闵娅(Min Ya; Minya) PhD
@minyaaa.bsky.social
Assist Prof at UIUC Plant Bio #NewPI. NSF Postdoc UConn EEB. PhD Harvard OEB. Erasmus MEME evobio alumna. She/Her. Lover of ALL plants.
🧪🔬🌱🌾
Development; Evolution; Evo-Devo; Microscopy; Meristems.
Lived in 🇨🇳🇯🇵🇸🇪🇫🇷🇩🇪🇺🇸
www.minyaaa.com
🧪🔬🌱🌾
Development; Evolution; Evo-Devo; Microscopy; Meristems.
Lived in 🇨🇳🇯🇵🇸🇪🇫🇷🇩🇪🇺🇸
www.minyaaa.com
Pinned
I’m proud to present the main work from my postdoc, 3+ years in making from scratch, my ultimate #MimulusPropaganda up till now:
The Moment
That
Symmetry
Breaks.
#plantscience #development #imaging #microscopy 🧪🌸🔬
w. Captain Yaowu & @biancatash.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
The Moment
That
Symmetry
Breaks.
#plantscience #development #imaging #microscopy 🧪🌸🔬
w. Captain Yaowu & @biancatash.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by 闵娅(Min Ya; Minya) PhD
I got the flower design job at Neoplants !!!! Gonna make very cool plants with da crew again. So very thankful for these folks believing in me, and my crazy ideas. What a huge relief in these so incredibly uncertain times. Gonna have real health insurance for once, lol.
🇫🇷🧬🌺
🇫🇷🧬🌺
November 13, 2025 at 11:20 PM
I got the flower design job at Neoplants !!!! Gonna make very cool plants with da crew again. So very thankful for these folks believing in me, and my crazy ideas. What a huge relief in these so incredibly uncertain times. Gonna have real health insurance for once, lol.
🇫🇷🧬🌺
🇫🇷🧬🌺
Wait New Phy @newphyt.bsky.social supports authors to show their real name (if non English) now?!?!? Omg I love it!!!!!! 🤩🤩🤩🤩
November 13, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Wait New Phy @newphyt.bsky.social supports authors to show their real name (if non English) now?!?!? Omg I love it!!!!!! 🤩🤩🤩🤩
Reposted by 闵娅(Min Ya; Minya) PhD
New preprint from former Lowry Lab postdoc, Kathy Toll, providing evidence that delayed flowering time by coastal perennial Mimulus guttatus may be advantageous through avoidance of high wind speeds and salt spray.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
November 10, 2025 at 2:32 PM
New preprint from former Lowry Lab postdoc, Kathy Toll, providing evidence that delayed flowering time by coastal perennial Mimulus guttatus may be advantageous through avoidance of high wind speeds and salt spray.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by 闵娅(Min Ya; Minya) PhD
Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are one of the "big three" research animal models for studying embryonic development & regeneration.
This is what the embryos look like under scanning electron microscopy. They look surprised 😮?
What looks like 'eyes' here are actually nostrils.
This is what the embryos look like under scanning electron microscopy. They look surprised 😮?
What looks like 'eyes' here are actually nostrils.
November 3, 2023 at 12:42 PM
Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are one of the "big three" research animal models for studying embryonic development & regeneration.
This is what the embryos look like under scanning electron microscopy. They look surprised 😮?
What looks like 'eyes' here are actually nostrils.
This is what the embryos look like under scanning electron microscopy. They look surprised 😮?
What looks like 'eyes' here are actually nostrils.
Perhaps the best paper title of the year has been dropped 🧪🎤
Former lab member @njorisfleck.bsky.social and colleagues just showed that some carnivorous plants do CAM photosynthesis! onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
🌱☀️🧪
🌱☀️🧪
Yes, we CAM! First evidence of CAM photosynthesis in a carnivorous plant
Evidence for weak, facultative CAM is reported for the first time in a carnivorous plant, i.e., in Mexican representatives of Pinguicula (Lentibulariaceae).
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 12, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Perhaps the best paper title of the year has been dropped 🧪🎤
Reposted by 闵娅(Min Ya; Minya) PhD
🔬🍀
A timelapse movie (unpublished data) from the lab.
In the movie, the nucleus is moving towards the base of the polarized root hair cell.
A timelapse movie (unpublished data) from the lab.
In the movie, the nucleus is moving towards the base of the polarized root hair cell.
November 11, 2025 at 6:01 PM
🔬🍀
A timelapse movie (unpublished data) from the lab.
In the movie, the nucleus is moving towards the base of the polarized root hair cell.
A timelapse movie (unpublished data) from the lab.
In the movie, the nucleus is moving towards the base of the polarized root hair cell.
Got our first snow this morning!! ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
November 9, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Got our first snow this morning!! ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
Reposted by 闵娅(Min Ya; Minya) PhD
Flashback #FluorescenceFriday to some of the first light-sheet imaging we were doing. Video shows the collecting duct system of the developing kidney labeled with a pan-cytokeratin antibody. Courtesy of former talented technician Deanna Hardesty.
November 7, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Flashback #FluorescenceFriday to some of the first light-sheet imaging we were doing. Video shows the collecting duct system of the developing kidney labeled with a pan-cytokeratin antibody. Courtesy of former talented technician Deanna Hardesty.
Reposted by 闵娅(Min Ya; Minya) PhD
Amy Angert and I are recruiting a #postdoc to participate in a collaborative NSF-funded study of demographic responses to climate across the geographic range of the scarlet monkeyflower. Please repost! jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/224...
November 7, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Amy Angert and I are recruiting a #postdoc to participate in a collaborative NSF-funded study of demographic responses to climate across the geographic range of the scarlet monkeyflower. Please repost! jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/224...
Reposted by 闵娅(Min Ya; Minya) PhD
Evo devo is cool!
I’m proud to present the main work from my postdoc, 3+ years in making from scratch, my ultimate #MimulusPropaganda up till now:
The Moment
That
Symmetry
Breaks.
#plantscience #development #imaging #microscopy 🧪🌸🔬
w. Captain Yaowu & @biancatash.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
The Moment
That
Symmetry
Breaks.
#plantscience #development #imaging #microscopy 🧪🌸🔬
w. Captain Yaowu & @biancatash.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
November 5, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Evo devo is cool!
Reposted by 闵娅(Min Ya; Minya) PhD
My new ImageJ / Fiji toolkit is out 🔥! The goal is to make image handling & visualization easy, with an intuitive interface! Install it on Fiji with the "Image Viewer" update site
#microscopy #ImageJ #FluorescenceFriday #microscopyMonday
imagej.net/plugins/imag...
#microscopy #ImageJ #FluorescenceFriday #microscopyMonday
imagej.net/plugins/imag...
November 4, 2025 at 10:40 PM
My new ImageJ / Fiji toolkit is out 🔥! The goal is to make image handling & visualization easy, with an intuitive interface! Install it on Fiji with the "Image Viewer" update site
#microscopy #ImageJ #FluorescenceFriday #microscopyMonday
imagej.net/plugins/imag...
#microscopy #ImageJ #FluorescenceFriday #microscopyMonday
imagej.net/plugins/imag...
And... of course we started today by having unexpected disasters - tubes broke in tissue grinder, beads and broken tubes flying everywhere inside. I miiiiiiight have jinxed it yesterday 🥲🧪 #newPI
For the first time since the lab opened, all four thermal cyclers are being used right now. The feeling that we finally get our routines established and starting to be more and more productive is... frankly quite amazing! #newPI 🧪
November 5, 2025 at 4:36 PM
And... of course we started today by having unexpected disasters - tubes broke in tissue grinder, beads and broken tubes flying everywhere inside. I miiiiiiight have jinxed it yesterday 🥲🧪 #newPI
Reposted by 闵娅(Min Ya; Minya) PhD
1/ Preprint alert:
🌾 The developing leaf of the wild grass Brachypodium distachyon at single-cell resolution
👉 doi.org/10.1101/2025...
A 70k-cell single-cell RNA-seq atlas of the developing grass leaf—from the shoot meristem to mature leaf tissues. @cerealcell.bsky.social @lbmountain.bsky.social
🌾 The developing leaf of the wild grass Brachypodium distachyon at single-cell resolution
👉 doi.org/10.1101/2025...
A 70k-cell single-cell RNA-seq atlas of the developing grass leaf—from the shoot meristem to mature leaf tissues. @cerealcell.bsky.social @lbmountain.bsky.social
November 5, 2025 at 12:32 PM
1/ Preprint alert:
🌾 The developing leaf of the wild grass Brachypodium distachyon at single-cell resolution
👉 doi.org/10.1101/2025...
A 70k-cell single-cell RNA-seq atlas of the developing grass leaf—from the shoot meristem to mature leaf tissues. @cerealcell.bsky.social @lbmountain.bsky.social
🌾 The developing leaf of the wild grass Brachypodium distachyon at single-cell resolution
👉 doi.org/10.1101/2025...
A 70k-cell single-cell RNA-seq atlas of the developing grass leaf—from the shoot meristem to mature leaf tissues. @cerealcell.bsky.social @lbmountain.bsky.social
For the first time since the lab opened, all four thermal cyclers are being used right now. The feeling that we finally get our routines established and starting to be more and more productive is... frankly quite amazing! #newPI 🧪
November 4, 2025 at 8:58 PM
For the first time since the lab opened, all four thermal cyclers are being used right now. The feeling that we finally get our routines established and starting to be more and more productive is... frankly quite amazing! #newPI 🧪
Reposted by 闵娅(Min Ya; Minya) PhD
I'm really excited to help organize this workshop on #phylogenomics and #genome #evolution in the Czech Republic! The instructors are world-class!
Register to be part of the #phylogenomics and #genome #evolution workshop in Czechia! Registration closes November 15! evomics.org/apply-worksh...
Register to be part of the #phylogenomics and #genome #evolution workshop in Czechia! Registration closes November 15! evomics.org/apply-worksh...
November 1, 2025 at 5:43 PM
I'm really excited to help organize this workshop on #phylogenomics and #genome #evolution in the Czech Republic! The instructors are world-class!
Register to be part of the #phylogenomics and #genome #evolution workshop in Czechia! Registration closes November 15! evomics.org/apply-worksh...
Register to be part of the #phylogenomics and #genome #evolution workshop in Czechia! Registration closes November 15! evomics.org/apply-worksh...
Reposted by 闵娅(Min Ya; Minya) PhD
Brilliant use of gfp-tagged transposons & automated scoring of kernels, combined with differential style-lengths along maize ear, to screen for genes underlying pollen competition in maize. Diana gave a banger of a presentation on this in #Zeavolution this morning. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
October 29, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Brilliant use of gfp-tagged transposons & automated scoring of kernels, combined with differential style-lengths along maize ear, to screen for genes underlying pollen competition in maize. Diana gave a banger of a presentation on this in #Zeavolution this morning. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
tis the season
bsky.app/profile/miny...
bsky.app/profile/miny...
When it gets spooky in the microscopy room:
(🔬: corn stem cross-section)
(🔬: corn stem cross-section)
October 29, 2025 at 2:43 PM
tis the season
bsky.app/profile/miny...
bsky.app/profile/miny...
Today I officially give up on thinking I could get the bait & prey correctly in one try when talking about Y1H and Y2H. 🫠🧪
October 27, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Today I officially give up on thinking I could get the bait & prey correctly in one try when talking about Y1H and Y2H. 🫠🧪
Two of the best years, also the program that changed the trajectory of my life. <3
Do you want to do a Masters in Evolutionary Biology? The call for applying to the MEME program is now open! MEME is a fantastic 2-year MSc between four European Universities on all areas of Evolutionary Biology. Apply and study in Sweden/France/the Netherlands/Germany/USA/Switzerland! www.evobio.eu
October 27, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Two of the best years, also the program that changed the trajectory of my life. <3
Reposted by 闵娅(Min Ya; Minya) PhD
Genetically engineered color-changing Arabidopsis 🧬📷- attempt #3
I think I finally nailed it with this one.
I think I finally nailed it with this one.
October 27, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Genetically engineered color-changing Arabidopsis 🧬📷- attempt #3
I think I finally nailed it with this one.
I think I finally nailed it with this one.
Reposted by 闵娅(Min Ya; Minya) PhD
Can you imagine what it is?
Just a leaf!
Image of Distinction
2025 Photomicrography Competition
"Vascular bundles in a bamboo leaf (Phyllostachys sp.)"
Dr. David Maitland
🧪 🔬 #Science #SciComm #Photography
www.nikonsmallworld.com/galleries/20...
Credit
Art of Science
www.davidmaitland.com
Just a leaf!
Image of Distinction
2025 Photomicrography Competition
"Vascular bundles in a bamboo leaf (Phyllostachys sp.)"
Dr. David Maitland
🧪 🔬 #Science #SciComm #Photography
www.nikonsmallworld.com/galleries/20...
Credit
Art of Science
www.davidmaitland.com
October 27, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Can you imagine what it is?
Just a leaf!
Image of Distinction
2025 Photomicrography Competition
"Vascular bundles in a bamboo leaf (Phyllostachys sp.)"
Dr. David Maitland
🧪 🔬 #Science #SciComm #Photography
www.nikonsmallworld.com/galleries/20...
Credit
Art of Science
www.davidmaitland.com
Just a leaf!
Image of Distinction
2025 Photomicrography Competition
"Vascular bundles in a bamboo leaf (Phyllostachys sp.)"
Dr. David Maitland
🧪 🔬 #Science #SciComm #Photography
www.nikonsmallworld.com/galleries/20...
Credit
Art of Science
www.davidmaitland.com
Reposted by 闵娅(Min Ya; Minya) PhD
Almost 60 years ago I started climbing the big old walnut trees in our orchard remnant, then the 90’ tall Monterey Pine next door. Later I took up the rock on Mt Diablo, then Pinnacles, Lovers Leap, Donner Pass, Emerald Bay, Yosemite & so on. Even the Rotten Log Pitch on Royal Arches before it fell🌿
Climbing Giants | Full Film
YouTube video by Noah Kane
youtu.be
October 23, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Almost 60 years ago I started climbing the big old walnut trees in our orchard remnant, then the 90’ tall Monterey Pine next door. Later I took up the rock on Mt Diablo, then Pinnacles, Lovers Leap, Donner Pass, Emerald Bay, Yosemite & so on. Even the Rotten Log Pitch on Royal Arches before it fell🌿
Reposted by 闵娅(Min Ya; Minya) PhD
Why are some species smaller than a paperclip while others grow longer than a school bus? How is body size evolution governed in animals? Out now in @pnas.org we tackle these longstanding questions through a genetic lens using my favorite group of fishes as our model!! www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Parallel shifts in differential gene expression reveal convergent miniaturization in fishes | PNAS
Body size variation in vertebrates is a complex polygenic trait, tightly correlated
with numerous aspects of a species’ biology, ecology, and physi...
www.pnas.org
October 22, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Why are some species smaller than a paperclip while others grow longer than a school bus? How is body size evolution governed in animals? Out now in @pnas.org we tackle these longstanding questions through a genetic lens using my favorite group of fishes as our model!! www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Looking forward to it! Now #MorphographX is an important part of my work.
I'm grateful for @kierzkowskilab.bsky.social and @mingyuanzhu.bsky.social teaching me how to use it during grad school, and for @richardsmithlab.bsky.social and @soestrauss.bsky.social always patiently answering questions!
I'm grateful for @kierzkowskilab.bsky.social and @mingyuanzhu.bsky.social teaching me how to use it during grad school, and for @richardsmithlab.bsky.social and @soestrauss.bsky.social always patiently answering questions!
Coming this week! @minyaaa.bsky.social @roederlab.bsky.social @naascarabidopsis.bsky.social 🌱 Join us for our upcoming workshop Quantifying Plant Morphogenesis: 4D Insights with MorphoGraphX!
Learn how to quantitatively analyze plant confocal imaging data using MorphoGraphX.
Learn how to quantitatively analyze plant confocal imaging data using MorphoGraphX.
October 20, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Looking forward to it! Now #MorphographX is an important part of my work.
I'm grateful for @kierzkowskilab.bsky.social and @mingyuanzhu.bsky.social teaching me how to use it during grad school, and for @richardsmithlab.bsky.social and @soestrauss.bsky.social always patiently answering questions!
I'm grateful for @kierzkowskilab.bsky.social and @mingyuanzhu.bsky.social teaching me how to use it during grad school, and for @richardsmithlab.bsky.social and @soestrauss.bsky.social always patiently answering questions!
My baby lab is now starting our own first transgenic garden party and as you can see, our cocktail swords are getting fancier. 🍸💅🧪🌱 #newPI
October 20, 2025 at 4:44 PM
My baby lab is now starting our own first transgenic garden party and as you can see, our cocktail swords are getting fancier. 🍸💅🧪🌱 #newPI