John Fowler (he/him)
@jefowlerjr.bsky.social
At heart, still mostly a geneticist; admittedly over-enthusiastic about maize; in 2026, reminding everyone that the @TheB52s should be in the @rockhall !
Reposted by John Fowler (he/him)
Seattle Seahawks fan parade today
Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
February 12, 2026 at 1:17 AM
Seattle Seahawks fan parade today
Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Reposted by John Fowler (he/him)
Our paper is out in MBE! doi.org/10.1093/molb...
We tracked TF binding site evolution across 589 grass species, and found that while binding preferences are pretty stable over 80 million years of evolution, individual binding sites have turned over a lot.
Thread here: bsky.app/profile/char...
We tracked TF binding site evolution across 589 grass species, and found that while binding preferences are pretty stable over 80 million years of evolution, individual binding sites have turned over a lot.
Thread here: bsky.app/profile/char...
December 16, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Our paper is out in MBE! doi.org/10.1093/molb...
We tracked TF binding site evolution across 589 grass species, and found that while binding preferences are pretty stable over 80 million years of evolution, individual binding sites have turned over a lot.
Thread here: bsky.app/profile/char...
We tracked TF binding site evolution across 589 grass species, and found that while binding preferences are pretty stable over 80 million years of evolution, individual binding sites have turned over a lot.
Thread here: bsky.app/profile/char...
Reposted by John Fowler (he/him)
TFW you’re quoted in a way that exactly captures your voice….
Students and faculty have been baffled (and frustrated) as NSF turns back applications for its prestigious Graduate Research Fellowship Research Fellowship Program (GRFP). Those affected seem to mainly be in the life sciences. My latest for @statnews.com
www.statnews.com/2026/02/11/n...
www.statnews.com/2026/02/11/n...
Students, faculty mystified as NSF turns back applications for prestigious fellowship program
Applicants to a prestigious National Science Foundation fellowship program say many submissions have been mysteriously “returned without review.”
www.statnews.com
February 11, 2026 at 7:41 PM
TFW you’re quoted in a way that exactly captures your voice….
Liz is super helpful and a wonderful writer!
Feeling a little squeezed? Feeling a little anxious? Want help in your scientific writing from a real person?
I can help draft, write, and/or polish manuscripts, tenure documents, grant proposals, and more.
See my website (linked below) for testimonials and for contact info. Or D/M me here!
I can help draft, write, and/or polish manuscripts, tenure documents, grant proposals, and more.
See my website (linked below) for testimonials and for contact info. Or D/M me here!
February 11, 2026 at 7:22 PM
Liz is super helpful and a wonderful writer!
Reposted by John Fowler (he/him)
‘No Reason He Should Have Died’: Alex Pretti’s Parents Open Up
I'm gifting this article.
I'm gifting this article.
‘No Reason He Should Have Died’: Alex Pretti’s Parents Open Up
www.nytimes.com
February 11, 2026 at 1:22 AM
‘No Reason He Should Have Died’: Alex Pretti’s Parents Open Up
I'm gifting this article.
I'm gifting this article.
Reposted by John Fowler (he/him)
Excited to share our latest review on hydrosignaling: moisture-dependent molecular pathways that help plants grow towards water. Insightful review of the literature and discussion of moisture sensing mechanisms by Will Dwyer and @hhtormar.bsky.social. Enjoy!
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
February 4, 2026 at 4:18 PM
Excited to share our latest review on hydrosignaling: moisture-dependent molecular pathways that help plants grow towards water. Insightful review of the literature and discussion of moisture sensing mechanisms by Will Dwyer and @hhtormar.bsky.social. Enjoy!
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reposted by John Fowler (he/him)
Celebrating #BlackHistoryMonth by learning more about Prof. Tanisha Williams, who cofounded #BlackBotanistsWeek and discovered a new tomato species! 🌱🧪🍅 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanisha...
Tanisha Williams - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
February 10, 2026 at 5:02 AM
Celebrating #BlackHistoryMonth by learning more about Prof. Tanisha Williams, who cofounded #BlackBotanistsWeek and discovered a new tomato species! 🌱🧪🍅 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanisha...
Reposted by John Fowler (he/him)
Extracellular calcium modulates pollen tube growth and guidance in Arabidopsis thaliana https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.02.07.704530v1
February 10, 2026 at 6:02 AM
Extracellular calcium modulates pollen tube growth and guidance in Arabidopsis thaliana https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.02.07.704530v1
Reposted by John Fowler (he/him)
Fun news! @gcbias.bsky.social and I are teaching a 2-week online population genetics workshop this summer to raise money for the Center for Population Biology at UC Davis. We're trying to gauge interest -- please fill this out if you might be interested! And please share broadly!
Davis Summer Population Genomics Program
Want to learn population genetics? Please fill out this form to indicate your potential interest in a 2-week intensive online summer population genetics course taught by Jeffrey Ross-Ibarra and Graham...
docs.google.com
February 9, 2026 at 6:24 PM
Fun news! @gcbias.bsky.social and I are teaching a 2-week online population genetics workshop this summer to raise money for the Center for Population Biology at UC Davis. We're trying to gauge interest -- please fill this out if you might be interested! And please share broadly!
Reposted by John Fowler (he/him)
This is a powerful message from Freeman Hrabowski.
🧵
1/12
🧵
1/12
February 9, 2026 at 1:52 PM
This is a powerful message from Freeman Hrabowski.
🧵
1/12
🧵
1/12
Reposted by John Fowler (he/him)
Super excited to have this online at @jxbotany.bsky.social doi.org/10.1093/jxb/...
"Building a diverse and inclusive plant science community," a call-to-action. Thanks to @apaterlini.bsky.social
@mehta-lab.com @yoselin.bsky.social
@goormachtig.bsky.social & Agnes Uhereczky + funders!💚
"Building a diverse and inclusive plant science community," a call-to-action. Thanks to @apaterlini.bsky.social
@mehta-lab.com @yoselin.bsky.social
@goormachtig.bsky.social & Agnes Uhereczky + funders!💚
February 9, 2026 at 12:53 PM
Super excited to have this online at @jxbotany.bsky.social doi.org/10.1093/jxb/...
"Building a diverse and inclusive plant science community," a call-to-action. Thanks to @apaterlini.bsky.social
@mehta-lab.com @yoselin.bsky.social
@goormachtig.bsky.social & Agnes Uhereczky + funders!💚
"Building a diverse and inclusive plant science community," a call-to-action. Thanks to @apaterlini.bsky.social
@mehta-lab.com @yoselin.bsky.social
@goormachtig.bsky.social & Agnes Uhereczky + funders!💚
Reposted by John Fowler (he/him)
I made a map of 3.4 million Bluesky users - see if you can find yourself!
bluesky-map.theo.io
I've seen some similar projects, but IMO this seems to better capture some of the fine-grained detail
bluesky-map.theo.io
I've seen some similar projects, but IMO this seems to better capture some of the fine-grained detail
Bluesky Map
Interactive map of 3.4 million Bluesky users, visualised by their follower pattern.
bluesky-map.theo.io
February 8, 2026 at 10:59 PM
I made a map of 3.4 million Bluesky users - see if you can find yourself!
bluesky-map.theo.io
I've seen some similar projects, but IMO this seems to better capture some of the fine-grained detail
bluesky-map.theo.io
I've seen some similar projects, but IMO this seems to better capture some of the fine-grained detail
Reposted by John Fowler (he/him)
Botany 2026 having some weird field trips this year…
February 9, 2026 at 3:08 AM
Botany 2026 having some weird field trips this year…
Reposted by John Fowler (he/him)
It's long past time to stop indulging people who think you can meaningfully defend science without also defending democracy and academic freedom and opposing authoritarianism. It's the same fight, otherwise all you're defending is your own status.
February 8, 2026 at 2:26 PM
It's long past time to stop indulging people who think you can meaningfully defend science without also defending democracy and academic freedom and opposing authoritarianism. It's the same fight, otherwise all you're defending is your own status.
Reposted by John Fowler (he/him)
🧬 From Nature Plants: Plants send mobile small RNAs from maternal tissues to pollen, enabling essential gene control for normal male fertility. (Blake C. Meyers)
▶️ www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#PlantScience #PlantBiology
▶️ www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#PlantScience #PlantBiology
Long-distance transport of siRNAs with functional roles in pollen development - Nature Plants
This study shows that many small RNAs in Capsella rubella pollen originate from maternal tissues. These mobile small RNAs support proper pollen development, revealing that non-cell-autonomous small RN...
www.nature.com
February 5, 2026 at 6:36 PM
🧬 From Nature Plants: Plants send mobile small RNAs from maternal tissues to pollen, enabling essential gene control for normal male fertility. (Blake C. Meyers)
▶️ www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#PlantScience #PlantBiology
▶️ www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#PlantScience #PlantBiology
Reposted by John Fowler (he/him)
No joke: I got angry hate mail today for writing an obituary of a Black woman scientist—because the person felt she did didn’t deserve the recognition.
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Gladys Mae West obituary: mathematician who pioneered GPS technology
She made key contributions to US cold-war science despite facing huge barriers as a Black woman.
www.nature.com
February 6, 2026 at 9:09 AM
No joke: I got angry hate mail today for writing an obituary of a Black woman scientist—because the person felt she did didn’t deserve the recognition.
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by John Fowler (he/him)
Reminder there are still 2000 active goons destroying our city and kidnapping civilians to such an extreme extent that kids cant even go to school normally
ICE surge news: Minneapolis Public Schools has extended *optional* distance learning until April 6.
February 6, 2026 at 2:15 PM
Reminder there are still 2000 active goons destroying our city and kidnapping civilians to such an extreme extent that kids cant even go to school normally
Reposted by John Fowler (he/him)
BREAKING: Over 680 members of the National Academy of Sciences, Medicine, and Engineering have endorsed articles of impeachment against RFK Jr.
(1/2 🧵)
(1/2 🧵)
February 5, 2026 at 9:08 PM
BREAKING: Over 680 members of the National Academy of Sciences, Medicine, and Engineering have endorsed articles of impeachment against RFK Jr.
(1/2 🧵)
(1/2 🧵)
Reposted by John Fowler (he/him)
New paper! From Sam Snodgrass and @genomeofforrest.bsky.social, w/ @druncie.bsky.social, @gcbias.bsky.social, and a collaboration with Andres Moreno and @santiagogmm.bsky.social. Can we quantify the impact of humans on maize dispersal?
Plant yourself in a comfy chair and lend me your ear:
1/10
Plant yourself in a comfy chair and lend me your ear:
1/10
www.biorxiv.org
February 6, 2026 at 5:49 AM
New paper! From Sam Snodgrass and @genomeofforrest.bsky.social, w/ @druncie.bsky.social, @gcbias.bsky.social, and a collaboration with Andres Moreno and @santiagogmm.bsky.social. Can we quantify the impact of humans on maize dispersal?
Plant yourself in a comfy chair and lend me your ear:
1/10
Plant yourself in a comfy chair and lend me your ear:
1/10
Reposted by John Fowler (he/him)
Holy shit: it's an RFP for the NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology (PRFB). Hello old friend www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology (PRFB)
www.nsf.gov
February 5, 2026 at 11:41 PM
Holy shit: it's an RFP for the NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology (PRFB). Hello old friend www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
Reposted by John Fowler (he/him)
First they came for DEI and I said nothing for I hoped my success rates would improve.
Then they came for gender identity research and I said nothing for I hoped my success rates would improve.
Then they came for the NPRCs, and I said nothing for I hoped my success rates would improve.
Then they came for gender identity research and I said nothing for I hoped my success rates would improve.
Then they came for the NPRCs, and I said nothing for I hoped my success rates would improve.
February 5, 2026 at 6:47 PM
First they came for DEI and I said nothing for I hoped my success rates would improve.
Then they came for gender identity research and I said nothing for I hoped my success rates would improve.
Then they came for the NPRCs, and I said nothing for I hoped my success rates would improve.
Then they came for gender identity research and I said nothing for I hoped my success rates would improve.
Then they came for the NPRCs, and I said nothing for I hoped my success rates would improve.
Reposted by John Fowler (he/him)
I am SO incredibly excited to announce the launch of a global list of Inspiring Black Scientists. You can use this list to nominate and connect with researchers. Please share and join us in highlighting these outstanding scientists for #BlackHistoryMonth and beyond!
www.wiley.com/en-us/resear...
www.wiley.com/en-us/resear...
February 5, 2026 at 5:36 PM
I am SO incredibly excited to announce the launch of a global list of Inspiring Black Scientists. You can use this list to nominate and connect with researchers. Please share and join us in highlighting these outstanding scientists for #BlackHistoryMonth and beyond!
www.wiley.com/en-us/resear...
www.wiley.com/en-us/resear...
Reposted by John Fowler (he/him)
Successful Predictive Modeling of Pollen Fitness Phenotypes Is Enabled by Measures of Expression Specificity
By Sebastian A.F. Mueller, Zuzana Vejlupkova, Molly Megraw, John E. Fowler
doi.org/10.64898/202... via bioRxiv #PlantScience
By Sebastian A.F. Mueller, Zuzana Vejlupkova, Molly Megraw, John E. Fowler
doi.org/10.64898/202... via bioRxiv #PlantScience
February 4, 2026 at 4:10 PM
Successful Predictive Modeling of Pollen Fitness Phenotypes Is Enabled by Measures of Expression Specificity
By Sebastian A.F. Mueller, Zuzana Vejlupkova, Molly Megraw, John E. Fowler
doi.org/10.64898/202... via bioRxiv #PlantScience
By Sebastian A.F. Mueller, Zuzana Vejlupkova, Molly Megraw, John E. Fowler
doi.org/10.64898/202... via bioRxiv #PlantScience
Reposted by John Fowler (he/him)
In celebration of #BlackHistoryMonth let’s learn more about Marie Taylor, a plant biologist and chair of Howard University’s Botany Department. Love her focus on photomorphogensis and using light microscopy on living plants! 🌱 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_T...
Marie Taylor - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
February 4, 2026 at 3:14 AM
In celebration of #BlackHistoryMonth let’s learn more about Marie Taylor, a plant biologist and chair of Howard University’s Botany Department. Love her focus on photomorphogensis and using light microscopy on living plants! 🌱 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_T...
Reposted by John Fowler (he/him)
Despite the nation being destroyed around us, science is still remarkable & we have exceptional young folks coming up in all of our communities. I just had the pleasure of chairing a committee for a thesis award in my field. We evaluated 26 candidates & read the full thesis of the 5 finalists 1/n 🧪
February 2, 2026 at 7:26 PM
Despite the nation being destroyed around us, science is still remarkable & we have exceptional young folks coming up in all of our communities. I just had the pleasure of chairing a committee for a thesis award in my field. We evaluated 26 candidates & read the full thesis of the 5 finalists 1/n 🧪