TWiM 157 letters

Juan writes:

I love symbionts!

Abe writes:

I love symbionts!

I am a mathematics professor married to a neuroscientist.  Science and nature are the focus of our lives.

I listen to all the Microbe.TV podcasts religiously, particularly when doing yard work to maintain the complex ecosystem in the large woods surrounding our rural Wisconsin home.

I can’t wait until my 1-year-old daughter is old enough to use a microscope!

So many great microorganisms to discover in the soil, forest, and stream!

How long until I can get an easy-to-use home DNA/RNA sequencer for our workshop?

-Abe

Aaron writes:

I love symbionts!

Hello TWiM!

My name is Aaron Karlson and I’m a microbiology major at Brigham Young University. I only recently discovered TWiX and am excited to continue to listen. I love the hidden world that’s happening around us and how you help us better understand it!

Elizabeth writes:

I love symbionts!

Hey!

I have been an avid listener for about a year now.  I have a hour long commute so I have been enjoying catching up on past episodes.

Elizabeth A. Wade, BSMB, MLT (ASCP)CM

Chemistry Senior Tech

UNC Lenoir Health Care

Diane writes:

I love symbionts!

Hi all!

I am an avid listener of TWiM, TWiV, TWiP, and TWiEVO and teach Microbiology at Louisburg College in Louisburg, NC. Today it is a steamy 34 degrees, with more humidity than I care to think about. I just finished listening to episode 156 and am very interested in looking at a copy of Microbe for my students. They are challenging me more and more each year, so I continue to search for new material to share with them. Your podcasts are a wonderful source, and I anticipate that the textbook would be another wonderful source. Keep up the great work! I look forward to many more interesting and informative podcasts in the coming weeks and months.

Diane Cook, PhD

Pedro writes:

I love symbionts!

Hi TWIM team,

I want to take this opportunity to thank you all for the great show. I am an entomologist that has developed a great interest in microbial symbionts during my PhD. Back then I was  working with gut symbionts of ants and bees, and now I am currently a postdoc in Brazil working with gut symbionts of lepidopterans. TWIM has helped me substantially in developing a broader view of microbiology, and I really enjoy listening to you all while I am doing lab work. It is the best kind of multi-tasking! I have learned and continue learning a lot with TWIM.

Best wishes,

Pedro

Peter writes:

I love symbionts!

Hi Vin & Co.,

New enough listener here. I am a PhD student in Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.

I really enjoy listening to the TWIX podcasts as I work in the lab. I am a crystallographer so the work can become repetitive when preparing protein. Listening to science-based podcasts is a great way to keep my brain engaged while not feeling like I’m skiving off. Also the broader topics you discuss feels like I’m branching out.

It’s currently 77°F, cloudy and very humid in Dublin.

Keep up the great work,

Peter O’Byrne

Rachel writes:

I love symbionts!

I’m so glad I didn’t miss the chance to enter this competition! Listened to the last one a day late

My name is Rachel and I’m a junior doctor in the UK enjoying twim and hoping it will help as I’m applying for microbiology training posts. I’ve only recently starting listening but I’m already loving it for the interesting microbe stories plus good biochemistry revision.

Thank you!

Yohann writes:

I love symbionts!

Excited to start my major in micro and immunology this fall,

If you could give me one precious advise that you wish someone had told you before starting your journey in this complex yet fascinating culture…

sorry if this is a recurrent question you guys get.

Open to book suggestions or other!

Thank you

Yohann

Anthony writes:

I love symbionts.

If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em?

Thank you.

Ana writes: 

I love symbionts!

Hello fellow symbiophiles!

It has been a long time since I first thought of writing to you to thank you for all the wonderful work you put into all the TWiX podcasts. Today, the inducement of the Microbe book give-away finally moved this desire to the top of the (long) to do list.

I first started listening to TWiV to get up-to-date with my virology, but quickly added TWiM, TWiP and, more recently, TWiEvo to my favourite podcasts list. Just before starting this e-mail I was looking at the list of shows in the microbe.tv website and I am now tempted to add all the remaining ones to my subscription list – I need longer days, please!!

Above all, I love science and learning. I think this has been reflected in a less than linear career path as I have found so many different things distractingly fascinating. I have been a virologist, microbiologist, virologist, molecular biologist and a virologist again, always following the opportunities for what seemed to be interesting jobs. I am happy to report I have done plaque assays, though nowhere close to the TWiV’s hosts epic numbers! Your podcasts are a valuable source of scientific information and banter, and keep me informed on what is going on in the fields I love.

Wishing you all fascinating discoveries and wonderful symbiosis.

Thank you so much,

Ana, from Harpenden, UK, where, after a few weeks of what surprisingly resembled summer, we are back to traditional British summer weather: 21ºC and cloudy

Jayme writes:

I love symbionts!

Hi,

I would just like to say thank you for your show. I discovered it at age fifteen after trawling the internet for answers to my microbe questions and found your podcast, which inspired me to pursue a career in  microbial sciences research. I am now a second year majoring in microbiology and biochemistry and am still loving this show.

Thank you,

Jayme

Linda writes:

I love symbionts!

Hello Twimmers!

It’s great to get in touch from Sydney, Australia where it’s the middle of winter and a mild 18C – can’t complain!

I am an RN, and I took a job 18 months ago in hospital preparation for, and response to, emerging infectious diseases. Whilst improving my understanding of the issues we face, my research lead me to Virology 101 (thanks Vincent!) and to TWIV and this year to TWIM. I am learning so much and have discovered I love microbes! I’ve picked up a course of  study that introduces some basic concepts this year, and will continue to pursue my new passion in the years to come. It’s been great to hear you speak occasionally of others who have come to microbiology later in their careers – it gives me hope, as my dream would be to one day participate in research.

Many thanks for the inspiration, and keep up the great work!

Kind regards,

Linda

Wan writes:

I love symbionts!

Hi Twimmers,

Back to try my luck with the book draw, thanks always.

Wan

Magnus writes:

I love symbionts!

Dear TWIM team!

I have a bachelors degree in biochemistry and molecular biology but have moved into the field of bioinformatics for my masters degree. I work in the Kallipolitis lab at university of southern Denmark! I love your show and have made recommended it to a lot of my peers in the lab and my student community. So thank you for giving me a deeper insight into the world of microbes!

the best wished from Magnus

George writes:

I love symbionts!

Hey everyone,

I’ll be a senior this year at the University of Rochester where I’m studying neuroscience. I’ve just recently started listening to TWiM as well as TWiV and after just a couple episodes I’m hooked! I really enjoy learning about microbes and I’ll be taking a microbiology class next semester since I finally have some room in my schedule. Figured it can’t hurt to toss my hat in to maybe win the textbook!

Thanks for all you do and I’m looking forward to learning plenty more about microbiology!

Best,

George

Stig writes:

I love symbionts!

Hi TWiM team

I will make this brief as aim writing this in my lunch break.

Today is grey and cloudy with high humidity jet still warm.

I just listened to the newest TWiEVO, TWiM and just started TWiV, only to take a break to eat lunch, will continue after the lunch break, as I will be going back to work in the bench.

I would like to enter the the competition for the book.

And lastly I would like to thank all the host for a heart show !

Best

Stig

Trudy writes:

I love symbionts!

Dear TWiMbionts,

I may not write in very often, but I do listen to all your shows and I want to express my gratitude and appreciation for everything you do. I recently learned that ASM Microbe will take place in Atlanta next summer, and although I’m only a lowly patent agent, I will do my best to attend, and I look forward to shaking hands with each of you.

Kind Regards,

Trudy.

Neha writes:

I love symbionts!

Hi! My name is Neha, and I’ll be a college freshman this fall looking to study microbiology. I recently found your podcast, and I’ve been doing a lot of catching up in listening to all that you’ve published. Thank you for your podcasts! I’ve learned so much and hope to learn so much more (with your podcasts and hopefully by winning the textbook!).

P.S.

I listen to your podcast while I work at my summer job. I am an IT intern at a local clinic, and as I sit here updating patient vaccination records, I find it rather magical to listen about various microbes simultaneously. Thank you for making that experience possible. I write to you from Central Illinois, but I attended high school at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA) in Aurora, IL. I’ll have to tell my old Microbes and Disease teacher at IMSA all about your podcast.

Thanks again,

Gaelen writes:

I <3 symbionts

Hi TWIM Team!

Submitting my entry for the newest book giveaway!

I’ve recently started my binge of the series – it’s a little strange going back in time with weekly updates on the weather across the country, but I’m getting used to it. Elio’s weather report is a nice anchor: no matter what is going on elsewhere, San Diego is always 72F and sunny.

I’m about to matriculate with a PhD program in Oregon, and have been working at the Broad Institute in Cambridge for the last three years. This podcast is helping me clear the cobwebs out as I prepare to dive back into school! You guys are doing a fantastic job of making arcane science accessible, so I’ll just ask you to “keep on keepin’ on.”

All the best,

Gaelen

Sarah writes:

I love symbionts!

Hi TWIM,

I started listening almost a year ago now, at the beginning of the final year of my undergrad in Biomedical Science. I am currently working as a medical scientist in a hospital in Dublin, specialised in medical microbiology. I love listening to TWIM to find out whats new in the world of microbiology and the research which is ongoing. I hope too to pursue a career in research as I love it’s diversity!

Keep up the good work,

Sarah

Dublin, Ireland

Hope writes:

Hello again, TWiM team!

I figured I’d give winning a book another shot. Looking forward to the next episode!

Jake writes:

I love symbionts

Hi, in a postdoc at MIT who’s been listening to TWiV and TWiM since 2011, and I’d love to get a copy of Microbe!

Jake

Christopher writes:

I love symbionts

Hello,

I am submitting this email for the chance to win a copy of Microbe. I have been a long time listener, and I really enjoy how you all dissect papers and provide your insights on what makes various methodologies strong or interesting. I wish you all the best!

Sincerely,

C.J. Woslager

C.J. Woslager MS, MLS (ASCP)cm

Microbiology

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

Omaha, NE

Tanner writes:

Hey Twimmers,

86 degrees and cloudy here in Salt Lake City as I write this. Thanks for always keeping me curious!

Hear you next week,

Tanner

Elise writes:

I love symbionts

…and I really do, I work with Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens, a legume symbiont!

Well, generally, I would characterize it as a love/hate relationship because it grows so slowly. Coming from a chemical biology background working with E. coli as tiny protein machines, moving into a microbiology lab for grad school has been, well, a culture shock (haha). Microbes now have my heart as I’ve learned what amazing chemists they are!

Love listening to the podcast, thanks for all that you do to share the love of microbes with the world!

Chandler writes:

I love symbionts

Hey guys,

The first time I listened to your cast was required for a bio course, but since then I’ve been listening non-stop! I didn’t realize how vast the scientific world, outside of practicing medicine, was until coming to college and really enjoy the different experts you have on the show. I get excited to learn about the topics brought up each time a new podcast hits. Thank you for putting on an awsome show!

-Chandler

 Northern Arizona University

Tribly writes:

I love symbionts

Oh hello there.  I have been thinking of emailing in for a while and figured I’d take a shot at the free book while I’m at it.  I was planning on becoming a registered dietician and decided to look into some relatable podcasts to get my brain going.  I found your podcast and have been listening ever since.  I work as a painter so I have 8 hours a day to work my way through the old twix episodes.  After few weeks of this I decided to pursue a degree is microbiology instead.   You mention so many interesting fields of work and different careers.  I decided to keep my options open and go for a biology degree instead. Thanks for keeping my brain engaged all day at work, even if I can’t really understand alot of it.  I am excited to start school this fall, and to slowly be able to understand your podcasts better as I go.

Ps.   Here in Victoria bc it is overcast for the first time this summer.  19°c and expecting light rain tomorrow.

Eric writes:

I love symbionts

Dear TWiM,

I’m a PhD student studying soil science at Melbourne uni. My PhD is on dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) in soil.

The show that got me hooked on TWiM was #147: ‘The Public Goods Dilemma’, where Elio read out the poetic opening paragraph to ‘Killing by Type VI secretion drives genetic phase separation and correlates with increased cooperation’ and you all went on to discuss this fascinating paper.

Cheers,

Luis writes:

I love symbionts

Dear Twim crew,

I am a Sr. Scientist at Indigo, a very innovative startup in Boston that develops agricultural products from endophytes: beneficial microbes that live intimately within the plant tissues. In only three years we have managed to put out products in cotton, wheat, soybean, corn and rice in hundreds of thousands of acres and provided yield increments to farmers of up to 11% (compare that with the 3-5% achieved with GMOs). I truly believe that plant symbionts can change the face of agriculture and help us feed the growing world population despite the challenges imposed by global climate change. That is why I love symbionts!

I got into endophytes during my postdocs at the Noble Foundation in Oklahoma and later at PennState, working with Dr. Marilyn Roossinck. We discovered the virus, within a fungus, within a plant tripartite symbiosis that confers heat tolerance to plants growing in the geothermal soils of Yellowstone NP. I believe that Marilyn told this story in a special Twiv at the ASV a while ago.

Please, if I win the book, send it to Hope, the high school student from Maine who sent his e-mail for the book contest last week. I trust that the book can keep his interest in a STEM career.

Love the podcast! Please, keep up with the good work!

Cheers,

Luis

_____________________

Luis M Marquez

Senior Scientist

Indigo Agriculture

Boston, MA

Sitara writes:

I love symbionts

Hello TWiM,

I’m entering for the textbook “Microbe”.

I’m a fairly new listener to TWiM but I’ve been reading Small Things Considered since 2012, when I was a college freshman. STC introduced me to my favorite microbe, the one which got me interested in studying cell shape–the long, branching South African mine bacterium with a star-shaped cross section.

I very much enjoy listening to TWiM as it reminds me of journal clubs and seminar classes that I loved as an undergrad. It also helps widen my microbiological horizons and get back in touch with what’s going on in the field. I hope to return to research this year, and TWiM has done a lot to bring me back up to speed with not just facts and methods in microbiology, but also with scientific discussion. Thank you very much for creating this excellent podcast!

–Sitara

Colorado, USA

Jon writes:

I love symbionts

Hi family twimiae,

I’m a frequent listener of all the twix series. Unlike John who won the last book (food microbiology), twim is my favourite of the group. Perhaps that comes from the bias of being a microbiology (and chemistry) major who is now pursuing a masters degree in environmental engineering with a research focus on using sulphate-reducing bacteria to remove dissolved arsenic from mine drainage water in passive bioreactors. The parasitoid wasp paper you discussed this week was actually from the school where I just recently got my undergraduate degree, the University of Victoria! It brought me a great deal of pride to hear some local work getting broad recognition.

Thanks for all the work you put into the twix podcasts, I look forward to digesting them all!

Cheers,

Jon

MASc student, University of British Columbia Okanagan