stiff whiskers

Pachyderm whiskers are more flexible at the tip than the base, allowing elephants to complete delicate tasks with their incredibly strong trunks

scientificamerican.com

Have you read ICB's issue 6 yet? with Applied #ecoimmunology in #wildlife health and #conservation & authors @schulzscience.bsky.social @karlycohen.bsky.social Cohen @thomsanger.bsky.social Sanger @cmdonatelli.bsky.social Donatelli Stacy Farina and more! academic.oup.com/icb/issue/65/6

Just in time for the break - I'm excited that a review I've been working on with Florian Hartmann and their team has been published in Advanced Science. We highlight ecosystem-centered design in this work - open access! advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

I forgot to post here, but here is my new medium blog post: medium.com/@SchulzScien...

An Autistic Academic — A Happy? Birthday

My birthday is on November 19 and since I was a child I remember it being a strange time. Before college I don’t think I felt like I had a…

medium.com

Excited to have the opportunity to share my perspective on comparative biomechanics in a plenary at this year's SICB meeting. Grateful to my mentors/collabs/students for their support along the way, and very honored to receive the Gans Young Investigator Award!

I wrote a new blog post about being an #AuDHD academic and what life is like with and without wearing a mask...I hope to post blogs more regularly going forward!

An Autistic Academic — Mask Off

Experiencing a day at work with and without masking as an autistic academic has made me realize how much energy it takes to keep that…

medium.com

Recently returned from the Humboldt Postdoctoral Fellows Study Tour across Germany with people spanning six contents visiting over 20 Germany cities in 13 days. It was one incredible trip with friends that will definitely last a lifetime! #myfellowfellows

‼️ Attention ASB’ers! ‼️ Spread the word: The Postdoc Affinity Group will be at Il Tetto at Sienna Mercato (942 Penn Ave) Wednesday night starting at 7pm. Swing by to meet up with fellow ASB postdocs. Can’t wait to see you there! FYI: Senior PhD students interested in postdocing are also welcome.

✨Some news✨: after finishing my postdoc, I’ll be starting my lab as an Assistant Professor at Georgia Tech. Join us in Atlanta to study how joints work and where they come from!

The call for applications has just been released for #CV4Ecology2026!! This three-week intensive program trains ecologists and conservation practitioners to develop their own AI tools for their own data. When: Jan 12-30, 2026 Where: SCBI @smconservation.bsky.social

This week has been tough for several reasons. I have been struggling to put it in words, but finally sat down and did some writing.

An Autistic Academic

This week, I read several articles highlighting the press conference of the HHS secretary declaring that autism is a growing “epidemic.”

medium.com

Hey Bluesky! @sicb.bsky.social 's Divisions of Comparative Biomechanics and Vertebrate Morphology are here! We're here to share any position opportunities and keep you updated on DCB and DVM activities. Give us a follow and feel free to send any postings our way.

1/46 Hey folks, we have a new paper out on the MuLTEE. Strap in and I’ll tell you the story of how this “little paper on polyploidy” turned into the most data rich paper our lab has produced, largely thanks to the leadership and work ethic of @kaitong25.bsky.social. www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Genome duplication in a long-term multicellularity evolution experiment - Nature

In the Multicellularity Long Term Evolution Experiment, diploid yeast evolve to be tetraploid under selection for larger multicellular size, revealing how whole-genome duplication can arise due to its...

nature.com