Alex Cope, PhD (he/him)
@alexcope241.bsky.social
Postdoc with Rokas lab at Vanderbilt. Collaborating with Pennell lab at Cornell. Studying the evolution of gene expression and its impact on protein evolution. Opinions my own. #FirstGen
Pinned
Macroevolutionary divergence of gene expression driven by selection on protein abundance
The regulation of messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein abundances is well-studied, but less is known about the evolutionary processes shaping their relationship. To address this, we derived a new phylogen...
www.science.org
I feel weird posting about this given...well, everything...but very proud of this work. Fun fact: I completed most of this project while working at Rutgers as a DEI hire (first-gen college student).
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Alex Cope, PhD (he/him)
Props and planning, great work!
Giant copy of the Constitution being carried down Pennsylvania Avenue.
October 18, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Props and planning, great work!
Reposted by Alex Cope, PhD (he/him)
“Donald Trump, the man who uses Palestinian as a pejorative, as a slur, has no plan for Palestinian freedom.”
@mehdirhasan.bsky.social slams Donald Trump at the ‘No Kings’ rally in Washington, DC over his Gaza ‘peace-plan.’
Watch his full speech: zeteo.com/p/no-kings-p...
@mehdirhasan.bsky.social slams Donald Trump at the ‘No Kings’ rally in Washington, DC over his Gaza ‘peace-plan.’
Watch his full speech: zeteo.com/p/no-kings-p...
October 18, 2025 at 6:18 PM
“Donald Trump, the man who uses Palestinian as a pejorative, as a slur, has no plan for Palestinian freedom.”
@mehdirhasan.bsky.social slams Donald Trump at the ‘No Kings’ rally in Washington, DC over his Gaza ‘peace-plan.’
Watch his full speech: zeteo.com/p/no-kings-p...
@mehdirhasan.bsky.social slams Donald Trump at the ‘No Kings’ rally in Washington, DC over his Gaza ‘peace-plan.’
Watch his full speech: zeteo.com/p/no-kings-p...
Reposted by Alex Cope, PhD (he/him)
Sanders: In my state, people received notices from insurance companies that their health care premiums in some cases would triple or quadruple. That is going on all over the country, at a time when we already pay by far the highest prices in the world for health care…
October 18, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Sanders: In my state, people received notices from insurance companies that their health care premiums in some cases would triple or quadruple. That is going on all over the country, at a time when we already pay by far the highest prices in the world for health care…
Reposted by Alex Cope, PhD (he/him)
I'm recruiting a postdoc for my group (based in beautiful Eugene, OR). Please get in touch if you're interested, esp if you'd like to chat at #ASHG25!
We'll primarily work at the intersection of statistical and population genetics, and we also have active projects related to the ethical and social implications of human genetics (ELSI). Please get in touch if that's a combination that sounds interesting to you!
October 15, 2025 at 12:52 PM
I'm recruiting a postdoc for my group (based in beautiful Eugene, OR). Please get in touch if you're interested, esp if you'd like to chat at #ASHG25!
Reposted by Alex Cope, PhD (he/him)
New in #GENETICS: Using deep mutational scanning to create a mutant library and measuring protein–protein interactions, @christianlandry.bsky.social and the team determined the in vivo binding strength of motifs that bind to the SH3 domain in #yeast mutants. buff.ly/uOXTpZG
October 13, 2025 at 8:02 PM
New in #GENETICS: Using deep mutational scanning to create a mutant library and measuring protein–protein interactions, @christianlandry.bsky.social and the team determined the in vivo binding strength of motifs that bind to the SH3 domain in #yeast mutants. buff.ly/uOXTpZG
Reposted by Alex Cope, PhD (he/him)
Students successful in TPUSA (via recruitment and harassing people) are in line for cushy positions in the right-wing think tank industry or Republican politics upon graduation. That is what the most outspoken ones work for, and ruining lives is a plus.
Can you hear the words coming out of your mouth, Megan?
Yes, the guy who received so many threats because of your own actions he had to flee to Europe isn’t the real victim. No. You are, because people called you out.
Yes, the guy who received so many threats because of your own actions he had to flee to Europe isn’t the real victim. No. You are, because people called you out.
October 9, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Students successful in TPUSA (via recruitment and harassing people) are in line for cushy positions in the right-wing think tank industry or Republican politics upon graduation. That is what the most outspoken ones work for, and ruining lives is a plus.
Reposted by Alex Cope, PhD (he/him)
The Rutgers TPUSA chapter — whose characterization of a historian there as a “outspoken, well-known antifa member” led to death threats and moving his family to Europe — think *other* people are being “blatantly defamatory.”
Not them, though. They’re doing politics the right way.
Not them, though. They’re doing politics the right way.
Rutgers TPUSA officers slam petition to shut down chapter, ‘Blatantly defamatory’
Alexander Di Filippo accuses Turning Point USA of inciting violence against Antifa handbook author Mark Bray.
www.foxnews.com
October 9, 2025 at 7:45 PM
The Rutgers TPUSA chapter — whose characterization of a historian there as a “outspoken, well-known antifa member” led to death threats and moving his family to Europe — think *other* people are being “blatantly defamatory.”
Not them, though. They’re doing politics the right way.
Not them, though. They’re doing politics the right way.
Reposted by Alex Cope, PhD (he/him)
Brett Kavanaugh assures me this is the sort of minor inconvenience that shouldn't disturb anyone.
This is terrifying!
ICE breaks into this woman’s car in the pick-up line at West Loop Elementary school in Chicago and detains her before she can pick her kids up from school. (They were eventually let go after showing their documents)
This is Trump’s America.
ICE breaks into this woman’s car in the pick-up line at West Loop Elementary school in Chicago and detains her before she can pick her kids up from school. (They were eventually let go after showing their documents)
This is Trump’s America.
October 9, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Brett Kavanaugh assures me this is the sort of minor inconvenience that shouldn't disturb anyone.
Reposted by Alex Cope, PhD (he/him)
Body-camera video appears to contradict the government’s claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed.
trib.al/9Sxu9IN
trib.al/9Sxu9IN
Attorney for woman shot by Border Patrol claims officer said 'Do something b-----' before shooting
Body-camera video appears to contradict the government's claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed. A judge ordered Martinez and a co-defendant released pending trial.
trib.al
October 6, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Body-camera video appears to contradict the government’s claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed.
trib.al/9Sxu9IN
trib.al/9Sxu9IN
Reposted by Alex Cope, PhD (he/him)
#MammothMonday factoids: A comparison of 23 woolly mammoths (how cool is it to have that many mammoth genomes!) and 28 living elephants identified at least 1.2 million mammoth-specific genetic changes, including 4,786 amino acid substitutions in 3,097 genes 1/n 🧪 🐘 🦣
PMID: 37030294
PMID: 37030294
October 6, 2025 at 5:42 PM
#MammothMonday factoids: A comparison of 23 woolly mammoths (how cool is it to have that many mammoth genomes!) and 28 living elephants identified at least 1.2 million mammoth-specific genetic changes, including 4,786 amino acid substitutions in 3,097 genes 1/n 🧪 🐘 🦣
PMID: 37030294
PMID: 37030294
Reposted by Alex Cope, PhD (he/him)
The most important paper in evolutionary biology I'd never heard of:
1/
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
1/
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
October 6, 2025 at 2:00 PM
The most important paper in evolutionary biology I'd never heard of:
1/
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
1/
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Alex Cope, PhD (he/him)
Elected officials questioning the legality of ICE processes being arrested
ICE just blatantly violated the law and arrested sitting Chicago Alderperson Jessie Fuentes while seeking to illegally arrest a patient in a hospital. Fuck these fascists.
October 3, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Elected officials questioning the legality of ICE processes being arrested
Reposted by Alex Cope, PhD (he/him)
This is a fantastic program and a great opportunity 👇👇👇👇👇
Cool Postdoc opportunity alert! UNC SPIRE (Seeding Postdoctoral Innovators in Research & Education)-it provides scholars with both high quality research training & the opportunity to develop research based teaching skills that will inspire students across the sciences 1/n
spire.unc.edu/program-info/
spire.unc.edu/program-info/
October 2, 2025 at 12:44 PM
This is a fantastic program and a great opportunity 👇👇👇👇👇
Reposted by Alex Cope, PhD (he/him)
““We should use some of these dangerous cities as training grounds for our military.””
They’re not being coy about their vision for the future.
They’re not being coy about their vision for the future.
Trump Administration Live Updates: President Tells Top Brass American Cities Should Be ‘Training Grounds’ for Military
www.nytimes.com
September 30, 2025 at 2:42 PM
““We should use some of these dangerous cities as training grounds for our military.””
They’re not being coy about their vision for the future.
They’re not being coy about their vision for the future.
Reposted by Alex Cope, PhD (he/him)
the president of the united states wants to use the american military to kill american citizens on american soil. that's the whole story!
September 30, 2025 at 2:43 PM
the president of the united states wants to use the american military to kill american citizens on american soil. that's the whole story!
Reposted by Alex Cope, PhD (he/him)
The two middle aged joggers on the side street are TERRIFYING.
Taken just a few minutes ago outside the ICE facility in Portland that Trump claims is under siege. My message to Donald Trump is this: we don’t need you here. Stay the hell out of our city.
September 27, 2025 at 9:10 PM
The two middle aged joggers on the side street are TERRIFYING.
Reposted by Alex Cope, PhD (he/him)
“Oregon is our home. Keep troops off our streets.”
September 27, 2025 at 9:07 PM
“Oregon is our home. Keep troops off our streets.”
Reposted by Alex Cope, PhD (he/him)
I was back at 26 Federal Plaza today, where an ICE agent violently threw this bereft woman to the ground in front of her kids. She had not touched him. She did not pose any threat. She had to be taken to the hospital. (🎥: Elias Eliahu)
September 25, 2025 at 6:03 PM
I was back at 26 Federal Plaza today, where an ICE agent violently threw this bereft woman to the ground in front of her kids. She had not touched him. She did not pose any threat. She had to be taken to the hospital. (🎥: Elias Eliahu)
Reposted by Alex Cope, PhD (he/him)
The President made the biggest cut to food assistance in our nation’s history.
Families will go hungry so Trump’s billionaire friends can get richer.
They can hide the numbers. They can bury the reports. But they cannot hide this moral tragedy from the eyes of God.
Families will go hungry so Trump’s billionaire friends can get richer.
They can hide the numbers. They can bury the reports. But they cannot hide this moral tragedy from the eyes of God.
September 22, 2025 at 8:31 PM
The President made the biggest cut to food assistance in our nation’s history.
Families will go hungry so Trump’s billionaire friends can get richer.
They can hide the numbers. They can bury the reports. But they cannot hide this moral tragedy from the eyes of God.
Families will go hungry so Trump’s billionaire friends can get richer.
They can hide the numbers. They can bury the reports. But they cannot hide this moral tragedy from the eyes of God.
Reposted by Alex Cope, PhD (he/him)
We in the West don't see them, but REAL PEOPLE in drought and conflict zones have been killed by Musk. It's not over. DOGE is a death machine, still rolling.
A US-funded nutrition program was helping to keep this woman’s baby alive. Days after the program was cut, he died. https://cnn.it/4ndDYbl
A US-funded nutrition program was helping to keep this woman’s baby alive. Days after the program was cut, he died | CNN
Weeds cover the grave of Yagana Usman’s baby – a painful reminder of the months that have passed since she lost her infant twin to malnutrition. Her surviving twin’s fate now hinges in part on decisio...
cnn.it
September 21, 2025 at 5:54 PM
We in the West don't see them, but REAL PEOPLE in drought and conflict zones have been killed by Musk. It's not over. DOGE is a death machine, still rolling.
Reposted by Alex Cope, PhD (he/him)
To sum up: the President is not enforcing the law about TikTok access in order to structure the timing and sale of another giant social media platform to his political allies.
* ORACLE, SILVER LAKE, ANDREESSEN TO CONTROL TIKOK IN US: WSJ
$ORCL
$ORCL
September 16, 2025 at 8:25 PM
To sum up: the President is not enforcing the law about TikTok access in order to structure the timing and sale of another giant social media platform to his political allies.
Reposted by Alex Cope, PhD (he/him)
Three high schoolers, who likely didn't make a career out of enabling and encouraging fascism, were shot in Colorado today.
September 10, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Three high schoolers, who likely didn't make a career out of enabling and encouraging fascism, were shot in Colorado today.
Reposted by Alex Cope, PhD (he/him)
Explicit calls for violence, even war on many Americans, is very bad. Even worse since they have no idea who killed Kirk or why.
But if you’re not familiar with these prominent right-wing figures, they regularly advocate violence and repression against the broadly defined Left, often based on lies.
But if you’re not familiar with these prominent right-wing figures, they regularly advocate violence and repression against the broadly defined Left, often based on lies.
Very, very bad stuff coming from leading right-wingers
September 10, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Explicit calls for violence, even war on many Americans, is very bad. Even worse since they have no idea who killed Kirk or why.
But if you’re not familiar with these prominent right-wing figures, they regularly advocate violence and repression against the broadly defined Left, often based on lies.
But if you’re not familiar with these prominent right-wing figures, they regularly advocate violence and repression against the broadly defined Left, often based on lies.
Reposted by Alex Cope, PhD (he/him)
The Department of Homeland Security cowardly pushed people around at the Portland protest.
September 7, 2025 at 7:11 PM
The Department of Homeland Security cowardly pushed people around at the Portland protest.