Posts made in June, 2019

It is time to say goodbye…

… to Reinder and Alfredo.

As the EES grant comes to a close, we are sad to see some of our friends move on, but excited about the opportunities they have created for themselves.

Reinder is now a researcher in statistical genetics at Wageningen University & Research Institute, which is THE place to be for agriculture, environmental and food science. His work on maternal effects, plasticity and evolvability will undoubtedly prove useful also to domesticated plants and animals.

Alfredo also leaves us, in this case for a postdoc in Copenhagen. After a couple of years with theory, he is now ready to get his hands dirty with data again. The aim is to reveal the molecular complexities of maternal-fetal communication, a perfect opportunity to transfer skills between evolutionary and developmental biology!

Although it is sad for all of us to see them leave, it is particularly sad for Tobias – they have known each other since the Oxford years, when Reinder did a postdoc with Ben Sheldon and Alfredo his MSc with Tobias. They have been fantastic friends and colleagues – always positive, helpful, and engaged. Hats off for everything you have taught us over the years.

See you soon!!

 

 

 

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Summer cottage getaway

All visitors to Sweden should experience that summer cottage feeling! Accordingly, the group packed their thermal underwear, swim trunks, shorts and rain coats and headed to Tobias’ family’s cottage in Värmland. All outfits came to good use since we had typical Swedish summer weather – blue sky followed by rain, and then glorious weather when we had to leave. Just like every year.

View from the veranda on day 1…. and day 2…

Germs, lizards and field work cut our numbers this time. But the rest of us had a great time – relaxing, birding, fishing, swimming, and beaver watching, enjoying local art exhibitions, cultural history, snaps, and grillkvällar… or, to quote Yang: “we managed to do and see everything we were promised – and in addition we watched the Champion’s League final!”

What can we catch here – pike? perch? pikeperch?… hang on, what did you just say!?  
Yang and Roman are off for an adventure! They did come back eventually.

 


A beaver with unfinished business, perhaps the one that swam past this morning?

 


Summer lunch with traditional food, snaps and songs. The students are getting younger every year…

 

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