@mwpen

Associate Professor of Quantitative + Computational Biology @USC. Using phylogenetics to answer questions in evolutionary biology, epidemiology, and immunology.

 Los Angeles, CA
mwpennell.ca
Joined July 2020
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  • Following596
  • Followers1.1K
22Media
Some news: next year, I will be leaving UBC and moving to LA to join USC as an Associate Professor of Quantitative and Computational Biology (@qcb_usc joint w/ @USC_marine). Excited for what comes next.
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Arlin
@ArlinStoltzfus15 Aug 2023
The latest from @mwpen explains that multiple models of mut can generate the same M matrix, and they explore implications of this for long-term divergence biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/…

Alternative mutational architectures can produce identical M-matrices but lead to different...

Explaining macroevolutionary divergence in light of population genetics requires understanding the extent to which the patterns of mutational input contribute to long-term trends. In the context of...

biorxiv.org
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Doc Edge@DocEdge859 Apr 2023
I wanted to share on here a preprint from last month, a collaboration between my lab and @rvrohlfs' lab, led by @VivianLink and @YuomiJAZ. We consider a set of genetic loci used in forensics in the US and other places, the CODIS markers (1/n) biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/…

Microsatellites used in forensics are located in regions unusually rich in trait-associated variants

The 20 short tandem repeat (STR) markers of the combined DNA index system (CODIS) are the basis of the vast majority of forensic genetics in the United States. One argument for permissive rules about...

biorxiv.org
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New preprint from our lab! Working on this project (and I hope the same is true for readers) honed my intuition for what to expect in comparative gene expression studies. Great work from Rex on this one
Daohan "Rex" Jiang@EvolutionlordXY10 Apr 2023
Glad to share my new preprint with @AlexCope241, George Zhang and @mwpen, in which we develop a theoretical model to investigate how mRNA and protein levels of a gene coevolve when the protein level is the target of selection. 1/n biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/…

Decoupling of evolutionary changes in mRNA and protein levels

Variation in gene expression across lineages is thought to explain much of the observed phenotypic variation and adaptation. The protein is closer to the target of natural selection but gene expres...

biorxiv.org
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Now that I'm back on here, may as well say that we (finally) have a new lab website phylogenetics.usc.edu !!
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Here are Holiday Season Gifts as open calls for #RECOMB2023 @RECOMBSeq: recomb-seq.github.io/papers/ RECOMB-CCB: recomb2023.bilkent.edu.tr/re… RECOMB-CG: recomb-cg.org/submit.php RECOMB-Genetics: recomb2023.bilkent.edu.tr/re… Highlights: recomb2023.bilkent.edu.tr/ca… Posters: recomb2023.bilkent.edu.tr/ca…
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IFP
@IFP16 Dec 2022
It's time to bring back domestic visa renewals 😤 progress.institute/domestic-…

Renew Visas at Home | IFP

Domestic visa reissuance has been suspended since 2004 — it's time to bring it back

ifp.org
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Anyone have experience being awarded or mentoring a K99 postdoctoral fellowship where the award was held at a different institution than where the applicant was when they applied? (I.e. can you apply to a prospective lab for this?)
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Check out our paper showing how IGHV1-69 polymorphisms can affect SARS-CoV-2 antibody functions. Amazing supervision from @NillaKH Martin Corcoran. Great collaboration with @BenjMurrell @DannySheward @das_hrishikesh1 @BMartinHallberg out @ImmunityCP cell.com/immunity/fulltext/S…

Immunoglobulin germline gene polymorphisms influence the function of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing...

The genes and alleles of the antigen receptor loci are highly variable between individuals, which may affect the quality of the immune response to different pathogens. Here, Pushparaj et al. use...

cell.com
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FUSION ENERGY BREAKTHROUGH: US scientists have made one of the most significant leaps in decades in the search for the Holy Grail of energy - limitless, carbon free power - by achieving net energy gain in a fusion reaction ft.com/content/4b6f0fab-66ef… Huge scoop by @thomas_m_wilson

Fusion energy breakthrough by US scientists boosts clean power hopes

Net energy gain indicates technology could provide an abundant zero-carbon alternative to fossil fuels

ft.com
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Patrick Hsu
@pdhsu11 Dec 2022
At @ArcInstitute, we're launching the Arc Science Fellows program for early-career scientists to start their own lab right after grad school with $250K/year research budget + salary. I'm running an info session next Fri (Dec 16 at 1pm PT)! Sign up here: tinyurl.com/yp8y5z8n
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Interesting article on what it’s actually like to visit Qatar during the World Cup. Looking forward to seeing it for myself one day aguntasolo.co/the-word-on-th…
With the release of @ireceptorgw v4.0 (xitter.cf/ireceptorgw/status/160…) all iReceptor @airr_community #AIRRDataCommons repositories are now using https as a protocol. If you are accessing the #AIRRDataCommons using the #ADCAPI then your queries will have to take this into account!
iReceptor Gateway@ireceptorgw7 Dec 2022
Replying to @ireceptorgw
@ireceptorgw (gateway.ireceptor.org/) is thrilled to announce the release of iReceptor v4.0. v4.0 is a full implementation of @airr_community v1.4 #AIRRseq specification, bringing new #SingleCell capabilities to the #AIRRDataCommons. Details are here: ireceptor.org/ireceptor-4
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Renee Wegrzyn
@rwegrzyn8 Dec 2022
It's true! @ARPA_H is on a Program Manager hiring spree, looking for the best and brightest to join ARPA-H to pursue big problems in health. Apply here --> arpa-h.gov/careers/program-m…

Program Manager Application

Seize the opportunity to transform health outcomes. Become an ARPA-H Program Manager.

arpa-h.gov
Sarah Owermohle@owermohle7 Dec 2022
President Biden’s new health agency has one big message: Please apply. statnews.com/2022/12/07/arpa…

ARPA-H’s new director wants to go on a hiring spree

President Biden’s new ARPA-H director has one big message: Please apply.

statnews.com
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Alexey Guzey
@alexeyguzey7 Dec 2022
good time to remind anyone who wants to live on the frontier that there's exactly one truly frontier country in the world & concentration of talent & opportunity in America is orders of magnitude higher than anywhere else.
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Alexey Guzey
@alexeyguzey7 Dec 2022
took me 3 years after I learned about O-1 from @patrickc bc I was dumb and clueless. if followed advice of @ArtirKel (nintil.com/us-immigration) and had support from @lisawehden & @minney_cat (lisa-wehden.medium.com/a-gui…), could've done it 2x faster youtu.be/-KoXt9pZLGM

A guide to applying for the O-1 visa for extraordinary individuals

This post is intended for immigrant startup founders, employees or investors evaluating US visa options. The visa journey isn’t clear cut…

lisa-wehden.medium.com
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We are proud of our QBIO students and everything they achieve. This is a great collaboration between the @ellisoninst and the Department of Quantitative and Computational Biology @USCDornsife @USC.
Jerry SH Lee@jleePSOC6 Dec 2022
Making #data #FAIR is important- esp Reusable for next gen of #DataScientists. Proud of @qcb_usc #QBIO undergrads that spent the semester learning to use #TCGA #CPTAC from Nicole B & Kate G @ellisoninst. Grateful to @AnnaBarker20 for motivating them to do more #forpatientbenefit
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Matt Pennell@mwpen7 Oct 2022
Now accepting applicants for our PhD program in computational biology and bioinformatics @qcb_usc qcb-dornsife.usc.edu/phd we have a great group of faculty who care a lot about the program and are committed to providing world-class training. Deadline is Dec. 15.

USC QCB | PhD

qcb-dornsife.usc.edu
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The international iReceptor Plus Project revealed a new version of the iReceptor Plus Platform that can be used to develop new #vaccines, monoclonal antibodies for #cancer and #autoimmune treatment. ireceptor-plus.com/news-and-… #EU #Canada #H2020 #Immunology #Research #Bcells #Tcells
iReceptor Plus Offers Scientists Access to Single-Cell Immune Profiling Data

ALT iReceptor Plus Offers Scientists Access to Single-Cell Immune Profiling Data

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Our perspective piece on evolutionary aspects of immunoglobulin germline variation is out sciencedirect.com/science/ar…. Incredible collaboration with @mwpen and @ctwatson29.
Matt Pennell@mwpen2 Dec 2022
New paper: ⁦⁦@victorgreiff⁩ @ctwatson29⁩ Oscar R. and I pull together a bunch of evidence to try and understand what germline IG variation is doing and how it’s maintained. Have more Qs than As but hopefully point folks toward cool problems. sciencedirect.com/science/ar…
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New paper: ⁦⁦@victorgreiff⁩ @ctwatson29⁩ Oscar R. and I pull together a bunch of evidence to try and understand what germline IG variation is doing and how it’s maintained. Have more Qs than As but hopefully point folks toward cool problems. sciencedirect.com/science/ar…
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