Probably the 20th conference of my careers but the first time @ausmammals.bsky.social conference. Won't be my last. I've never seen so much love and sadness, passion and persistence, and so much grit.
Ashley Dungan, PhD (she/her)
@symb10sis.bsky.social
Conservation microbiome scientist | Using microbes to improve wildlife health, resilience & conservation outcomes | Host–microbe evolution | University of Melbourne, Australia
Does it get better than microbial ecology + dogs
Microbiome@microbiomej.bsky.social · 3mo agoIn #Microbiome 🦠A role for gut microbes in police dog performance 🔍Studying the gut microbiome in Kunming dogs at different ages to find microbes & gut compounds (metabolites) associated with improved police performance Read more👉 doi.org/q4rh #OpenAccess #Gut #Dog
We have an early New Year present for you: 🎁The new #MVIF program is out🎁 Highlights: 🇳🇵 Bishwash Thapa 🇮🇷 Zahra Nezamivand Chegini Keynote: 🇨🇭 @saramitri.bsky.social Talks: 🇺🇸 @liliancaesar.bsky.social 🇮🇹 Haseeb Manzoor 🇦🇹 Laurenz Holcik Free registration: cassyni.com/s/mvif-45 See you in January!
Contribute to the ISME20 programme by organising your own Roundtable Session! The deadline for submitting your proposal is 7 February 2026. For more information and submission guidelines, please visit: isme-microbes.org/isme20-call-... #isme20
Hello — I’m a conservation microbial ecologist at the University of Melbourne.
Calling all #wildlife and #veterinary #immunologists in Europe — I’m looking for a host lab for a short training grant! My work bridges microbiology and immunology, and I’m eager to finally get some hands-on ELISA training.
Also @hannahgreich.bsky.social shared this great resource with me for anyone else on the hunt: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Ecology/Evolution/Marine Biology labs recruiting for Fall 2026 (Responses)
docs.google.com
ICYMI: New online! The gut microbiome shapes social behaviour across animal species
The gut microbiome shapes social behaviour across animal species
Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 14 November 2025; doi:10.1038/s41579-025-01262-yThe gut microbiome can influence brain activity and complex behaviours. In this Review, Griffiths et al. discuss microbiome-associated effects on social behaviour in laboratory model organisms, free-living animals and humans, and consider potential mechanistic pathways.
nature.com
I'm building a genome database that includes as many terrestrial Australian arthropods as I can find- this is a tool that I hope to use to clairify the diet of native mammals from faecal samples. If you or anyone you know might have some unique genomes that are not on NCBI, please get in touch.
Starting this week, I set aside one hour each week to meet ECRs outside my group who want to discuss career development, mentorship, or any non-technical professional questions. Here is a blog that explains my motivation for this and how to schedule a meeting: merenlab.org/2025/11/16/E...
ECR connection: Meet Meren when you need to
A means for ECRs to get advice from a senior scientist outside of their support network
merenlab.org
Guess what, QueerFam? We’re hosting the #LGBTIQA+ STEMM Day symposium at Swinburne Uni (MELB.) on 18 Nov. 2025. We’d love for you to join us — incl. special session on Trans+ health & wellbeing + networking. Info: queersinscience.org.au/event/lgbtqi... Tickets: www.trybooking.com/events/landi...
🎉ASM is pleased to launch ASM Animal Microbiology🎉 Submit your original research & reviews now! The journal's EiC is José Vázquez-Boland, DVM, Ph.D., Chair of Infectious Diseases at the University of Edinburgh! @edinuni-irr.bsky.social ➡️ Read PR: brnw.ch/21wVUHf ➡️ Submit Now! brnw.ch/21wVUHe
Early-career researchers: want to run your own lab? 🌟Max Planck Research Groups offer 6+ years, up to €2.7M in funding, open-topic freedom, team support & tenure-track opportunities. Intrigued? 😃Apply by Oct 14, 2025! www.mpg.de/max-planck-r...
Please RT! 📢 #Doctoral / #PhD position available with us at Leibniz-IZW for 4 years working at the interface of #wildlife + #disease #ecology, #veterinary sciences and #modelling. 🐗🐗🐗🐦🐦🐦 Training within #DFG #RTG 3069 led by @freieuniversitaet.bsky.social ▶️Apply here for P7: tinyurl.com/j2ehtz7m
It's been a whirlwind 20 months, but I'm finally here. For those of you who haven't met me, I'm a microbial ecologist based out of the University of Melbourne. I apply microbial ecology principles to try and improve conservation outcomes for native Australian species.