Eleanore Ritter (she/her)
@eleanoreritter.bsky.social
Postdoc in Andrea Sweigart's lab at UGA. Fascinated by plant reproductive modes and genome/epigenome evolution.
PhD work in grapevine (mostly) 🍇 Currently working in monkeyflowers 🌼 Lifelong lover of all plants 🌿
Opinions expressed are solely my own.
PhD work in grapevine (mostly) 🍇 Currently working in monkeyflowers 🌼 Lifelong lover of all plants 🌿
Opinions expressed are solely my own.
Pinned
I wanted to make a proper introduction (and stop lurking) - Hello, I'm Eleanore. I am a plant biologist and currently a postdoc at the University of Georgia with Dr. Andrea Sweigart. I'm fascinated by diverse reproductive modes in plants, genome/epigenome evolution, and most things science.
Reposted by Eleanore Ritter (she/her)
I am looking to hire a postdoc interested in combining genetics and evolution to understand why telomeres vary so much in plants. My group has been developing Mimulus a genetic model for studying plant telomeres and we have really cool research brewing. Please check ad for detail. Deadline is 12/31.
November 16, 2025 at 8:29 PM
I am looking to hire a postdoc interested in combining genetics and evolution to understand why telomeres vary so much in plants. My group has been developing Mimulus a genetic model for studying plant telomeres and we have really cool research brewing. Please check ad for detail. Deadline is 12/31.
Reposted by Eleanore Ritter (she/her)
Check out our new preprint! This was such a great paper to work on with @stairwaytokevin.bsky.social and the rest of the team!
New — with @joannarifkin.bsky.social, @jotlovell.bsky.social, @spicybotrytis.bsky.social, and many more — we created seven new high-quality genomes and explored pangenomic variation in the emerging oilseed crop pennycress (Thlaspi arvense). 1/
Structure and sequence evolution in the pennycress (Thlaspi arvense) pangenome
Summary · Eukaryotic genomes harbor many forms of variation, including nucleotide diversity and structural polymorphisms, which experience natural selection and contribute to genome evolution and biod...
www.biorxiv.org
September 29, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Check out our new preprint! This was such a great paper to work on with @stairwaytokevin.bsky.social and the rest of the team!
Reposted by Eleanore Ritter (she/her)
GUESS WHAT WEEK IT IS
September 22, 2025 at 11:12 AM
GUESS WHAT WEEK IT IS
Reposted by Eleanore Ritter (she/her)
Excited / nervous to share the “magnum opus” of my postdoc in Andreas Wagner’s lab!
"De-novo promoters emerge more readily from random DNA than from genomic DNA"
This project is the accumulation of 4 years of work, and lays the foundation for my future group. In short, we… (1/4)
"De-novo promoters emerge more readily from random DNA than from genomic DNA"
This project is the accumulation of 4 years of work, and lays the foundation for my future group. In short, we… (1/4)
De-novo promoters emerge more readily from random DNA than from genomic DNA
Promoters are DNA sequences that help to initiate transcription. Point mutations can create de-novo promoters, which can consequently transcribe inactive genes or create novel transcripts. We know lit...
www.biorxiv.org
August 28, 2025 at 6:37 AM
Excited / nervous to share the “magnum opus” of my postdoc in Andreas Wagner’s lab!
"De-novo promoters emerge more readily from random DNA than from genomic DNA"
This project is the accumulation of 4 years of work, and lays the foundation for my future group. In short, we… (1/4)
"De-novo promoters emerge more readily from random DNA than from genomic DNA"
This project is the accumulation of 4 years of work, and lays the foundation for my future group. In short, we… (1/4)
When you write to your senator (weeks ago) about proposed cuts to NSF and they respond this morning saying that they will always support NIH and never mention NSF... Thanks, Jon, totally what I meant ☹️
a man with a mustache is sitting on a swing in the park .
Alt: a man with a mustache is sitting on a swing in the park .
media.tenor.com
August 4, 2025 at 4:14 PM
When you write to your senator (weeks ago) about proposed cuts to NSF and they respond this morning saying that they will always support NIH and never mention NSF... Thanks, Jon, totally what I meant ☹️
This is my favorite fact of the day, it's just too precious 🥹
A distinguishing character of Monarda fistulosa and its close relatives is a fun tuft of hairs at the top of the upper corolla lobe. Endearingly it persists all through flower development (and is arguably even more fun in the early stages)
July 17, 2025 at 6:40 PM
This is my favorite fact of the day, it's just too precious 🥹
Reposted by Eleanore Ritter (she/her)
Are you from one of these states? Then we need your help to save American science!
The Senate Appropriations Committee will be marking up the President's Budget Request for science on Wednesday. People have been saying the proposed cuts "decimated" US science, but that's wrong: they are apocalyptic
The Senate Appropriations Committee will be marking up the President's Budget Request for science on Wednesday. People have been saying the proposed cuts "decimated" US science, but that's wrong: they are apocalyptic
July 7, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Are you from one of these states? Then we need your help to save American science!
The Senate Appropriations Committee will be marking up the President's Budget Request for science on Wednesday. People have been saying the proposed cuts "decimated" US science, but that's wrong: they are apocalyptic
The Senate Appropriations Committee will be marking up the President's Budget Request for science on Wednesday. People have been saying the proposed cuts "decimated" US science, but that's wrong: they are apocalyptic
Reposted by Eleanore Ritter (she/her)
Incredible diversity of #pollen grains!
Pollen autofluorescence acquired with @zeiss-microscopy.bsky.social #superresolution Airyscan & color-coded for depth
#microscopy #bioimaging #bioart #sciart #botany #plantscience #fluorescencefriday
Pollen autofluorescence acquired with @zeiss-microscopy.bsky.social #superresolution Airyscan & color-coded for depth
#microscopy #bioimaging #bioart #sciart #botany #plantscience #fluorescencefriday
June 27, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Incredible diversity of #pollen grains!
Pollen autofluorescence acquired with @zeiss-microscopy.bsky.social #superresolution Airyscan & color-coded for depth
#microscopy #bioimaging #bioart #sciart #botany #plantscience #fluorescencefriday
Pollen autofluorescence acquired with @zeiss-microscopy.bsky.social #superresolution Airyscan & color-coded for depth
#microscopy #bioimaging #bioart #sciart #botany #plantscience #fluorescencefriday
A very important, inspiring read, even for us biology folks outside of medicine
“On Not Betraying Our Trainees, Especially Now”
I won an Extraordinary Achievement Award from the Critical Care Assembly last month
The @atscommunity.bsky.social premier journal @atsblueeditor.bsky.social TODAY published the remarks I made on that occasion
www.atsjournals.org/doi/10.1164/...
I won an Extraordinary Achievement Award from the Critical Care Assembly last month
The @atscommunity.bsky.social premier journal @atsblueeditor.bsky.social TODAY published the remarks I made on that occasion
www.atsjournals.org/doi/10.1164/...
On Not Betraying Our Trainees, Especially Now | American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine | Articles in Press
www.atsjournals.org
June 26, 2025 at 10:32 PM
A very important, inspiring read, even for us biology folks outside of medicine
Reposted by Eleanore Ritter (she/her)
Based on some quick math, this alone could fund the NSF Plant Genome Research Program for ~4 years; the NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology, which was totally axed in the NSF budget request, for ~9 years; and ~ half the total NSF GRFP budget
BREAKING: The Pentagon said the deployment of National Guard members and Marines to protests over immigration raids in LA will cost $134 million.
Hegseth faces sharp questions from Congress on deploying troops to Los Angles and Pentagon chaos
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been quickly met with sharp questions and criticism by lawmakers who pressed him about his early moves to fire key military leaders and and purge diversity programs.
bit.ly
June 10, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Based on some quick math, this alone could fund the NSF Plant Genome Research Program for ~4 years; the NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology, which was totally axed in the NSF budget request, for ~9 years; and ~ half the total NSF GRFP budget
Reposted by Eleanore Ritter (she/her)
June 6, 2025 at 6:33 PM
FINAL DAY to submit a comment about the changes to the Endangered Species Act! It takes 5 minutes and could make the difference in protecting America's flora and fauna.
Two days remain to comment on the US FWS and NMFS rule change that undermines the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This proposal rescinds the definition of “harm,” limiting protections to actions that directly injure or kill listed species, leaving their habitats vulnerable. Please submit comments! 🧪
Rescinding the Definition of “Harm” Under the Endangered Species Act
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) (collectively referred to as the Services or we) are proposing to rescind the regulatory definition of "harm" ...
www.federalregister.gov
May 19, 2025 at 5:49 PM
FINAL DAY to submit a comment about the changes to the Endangered Species Act! It takes 5 minutes and could make the difference in protecting America's flora and fauna.
Reposted by Eleanore Ritter (she/her)
OK, this is wild.
In September 2023, geophysicists across the world started monitoring a very odd signal coming from the ground under them.
It was picked up in the Arctic. And Antarctica. It was detected everywhere, every 90 seconds, as regular as a metronome, for *nine days*.
What the HELL?
1/
In September 2023, geophysicists across the world started monitoring a very odd signal coming from the ground under them.
It was picked up in the Arctic. And Antarctica. It was detected everywhere, every 90 seconds, as regular as a metronome, for *nine days*.
What the HELL?
1/
May 12, 2025 at 3:20 PM
OK, this is wild.
In September 2023, geophysicists across the world started monitoring a very odd signal coming from the ground under them.
It was picked up in the Arctic. And Antarctica. It was detected everywhere, every 90 seconds, as regular as a metronome, for *nine days*.
What the HELL?
1/
In September 2023, geophysicists across the world started monitoring a very odd signal coming from the ground under them.
It was picked up in the Arctic. And Antarctica. It was detected everywhere, every 90 seconds, as regular as a metronome, for *nine days*.
What the HELL?
1/
Reposted by Eleanore Ritter (she/her)
This seems like a good day to re-up this advice.
Upset about federal funding cuts in the US? Want some ideas of what to do? I wrote a long-ish blog post about it here
ecoevoevoeco.blogspot.com
summarizing things I learned meeting with Senate & House aides this week with the @aibsbiology.bsky.social Congressional Visits Day event.
ecoevoevoeco.blogspot.com
summarizing things I learned meeting with Senate & House aides this week with the @aibsbiology.bsky.social Congressional Visits Day event.
Eco-Evo Evo-Eco
Academic musing by Hendry, Bolnick, Gotanda, and awesome guests.
Opinions and statements expressed on this blog are the views of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent endorsement by the blog...
ecoevoevoeco.blogspot.com
May 9, 2025 at 3:13 PM
This seems like a good day to re-up this advice.
Reposted by Eleanore Ritter (she/her)
Sen. Ossoff: Who out there in the American public is sitting at home demanding that we shut down cancer research and Alzheimer's research?
April 30, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Sen. Ossoff: Who out there in the American public is sitting at home demanding that we shut down cancer research and Alzheimer's research?
Reposted by Eleanore Ritter (she/her)
“Mr. Musk’s cuts to the bureaucracy will cost taxpayers $135 billion this fiscal year.”
That is 3 times the entire NIH budget
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/24/u...
That is 3 times the entire NIH budget
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/24/u...
Elon Musk and DOGE’s Savings May Be Erased by New Costs
An expert on the federal work force estimates that the speed and chaos of Mr. Musk’s cuts to the bureaucracy will cost taxpayers $135 billion this fiscal year.
www.nytimes.com
April 25, 2025 at 5:18 AM
“Mr. Musk’s cuts to the bureaucracy will cost taxpayers $135 billion this fiscal year.”
That is 3 times the entire NIH budget
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/24/u...
That is 3 times the entire NIH budget
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/24/u...
Reposted by Eleanore Ritter (she/her)
Triple fuck:
1. White House proposed to cut NSF’s budget by 55%.
2. White House told NSF to fire half of staff.
3. “NSF announced it was terminating what could be more than $1 billion in grants already awarded”
If true for #3, that’s at least three times what was terminated last Friday.
FUCK
1. White House proposed to cut NSF’s budget by 55%.
2. White House told NSF to fire half of staff.
3. “NSF announced it was terminating what could be more than $1 billion in grants already awarded”
If true for #3, that’s at least three times what was terminated last Friday.
FUCK
April 24, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Triple fuck:
1. White House proposed to cut NSF’s budget by 55%.
2. White House told NSF to fire half of staff.
3. “NSF announced it was terminating what could be more than $1 billion in grants already awarded”
If true for #3, that’s at least three times what was terminated last Friday.
FUCK
1. White House proposed to cut NSF’s budget by 55%.
2. White House told NSF to fire half of staff.
3. “NSF announced it was terminating what could be more than $1 billion in grants already awarded”
If true for #3, that’s at least three times what was terminated last Friday.
FUCK
Reposted by Eleanore Ritter (she/her)
Cancelling research grants that were peer reviewed, recommended & awarded because it threatens the current regime’s political agenda is the real infringement of our rights + a violation of the NSF’s duty to honor contracts & ethically manage public funds appropriated by the US Congress. 12/
April 24, 2025 at 12:56 AM
Cancelling research grants that were peer reviewed, recommended & awarded because it threatens the current regime’s political agenda is the real infringement of our rights + a violation of the NSF’s duty to honor contracts & ethically manage public funds appropriated by the US Congress. 12/
Reposted by Eleanore Ritter (she/her)
The NSF discontinuing “misinformation” research b/c it threatens free speech is laughable. 9/
April 24, 2025 at 12:56 AM
The NSF discontinuing “misinformation” research b/c it threatens free speech is laughable. 9/
Reposted by Eleanore Ritter (she/her)
If six months ago you'd told me that in autumn 2025 I'd have to go to Canada to get my annual COVID vaccine but I wouldn't do it because coming back through immigrations was too risky for someone who had criticized the government, I would have looked at you like you were having a stroke.
In what proportions is our new NIH Director a flaming ignoramus vs. a brazen liar?
![Jonny Paradise 🌱
@plantparadise7
·
NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya on mRNA tech:
"The next step is [to halt] the mRNA platform itself... the manufacturer has no idea what dose they're giving, no idea where it goes in the body, and whether they are producing off-target antigens"](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:q25tg5qy6kzwtuecpe6b4shw/bafkreie7wm23po34vcypd5357s2a2dgav7bhdzypwmkdjgb7jxsfijjf2y@jpeg)
April 23, 2025 at 6:51 PM
If six months ago you'd told me that in autumn 2025 I'd have to go to Canada to get my annual COVID vaccine but I wouldn't do it because coming back through immigrations was too risky for someone who had criticized the government, I would have looked at you like you were having a stroke.
Reposted by Eleanore Ritter (she/her)
Yeah, things are grim. But I gotta tell you:
Over the past 7 weeks of organizing around terminated grants, I've met so many inspiring folks both inside and outside of NIH and NSF.
Our country is chock-full of badass scientists and Federal employees. We got this, y'all. Keep up the fight 💪
Over the past 7 weeks of organizing around terminated grants, I've met so many inspiring folks both inside and outside of NIH and NSF.
Our country is chock-full of badass scientists and Federal employees. We got this, y'all. Keep up the fight 💪
April 23, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Yeah, things are grim. But I gotta tell you:
Over the past 7 weeks of organizing around terminated grants, I've met so many inspiring folks both inside and outside of NIH and NSF.
Our country is chock-full of badass scientists and Federal employees. We got this, y'all. Keep up the fight 💪
Over the past 7 weeks of organizing around terminated grants, I've met so many inspiring folks both inside and outside of NIH and NSF.
Our country is chock-full of badass scientists and Federal employees. We got this, y'all. Keep up the fight 💪
Reposted by Eleanore Ritter (she/her)
TLDR: the administration wants to remove habitat loss from the definition of "harm" for endangered species, which will effectively gut the ESA.
I just commented. If you're in any way interested in ecology, nature, and the protection of endangered species, you should, too. Free daily action!
I just commented. If you're in any way interested in ecology, nature, and the protection of endangered species, you should, too. Free daily action!
My friend's student asks me to share:
The administration is trying to destroy the Endangered Species Act from within. Public commenting is basically the only way to thwart this rule before getting to court. If you have a few minutes to comment:
www.regulations.gov/commenton/FW...
The administration is trying to destroy the Endangered Species Act from within. Public commenting is basically the only way to thwart this rule before getting to court. If you have a few minutes to comment:
www.regulations.gov/commenton/FW...
Regulations.gov
www.regulations.gov
April 21, 2025 at 6:20 PM
TLDR: the administration wants to remove habitat loss from the definition of "harm" for endangered species, which will effectively gut the ESA.
I just commented. If you're in any way interested in ecology, nature, and the protection of endangered species, you should, too. Free daily action!
I just commented. If you're in any way interested in ecology, nature, and the protection of endangered species, you should, too. Free daily action!
Reposted by Eleanore Ritter (she/her)
Re-watching Season 1 of "Andor" before Season 2 drops next week and boy does it have extra resonance now
April 18, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Re-watching Season 1 of "Andor" before Season 2 drops next week and boy does it have extra resonance now
Reposted by Eleanore Ritter (she/her)
New preprint! We investigated the evolution of supergenes and mechanisms underlying distyly in Linum species that diverged ca 33 Mya. 1/8
bsky.app/profile/bior...
bsky.app/profile/bior...
April 18, 2025 at 11:26 AM
New preprint! We investigated the evolution of supergenes and mechanisms underlying distyly in Linum species that diverged ca 33 Mya. 1/8
bsky.app/profile/bior...
bsky.app/profile/bior...