Clara Howcroft Ferreira
@clarahowcroft.bsky.social
Assistant Professor of Neuroscience at Northumbria University, researching social behaviour in Drosophila.
https://ferreira-lab.weebly.com/
https://ferreira-lab.weebly.com/
Reposted by Clara Howcroft Ferreira
Preparations for the next JEDI meeting are underway! The upcoming Junior European #Drosophila Investigator / #NewPI meeting is planned for Portugal in June. Final dates and additional details will be announced soon - stay tuned for updates!
October 28, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Preparations for the next JEDI meeting are underway! The upcoming Junior European #Drosophila Investigator / #NewPI meeting is planned for Portugal in June. Final dates and additional details will be announced soon - stay tuned for updates!
Reposted by Clara Howcroft Ferreira
Excited to share our new #biorxivpreprint
We discovered that the fruit fly #drosophila erecta requires food odor to mate and arousal is further enhanced by social group motion.
Cross-species analysis of brain activity reveals a novel gate evolved from within a conserved circuit
shorturl.at/gGYm7
We discovered that the fruit fly #drosophila erecta requires food odor to mate and arousal is further enhanced by social group motion.
Cross-species analysis of brain activity reveals a novel gate evolved from within a conserved circuit
shorturl.at/gGYm7
October 16, 2025 at 6:34 AM
Excited to share our new #biorxivpreprint
We discovered that the fruit fly #drosophila erecta requires food odor to mate and arousal is further enhanced by social group motion.
Cross-species analysis of brain activity reveals a novel gate evolved from within a conserved circuit
shorturl.at/gGYm7
We discovered that the fruit fly #drosophila erecta requires food odor to mate and arousal is further enhanced by social group motion.
Cross-species analysis of brain activity reveals a novel gate evolved from within a conserved circuit
shorturl.at/gGYm7
Reposted by Clara Howcroft Ferreira
Hello everyone!
We decided to automate our sign-up process for the JEDI network. Please register using this link:
docs.google.com/forms/d/1IdO...
Thanks to everyone who reached out! We are looking forward to building our community with you. Share and repost!!!
#Drosophila @fly-eds.bsky.social
We decided to automate our sign-up process for the JEDI network. Please register using this link:
docs.google.com/forms/d/1IdO...
Thanks to everyone who reached out! We are looking forward to building our community with you. Share and repost!!!
#Drosophila @fly-eds.bsky.social
September 30, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Hello everyone!
We decided to automate our sign-up process for the JEDI network. Please register using this link:
docs.google.com/forms/d/1IdO...
Thanks to everyone who reached out! We are looking forward to building our community with you. Share and repost!!!
#Drosophila @fly-eds.bsky.social
We decided to automate our sign-up process for the JEDI network. Please register using this link:
docs.google.com/forms/d/1IdO...
Thanks to everyone who reached out! We are looking forward to building our community with you. Share and repost!!!
#Drosophila @fly-eds.bsky.social
Reposted by Clara Howcroft Ferreira
Dear JEDIs,
as we are self-organizing using the #EDRC as a nucleator we decided it is time for a JEDI database to boost our network! If you identify as a JEDI, please contact us here or send a mail to katja.rust@uni-marburg.de to be added to our database.
#Drosophila
@fly-eds.bsky.social
as we are self-organizing using the #EDRC as a nucleator we decided it is time for a JEDI database to boost our network! If you identify as a JEDI, please contact us here or send a mail to katja.rust@uni-marburg.de to be added to our database.
#Drosophila
@fly-eds.bsky.social
September 26, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Dear JEDIs,
as we are self-organizing using the #EDRC as a nucleator we decided it is time for a JEDI database to boost our network! If you identify as a JEDI, please contact us here or send a mail to katja.rust@uni-marburg.de to be added to our database.
#Drosophila
@fly-eds.bsky.social
as we are self-organizing using the #EDRC as a nucleator we decided it is time for a JEDI database to boost our network! If you identify as a JEDI, please contact us here or send a mail to katja.rust@uni-marburg.de to be added to our database.
#Drosophila
@fly-eds.bsky.social
Learning from and doing experiments with Ed was one of the main reasons I became fascinated with flies during the curricular year of my PhD. Sad news, but what an amazing life to be remembered - a fantastic scientist and a wonderful person.
Ed Kravitz passed away yesterday.
He was a remarkable scientist and mentor- brilliant, curious, creative, and kind. I am grateful to have learned from him. His legacy will endure through his science and through the many people he inspired.
We will miss you, Ed.
He was a remarkable scientist and mentor- brilliant, curious, creative, and kind. I am grateful to have learned from him. His legacy will endure through his science and through the many people he inspired.
We will miss you, Ed.
September 24, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Learning from and doing experiments with Ed was one of the main reasons I became fascinated with flies during the curricular year of my PhD. Sad news, but what an amazing life to be remembered - a fantastic scientist and a wonderful person.
Reposted by Clara Howcroft Ferreira
You just finished your PhD and you are looking for a postdoc to study stress-dependent modulation of learning. We are using the powerful fly model to understand the underlying circuits and mechanisms. You can apply here:
emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/CDD/U...
emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/CDD/U...
Portail Emploi CNRS - Offre d'emploi - Postdoc position (M/F) in Neuroscience, stress modulation of learning (H/F)
emploi.cnrs.fr
September 15, 2025 at 10:25 AM
You just finished your PhD and you are looking for a postdoc to study stress-dependent modulation of learning. We are using the powerful fly model to understand the underlying circuits and mechanisms. You can apply here:
emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/CDD/U...
emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/CDD/U...
Reposted by Clara Howcroft Ferreira
Drosophila research without FlyBase would be untenable. Time for all labs who can afford it to step up.
A reminder you/your lab can support FlyBase at Cambridge through the following link. Every bit helps. Please share if you yourself can't donate.
www.philanthropy.cam.ac.uk/give-to-camb...
www.philanthropy.cam.ac.uk/give-to-camb...
August 14, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Drosophila research without FlyBase would be untenable. Time for all labs who can afford it to step up.
Reposted by Clara Howcroft Ferreira
#FlyCROSS mentee surveys are open for #earlycareer #Drosophila scientists. If you're a #gradstudent #postdoc or pretenure faculty or equivalent - fill up the survey by Sept 1 to participate & be matched by #mentor of your preferences to gain guidance to your unique needs. @flybase.bsky.social
docs.google.com
July 21, 2025 at 7:11 PM
#FlyCROSS mentee surveys are open for #earlycareer #Drosophila scientists. If you're a #gradstudent #postdoc or pretenure faculty or equivalent - fill up the survey by Sept 1 to participate & be matched by #mentor of your preferences to gain guidance to your unique needs. @flybase.bsky.social
Reposted by Clara Howcroft Ferreira
Now proper out: doi.org/10.1093/gene...
Toward more sustainable research: reducing the environmental impact when working with Drosophila
Abstract. The ever-increasing amounts of plastic waste and greenhouse gas emissions worldwide threaten our environment. Biomedical laboratories across the
doi.org
July 2, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Now proper out: doi.org/10.1093/gene...
The lab's first PhD student, Mirjam Heinemans, co-supervised with the fantastic Marta Moita @moitalab.bsky.social, brilliantly presented and defended her thesis today! Massive congratulations Dr Heinemans!!!
#PhDone! Congratulations to our new #Doctor, Mirjam Heinemans, from Behavioural Neuroscience Lab at @champalimaudf.bsky.social.
We wish you all the best for your future, Mirjam 👏
We wish you all the best for your future, Mirjam 👏
June 24, 2025 at 4:00 PM
The lab's first PhD student, Mirjam Heinemans, co-supervised with the fantastic Marta Moita @moitalab.bsky.social, brilliantly presented and defended her thesis today! Massive congratulations Dr Heinemans!!!
Reposted by Clara Howcroft Ferreira
Hey #Drosophila folks ! #FlyCROSS is back and #Mentor surveys are open NOW ! If you're a faculty/postdoc/ equivalent in any scientific career & have #Drosophila research experience - we'd be delighted to have you as mentors to empower early career scientists in the #Dros community !
Summer 2025 Survey For Mentors : FlyCROSS Mentor Mentee Matching Program
We appreciate you taking the time and volunteering to be a mentor! Add dmelcross@gmail.com to your email address book or safe sender list, so that you can receive our emails. To be a participating me...
docs.google.com
June 2, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Hey #Drosophila folks ! #FlyCROSS is back and #Mentor surveys are open NOW ! If you're a faculty/postdoc/ equivalent in any scientific career & have #Drosophila research experience - we'd be delighted to have you as mentors to empower early career scientists in the #Dros community !
It was a lovely first Fly North(East) meeting, diverse and supportive. Thank you all for sharing your science and the enthusiasm in strengthening our community. Thank you @gensocuk.bsky.social for the sponsorship that made it possible.
June 21, 2025 at 7:02 AM
It was a lovely first Fly North(East) meeting, diverse and supportive. Thank you all for sharing your science and the enthusiasm in strengthening our community. Thank you @gensocuk.bsky.social for the sponsorship that made it possible.
Reposted by Clara Howcroft Ferreira
Towards more sustainable research: reducing the environmental impact when working with #Drosophila. Challiner, Saurya., Patel, Raff, Fostier, Prokop, A. (2025) @genetics-gsa.bsky.social, in press -- doi.org/10.1093/gene... - Always happy to discuss and hear your ideas and views!
June 13, 2025 at 6:01 AM
Towards more sustainable research: reducing the environmental impact when working with #Drosophila. Challiner, Saurya., Patel, Raff, Fostier, Prokop, A. (2025) @genetics-gsa.bsky.social, in press -- doi.org/10.1093/gene... - Always happy to discuss and hear your ideas and views!
Reposted by Clara Howcroft Ferreira
We hosted the first North East Fly Meeting today! It was great to connect with people from all over as well as the local universities. A great learning and networking opportunity for us all! Sometimes it's just great to talk flies with all fly people! @clarahowcroft.bsky.social @dpdoupe.bsky.social
June 20, 2025 at 7:56 PM
We hosted the first North East Fly Meeting today! It was great to connect with people from all over as well as the local universities. A great learning and networking opportunity for us all! Sometimes it's just great to talk flies with all fly people! @clarahowcroft.bsky.social @dpdoupe.bsky.social
It is already tomorrow, our first Fly North(East) England meeting at Northumbria University Newcastle! Co-organized with @toraks.bsky.social @dpdoupe.bsky.social. Looking forward to a day of bulding bridges and discussing how to nurture our network.
June 19, 2025 at 12:32 PM
It is already tomorrow, our first Fly North(East) England meeting at Northumbria University Newcastle! Co-organized with @toraks.bsky.social @dpdoupe.bsky.social. Looking forward to a day of bulding bridges and discussing how to nurture our network.
Reposted by Clara Howcroft Ferreira
Registration is open for the third #NeuroBioUK!! @dozenoaks.bsky.social @alexfellows1.bsky.social and I are excited to see you again in York!
Registration is now open for NeuroBioUK 2025!
This year we're looking forward to hearing from our plenary speaker @cathyabbott.bsky.social. As ever, all other talks chosen from submitted abstracts so get submitting - we can't wait to see you there!
neurobiouk.sites.sheffield.ac.uk/registration
This year we're looking forward to hearing from our plenary speaker @cathyabbott.bsky.social. As ever, all other talks chosen from submitted abstracts so get submitting - we can't wait to see you there!
neurobiouk.sites.sheffield.ac.uk/registration
June 6, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Registration is open for the third #NeuroBioUK!! @dozenoaks.bsky.social @alexfellows1.bsky.social and I are excited to see you again in York!
Reposted by Clara Howcroft Ferreira
Apparently we do not have a JEDI starter pack yet.
@fly-jedi.bsky.social
and everyone else: let me know which other Junior European #Drosophila Investigators are missing!
go.bsky.app/PcTGEMc
@fly-jedi.bsky.social
and everyone else: let me know which other Junior European #Drosophila Investigators are missing!
go.bsky.app/PcTGEMc
June 6, 2025 at 7:31 AM
Apparently we do not have a JEDI starter pack yet.
@fly-jedi.bsky.social
and everyone else: let me know which other Junior European #Drosophila Investigators are missing!
go.bsky.app/PcTGEMc
@fly-jedi.bsky.social
and everyone else: let me know which other Junior European #Drosophila Investigators are missing!
go.bsky.app/PcTGEMc
Proud to work @northumbriauni.bsky.social #pridemonth
June 6, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Proud to work @northumbriauni.bsky.social #pridemonth
Reposted by Clara Howcroft Ferreira
Excited to share my PhD paper is out! We studied how motion vision is processed beyond the optic lobes to help flies walk straight. It has been a wonderful collaboration with @michaelreiser.bsky.social, @dddavi.bsky.social and many others not in bluesky!
Paper + digest here: bsky.app/profile/cham...
Paper + digest here: bsky.app/profile/cham...
🪰How does a fruit fly walk or fly in a perfectly straight line — even at high speed? It’s not just sharp vision. A sophisticated neural computation is at work.
🧠New study led by @champalimaudf.bsky.social Eugenia Chiappe.
📖 www.fchampalimaud.org/news/researc...
Paper: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🧠New study led by @champalimaudf.bsky.social Eugenia Chiappe.
📖 www.fchampalimaud.org/news/researc...
Paper: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
May 2, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Excited to share my PhD paper is out! We studied how motion vision is processed beyond the optic lobes to help flies walk straight. It has been a wonderful collaboration with @michaelreiser.bsky.social, @dddavi.bsky.social and many others not in bluesky!
Paper + digest here: bsky.app/profile/cham...
Paper + digest here: bsky.app/profile/cham...
Reposted by Clara Howcroft Ferreira
Congratulations to our biomedical sciences researchers Dr @emilyhume.bsky.social and Dr Monika Winter, who are among 62 UK researchers awarded grants to further their innovative work by the @acmedsci.bsky.social Springboard programme.
#Springboard25 #MedicalResearch
💡Discover more:
#Springboard25 #MedicalResearch
💡Discover more:
Academy of Medical Sciences funds new research from emerging scientific leaders
Two biomedical sciences researchers from Northumbria University have been awarded grants to further their innovative work by the Academy of Medical Sciences.
www.northumbria.ac.uk
April 10, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Congratulations to our biomedical sciences researchers Dr @emilyhume.bsky.social and Dr Monika Winter, who are among 62 UK researchers awarded grants to further their innovative work by the @acmedsci.bsky.social Springboard programme.
#Springboard25 #MedicalResearch
💡Discover more:
#Springboard25 #MedicalResearch
💡Discover more:
Reposted by Clara Howcroft Ferreira
The International Society for Neuroethology has a grant for disadvantaged scientists investigating the mechanisms of animal behaviour. Apply for funds to help overcome any barriers you face!
Membership fees can be included in your application.
Details here: www.neuroethology.org/diversity-aw...
Membership fees can be included in your application.
Details here: www.neuroethology.org/diversity-aw...
April 4, 2025 at 2:21 PM
The International Society for Neuroethology has a grant for disadvantaged scientists investigating the mechanisms of animal behaviour. Apply for funds to help overcome any barriers you face!
Membership fees can be included in your application.
Details here: www.neuroethology.org/diversity-aw...
Membership fees can be included in your application.
Details here: www.neuroethology.org/diversity-aw...
Reposted by Clara Howcroft Ferreira
The first paper from the lab is out on biorxiv - enjoy reading! Social context and interactions influence our behavioral decisions - the same is true for the little fly larva!
March 24, 2025 at 8:28 PM
The first paper from the lab is out on biorxiv - enjoy reading! Social context and interactions influence our behavioral decisions - the same is true for the little fly larva!
Join us for a fully funded, 4-year PhD, a collaboration between Northumbria, Durham and Mainz Universities to study the evolution of the neuronal basis of defence behaviours in Drosophila!
Application and full PhD advert:
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Application and full PhD advert:
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
February 28, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Join us for a fully funded, 4-year PhD, a collaboration between Northumbria, Durham and Mainz Universities to study the evolution of the neuronal basis of defence behaviours in Drosophila!
Application and full PhD advert:
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Application and full PhD advert:
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Join us for a great collaboration between Durham and Northumbria Universities to study the social lives of mosquitoes!
Please spread the word - 2 new PhD positions, one fully funded and one self-funded, with us at Durham and @clarahowcroft.bsky.social at Northumbria Uni! We are looking for people with interdisciplinary experience (biology, computer vision, engineering) and interest to work across disciplines.
Please re-post: We have 2 new PhD positions on insect behaviour. We are looking for people with interests and expertise in development of behavioural assays, working with insects, computer vision, image processing and data analysis, and previous research experience. Please email us to discuss! 🦟💻🐝
February 28, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Join us for a great collaboration between Durham and Northumbria Universities to study the social lives of mosquitoes!