Cameron A. Schmidt, PhD

Some recent collab work exploring how phase transitions in movement persistence can lead to a statistical gain in sperm search efficiency🔥 #ReproRocks #ComplexSystems #ActiveMatter mdpi.com/1099-4300/27/5…

Awesome episode of @SSRepro Future Conceived🎙️ @colossal is an inspiring example of the power of applied reproductive biology and genetics. Listen to learn more about Jane's efforts to help pioneer IVF for marsupials with the aim of resurrecting the tasmanian tiger🔥 #ReproRocks

Can we use cloning to bring back the Tasmanian Tiger? 🐅 Dr. Jane Fenelon is building the "Marsupial IVF Lab" to make it happen. Check out how Colossal is bridging the gap between extinct DNA and modern reproductive science.

The diversity of adaptive movement strategies here is incredible. youtu.be/iQRD23DgaeQ?si…

I often see healthcare costs blamed on 'big pharma' or 'insurance'... No one really talks about how plastic petri dishes suddenly cost $1000 per box when they're marketed for IVF use🤔

Sperm motility in mice with oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia restored by in vivo injection and electroporation of naked mRNA elifesciences.org/articles/94514…

Who is shaping the future of reproductive science? 🧬 SSR, SRB, and SRF are looking for nominees for the 2026 Roger V. Short Medal & Lecture. Deadline: Friday, May 15th. form.jotform.com/260494002965155

@wildiris19 There's a lot of focus on thermodynamics, maybe because of historical chaining to the term 'entropy'. But the most obvious information processors are macroscopic. Not sure which dynamics are most useful to focus on... Are there any scale free properties of 'agent'🤔

@wildiris19 At the heart of this is "what is necessary for a self organized physical system to measure?". Information is the unit measure of a measurement (Shannon). To measure, a system must vary its own state with the thing being measured (Landauer).

(3/3) For too long now, mathematical theories of information have been used as a basis to characterize and understand agency. • But the physics community, in defining the mathematics of information, has already presumed the existence of agency. • If there seems to be a circular argument at play here, there most certainly is. No doubt this explains the lack of progress that @CAS_ReproLab senses in his post. • Shannon treats "information" as a thermodynamic potential; that is, as a sum over states within a bounded state-space system. In which case, agency becomes a passive dynamic response to gradients in that potential. • On the other hand, Landauer treats agency as an active process with the designation of "information" being reserved for specific measurable patterns appearing in an agent’s environment. • In a sense, Shannon is an “acting-globally” interpretation of agency. While Landauer is an “acting-locally” interpretation of agency. • But, until physics can offer some kind of a comprehensive theory of agency, these will remain open questions.

Join us on this Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at 12:00 PM ET for the next session of the 2026 Rising Stars Webinar, featuring speakers Farners Amargant i Riera and Kara McKinely, moderated by Andrew Kelleher. Register Here: ssr.org/events/upcomin… #reprobio #risingstars

@wildiris19 Awesome! Looking forward to it as always!

@CAS_ReproLab With these thoughts, you've got me thinking about a possible future post now.

Trying to think of a scenario where information theory adds something new. Seems to just rescale existing models. E.g. optimal allocation of search effort becomes optimal acquisition of information. Maybe more intuitive framing, but not really different🤔

"Challenge accepted"... Grabs dog whistle...

Found an original copy of Robert Alberty's first physical chemistry text from 1955🤓 #Book

Join us on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at 12:00 PM ET for the next session of the 2026 Rising Stars Webinar, featuring speakers Farners Amargant i Riera and Kara McKinely, moderated by Andrew Kelleher. Register Here: ssr.org/events/upcomin… #reprobio #risingstars

Check out our recent episode of @SSRepro 'The Future Conceived'🎙️ How do genetic programs coordinate embryo development? What can we learn by expanding research to large animals🐖? Great convo with the wonderful Dr. Ramiro Alberio of @UniofNottingham! buzzsprout.com/1786803/episod…

@wildiris19 Sometimes the kinetics are switch like, but sometimes they're not. Jim Ferrell of Stanford has some great books and review articles about cell signaling dynamics in this context that you might enjoy. cell.com/cell-systems/f…

With respect to systems of physical computation, the appearance of positive feedback pathways is what marks the transition from “analog” to “digital” computation. • That is, positive feedback is what turns an amplifier into a switch. • In the human brain there are neural connections known as axon-whorls. These are neurons that form connections with other cells that wrap into knots or loops. • With axon-whorls potentially forming positive feedback loops, ..could they, in fact, be replicating neural state machines directly?

How do you turn a rejected journal cover into an award-winning image? Flip it 180°. 🔄 Martin Estermann explains the "Urogenital Butterfly" and the science of chicken sex differentiation. #StemArt #SciComm #Biology

Using planarian gut branching as biological inspiration, researchers developed a model that integrates tissue interface growth, morphogen dynamics, and organismal growth to explain how branched organ structures form and scale. Read the paper: go.aps.org/4a8QuDQ

The deadline for the SSR 2026 Annual Meeting abstract submissions is TWO WEEKS AWAY! With over 100 talks being selected directly from submitted abstracts, this is your chance to present your research in Indianapolis!  Start here: abstractscorecard.com/cfp/submit/log…

Can you infer cause and effect between genes without disturbing the cell? 🧬 This study shows how natural “noise” in gene expression can reveal directed gene–gene interactions. elifesciences.org/articles/92497…