Ally Swank, MS's Avatar

Ally Swank, MS

@allydefduf

PhD student at Boston University studying coral population structure and cryptic speciation in the Davies Lab πŸͺΈπŸ§¬πŸ³οΈβ€πŸŒˆ (they/them)

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24.09.2023
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Latest posts by Ally Swank, MS @allydefduf

Very proud of this perspective that came out of some really interesting and difficult conversations with friends and colleagues!

TLDR: how do scientists define sex? why does it matter??
#EcoEvo #Ecology #Evolution πŸ§ͺ

06.03.2026 20:22 πŸ‘ 27 πŸ” 13 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Eppley et al (2026) "We believe that acknowledging limitations and assumptions of current definitions of sex will lead to more accurate science." πŸ§ͺ

06.03.2026 21:58 πŸ‘ 16 πŸ” 8 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

omg another paper with @madeline-eppley.bsky.social and @allydefduf.bsky.social accepted!!!

Extra proud of this one (and also really nervous for it to come out). We thought a lot about how biologists define sex in our research. Out soon in Ecology Letters!

11.02.2026 14:08 πŸ‘ 7 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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There is No Consensus on Biological Sex At this critical moment when misinformation about sex is being applied to policy globally, scientific clarification on the definition of biological sex is valuable. Here, we evaluate the primary appr...

New paper out in ecology letters! with @andylee.bsky.social @allydefduf.bsky.social

We synthesized the active debate on how scientists define sex, including limitations and assumptions. We believe this discussion will lead to more accurate science.

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

06.03.2026 20:14 πŸ‘ 60 πŸ” 32 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 1
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I am super stoked to have been awarded the STRI Short Term Fellowship to work with @mattleray.bsky.social on my second dissertation chapter! In just one month, I’ll be evaluating differences in thermal tolerance, light adaptation, and phenomes across cryptic lineages in Bocas del Toro, PanamΓ‘ πŸͺΈ

23.12.2024 03:31 πŸ‘ 12 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0
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I had a fantastic time presenting on a forthcoming manuscript at Boston University with co-author @allydefduf.bsky.social last week! Thank you to BU and @daviesswphd.bsky.social for the invite. Stay tuned for our ✨pre-print✨, which will be available soon!! #QueerInSTEM

10.12.2024 15:10 πŸ‘ 10 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

As someone who studies evidence-based data-driven environmental activism and policymaking, a thing I really need everyone to know is that "does this actually help" is an answerable, and often already answered, question.

We don't need you to reinvent the wheel poorly.

We don't need you to guess.

03.12.2024 13:49 πŸ‘ 90 πŸ” 16 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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Terrible news today:

This year, one-third of coral cover has been destroyed in two northern sections of the Great Barrier reef due to anthropogenic heating.

Results for the southern sections (which were even hotter) have not been officially released.

www.aims.gov.au/information-...

18.11.2024 23:47 πŸ‘ 5510 πŸ” 1155 πŸ’¬ 230 πŸ“Œ 101

coming down to the wires on #LGBTQSTEMDay to share a little starter pack of QPOC EEB scientists!!

help grow this community and nominate your fave QPOC EEBer! CCmment/DM if you'd like to be added, I would love to connect :)

go.bsky.app/S5fpXWm

19.11.2024 04:21 πŸ‘ 86 πŸ” 48 πŸ’¬ 9 πŸ“Œ 0

this is the energy we need. πŸ”₯

19.11.2024 02:37 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

#LGBTQInSTEM day isn’t over yet! Here’s a starter pack of LGBTQIA+ graduate students (PhD & MS) in marine science! πŸŒŠπŸ³οΈβ€πŸŒˆπŸ³οΈβ€βš§οΈβœ¨

It’s so important to build microcommunities! They can provide support from others at the same career stage who hold similar identities.

Comment if you’d like to be added! πŸ§ͺ🧬

19.11.2024 02:07 πŸ‘ 35 πŸ” 15 πŸ’¬ 10 πŸ“Œ 0

Happy #LGBTQSTEMday! More than a decade (!) ago, I asked a social scientist friend to help build a study of queer identities in science careers after my literature searches came up empty β€”Β this year I helped with an evidence review that found SO MUCH on the topic, and still room for more work.

19.11.2024 01:31 πŸ‘ 87 πŸ” 35 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0
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All - Bluesky Directory A curated collection of all things relating to the Blue Sky social media platform.

Starter packs are genius, but I was surprised there wasn't a list of them for people to find.

So I built it:
blueskydirectory.com/starter-pack...

The website monitors the packs being shared and adds the ones it finds to the database.

Missed your stater pack? Message me and I'll get it added.

11.11.2024 16:13 πŸ‘ 6548 πŸ” 2964 πŸ’¬ 1111 πŸ“Œ 430
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Many coral 'species' may, in fact, be separate 'cryptic' species! We found that up to 68% of #popgen studies in corals had putative cryptic taxa!! Check out the ms in Peer Community Journal! @peercommunityin.bsky.social
#corals #crypticspecies

peercommunityjournal.org/articles/10....

14.11.2024 23:04 πŸ‘ 25 πŸ” 11 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 2

I am queer in evolutionary biology, and this is such a great idea! Thanks so much for getting this started! πŸ‘‹πŸ»

15.11.2024 15:11 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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I haven’t introduced myself on here yet, but I’m so happy to see this platform growing! #evosky #PrideInSTEM

I’m Ally (they/them πŸ³οΈβ€πŸŒˆ), and I study cryptic coral species, population genomics, and thermal tolerance in the Davies Lab at Boston University. I love climbing, hiking, and women’s sports πŸ§—πŸΌβ›°οΈπŸ’

15.11.2024 15:08 πŸ‘ 32 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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Call for feedback! πŸ³οΈβ€πŸŒˆ if you were at #Evol2024 and came by our poster, please remember to share feedback! πŸ‘‡

If you missed the meeting but are interested in DEI, queer theory, and evo/eco bio frameworks, let’s chat! DM me & I’ll share our poster.

tinyurl.com/mvmms3md

31.07.2024 15:18 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 4 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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We often focus on global surface temperatures as a key metric for climate change.

But as we note in the Climate Trends chapter of the new US 5th National Climate Assessment, we see incontrovertible evidence for climate change across the oceans, land, cryosphere, and atmosphere:

14.11.2023 21:30 πŸ‘ 88 πŸ” 44 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 1
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More & more DNA extractions at VIMS, with good results coming in! Plus some cool sights at the lab. 🌊

02.11.2023 17:28 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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Jazzed to announce BU Biology's 2024 Emerging Scholars in Global Change Biology! Are you an amazing postdoc looking for an awesome professional development activity! Please check this out!
Plz repost! I don't know how to reach everyone on here so any help appreciated!
www.bu.edu/biology/emer...

19.10.2023 20:30 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 7 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 1
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I'm looking to hire a postdoc in coral genomics - $66k/yr plus benefits - follow link for more info - review of apps begins Nov 10 usccareers.usc.edu/job/los-ange...

17.10.2023 03:36 πŸ‘ 53 πŸ” 53 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 5
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Recruiting Postdoc for NSF Funded Project The Puritz Lab of Marine Evolutionary Ecology in the department of Biological Sciences at the University of Rhode Island is recruiting highly motivated applicants for a postdoctoral position starting ...

My lab is currently recruiting two postdoc and/or technician positions.Β  The first position is NSF funded and is investigating how coastal stressors (Β hypoxia, coastal acidification, and low salinity events)Β shape the genomic diversity of eastern oyster populations across the northeastern USA.

15.10.2023 14:18 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 8 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 1
He is working at the new camp you know and there was a girl like 7 years old who’s name was Amani and he was like I have a friend named Amani! And she was like oh wow Amani isn’t a common name is she black too? And he was like yes she is, she is also a really cool shark scientist! And she was like what wow I didn’t know girls could be scientists, I want to be a veterinarian when I grow up! And Gregory said at the end of the day when she was leaving he was like hey Amani promise me you’re gonna be a vet when you grow up ok? And she was like yeah I’m gonna be like your friend Amani!

He is working at the new camp you know and there was a girl like 7 years old who’s name was Amani and he was like I have a friend named Amani! And she was like oh wow Amani isn’t a common name is she black too? And he was like yes she is, she is also a really cool shark scientist! And she was like what wow I didn’t know girls could be scientists, I want to be a veterinarian when I grow up! And Gregory said at the end of the day when she was leaving he was like hey Amani promise me you’re gonna be a vet when you grow up ok? And she was like yeah I’m gonna be like your friend Amani!

This is why I do it. Got this text from my friend about her brother talking to a little camper at his work. Stuff likes this makes the lowest of times worth it.

15.10.2023 18:34 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

The research ongoing in my lab was featured in Boston University's magazine! πŸͺΈ
Check it out to learn more!
www.bu.edu/articles/202...

26.09.2023 20:26 πŸ‘ 10 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0