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Jim Van Deventer

@vandeventerjim.bsky.social

Chemical and Biological Engineering, Tufts University. Antibody engineering with expanded genetic codes, enhancing genetic code expansion in yeast, and more.

670 Followers  |  1,398 Following  |  179 Posts  |  Joined: 12.09.2023
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Posts by Jim Van Deventer (@vandeventerjim.bsky.social)

I'm also thankful for having a former colleague that helped me get some very specific guidance.

HOWEVER, I wish that the guidance I received had been available to all rather than just to me thanks to a lucky connection; a submission liaison gave me incorrect info earlier in the process (2/2)!

25.02.2026 15:39 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Today, I'm grateful to NOT have to submit a partnership proposal. Why? I was told in advance of a submission deadline that my proposed work was going to fall outside of the scope of the request solutions. So, my submission would have been dead on arrival... (1/2)

25.02.2026 15:34 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

BBC sport minute-by-minute text is doing a pretty good job of capturing the madness.

18.01.2026 21:22 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Senegal!!! #Afcon #Senegal

14.01.2026 20:30 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Today, I'm grateful for Gojira and other death metal. Major score-driving reason: have you seen the news coming out of the US?!?!?

(Minor score-driving reason: I'm up against a deadline for grant reviews and death metal is keeping me awake and on task)

09.01.2026 17:33 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Great crash course in tumor dormancy (featuring quotes from Tufts faculty member Shelly Peyton. Ahem; Tufts bias at play here).

07.01.2026 14:40 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

We're making them insufferable in stages. First, we expand their vocabulary. Later, we'll work on their tone so that condescension is maximized.

16.12.2025 19:53 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Can confirm that this is definitely happening in our house. Can also confirm that our kids are destined for infamy in middle school.

16.12.2025 19:49 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Today, I'm grateful for some morning Norwegian Death Metal. I'm definitely awake as I put the finishing touches on a long overdue writing project...

10.12.2025 13:29 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

A lot of my recent posts express gratitude, but today I'm going to say that I am decidedly NOT grateful for FIFA (at least not in its current state...).

05.12.2025 17:38 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I know what you're referring to specifically, but it also applies to far too many of today's other breaking stories...

05.12.2025 17:35 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Things I'm thankful for this Thanksgiving weekend:

--Kid 2 skips. A lot! It brings me joy every time I see it.
--Kid 1 has an incredible sense of humor.
--My brother drove up from DC to spend the holiday with us.
--My spouse made some stellar food (especially pies + stuffing).

29.11.2025 15:13 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Site-selective protein editing by backbone extension acyl rearrangements - Nature Chemical Biology A post-translational backbone extension acyl rearrangement (BEAR) reaction has now been developed that converts a ribosomal protein product into a new product containing a Ξ²-peptide, Ξ³-peptide or Ξ΄-pe...

Today, I'm grateful that Alanna Schepartz is visiting Tufts. Alanna's leadership of @cgemcci.bsky.social has led to impressive advances in genetic code expansion, including recently published work pushing encoding beyond alpha-amino acids.

#ChemSky #ChemChat

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

20.11.2025 13:17 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Einstein's Workshop – Einstein's Workshop is a hands-on STEAM learning center just outside Lexington, Massachusetts.

Today, I'm grateful for my seven-year-old's rekindled excitement about engineering. We went to a local makerspace/playspace that specializes in building toys and engineering challenges, and now all the kid wants to do is build with K'Nex!

www.einsteinsworkshop.com

17.11.2025 13:08 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Theon Cross Management: fred@newsoilmusic.com Bookings: naomi@earth-agency.com UK/EU karl@arrivalartists.com (US) The"Tuba Lumimnary."-Rolling Stone Magazine "A key figure in London's vital Jazz scene"- Pitchf...

...and on a completely different note, I'm grateful for Theon Cross, tuba player extraordinaire. Everything the dude's involved with is incredible! (3/3)

theoncross.bandcamp.com

12.11.2025 13:12 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Today, I'm grateful for the PhD students in my lab that are writing fellowship applications. It's inspiring to see them pour so much into developing creative research directions, especially in a lot of research is under threat. I'm truly excited by their ideas and energy! (2/3).

12.11.2025 13:07 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Shoot, I've fallen out of the habit of finding something to be grateful for. As the world (especially the US!) continues to burn, this habit of finding something to be grateful for has been centering for me. So, let's restart with two things today (1/3):

12.11.2025 13:03 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Our 7yo has coined a new word: "interrupdate."

I think he meant it as a fancier or more nuanced version of "interrupt," but I'm sure we can all see the possibilities.

10.11.2025 22:43 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Briana and Sean both have exciting stories to tell in which they have used high throughput screening, deep sequencing analysis, and rigorous follow-up experiments to "discover the unexpected." We're looking forward to sharing this work at the conference! (2/2)

03.11.2025 13:36 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Today, I'm grateful to have two PhD students presenting at the American Institute of Chemical Engineers annual meeting.

Briana Lino: release factor engineering to enhance noncanonical amino acid incorporation

Sean Williams: protein-small molecule hybrid discovery

(1/2)

#ChemSky

03.11.2025 13:32 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Today, I'm grateful for kid #2's excitement about Halloween. However, I am NOT grateful for the resulting inability to sleep past 3am and its effects on MY sleep...

31.10.2025 10:43 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
JD Vance officiated the wedding of new head of NIH environmental institute Unusual hiring process raises fears of political favoritism

β€œMeritocracy”

www.science.org/content/arti...

23.10.2025 15:28 β€” πŸ‘ 21    πŸ” 11    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Congratulations, team Lang! This looks extremely exciting!

17.10.2025 19:29 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

...With thought-provoking presentations from Han Xiao and Ali Deliz Liang this morning!

#Chemsky

16.10.2025 16:21 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Thanks especially to organizers Ryan Mehl, Richard Cooley, and John Lueck, for the thoughtful speaker selection (and to Ryan and Rick for getting up very early once a month!). (2/2)

@johndlucky.bsky.social #ChemSky

16.10.2025 16:19 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
International GCE Webinar | GCE4All

Today, I'm grateful for the International Genetic Code Expansion (GCE) Webinar.
gce4all.oregonstate.edu/tools-and-tr...

This series has done a really good job of featuring a wide range of speakers using noncanonical amino acids and GCE in creative ways! (1/2)

16.10.2025 16:14 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1
Thundercat: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert
YouTube video by NPR Music Thundercat: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

Today, I'm grateful for Thundercat.

No, I will not be taking questions.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhVg...

13.10.2025 14:59 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Thanks especially to Tufts ChBE faculty member Prashant for organizing (with assists from Nat and Graham) and for the impressive number of colleagues that traveled long distances to be at the symposium (2/2).

@pauldauenhauer.bsky.social @eagannat.bsky.social @grahamleverick.bsky.social

10.10.2025 14:12 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Maria Flytzani-Stephanopoulos Symposium on Single-Site Catalysis

Today, I'm grateful for the Maria Flytzani-Stephanopoulos Symposium on Single-Site Catalysis at Tufts. This symposium celebrates Maria's legacy in the field by bring together current researchers in the field (1/2).

#ChemSky #Catalysis #SingleAtoms

sites.tufts.edu/mfscatalysis...

10.10.2025 14:08 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Today, I'm grateful for Jeremy Berg. I'll let his words speak for themselves.

#Science #Courage

08.10.2025 14:43 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0