Rainer Melzer
@ucdflowerpower.bsky.social
Associate Professor at UCD Dublin.
Plant genetics & development.
Crops, agriculture, hemp, cereals.
Evo-devo, transcription factors.
My views.
Plant genetics & development.
Crops, agriculture, hemp, cereals.
Evo-devo, transcription factors.
My views.
Reposted by Rainer Melzer
Join us for your Ph.D.!
January 22, 2026 at 1:40 PM
Join us for your Ph.D.!
Reposted by Rainer Melzer
With stuff like this, the amazing thing to me is that someone had to sit down at a computer and think to themself "and now, it is time to lie to customers."
January 21, 2026 at 1:59 PM
With stuff like this, the amazing thing to me is that someone had to sit down at a computer and think to themself "and now, it is time to lie to customers."
Nice thread about @joannakacprzyk.bsky.social and my paper in @plantspeopleplanet.bsky.social
TL;DR: People study plants because they rock!
TL;DR: People study plants because they rock!
🌱🌍 A new UCD-led international study reveals what inspires people to study plant biology, a subject essential for building the future workforce needed to address biodiversity loss, climate change, and food security.
January 21, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Nice thread about @joannakacprzyk.bsky.social and my paper in @plantspeopleplanet.bsky.social
TL;DR: People study plants because they rock!
TL;DR: People study plants because they rock!
Reposted by Rainer Melzer
❗Decline in botanical education threatens response to climate action and food security
www.ucd.ie/newsandopini...
Research reveals what inspires people to study plant biology, a subject essential for addressing biodiversity loss, climate change, and food security.
#PlantScience 🧵1/2
www.ucd.ie/newsandopini...
Research reveals what inspires people to study plant biology, a subject essential for addressing biodiversity loss, climate change, and food security.
#PlantScience 🧵1/2
January 21, 2026 at 2:41 PM
❗Decline in botanical education threatens response to climate action and food security
www.ucd.ie/newsandopini...
Research reveals what inspires people to study plant biology, a subject essential for addressing biodiversity loss, climate change, and food security.
#PlantScience 🧵1/2
www.ucd.ie/newsandopini...
Research reveals what inspires people to study plant biology, a subject essential for addressing biodiversity loss, climate change, and food security.
#PlantScience 🧵1/2
Reposted by Rainer Melzer
⏰ Final week to submit an abstract for MONOGRAM 2026 ⏰
📍 Cambridge, UK: 23- 26 March
Don't miss out! Abstract submission closes next Friday 23rd January
🌾 Find out more 👉 cvent.me/MM0bPo
#plantscience @monogram-uk.bsky.social
📍 Cambridge, UK: 23- 26 March
Don't miss out! Abstract submission closes next Friday 23rd January
🌾 Find out more 👉 cvent.me/MM0bPo
#plantscience @monogram-uk.bsky.social
January 15, 2026 at 8:30 AM
⏰ Final week to submit an abstract for MONOGRAM 2026 ⏰
📍 Cambridge, UK: 23- 26 March
Don't miss out! Abstract submission closes next Friday 23rd January
🌾 Find out more 👉 cvent.me/MM0bPo
#plantscience @monogram-uk.bsky.social
📍 Cambridge, UK: 23- 26 March
Don't miss out! Abstract submission closes next Friday 23rd January
🌾 Find out more 👉 cvent.me/MM0bPo
#plantscience @monogram-uk.bsky.social
Reposted by Rainer Melzer
Have you ever heard that women have more chances than men of getting grants or positions in academia? Of course you have, and here are my personal views on this. With the shocking revelation that no, it is NOT TRUE ! (1/n)
January 13, 2026 at 6:36 PM
Have you ever heard that women have more chances than men of getting grants or positions in academia? Of course you have, and here are my personal views on this. With the shocking revelation that no, it is NOT TRUE ! (1/n)
Reposted by Rainer Melzer
The smell of lentisk/mastic (Pistacia lentiscus) in the forest during summers. Actually, as a child, I was not aware that it was specifically this plant that produced this perfume. Now, as a plant scientist, I got to study P. lentiscus, and its smell always brings me inmediate childhood memories 💚.
January 10, 2026 at 12:39 PM
The smell of lentisk/mastic (Pistacia lentiscus) in the forest during summers. Actually, as a child, I was not aware that it was specifically this plant that produced this perfume. Now, as a plant scientist, I got to study P. lentiscus, and its smell always brings me inmediate childhood memories 💚.
Reposted by Rainer Melzer
Reposted by Rainer Melzer
Reposted by Rainer Melzer
Inspiring the next generation of plant scientists: What we learned from 421 plant biologists
@joannakacprzyk.bsky.social and Rainer Melzer
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
@plantmemories.bsky.social
@ucdflowerpower.bsky.social
#PlantScience
@joannakacprzyk.bsky.social and Rainer Melzer
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
@plantmemories.bsky.social
@ucdflowerpower.bsky.social
#PlantScience
January 7, 2026 at 2:01 PM
Inspiring the next generation of plant scientists: What we learned from 421 plant biologists
@joannakacprzyk.bsky.social and Rainer Melzer
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
@plantmemories.bsky.social
@ucdflowerpower.bsky.social
#PlantScience
@joannakacprzyk.bsky.social and Rainer Melzer
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
@plantmemories.bsky.social
@ucdflowerpower.bsky.social
#PlantScience
Reposted by Rainer Melzer
Reposted by Rainer Melzer
Motivation for choosing botany-related education?
My father left school at 14 and my (more intellectual) mother at 18, and I was born in a council house, so there was little expectation that I would explore tertiary education.
My father left school at 14 and my (more intellectual) mother at 18, and I was born in a council house, so there was little expectation that I would explore tertiary education.
January 6, 2026 at 4:01 PM
Motivation for choosing botany-related education?
My father left school at 14 and my (more intellectual) mother at 18, and I was born in a council house, so there was little expectation that I would explore tertiary education.
My father left school at 14 and my (more intellectual) mother at 18, and I was born in a council house, so there was little expectation that I would explore tertiary education.
Reposted by Rainer Melzer
What a fantastic story...
Motivation for choosing botany-related education?
My father left school at 14 and my (more intellectual) mother at 18, and I was born in a council house, so there was little expectation that I would explore tertiary education.
My father left school at 14 and my (more intellectual) mother at 18, and I was born in a council house, so there was little expectation that I would explore tertiary education.
January 6, 2026 at 4:02 PM
What a fantastic story...
Reposted by Rainer Melzer
🧪
Over the holiday, while folks were on well-deserved breaks, our new book was released!
Mentoring writers is hard - we can make it easier for you. Please help spread the word - repost this, tell your colleagues, etc.
scientistseessquirre...
1/2
Mentoring writers is hard - we can make it easier for you. Please help spread the word - repost this, tell your colleagues, etc.
scientistseessquirre...
1/2
Teaching and Mentoring Writers in the Sciences: An Evidence-Based Approach
Scientific writing is hard (but my book can help) – but teaching scientific writing is even harder. Nearly all of us teach writing – sometimes in a formal classroom setting, sometimes as advisors t…
scientistseessquirrel.wordpress.com
January 6, 2026 at 11:40 AM
🧪
Reposted by Rainer Melzer
Motivation for choosing a plant related career:
"𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙢𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩-𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙞𝙚𝙡𝙙 𝙬𝙖𝙨 (𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣) 𝙖 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙡𝙮 𝙛𝙞𝙚𝙡𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙟𝙤𝙗."
"𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙢𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩-𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙞𝙚𝙡𝙙 𝙬𝙖𝙨 (𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣) 𝙖 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙡𝙮 𝙛𝙞𝙚𝙡𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙟𝙤𝙗."
January 6, 2026 at 11:31 AM
Motivation for choosing a plant related career:
"𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙢𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩-𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙞𝙚𝙡𝙙 𝙬𝙖𝙨 (𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣) 𝙖 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙡𝙮 𝙛𝙞𝙚𝙡𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙟𝙤𝙗."
"𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙢𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩-𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙞𝙚𝙡𝙙 𝙬𝙖𝙨 (𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣) 𝙖 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙡𝙮 𝙛𝙞𝙚𝙡𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙟𝙤𝙗."
Check out this AMAZING hoodie I got from @nickdesnoyer.bsky.social!
Keep an eye out on openflower.bio
Thank you Nick!
Keep an eye out on openflower.bio
Thank you Nick!
January 6, 2026 at 11:18 AM
Check out this AMAZING hoodie I got from @nickdesnoyer.bsky.social!
Keep an eye out on openflower.bio
Thank you Nick!
Keep an eye out on openflower.bio
Thank you Nick!
Reposted by Rainer Melzer
We are #hiring!
Join Miltos Tsiantis’s lab within the IMPRS @mpipz.bsky.social to identify genes driving root sucker formation in crucifer plants — combining evolution & genetics.
📆 Deadline: Jan 5, 2026
✏️ Apply via: gradschool.mpipz.mpg.de
ℹ️ More info: mpipz.mpg.de/imprs
Join Miltos Tsiantis’s lab within the IMPRS @mpipz.bsky.social to identify genes driving root sucker formation in crucifer plants — combining evolution & genetics.
📆 Deadline: Jan 5, 2026
✏️ Apply via: gradschool.mpipz.mpg.de
ℹ️ More info: mpipz.mpg.de/imprs
December 29, 2025 at 12:55 PM
We are #hiring!
Join Miltos Tsiantis’s lab within the IMPRS @mpipz.bsky.social to identify genes driving root sucker formation in crucifer plants — combining evolution & genetics.
📆 Deadline: Jan 5, 2026
✏️ Apply via: gradschool.mpipz.mpg.de
ℹ️ More info: mpipz.mpg.de/imprs
Join Miltos Tsiantis’s lab within the IMPRS @mpipz.bsky.social to identify genes driving root sucker formation in crucifer plants — combining evolution & genetics.
📆 Deadline: Jan 5, 2026
✏️ Apply via: gradschool.mpipz.mpg.de
ℹ️ More info: mpipz.mpg.de/imprs
Reposted by Rainer Melzer
Applications close soon for the @aries-dtp.bsky.social #PhD programme!
We have two projects available:
🌿 Evolutionary genomics under sexual and clonal reproduction in hybrid wild grasses
🍄 Genomic signatures underlying functional diversity in root symbiotic fungi
Find out more here 👇
We have two projects available:
🌿 Evolutionary genomics under sexual and clonal reproduction in hybrid wild grasses
🍄 Genomic signatures underlying functional diversity in root symbiotic fungi
Find out more here 👇
PhD Opportunities at Earlham Institute
Begin your academic career with the expert scientists, technology and facilities at the Earlham Institute in Norwich.
buff.ly
December 29, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Applications close soon for the @aries-dtp.bsky.social #PhD programme!
We have two projects available:
🌿 Evolutionary genomics under sexual and clonal reproduction in hybrid wild grasses
🍄 Genomic signatures underlying functional diversity in root symbiotic fungi
Find out more here 👇
We have two projects available:
🌿 Evolutionary genomics under sexual and clonal reproduction in hybrid wild grasses
🍄 Genomic signatures underlying functional diversity in root symbiotic fungi
Find out more here 👇
Reposted by Rainer Melzer
As someone who’s probably on Bluesky blocklists for saying something other than "burn it all down" about AI, it also seems clear that asking for more nuance in these discussions in Dec 2025 is like asking for more nuanced discussion of immigration as masked ICE agents toss people in unmarked vans+
December 22, 2025 at 5:16 PM
As someone who’s probably on Bluesky blocklists for saying something other than "burn it all down" about AI, it also seems clear that asking for more nuance in these discussions in Dec 2025 is like asking for more nuanced discussion of immigration as masked ICE agents toss people in unmarked vans+
Reposted by Rainer Melzer
Most wholesome paper I have ever worked on. Made me feel awesome about being part of this community.
Just in time for Christmas a new paper in @plantspeopleplanet.bsky.social by @joannakacprzyk.bsky.social and myself.
We asked 421 plant scientists why they study plants!
Check it out and also check @plantmemories.bsky.social where we post lovely survey responses.
We asked 421 plant scientists why they study plants!
Check it out and also check @plantmemories.bsky.social where we post lovely survey responses.
Our paper is out now in @plantspeopleplanet.bsky.social!
Read it here:
doi.org/10.1002/ppp3...
We will start sharing plant memories from our survey!
Watch this space.
#plantsci
Read it here:
doi.org/10.1002/ppp3...
We will start sharing plant memories from our survey!
Watch this space.
#plantsci
December 23, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Most wholesome paper I have ever worked on. Made me feel awesome about being part of this community.
Just in time for Christmas a new paper in @plantspeopleplanet.bsky.social by @joannakacprzyk.bsky.social and myself.
We asked 421 plant scientists why they study plants!
Check it out and also check @plantmemories.bsky.social where we post lovely survey responses.
We asked 421 plant scientists why they study plants!
Check it out and also check @plantmemories.bsky.social where we post lovely survey responses.
Our paper is out now in @plantspeopleplanet.bsky.social!
Read it here:
doi.org/10.1002/ppp3...
We will start sharing plant memories from our survey!
Watch this space.
#plantsci
Read it here:
doi.org/10.1002/ppp3...
We will start sharing plant memories from our survey!
Watch this space.
#plantsci
doi.org
December 23, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Just in time for Christmas a new paper in @plantspeopleplanet.bsky.social by @joannakacprzyk.bsky.social and myself.
We asked 421 plant scientists why they study plants!
Check it out and also check @plantmemories.bsky.social where we post lovely survey responses.
We asked 421 plant scientists why they study plants!
Check it out and also check @plantmemories.bsky.social where we post lovely survey responses.
Reposted by Rainer Melzer
Are you an experienced PhD student or postdoc in plant science looking to connect, present your work, and discuss career paths?
Join us at the 3rd Early Career Plant Researchers Network Meeting, Halle (Saale), 20–21 April 2026
Deadline: 23 January 2026
plant-ecr-networking.eu
Join us at the 3rd Early Career Plant Researchers Network Meeting, Halle (Saale), 20–21 April 2026
Deadline: 23 January 2026
plant-ecr-networking.eu
December 19, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Are you an experienced PhD student or postdoc in plant science looking to connect, present your work, and discuss career paths?
Join us at the 3rd Early Career Plant Researchers Network Meeting, Halle (Saale), 20–21 April 2026
Deadline: 23 January 2026
plant-ecr-networking.eu
Join us at the 3rd Early Career Plant Researchers Network Meeting, Halle (Saale), 20–21 April 2026
Deadline: 23 January 2026
plant-ecr-networking.eu
Reposted by Rainer Melzer
Pleased to share this thoughtful essay by Jess on my flower design project🌹🧬
As a small thank-you for spreading the work, I'm randomly giving away 5 of these new morphogenesis hoodies to whoever reposts this!
As a small thank-you for spreading the work, I'm randomly giving away 5 of these new morphogenesis hoodies to whoever reposts this!
December 15, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Pleased to share this thoughtful essay by Jess on my flower design project🌹🧬
As a small thank-you for spreading the work, I'm randomly giving away 5 of these new morphogenesis hoodies to whoever reposts this!
As a small thank-you for spreading the work, I'm randomly giving away 5 of these new morphogenesis hoodies to whoever reposts this!
Reposted by Rainer Melzer
🧪🌱 Sooo… our paper on how SPOROCYTELESS/NOZZLE controls the onset of megasporogenesis is finally out in @natcomms.nature.com 🎉🎉! This is one of the major projects of my postdoc at #LuciaColombo’s lab at #UniMI. www.nature.com/articles/s41... 🧶 1/7
SPOROCYTELESS/NOZZLE cooperates with MADS-domain transcription factors to regulate an auxin-dependent network controlling Megaspore-Mother-Cell differentiation - Nature Communications
In plants, the MMC represents the precursor of the female germline. Here, the authors show that SPL/NZZ, together with ovule-identity MADS-domain transcription factors, controls MMC differentiation by...
www.nature.com
December 15, 2025 at 9:56 PM
🧪🌱 Sooo… our paper on how SPOROCYTELESS/NOZZLE controls the onset of megasporogenesis is finally out in @natcomms.nature.com 🎉🎉! This is one of the major projects of my postdoc at #LuciaColombo’s lab at #UniMI. www.nature.com/articles/s41... 🧶 1/7
Reposted by Rainer Melzer
Check our new preprint! How the petal identity gene PhDEF behaves differently in the epidermis and mesophyll, in petunia flowers (1/n)
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Interplay between petal identity and cell layer identity in petunia flowers
In flowering plants, floral organ identity is specified by the combinatorial action of homeotic genes. While the role of these genes in the early specification of organ identity is well established, t...
www.biorxiv.org
December 15, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Check our new preprint! How the petal identity gene PhDEF behaves differently in the epidermis and mesophyll, in petunia flowers (1/n)
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...