Molly Schumer
@mollyschumer.bsky.social
Genetics & Evolution, Faculty at Stanford & Freeman Hrabowski Scholar at HHMI. My views do not reflect those of my employer.
schumerlab.com
schumerlab.com
Reposted by Molly Schumer
Impeachment proceedings are mandatory. You either believe the presidency is governed by rules or you don’t.
January 3, 2026 at 7:02 AM
Impeachment proceedings are mandatory. You either believe the presidency is governed by rules or you don’t.
Reposted by Molly Schumer
Unforgivable. These are people’s lives.
BREAKING: The United States appears to have begun bombing Venezuela. Massive airstrikes are underway. War is here.
January 3, 2026 at 8:20 AM
Unforgivable. These are people’s lives.
Reposted by Molly Schumer
Absolutely thrilled to share the latest work from my lab focused on the variation and evolution of human centromeres among global populations! We assembled 2,110 human centromeres, identifying 226 new major haplotypes and 1,870 α-satellite HOR variants. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
December 16, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Absolutely thrilled to share the latest work from my lab focused on the variation and evolution of human centromeres among global populations! We assembled 2,110 human centromeres, identifying 226 new major haplotypes and 1,870 α-satellite HOR variants. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Reposted by Molly Schumer
Did you know there are 2 types of avocado varieties? A-types switch from female to male, B-types male to female, within a single day. This reciprocal sex alternation promotes cross-pollination and has a simple genetic basis. Read more in this recent preprint from the final chapter of my PhD thesis 🥑
Balanced polymorphism in a floral transcription factor underlies an ancient rhythm of daily sex alternation in avocado
In avocado and certain wild relatives in Lauraceae, pollination occurs via a synchronized rhythm of floral sex timing between two hermaphroditic flowering types. A-type plants present female-phase flo...
www.biorxiv.org
December 29, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Did you know there are 2 types of avocado varieties? A-types switch from female to male, B-types male to female, within a single day. This reciprocal sex alternation promotes cross-pollination and has a simple genetic basis. Read more in this recent preprint from the final chapter of my PhD thesis 🥑
Reposted by Molly Schumer
The National Science Foundation starts 2026 with a new management structure that affects every scientist with--or applying for--NSF funding. Here's what you need to know. www.science.org/content/arti...
The National Science Foundation just had a big reorganization. Here are five things to know
Divisions and rotators disappear as more career staff become supervisors
www.science.org
December 29, 2025 at 2:54 PM
The National Science Foundation starts 2026 with a new management structure that affects every scientist with--or applying for--NSF funding. Here's what you need to know. www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Molly Schumer
The U.S. research community has an interest to help ensure the integrity of scientific leadership at our public institutions.
We are pleased to share this guest blog from @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social and Shiv Prasad, writing in their personal capacities.
open.substack.com/pub/sciencea...
We are pleased to share this guest blog from @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social and Shiv Prasad, writing in their personal capacities.
open.substack.com/pub/sciencea...
Reading the Tea Leaves on NIH Institute Director Searches
Which Fringe Scientists Might be Considered for Leadership Positions?
open.substack.com
December 28, 2025 at 3:36 AM
The U.S. research community has an interest to help ensure the integrity of scientific leadership at our public institutions.
We are pleased to share this guest blog from @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social and Shiv Prasad, writing in their personal capacities.
open.substack.com/pub/sciencea...
We are pleased to share this guest blog from @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social and Shiv Prasad, writing in their personal capacities.
open.substack.com/pub/sciencea...
Reposted by Molly Schumer
"we're trying to shut down science that produces results we don't like, it's a very worrisome trend. And we have seen this other times in history, and it never really ended well."
White House pushes to dismantle leading climate and weather research center
The Trump administration says it plans to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado, which is the nation’s premier atmospheric science center. The center was founded in 1960 a...
www.pbs.org
December 27, 2025 at 2:51 PM
"we're trying to shut down science that produces results we don't like, it's a very worrisome trend. And we have seen this other times in history, and it never really ended well."
Reposted by Molly Schumer
More news (not good) from NIH
The renewal request from National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke Director Walter Koroshetz has been denied.
I guess the NIH_leadership™ needed another position to fill with their time-tested recruitment process.
The renewal request from National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke Director Walter Koroshetz has been denied.
I guess the NIH_leadership™ needed another position to fill with their time-tested recruitment process.
December 27, 2025 at 4:17 PM
More news (not good) from NIH
The renewal request from National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke Director Walter Koroshetz has been denied.
I guess the NIH_leadership™ needed another position to fill with their time-tested recruitment process.
The renewal request from National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke Director Walter Koroshetz has been denied.
I guess the NIH_leadership™ needed another position to fill with their time-tested recruitment process.
Reposted by Molly Schumer
Excited about our new preprint showing bidirectional adaptive introgression between invasive and native crop pests over ecological timescales www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
The collision of two genomes threatens global food security
Human activity alters selection pressures and species' ranges, creating opportunities for hybridisation through secondary contact. Ancient hybridization has enabled adaptive radiation, but its role in...
www.biorxiv.org
December 26, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Excited about our new preprint showing bidirectional adaptive introgression between invasive and native crop pests over ecological timescales www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Continuing my tradition of feeding the fish on Christmas! Here is one of our most festive residents this year
December 26, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Continuing my tradition of feeding the fish on Christmas! Here is one of our most festive residents this year
Reposted by Molly Schumer
Congrats @jeffgroh.bsky.social et al. Some avocado trees open female-phase flowers in the morning & then male in afternoon. Others show complementary pattern (m->f), to synchronize pollination of two types. Jeff show this to be a >45Mya polymorphism at a transcription factor across 100s of species.
Balanced polymorphism in a floral transcription factor underlies an ancient rhythm of daily sex alternation in avocado https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.22.695989v1
December 25, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Congrats @jeffgroh.bsky.social et al. Some avocado trees open female-phase flowers in the morning & then male in afternoon. Others show complementary pattern (m->f), to synchronize pollination of two types. Jeff show this to be a >45Mya polymorphism at a transcription factor across 100s of species.
Reposted by Molly Schumer
Balanced polymorphism in a floral transcription factor underlies an ancient rhythm of daily sex alternation in avocado https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.22.695989v1
December 25, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Balanced polymorphism in a floral transcription factor underlies an ancient rhythm of daily sex alternation in avocado https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.22.695989v1
Reposted by Molly Schumer
I’ll never look at avocados in quite the same way: The latest from UC Berkeley Miller Fellow Jeff Groh who sits in my lab and Ben Blackman’s lab. He works on balancing selection and molecular mechanisms underlying the coevolutionary phenomenon of mating type alternation (PhD with Graham Koop).
Balanced polymorphism in a floral transcription factor underlies an ancient rhythm of daily sex alternation in avocado https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.22.695989v1
December 25, 2025 at 3:23 PM
I’ll never look at avocados in quite the same way: The latest from UC Berkeley Miller Fellow Jeff Groh who sits in my lab and Ben Blackman’s lab. He works on balancing selection and molecular mechanisms underlying the coevolutionary phenomenon of mating type alternation (PhD with Graham Koop).
Reposted by Molly Schumer
Origin and evolution of acrocentric chromosomes in human and great apes https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.22.696095v1
December 24, 2025 at 2:32 AM
Origin and evolution of acrocentric chromosomes in human and great apes https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.22.696095v1
Reposted by Molly Schumer
Very excited to share the capstone of my postdoc work with @stepheniwright.bsky.social, co-led by Wright lab grad student Cassandre with contributions from many others.
We combined new methods with high-quality Rumex assemblies to dive into the remarkable history of rearrangement in this genus.
We combined new methods with high-quality Rumex assemblies to dive into the remarkable history of rearrangement in this genus.
Rapid evolution of synteny associated with multiple origins of dioecy and XY sex determination
Chromosomal rearrangements are a major driver of evolutionary innovation, shaping processes including local adaptation, speciation, and sex chromosome evolution. Multispecies synteny datasets are rich...
www.biorxiv.org
December 23, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Very excited to share the capstone of my postdoc work with @stepheniwright.bsky.social, co-led by Wright lab grad student Cassandre with contributions from many others.
We combined new methods with high-quality Rumex assemblies to dive into the remarkable history of rearrangement in this genus.
We combined new methods with high-quality Rumex assemblies to dive into the remarkable history of rearrangement in this genus.
Reposted by Molly Schumer
New preprint from the lab on bioRxiv, led by Grace Zhang!
Quick summary: Lots of studies have examined costs and benefits associated with resistance. Most focus on a single stressor, leaving unclear how resistance shapes fitness and evolution under multiple interacting stresses.
Quick summary: Lots of studies have examined costs and benefits associated with resistance. Most focus on a single stressor, leaving unclear how resistance shapes fitness and evolution under multiple interacting stresses.
Context dependence shapes the evolution of glyphosate and herbivory resistance in Ipomoea purpurea https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.20.695696v1
December 23, 2025 at 2:53 PM
New preprint from the lab on bioRxiv, led by Grace Zhang!
Quick summary: Lots of studies have examined costs and benefits associated with resistance. Most focus on a single stressor, leaving unclear how resistance shapes fitness and evolution under multiple interacting stresses.
Quick summary: Lots of studies have examined costs and benefits associated with resistance. Most focus on a single stressor, leaving unclear how resistance shapes fitness and evolution under multiple interacting stresses.
Reposted by Molly Schumer
Great postdoc opportunity to work on metabolomics and genomics of aroma in berries (raspberry and blueberry) at UBC in beautiful Vancouver! Come explore aroma diversity and figure out what are the metabolites and genes that control it - and help us make even better berries! 🌱 🫐 ⚗️ 🧬
December 22, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Great postdoc opportunity to work on metabolomics and genomics of aroma in berries (raspberry and blueberry) at UBC in beautiful Vancouver! Come explore aroma diversity and figure out what are the metabolites and genes that control it - and help us make even better berries! 🌱 🫐 ⚗️ 🧬
Reposted by Molly Schumer
Saving this for my lecture on white identity politics in Intro to American Politics. Right next to video of the administration welcoming white South Africans to the U.S. as “asylum seekers” while beating up brown people in the streets.
JD Vance: "In the United States of America you don't have to apologize for being white anymore"
December 22, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Saving this for my lecture on white identity politics in Intro to American Politics. Right next to video of the administration welcoming white South Africans to the U.S. as “asylum seekers” while beating up brown people in the streets.
Reposted by Molly Schumer
Happy to highlight an essay I wrote together with @marcdemanuel.bsky.social,
@natanaels.bsky.social and Anastasia Stolyarova, trying to think through what sets the mutation rate of a cell type in an animal species: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... 1/n
@natanaels.bsky.social and Anastasia Stolyarova, trying to think through what sets the mutation rate of a cell type in an animal species: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... 1/n
What sets the mutation rate of a cell type in an animal species?
Germline mutation rates per generation are strikingly similar across animals, despite vast differences in life histories. Analogously, in at least one somatic cell type, mutation rates at the end of l...
www.biorxiv.org
December 22, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Happy to highlight an essay I wrote together with @marcdemanuel.bsky.social,
@natanaels.bsky.social and Anastasia Stolyarova, trying to think through what sets the mutation rate of a cell type in an animal species: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... 1/n
@natanaels.bsky.social and Anastasia Stolyarova, trying to think through what sets the mutation rate of a cell type in an animal species: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... 1/n
Reposted by Molly Schumer
This is an exciting opportunity to work in Helsinki, and in collaboration with us in Cambridge… on moth colouration. Could focus on the role of Ivory long non coding RNA in regulating melanisation…
Thrilled to announce a Postdoc opportunity in our group on the evolutionary genetics and ecology of colour. Wonderful system, great collaborators, and room to shape your own ideas.
Apply by 7 Jan: jobs.helsinki.fi/job/13477181...
Apply by 7 Jan: jobs.helsinki.fi/job/13477181...
December 22, 2025 at 10:25 AM
This is an exciting opportunity to work in Helsinki, and in collaboration with us in Cambridge… on moth colouration. Could focus on the role of Ivory long non coding RNA in regulating melanisation…
Reposted by Molly Schumer
Many thanks to cofounder @asinclair.bsky.social & the entire SCIMaP team (scienceimpacts.org) for collaborative work to confront federal cuts to science and medical research; together, our effort was recognized as a 2025 Public Health Hero in @thenation.com.
a 🧵
www.thenation.com/article/soci...
a 🧵
www.thenation.com/article/soci...
The Public Health Heroes of 2025
The Trump administration wants to destroy our health infrastructure. These warriors aren't letting that happen without a fight.
www.thenation.com
December 22, 2025 at 2:50 AM
Many thanks to cofounder @asinclair.bsky.social & the entire SCIMaP team (scienceimpacts.org) for collaborative work to confront federal cuts to science and medical research; together, our effort was recognized as a 2025 Public Health Hero in @thenation.com.
a 🧵
www.thenation.com/article/soci...
a 🧵
www.thenation.com/article/soci...
Reposted by Molly Schumer
Are you a bachelor or master student anywhere in the world, and would like to come to us to work full-time on a supervised research project? Applications for the 2026 MPIA Summer Internship are open now!
Summer internships
www.mpia.de
December 17, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Are you a bachelor or master student anywhere in the world, and would like to come to us to work full-time on a supervised research project? Applications for the 2026 MPIA Summer Internship are open now!
Reposted by Molly Schumer
Rising undergrad junior or senior? Last chance to apply! Applications close TOMORROW, Dec. 22, 11:59pm EST. 🧪
Our 9-week summer research experience includes hands-on lab work, a generous stipend, & mentorship from some of the nation’s top scientists. Learn more & apply at bit.ly/CechFellows.
Our 9-week summer research experience includes hands-on lab work, a generous stipend, & mentorship from some of the nation’s top scientists. Learn more & apply at bit.ly/CechFellows.
December 21, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Rising undergrad junior or senior? Last chance to apply! Applications close TOMORROW, Dec. 22, 11:59pm EST. 🧪
Our 9-week summer research experience includes hands-on lab work, a generous stipend, & mentorship from some of the nation’s top scientists. Learn more & apply at bit.ly/CechFellows.
Our 9-week summer research experience includes hands-on lab work, a generous stipend, & mentorship from some of the nation’s top scientists. Learn more & apply at bit.ly/CechFellows.
Reposted by Molly Schumer
While many nonprofits rely on government dollars, about half of those that edited or watered down diversity, equity and inclusion language in their mission statements reported receiving no government funding.
Under Trump, More Than 1,000 Nonprofits Strip DEI Language From Tax Forms
As the Trump administration ordered agencies to eradicate “illegal” diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, we identified more than 1,000 nonprofits that removed such language from the mission statem...
www.propublica.org
December 21, 2025 at 3:00 PM
While many nonprofits rely on government dollars, about half of those that edited or watered down diversity, equity and inclusion language in their mission statements reported receiving no government funding.
Reposted by Molly Schumer
14 two-year postdocs for academics of any nationality who cannot continue their research due to US politics. Do share if you know of such.
Post-doc positions:
"Academic freedom is under pressure today. This requires rescue havens of free research. ... [we] invite early career researchers, whose work is restricted due to political pressure in the USA..."
uni-freiburg.de/frias/call-f...
"Academic freedom is under pressure today. This requires rescue havens of free research. ... [we] invite early career researchers, whose work is restricted due to political pressure in the USA..."
uni-freiburg.de/frias/call-f...
Call for Applications: Early Career Rescue Fellowship – Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies
uni-freiburg.de
December 19, 2025 at 5:19 PM
14 two-year postdocs for academics of any nationality who cannot continue their research due to US politics. Do share if you know of such.