Rachel C Thayer
@rcthayer.bsky.social
Evolution of structural color in butterflies🦋🌈 Reproductive functional evolution 🧬 Postdoc | UC Davis
🌐 sites.google.com/view/rachelcthayer/welcome
🌐 sites.google.com/view/rachelcthayer/welcome
Pinned
Rachel C Thayer
@rcthayer.bsky.social
· Oct 25
Our paper, identifying all the cell types in the Drosophila melanogaster female reproductive tract (uterus, female-limited glands, sperm storage organs) is out today! We used single-nuclei RNA sequencing and a lot of in situ cross-validation www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2409850121 🪰 🧬🧪 1/n
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
🚨New paper! 🚨
@jasminealqassar.bsky.social led this work on the silk glands of the pantry moth.
These two long tubes inside the caterpillar continuously make a ton of silk
How does this special organ work?
www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
@cp-iscience.bsky.social
🧵THREAD🧵
@jasminealqassar.bsky.social led this work on the silk glands of the pantry moth.
These two long tubes inside the caterpillar continuously make a ton of silk
How does this special organ work?
www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
@cp-iscience.bsky.social
🧵THREAD🧵
November 16, 2025 at 2:06 AM
🚨New paper! 🚨
@jasminealqassar.bsky.social led this work on the silk glands of the pantry moth.
These two long tubes inside the caterpillar continuously make a ton of silk
How does this special organ work?
www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
@cp-iscience.bsky.social
🧵THREAD🧵
@jasminealqassar.bsky.social led this work on the silk glands of the pantry moth.
These two long tubes inside the caterpillar continuously make a ton of silk
How does this special organ work?
www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
@cp-iscience.bsky.social
🧵THREAD🧵
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
Galvin, J., Yedigarian, S., Rahman, M., Borziak, K., DeNieu, M., Larson, E. L., Manier, M. K. (2025). Sperm length and seminal fluid proteins promote male reproductive success in D. melanogaster. J Evol Biol academic.oup.com/jeb/article-...
Sperm length and seminal fluid proteins promote male reproductive success in Drosophila melanogaster
Abstract. Spermatozoal morphology varies widely within and among species, often corresponding to the shape of the female sperm storage organs in ways that
academic.oup.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Galvin, J., Yedigarian, S., Rahman, M., Borziak, K., DeNieu, M., Larson, E. L., Manier, M. K. (2025). Sperm length and seminal fluid proteins promote male reproductive success in D. melanogaster. J Evol Biol academic.oup.com/jeb/article-...
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
I am so excited to share new work on a TE insertion that regulates iridescence in swordtails, led by fantastic grad student @nadiahaghani.bsky.social and with help from many coauthors! In a time that has been so difficult to navigate, this & other projects have kept my spirits up: shorturl.at/NE65A
Insertion of an invading retrovirus regulates a novel color trait in swordtail fish
For over a century, evolutionary biologists have been motivated to understand the mechanisms through which organisms adapt to their environments. Coloration and pigmentation are remarkably variable wi...
shorturl.at
November 12, 2025 at 8:34 PM
I am so excited to share new work on a TE insertion that regulates iridescence in swordtails, led by fantastic grad student @nadiahaghani.bsky.social and with help from many coauthors! In a time that has been so difficult to navigate, this & other projects have kept my spirits up: shorturl.at/NE65A
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
This is key. Implication: have a record of who they turned away.
You are not overly suspicious. This is a real possibility especially since there do not appear to be any search committees.
But I don't want them to be able to say that they selected candidates when only 3 people applied (including their pre-selected candidate).
But I don't want them to be able to say that they selected candidates when only 3 people applied (including their pre-selected candidate).
November 12, 2025 at 11:39 PM
This is key. Implication: have a record of who they turned away.
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
What is the most profitable industry in the world, this side of the law? Not oil, not IT, not pharma.
It's *scientific publishing*.
We call this the Drain of Scientific Publishing.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Background: doi.org/10.1162/qss_...
Thread @markhanson.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy 👇
It's *scientific publishing*.
We call this the Drain of Scientific Publishing.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Background: doi.org/10.1162/qss_...
Thread @markhanson.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy 👇
November 12, 2025 at 10:31 AM
What is the most profitable industry in the world, this side of the law? Not oil, not IT, not pharma.
It's *scientific publishing*.
We call this the Drain of Scientific Publishing.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Background: doi.org/10.1162/qss_...
Thread @markhanson.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy 👇
It's *scientific publishing*.
We call this the Drain of Scientific Publishing.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Background: doi.org/10.1162/qss_...
Thread @markhanson.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy 👇
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
It's out, Minos transgenesis in the pantry moth by
@donyaniyaz.bsky.social
@lucalivraghi.bsky.social
High efficient, glowing eye and silk gland markers
peerj.com/articles/202...
@peerj.bsky.social
@donyaniyaz.bsky.social
@lucalivraghi.bsky.social
High efficient, glowing eye and silk gland markers
peerj.com/articles/202...
@peerj.bsky.social
November 12, 2025 at 2:40 PM
It's out, Minos transgenesis in the pantry moth by
@donyaniyaz.bsky.social
@lucalivraghi.bsky.social
High efficient, glowing eye and silk gland markers
peerj.com/articles/202...
@peerj.bsky.social
@donyaniyaz.bsky.social
@lucalivraghi.bsky.social
High efficient, glowing eye and silk gland markers
peerj.com/articles/202...
@peerj.bsky.social
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
More new NIH institute and center director positions posted
with a closing date of 11/26/25.
hr.nih.gov/careers/open...
These include the Center for Scientific Review (CSR), National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), ...
1/3
with a closing date of 11/26/25.
hr.nih.gov/careers/open...
These include the Center for Scientific Review (CSR), National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), ...
1/3
hr.nih.gov
November 12, 2025 at 4:18 PM
More new NIH institute and center director positions posted
with a closing date of 11/26/25.
hr.nih.gov/careers/open...
These include the Center for Scientific Review (CSR), National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), ...
1/3
with a closing date of 11/26/25.
hr.nih.gov/careers/open...
These include the Center for Scientific Review (CSR), National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), ...
1/3
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
Are you an early-stage graduate student (2nd or 3rd year) or early-stage postdoc based in the US or Canada, working primarily in Drosophila? Would you like to help improve the experience of all trainees working in Drosophila research? If so, read on.
(Please repost to reach a broad audience.)
(Please repost to reach a broad audience.)
November 12, 2025 at 4:49 AM
Are you an early-stage graduate student (2nd or 3rd year) or early-stage postdoc based in the US or Canada, working primarily in Drosophila? Would you like to help improve the experience of all trainees working in Drosophila research? If so, read on.
(Please repost to reach a broad audience.)
(Please repost to reach a broad audience.)
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
Hi Bluesky community - I'm teaching computational genomics again in the Spring term; always happy to have auditors or folks Zoom in. Just have your students email me for deets.
November 11, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Hi Bluesky community - I'm teaching computational genomics again in the Spring term; always happy to have auditors or folks Zoom in. Just have your students email me for deets.
I need to go to ESA
In the ESA exhibit hall, fossilforager.bsky.social is once again directly targeting my bank account
November 10, 2025 at 7:48 PM
I need to go to ESA
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
BREAKING: Cornell caved.
Here is the settlement agreement, signed today by the university's president, Michael Kotlikoff: statements.cornell.edu/2025/documen...
Here is the settlement agreement, signed today by the university's president, Michael Kotlikoff: statements.cornell.edu/2025/documen...
November 7, 2025 at 5:11 PM
BREAKING: Cornell caved.
Here is the settlement agreement, signed today by the university's president, Michael Kotlikoff: statements.cornell.edu/2025/documen...
Here is the settlement agreement, signed today by the university's president, Michael Kotlikoff: statements.cornell.edu/2025/documen...
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
If you're looking for a #postdoc but aren't quite a fit for my lab, check out this exciting opportunity via IU's Common Themes in Reproductive Diversity group! 2-year NIH traineeship to work on one of the group's core themes. Details here! ctrd.indiana.edu/how-to-apply/
How to apply
Learn how to apply to the Common Themes in Reproductive Diversity graduate program at Indiana University with detailed steps, requirements, and deadlines.
ctrd.indiana.edu
November 5, 2025 at 5:10 PM
If you're looking for a #postdoc but aren't quite a fit for my lab, check out this exciting opportunity via IU's Common Themes in Reproductive Diversity group! 2-year NIH traineeship to work on one of the group's core themes. Details here! ctrd.indiana.edu/how-to-apply/
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
The world seems like we are going backwards at the moment, so it is important to take the time to spread awareness of advances.
Scientists have developed an enzyme that converts organs into universal 'O' type. This is huge.
www.popularmechanics.com/science/heal...
Scientists have developed an enzyme that converts organs into universal 'O' type. This is huge.
www.popularmechanics.com/science/heal...
Scientists Changed the Blood Type of a Kidney. That’s Extraordinary.
Transforming organs from any blood type into the universal donor Type O could help patients receive transplants faster.
www.popularmechanics.com
November 4, 2025 at 8:51 PM
The world seems like we are going backwards at the moment, so it is important to take the time to spread awareness of advances.
Scientists have developed an enzyme that converts organs into universal 'O' type. This is huge.
www.popularmechanics.com/science/heal...
Scientists have developed an enzyme that converts organs into universal 'O' type. This is huge.
www.popularmechanics.com/science/heal...
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
Warning. ⚠️ If you are writing an NSF GRFP, new this year, you need official transcripts to apply. Beware. They will not review applications without official transcripts. ‼️
November 4, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Warning. ⚠️ If you are writing an NSF GRFP, new this year, you need official transcripts to apply. Beware. They will not review applications without official transcripts. ‼️
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
PSA from 404 Media: you can opt-out of a data broker selling your flight travel data to the government to be searched without a warrant. Here's how I did it. This is ARC, the data broker owned by major U.S. airlines like United, Delta, American, etc
www.404media.co/how-to-opt-o...
www.404media.co/how-to-opt-o...
How to Opt-Out of Airlines Selling Your Travel Data to the Government
The Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), owned by major U.S. airlines, collects billions of ticketing records and sells them to the government to be searched without a warrant. I managed to opt-out o...
www.404media.co
November 4, 2025 at 2:05 PM
PSA from 404 Media: you can opt-out of a data broker selling your flight travel data to the government to be searched without a warrant. Here's how I did it. This is ARC, the data broker owned by major U.S. airlines like United, Delta, American, etc
www.404media.co/how-to-opt-o...
www.404media.co/how-to-opt-o...
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
The Lepidoptera are leading the race in reference genome comparative genomics -- beating the Diptera and Drosophila as a model. ecoevorxiv.org/repository/v...
November 4, 2025 at 5:24 AM
The Lepidoptera are leading the race in reference genome comparative genomics -- beating the Diptera and Drosophila as a model. ecoevorxiv.org/repository/v...
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
The origins and molecular evolution of sperm https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.03.685759v1
November 3, 2025 at 8:32 PM
The origins and molecular evolution of sperm https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.03.685759v1
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
Fellow #Drosophila researchers! Ever wondered about the genome sequence of your lab strain or the balancers? Check out our Drosophila Laboratory Pangenome Database, featuring a growing collection of reference genome assemblies for popular D. melanogaster strains! github.com/chakrabortym...
GitHub - chakrabortymlab/DLPD: code and scripts relevant to the Drosophila Laboratory Pangenome Database
code and scripts relevant to the Drosophila Laboratory Pangenome Database - chakrabortymlab/DLPD
github.com
October 31, 2024 at 6:06 PM
Fellow #Drosophila researchers! Ever wondered about the genome sequence of your lab strain or the balancers? Check out our Drosophila Laboratory Pangenome Database, featuring a growing collection of reference genome assemblies for popular D. melanogaster strains! github.com/chakrabortym...
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
🪰 folks! I spoke to the Transmitter about FlyBase. As noted at flybase.org, bridge $ ran out and many staff were laid off.
Good news is stopgap contributions will keep core FlyBase operations active. But community support remains essential. Please donate @FlyBase and share! 1/2
tinyurl.com/FlyBase
Good news is stopgap contributions will keep core FlyBase operations active. But community support remains essential. Please donate @FlyBase and share! 1/2
tinyurl.com/FlyBase
FlyBase secures funding for year, but future still uncertain
The FlyBase team’s fundraising efforts have proven successful in the short term, but restoration of its federal grant remains uncertain.
tinyurl.com
October 29, 2025 at 12:31 PM
🪰 folks! I spoke to the Transmitter about FlyBase. As noted at flybase.org, bridge $ ran out and many staff were laid off.
Good news is stopgap contributions will keep core FlyBase operations active. But community support remains essential. Please donate @FlyBase and share! 1/2
tinyurl.com/FlyBase
Good news is stopgap contributions will keep core FlyBase operations active. But community support remains essential. Please donate @FlyBase and share! 1/2
tinyurl.com/FlyBase
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
A personal favorite, long time in the making. Adelina and David (@dduneau.bsky.social) were instrumental in getting this done.
doi.org/10.1186/s129...
doi.org/10.1186/s129...
Wound-induced eyespots on butterfly wings at the intersection of immune response and pigmentation development - BMC Biology
Background Butterfly eyespots are striking examples of evolutionary novelty arising through the repurposing of ancestral genetic pathways, including pathways involved in wound healing. Given the activ...
doi.org
October 29, 2025 at 1:58 PM
A personal favorite, long time in the making. Adelina and David (@dduneau.bsky.social) were instrumental in getting this done.
doi.org/10.1186/s129...
doi.org/10.1186/s129...
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
What does mating look like when you only have a single shot at getting it right?
Very excited to share our work on an almost-invisible female control, rapidly evolving mating recognition systems, and species that break the rules and take over the world. IN MOSQUITOES>
Very excited to share our work on an almost-invisible female control, rapidly evolving mating recognition systems, and species that break the rules and take over the world. IN MOSQUITOES>
October 28, 2025 at 8:57 PM
What does mating look like when you only have a single shot at getting it right?
Very excited to share our work on an almost-invisible female control, rapidly evolving mating recognition systems, and species that break the rules and take over the world. IN MOSQUITOES>
Very excited to share our work on an almost-invisible female control, rapidly evolving mating recognition systems, and species that break the rules and take over the world. IN MOSQUITOES>
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
Great way to understand both how little it will take from each of us to be a part of something bigger and how many people in this country are being crushed by this shutdown. We are all we got.
Rough math: 12.3% of Americans (41.7 mil) are about to lose SNAP. Many food banks produce 3 meals per $1, so a November worth of meals for one costs $30. Round it up to $35 for asst. costs & hygiene products. If 13% of us donate $35 each to food banks, we can get everyone through Nov! #EndHunger 🥙💪
October 26, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Great way to understand both how little it will take from each of us to be a part of something bigger and how many people in this country are being crushed by this shutdown. We are all we got.
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
We are looking for a physics/maths graduate with an interest in biology, or a biology graduate with strong computational/mathematical skills/interests, to join us as a PhD student working on biomechanical modelling of butterfly wing scale structure formation www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
October 23, 2025 at 4:33 PM
We are looking for a physics/maths graduate with an interest in biology, or a biology graduate with strong computational/mathematical skills/interests, to join us as a PhD student working on biomechanical modelling of butterfly wing scale structure formation www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
It’s here! My first solo published article is available online and in print. This article is the origin of my research on enforced disappearances of migrants that I began 3.5 years ago. Its relevance has only grown in importance. I hope you’ll take a look: digitalcommons.law.scu.edu/lawreview/vo...
October 18, 2025 at 7:16 PM
It’s here! My first solo published article is available online and in print. This article is the origin of my research on enforced disappearances of migrants that I began 3.5 years ago. Its relevance has only grown in importance. I hope you’ll take a look: digitalcommons.law.scu.edu/lawreview/vo...