ESEB2025 Barcelona

This was my very first ESEB conference, and as a microbial ecologist I was thoroughly impressed with the breadth of research and fields showcased this year! The Guschanksi group was (almost) out in full force, with posters on the mammalian oral microbiome (Markella Moraitou), speciation in Guenons (Dr Axel Jensen), to poison frog genomics (Paula Mora-Rojas). I gave my first talk regarding Project MetaBear, presenting preliminary results on the metagenomic profiles of diseased and healthy bears. The genuinely encouraging feedback I received from friends and strangers alike was astounding, and I was positively buoyed for the rest of the week. It turns out ESEB was also a fantastic opportunity to network with other wonderful researchers in the animal microbiome space, and I can't wait to reach out and chat some more. Up next, the FEMS Summer Postdoc Workshop in North Macedonia. From one sunshine paradise to another...