Kathleen (Katie) Ferris
@ferrisifolius.bsky.social
Assistant Professor of plant evolutionary genetics at Tulane University. Amateur writer and painter. Lover of pastry, pretty shoes, cephalopods, and swimming in cold lakes.
Reposted by Kathleen (Katie) Ferris
Really hard to look at this and all the other examples of bravery and kindness from ordinary people in this moment not think also of the tremendous cowardice exhibited over the past year by some of the richest, most well-protected people in business, media and politics
Let us all have the courage displayed by the residents of Minneapolis.
January 25, 2026 at 2:24 PM
Really hard to look at this and all the other examples of bravery and kindness from ordinary people in this moment not think also of the tremendous cowardice exhibited over the past year by some of the richest, most well-protected people in business, media and politics
Reposted by Kathleen (Katie) Ferris
As a someone with a 33 year NIH-funded lab whose grant is supposed to be reviewed this week, shut NIH down if that is what's needed to end ICE terrorism. Innocent lives are more important 🧪
The Senate may choose to vote together on the DHS and LHHS bills. Thus, a filibuster on DHS may mean no funding for NIH. What my colleagues are saying:
“Shut it down, public health will understand. I’ll work without pay again.”
- anonymous NIHer
“Shut it down, public health will understand. I’ll work without pay again.”
- anonymous NIHer
January 25, 2026 at 12:59 PM
As a someone with a 33 year NIH-funded lab whose grant is supposed to be reviewed this week, shut NIH down if that is what's needed to end ICE terrorism. Innocent lives are more important 🧪
Reposted by Kathleen (Katie) Ferris
i think the "immigration turns high trust societies into low trust societies" people were already on really shaky ideological ground but now they're watching neighbors helping one another and calling them paid antifa agitators
January 25, 2026 at 1:00 PM
i think the "immigration turns high trust societies into low trust societies" people were already on really shaky ideological ground but now they're watching neighbors helping one another and calling them paid antifa agitators
Reposted by Kathleen (Katie) Ferris
Reposted by Kathleen (Katie) Ferris
Reminder: All it would take to end the murder of American citizens by an untrained government goon squad is 16 Republicans in Congress voting with Dems to defund ICE (or 23 to impeach and remove Trump — 3 in House & 20 in Senate). That’s it. 23 Americans can vote for the public and end all of this.
January 24, 2026 at 6:26 PM
Reminder: All it would take to end the murder of American citizens by an untrained government goon squad is 16 Republicans in Congress voting with Dems to defund ICE (or 23 to impeach and remove Trump — 3 in House & 20 in Senate). That’s it. 23 Americans can vote for the public and end all of this.
Reposted by Kathleen (Katie) Ferris
A new ope.
Lots of good signs here, but I have to confess my favorite is a rebel alliance where they replaced the red insignia with blue and the Minnesota loon.
January 23, 2026 at 8:31 PM
A new ope.
Reposted by Kathleen (Katie) Ferris
On a downtown street in Minneapolis, as people stream out from the massive march, Mary Tyler Moore says “fuck ice.”
January 23, 2026 at 10:29 PM
On a downtown street in Minneapolis, as people stream out from the massive march, Mary Tyler Moore says “fuck ice.”
Fuck yeah Minnesotans
January 23, 2026 at 11:55 PM
Fuck yeah Minnesotans
Reposted by Kathleen (Katie) Ferris
beautiful people, beautiful city
Demonstrators Flood Minneapolis Streets as Hundreds of Businesses Close to Protest ICE
www.nytimes.com
January 23, 2026 at 11:47 PM
beautiful people, beautiful city
Reposted by Kathleen (Katie) Ferris
"Oh my gosh, it was so nice to see you! Have a lovely day, fuck ICE!"
"Oh you too hon! Stay safe in that traffic, fuck ICE!'
- two older Minnesota ladies, bidding farewell after the protest
"Oh you too hon! Stay safe in that traffic, fuck ICE!'
- two older Minnesota ladies, bidding farewell after the protest
January 23, 2026 at 11:17 PM
"Oh my gosh, it was so nice to see you! Have a lovely day, fuck ICE!"
"Oh you too hon! Stay safe in that traffic, fuck ICE!'
- two older Minnesota ladies, bidding farewell after the protest
"Oh you too hon! Stay safe in that traffic, fuck ICE!'
- two older Minnesota ladies, bidding farewell after the protest
Reposted by Kathleen (Katie) Ferris
New: an FBI agent who took the routine step of investigating the ICE officer who shot Renee Good has resigned after FBI leadership discouraged the investigation
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/23/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/23/u...
F.B.I. Agent Who Tried to Investigate ICE Officer in Shooting Resigns
www.nytimes.com
January 23, 2026 at 11:49 PM
New: an FBI agent who took the routine step of investigating the ICE officer who shot Renee Good has resigned after FBI leadership discouraged the investigation
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/23/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/23/u...
Reposted by Kathleen (Katie) Ferris
The NSF strategic plan FY 2026-30 is available for public comment until Jan 27. Please make your voice heard! www.nsf.gov/od/updates/n...
NSF seeks public input on its Fiscal Year (FY) 2026–2030 NSF Strategic Plan
www.nsf.gov
January 17, 2026 at 11:12 PM
The NSF strategic plan FY 2026-30 is available for public comment until Jan 27. Please make your voice heard! www.nsf.gov/od/updates/n...
Reposted by Kathleen (Katie) Ferris
“The speed, the scope and the severity of the attacks on science are beyond anything we’ve ever seen,” says @gretchentg.bsky.social.
My @nature.com story on the human toll of the 2nd Trump presidency.
Thx to @dochfroehlich.bsky.social, @briannosek.bsky.social, @katharinehayhoe.com & others.
My @nature.com story on the human toll of the 2nd Trump presidency.
Thx to @dochfroehlich.bsky.social, @briannosek.bsky.social, @katharinehayhoe.com & others.
‘Shattered’: US scientists speak out about how Trump policies disrupted their careers
Researchers lay bare the human toll of lay-offs, funding cuts and attacks on science one year after the president’s return to the White House.
www.nature.com
January 20, 2026 at 3:52 PM
“The speed, the scope and the severity of the attacks on science are beyond anything we’ve ever seen,” says @gretchentg.bsky.social.
My @nature.com story on the human toll of the 2nd Trump presidency.
Thx to @dochfroehlich.bsky.social, @briannosek.bsky.social, @katharinehayhoe.com & others.
My @nature.com story on the human toll of the 2nd Trump presidency.
Thx to @dochfroehlich.bsky.social, @briannosek.bsky.social, @katharinehayhoe.com & others.
Reposted by Kathleen (Katie) Ferris
Here is the newest Ferris Lab preprint as promised on the genomic basis of divergence in photoperiodic flowering across and elevational gradient! See first author @jillmlove.bsky.social ‘s post below for the link.
Check it out folks!!!!
#Mimuluspropaganda #WomeninStem #ProudPI
Check it out folks!!!!
#Mimuluspropaganda #WomeninStem #ProudPI
Another preprint to share from the Ferris Lab @ferrisifolius.bsky.social! This project started as co-author Aditi Mahesh’s undergrad honors thesis and became my first dive into bioinformatics. Excited to share these results on the genomics of photoperiod adaptation!! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
The genomic basis of local adaptation to photoperiod across altitude in a self-fertilizing monkeyflower
Local adaptation along altitudinal gradients is well documented in many plant species, however the genetic basis of adaptive variation over these steep environmental clines remains poorly understood. ...
www.biorxiv.org
January 16, 2026 at 4:56 PM
Here is the newest Ferris Lab preprint as promised on the genomic basis of divergence in photoperiodic flowering across and elevational gradient! See first author @jillmlove.bsky.social ‘s post below for the link.
Check it out folks!!!!
#Mimuluspropaganda #WomeninStem #ProudPI
Check it out folks!!!!
#Mimuluspropaganda #WomeninStem #ProudPI
Reposted by Kathleen (Katie) Ferris
Back then, wannabe dictators either declared dictatorship or staged a coup. Today wannabe dictators use “electoral autocracy” — they come to power via elections but then hollow out the electoral system through voter suppression, banning rivals from running for office, intimidation, & other tactics.
January 19, 2026 at 8:23 PM
Back then, wannabe dictators either declared dictatorship or staged a coup. Today wannabe dictators use “electoral autocracy” — they come to power via elections but then hollow out the electoral system through voter suppression, banning rivals from running for office, intimidation, & other tactics.
Reposted by Kathleen (Katie) Ferris
Today, as we see ICE fascists target brown and Black people, beat, arrest, and kill them, deny due process of law, & we see centrist politicians respond with calls for "more training" (instead of the right answer to abolish ICE) — we remember when Dr. King, warned us about the "white moderate."
January 19, 2026 at 8:17 PM
Today, as we see ICE fascists target brown and Black people, beat, arrest, and kill them, deny due process of law, & we see centrist politicians respond with calls for "more training" (instead of the right answer to abolish ICE) — we remember when Dr. King, warned us about the "white moderate."
Reposted by Kathleen (Katie) Ferris
Here's ICE invading the home of an elderly US citizen and dragging him out of the shower, nearly naked, into the snow.
The man is Hmong. His people were granted citizenship for fighting with the US in Vietnam.
You know who didn't fight in Nam? Trump, because he said his foot hurt.
The man is Hmong. His people were granted citizenship for fighting with the US in Vietnam.
You know who didn't fight in Nam? Trump, because he said his foot hurt.
January 19, 2026 at 8:33 PM
Here's ICE invading the home of an elderly US citizen and dragging him out of the shower, nearly naked, into the snow.
The man is Hmong. His people were granted citizenship for fighting with the US in Vietnam.
You know who didn't fight in Nam? Trump, because he said his foot hurt.
The man is Hmong. His people were granted citizenship for fighting with the US in Vietnam.
You know who didn't fight in Nam? Trump, because he said his foot hurt.
In case folks hadn’t heard: nationwide walk-out tomorrow www.freeameri.ca
FREE AMERICA WALKOUT Jan 20, 2026
On Jan 20, 2026 we will walk out because a Free America is the only America worth calling great.
www.freeameri.ca
January 19, 2026 at 9:40 PM
In case folks hadn’t heard: nationwide walk-out tomorrow www.freeameri.ca
Here is the newest Ferris Lab preprint as promised on the genomic basis of divergence in photoperiodic flowering across and elevational gradient! See first author @jillmlove.bsky.social ‘s post below for the link.
Check it out folks!!!!
#Mimuluspropaganda #WomeninStem #ProudPI
Check it out folks!!!!
#Mimuluspropaganda #WomeninStem #ProudPI
Another preprint to share from the Ferris Lab @ferrisifolius.bsky.social! This project started as co-author Aditi Mahesh’s undergrad honors thesis and became my first dive into bioinformatics. Excited to share these results on the genomics of photoperiod adaptation!! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
The genomic basis of local adaptation to photoperiod across altitude in a self-fertilizing monkeyflower
Local adaptation along altitudinal gradients is well documented in many plant species, however the genetic basis of adaptive variation over these steep environmental clines remains poorly understood. ...
www.biorxiv.org
January 16, 2026 at 4:56 PM
Here is the newest Ferris Lab preprint as promised on the genomic basis of divergence in photoperiodic flowering across and elevational gradient! See first author @jillmlove.bsky.social ‘s post below for the link.
Check it out folks!!!!
#Mimuluspropaganda #WomeninStem #ProudPI
Check it out folks!!!!
#Mimuluspropaganda #WomeninStem #ProudPI
Reposted by Kathleen (Katie) Ferris
Another preprint to share from the Ferris Lab @ferrisifolius.bsky.social! This project started as co-author Aditi Mahesh’s undergrad honors thesis and became my first dive into bioinformatics. Excited to share these results on the genomics of photoperiod adaptation!! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
The genomic basis of local adaptation to photoperiod across altitude in a self-fertilizing monkeyflower
Local adaptation along altitudinal gradients is well documented in many plant species, however the genetic basis of adaptive variation over these steep environmental clines remains poorly understood. ...
www.biorxiv.org
January 16, 2026 at 2:05 AM
Another preprint to share from the Ferris Lab @ferrisifolius.bsky.social! This project started as co-author Aditi Mahesh’s undergrad honors thesis and became my first dive into bioinformatics. Excited to share these results on the genomics of photoperiod adaptation!! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Reposted by Kathleen (Katie) Ferris
7 million people joined together & marched in the USA No Kings Protest making it the largest in American history!
While other countries joined in our movement such as 🇨🇦🇲🇽🇦🇹🇫🇷🇩🇪🇮🇹🇵🇦🇵🇹🇪🇸🇸🇪🇨🇭🇬🇧🇦🇺🇩🇰🇮🇸🇻🇬🇳🇱🇯🇵 & many more
It is not about the people in power. It’s about POWER of the PEOPLE!
#DefendersOfDemocracy
While other countries joined in our movement such as 🇨🇦🇲🇽🇦🇹🇫🇷🇩🇪🇮🇹🇵🇦🇵🇹🇪🇸🇸🇪🇨🇭🇬🇧🇦🇺🇩🇰🇮🇸🇻🇬🇳🇱🇯🇵 & many more
It is not about the people in power. It’s about POWER of the PEOPLE!
#DefendersOfDemocracy
October 19, 2025 at 4:28 PM
7 million people joined together & marched in the USA No Kings Protest making it the largest in American history!
While other countries joined in our movement such as 🇨🇦🇲🇽🇦🇹🇫🇷🇩🇪🇮🇹🇵🇦🇵🇹🇪🇸🇸🇪🇨🇭🇬🇧🇦🇺🇩🇰🇮🇸🇻🇬🇳🇱🇯🇵 & many more
It is not about the people in power. It’s about POWER of the PEOPLE!
#DefendersOfDemocracy
While other countries joined in our movement such as 🇨🇦🇲🇽🇦🇹🇫🇷🇩🇪🇮🇹🇵🇦🇵🇹🇪🇸🇸🇪🇨🇭🇬🇧🇦🇺🇩🇰🇮🇸🇻🇬🇳🇱🇯🇵 & many more
It is not about the people in power. It’s about POWER of the PEOPLE!
#DefendersOfDemocracy
Reposted by Kathleen (Katie) Ferris
IMPORTANT SAFETY TIP FOR NO KINGS!
We’re seeing viral posts urging people to sit down/stay silent if violence emerges.
PLEASE DO NOT DO THAT.
In certain circumstances with activists highly trained in civil disobedience this *can* be effective.
At a mass protest, it is a recipe for disaster.
We’re seeing viral posts urging people to sit down/stay silent if violence emerges.
PLEASE DO NOT DO THAT.
In certain circumstances with activists highly trained in civil disobedience this *can* be effective.
At a mass protest, it is a recipe for disaster.
October 18, 2025 at 12:09 AM
IMPORTANT SAFETY TIP FOR NO KINGS!
We’re seeing viral posts urging people to sit down/stay silent if violence emerges.
PLEASE DO NOT DO THAT.
In certain circumstances with activists highly trained in civil disobedience this *can* be effective.
At a mass protest, it is a recipe for disaster.
We’re seeing viral posts urging people to sit down/stay silent if violence emerges.
PLEASE DO NOT DO THAT.
In certain circumstances with activists highly trained in civil disobedience this *can* be effective.
At a mass protest, it is a recipe for disaster.
Reposted by Kathleen (Katie) Ferris
Asclepias speciosa, our Showy Milkweed, blooming near Cuchara Pass. Note the ant pollinators #nativeplants
#FallbackFlowers #Fallback to July 12 🌿
#FallbackFlowers #Fallback to July 12 🌿
January 12, 2026 at 4:58 PM
Asclepias speciosa, our Showy Milkweed, blooming near Cuchara Pass. Note the ant pollinators #nativeplants
#FallbackFlowers #Fallback to July 12 🌿
#FallbackFlowers #Fallback to July 12 🌿
Paper submitted!!!! Way to go @jillmlove.bsky.social !!!! You're on 🔥 this year !!!!!!! #ProudPI
Preprint coming soon to a screen near you... #Mimuluspropaganda
(this post is sponsored by the "Katie thinks we should celebrate anything we can right now" corporation for public expressions of joy)
Preprint coming soon to a screen near you... #Mimuluspropaganda
(this post is sponsored by the "Katie thinks we should celebrate anything we can right now" corporation for public expressions of joy)
a cartoon character from bob 's burgers is making a surprised face and saying yay !
ALT: a cartoon character from bob 's burgers is making a surprised face and saying yay !
media.tenor.com
January 14, 2026 at 6:45 PM
Paper submitted!!!! Way to go @jillmlove.bsky.social !!!! You're on 🔥 this year !!!!!!! #ProudPI
Preprint coming soon to a screen near you... #Mimuluspropaganda
(this post is sponsored by the "Katie thinks we should celebrate anything we can right now" corporation for public expressions of joy)
Preprint coming soon to a screen near you... #Mimuluspropaganda
(this post is sponsored by the "Katie thinks we should celebrate anything we can right now" corporation for public expressions of joy)
Reposted by Kathleen (Katie) Ferris
I'm gearing up to teach a non-majors "Evolution and Society" class for the first time. One unit will be on debunking myths and misconceptions about evolution. Which ones do I absolutely have to include?
January 9, 2026 at 7:36 PM
I'm gearing up to teach a non-majors "Evolution and Society" class for the first time. One unit will be on debunking myths and misconceptions about evolution. Which ones do I absolutely have to include?