Mark Peifer
@peiferlabunc
Followers
12K
Following
99K
Media
10K
Statuses
124K
Cell adhesion, cytoskeletal regulation, Wnt signaling & wherever science leads us+my own idiosyncratic views+lots of wildflowers. peiferlabunc at other places
UNC-CH, Chapel Hill, NC
Joined May 2017
@Taniel It is appalling it went this far but there's the ending: "The 6-year-old accused of picking the tulip ended up before a judge because his mother couldn't make the intake meeting. Once the judge realized what was happening, he dismissed the case, said Boyer.".
24
142
2K
@mualphaxi Person who took one year of Greek mansplaining why he thinks a Professor of Classical Studies at Penn who is classics editor for The Norton Anthology of World Literature & The Norton Anthology of Western Literature & a MacArthur Fellow published a "bad" translation of The Odyssey.
5
28
1K
Anyone who has taken a biology class has seen a diagram like this, with the kidney-bean mitochondria and the shell of endoplasmic reticulum around the nucleus (thanks --but we now know these images are wildly oversimplified 1/n
17
260
1K
OK--I finally see a path to the solution. Put @chefjoseandres and his @WCKitchen crew in charge of expanding testing and contact tracing. They have no less expertise than the "Trump Dream Team" but unlike them they seem to collaborate to figure things out & get things done.
12
122
912
It's been many decades since I took Biochemistry and the details have become a bit vague, so its sometimes challenging for me to wade through the surge of publications on "metabolomics" 1/n
19
123
804
Two reasons to love biology--almost unbelievable diversity in life and new stories built on forgotten old observations. Did you know the universal genetic alphabet isn't universal? 1/5
3
214
776
DNA->RNA->Protein. It's one of the fundamental foundations of life on earth, and still contains some of its central mysteries. Transcription is step 1, and one would think after 60 years it would be well understood 1/8
4
157
706
If you're a senior scientist defending documented sexual harassers, remember potential future lab members are watching.
13
75
625
Most of us learned in school about the Central Dogma: DNA->RNA->Proteins. For decades gene regulation was only about protein transcription factors regulating gene expression. Ambros and Rukun used the small nematode worm C. elegans to change that picture 1/2.
BREAKING NEWS.The 2024 #NobelPrize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for the discovery of microRNA and its role in post-transcriptional gene regulation.
3
112
643
I'm standing behind our next President and will be excited to have someone who grew up going to the lab of her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, a prominent biomedical researcher who characterized the impact of progesterone receptor in mammary gland development
6
28
224
One of biology's great mysteries is "gene regulation", how cells choose which genes to express, when & at what level. It's a question that intrigued me since I started my grad work in a lab cloning the fly Hox genes. Ed Lewis's genetic analysis suggested great complexity 1/14
14
103
523
The decision of @UNC Board of Trustees today to completely defund all Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Programs and turn the money over to the campus police has me reeling. It's time for all who can to commit to reverse this decision, by advocacy on campus & at the ballot box 1/n.
58
87
471
One of the great mysteries of our planet is how life emerged from a soup of macromolecules. It requires the "invention" of replication, transcription and translation. Some have speculated life began more simply, in an "RNA/peptide world" 1/8.
9
90
477
For me one of the coolest questions in biology is how cells can change shape and move during embryonic development without tearing tissues apart. 1/15
11
88
472
The first talk in the Keynote Session for the Cell Contact and Adhesion @GordonConf is by Martin Schwartz. While i'll respect GRC rules and note share any of his cool new data, I will remind folks that he is MOST famous for teaching us about stupidity
13
89
456
@NIHDirector @NIH and @NIHgrants --I hope you paying attention to the UC strike. If you had not noticed yet, the pay of grad students and postdocs is way too low, and the minimum @NIH grant hasn't increased for decades. 1/2 RT.
8
107
417
All biomedical scientists should read this excellent piece about the horrifying image-manipulation scandal that's erupted at @DanaFarber Cancer Center. 1/2.
13
129
443
We all have personal stories that we use to describe our trajectory in life and science. For the past five decades the narrative I told myself was a simple one of good luck, hard work, support from my community, and mentors at pivotal times 1/6.
12
139
419
@VitalyGanusov White men like the two of us take for granted the respect that comes with our positions--other's don't have that privilege.
6
9
377
If you're an 80 year old Nobel Laureate and a postdoc or postdocs in your lab develop a new variation on single cell sequencing and publish it in @Nature , perhaps make one or more of them co-corresponding author. just saying.
16
20
434
Dear @harvardmed and Harvard Neurobiology. Are you OK with one of your faculty members, @blsabatini, using Twitter to harass female faculty members at other institutions? I would request you look into this immediately 1/2.
9
49
411
I am really trying to understand why this idea has gotten so much attention. It's anti-scientific, asking you to boil things down to an over-simplified conclusion .
56
45
412
During development cells do remarkable things, changing shape & moving while maintaining tissue integrity. To do so, they need to assemble a robust cytoskeleton at cell junctions. In our lab’s latest preprint, Hui-Chia Yu-Kemp led a team that explored the underlying mechanisms 1/
6
71
408
Are you thinking about a postdoc and want to help learn how cells change shape and move during embryonic development, and how this may go wrong in disease? Our lab has funded positions for postdocs to explore these and other questions (Thread) Please RT
4
208
390
During embryonic development dramatic cell shape changes and movements re-shape the embryonic body plan. These require robust but dynamic linkage between the cell-cell adherens junctions and the force-generating actomyosin cytoskeleton. 1/n
3
62
366
OMG--the Bloomington Drosophila Stock Center gets well deserved recognition from the @nytimes . Go Kevin Cook and colleagues, powering basic science around the world. Fly folks and friends please RT!!!!.
0
128
334
Yesterday's news is a reminder that having women leading scientific institutions can make a difference--Bravo Ruth Lehmann for taking principles into action
5
47
336
All amazing scientists but once again pretty geographically focused: By a quick count 19 of 26 are from Massachusetts or California with 9 of 26 (35% from Harvard or MIT. Great science happens around the nation.
⭐️ Big news! HHMI is investing $300+ million in 26 new #HHMIInvestigators from 19 US institutions. These top scientists will drive groundbreaking research in diverse fields, from neuroscience to immunology to structural biology & beyond. Welcome to HHMI!.
16
36
319
I'll admit to being skeptical about "synthetic biology", wondering if it's just buzz words, but this recent paper from Daniels et al. blew me away with its combination of novel insights into cell signaling circuitry & its clinical potential 1/n.
5
53
344
OMG--this!! The cytoplasm is a pretty crowded place and this remarkable new model brings that home in a very data driven way!.
7
56
335
Today's Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology is built on curiosity-driven research. Victor Ambros wanted to know what sets the developmental clock that determines that particular life-cycle events happen at the right developmental time 1/2
1
67
338
I'm leaving the argument--thanks to all who had thoughtful comments. I'll leave with two points. 1) Academia involves imbalanced power relationships, whether we like it or not, and that influence cannot be forgotten. 2) PIs set the tone for the lab culture.
4
24
308
In researching the class I'll present this week I am reviewing the story of James Watson, Nobel Laureate for his work on DNA structure and a prominent leader in our community for decades, including a leadership role in the Human Genome Project 1/n
11
42
345
In Genetics class this week we explored the history of our field & its roots in Eugenics. I used it to frame the question: Should scientists just “Stay in the lab” or is it our duty to speak out when others lie about our science & use it to further their own political views? 1/n.
16
58
333
Occasionally papers change the paradigm of a field. I've been working on signaling by "morphogens" since before Wnt signaling WAS Wnt signaling and this paper is one of those game changers. READ THIS! 1/10.
6
102
306
Yay!! R35 MIRA officially renewed--5 more years. Thanks to my amazing lab, present and past, my great grant administrators and @NIGMS
32
1
284
@UNC_Librarian @jjoque Mine will have a Neon sign that displays my current H-index, which undoubtedly will continue to rise long after I stop doing science--it will also have a bell that rings with every new citation 😀.
2
6
274
The world is full of amazing things. Hiding in the human microbiome is a crazy new class of "viroids", small virus-like parasites--perhaps the first not found in a eukaryotes. 1/3.
7
87
288
@EvanWeberPhD How do they define academic family. At some level we're all "related" as science is aa pretty small world.
7
1
301
I don't really feel that much older than when we drove some grad school recruits around Boston in our little yellow Honda, searching unsuccessfully for the "No Name Restaurant", but I guess it was a while ago because one of them just won the Nobel Prize 😀.
5
7
276
@NAChristakis I doubt any professor in my Department @UNC_Biology who doesn't have grant due next week is working more than 50 hours per week. Great science does not require being a workaholic.
1
5
244
I spent the first 20+ years of my career avoiding and sometimes even ridiculing work in cultured cells. My reason--they were lacking a key tool: Loss-of-function genetics 1/10.
3
30
258
@BillAckman @PershingSqFdn In case some of the investors are not familiar with the person they are funding, here's some insight.
8
8
235
Tomorrow @UNCBiology we have the chance to hear a talk by a rising star in Science Communication, Dr. Raven Baxter, aka Dr. Raven the Science Maven. She joined UCIrvine BioSci in 2021 as Director of Diversity Initiatives 1/5
8
24
228
@jflier Sorry--I'm not. How about 1) thinking about whether a younger, less wealthy scientist might need that money a bit more and 2) taking a day off once in awhile to give you a little perspective.
0
4
226
During embryonic development, cells re-shape the body by collective cell shapes changes and migration. Deciphering the molecular mechanisms underlying these remarkable events is one of the most exciting endeavors in modern biology 1/n
8
51
258
I am super excited to see one of my scientific heroes and mentors, @UNC_Biology's Ted Salmon, elected to the @NationalAcad --long overdue as he is a giant in the field of the cytoskeleton and also an amazing colleague 1/4
11
27
234
The two young African Scholars from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana, Rebecca Korankye and Bismark Acheampong, arrived at UNC today, after a 10 hour flight. Their 10 weeks in my lab will begin Monday. 1/3
6
16
229
Epithelial tissues are one of the key innovations of the animal lineage, creating barriers separating inside from outside, and, in more complex animals, forming the architecture of tubular organs from blood vessels to the kidney to liver. 1/n
7
49
240
There are many things I'd do differently if I was starting over as a new PI, but the two biggest would be getting formal training in both teaching and mentoring. Like most folks my generation, i learned both on the fly and made a lot of mistakes 1/n.
5
21
215
Just to save some of you the trouble: It reads: "Candidates applying for a position at the Assistant Professor level are expected to have K99/R00 grants or equivalent and develop a rigorous extramurally funded research program.".
13
20
225
So many needs in our world and someone wants me to donate to support a known sexual harasser who used his powerful position to create a culture of harassment--hold your breath
11
23
206
Five signaling pathways play an inordinately important role in normal development: Wnt, Hedgehog, RTK, Notch and BMP/TGFß. Of course the Wnt pathway is closest to my heart but Hedgehog signaling is a close second. 40 years of study and it still has surprises 1/7.
2
39
206
This is misguided. I support research directed at societal problems but also know that in Biology discovery research is also critical. When folks started working on the obscure mechanism of action of reverse transcriptase, AIDS was still decades away.
10
38
209
Hey Nobel--answer me this. If the Peace Prize can be awarded, as in this situation, to a very deserving "organization" that represents many, many people, why can't the science awards be revised to recognize all the people who contributed to a discovery, not just three?.
BREAKING NEWS: .The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize to the World Food Programme (WFP). #NobelPrize #NobelPeacePrize
7
25
214
Once again, fundamental science that was done by young scientists in small, NIH-funded labs using model organisms. I hope NIH is listening.
0
118
194
Am I getting this right. A person who falsified data in a K99 application in 2019 is awarded one in 2022??.
9
29
193
@LISafterclass @EstherVerheyen We got our first last week from a student who has a housemate with likely symptoms and we followed your two prong approach--reassure about missed work and offer resources/advice about how to deal with the health situation and anxiety.
0
3
201
For cell biologists, microscopy is at the heart of our business. We need state-of-the-art microscopes and we need to be trained to use them. Microscopy core directors play an essential role in this. 1/8.
2
12
196
If you are on the job market, even if you have a K99, think about what an add like this says about the Department. It says: We expect you to make it on your own". I was fortunate to be hired in a Department that was supportive AFTER I arrived, in the early years & still today.
Just to save some of you the trouble: It reads: "Candidates applying for a position at the Assistant Professor level are expected to have K99/R00 grants or equivalent and develop a rigorous extramurally funded research program.".
6
16
191
@NatureComms has published a paper which comes to the conclusion that female students should avoid female mentors, based solely on publication metrics. They can only draw this conclusion by completely ignoring the systemic bias built into our system.
8
49
186
I'm extremely excited to share a new search for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Microbiology @UNC_Biology. It's part of a cluster hire across @UNC Departments "to deepen and expand research & teaching related to racial equity" #blackinstem Please RT 1/4
3
204
183
A poorly thought out policy that will punish some of UNC's lowest paid workers and likely reduce attendance at many cultural, artistic, and scholarly events.
The weeknight parking program at #UNC begins Aug. 15. For information on what will change, who this affects and what this means for the campus and local community, visit ⤵️
3
39
185
I'm sad so many of my colleagues are obsessing with cheating this term. Our students faced a semester infinitely more dififcult than any we ever faced as students. Ranting online about increased cheating & not recognizing the real struggle this term has been for students is wrong.
18
6
176
It's a lovely day in NC--sunny and warm. Just finished 6 hours of canvassing for Harris/Walz and enjoying a cold one on the back porch with. 1/3
4
2
180
One of the most exciting areas of biomedical medical science these days is the explosion of knowledge regarding bacterial innate immunity and pathogen responses-here is a new example. 1/n.
1
34
188
Came upon this again in a CV and I'm not a fan: do indicate status as co-first author but don't change the order of authors to out yours first. .
36
11
171
The ability of the animal body to self-assemble based on information encoded in our genomes is one of the most remarkable miracles of the living world. We now take for granted the idea that shared cellular machinery mediates this & read textbooks laying outmolecular details 1/n
2
38
179
Next those Democrats will be suggesting we tax people & use those taxes to pay elderly people an income after they retire, & that we help cover their healthcare. Even more radical, they're suggesting everyone should have access to healthcare. #ComradeKamala on the job.
6
31
135
Love the idea of these fellowships but once more 10/15 go to scientists in California or Massachusetts and 7/15 to scientists at Harvard or MIT. Diversity has many dimensions and perhaps University should be one of them.
HHMI awards Hanna Gray fellowships to 15 exceptional early career scientists to support #diversity in science: #HannaGrayFellows
8
38
161
Mind-blowing advances in microscopy have given us more and more detailed images of cellular architecture, revealing complexity and dynamics. e.g. 2/n
2
14
169
@NAChristakis @SexyIsntSexist @clairekope @Rednuria @UNC_Biology Sorry--I was starting by calling you out on your data. I am a successful PI at an R1 institution and I simply do not think most of us work >60 hrs per week. Expecting our students to do so is unacceptable.
1
4
149
My scientific gripe for the day. Fly people need to know and reference the mammalian literature but not vice versa. A colleague shared a comment from one of his colleagues: "“Can you study signaling pathways in Drosophila?”.
19
29
160
See--they don't all require a K99!! "Successful candidates will be provided laboratory and office space at the Medical School along with a competitive start-up package to develop a robust research program." 1/2.
We have a tenure-track faculty position open @UM_Genetics, dept. website: . If your research addresses questions in genetics and genomics, consider applying to join our community by 11/15 (review starts 10/1)
4
18
163
The Twitter discussion about postdoc searches was informative & very eye-opening.Coming from a particular R1 environment I was surprised at the diversity of thoughts on this. Before I exit this discussion I wanted to summarize my own thoughts-warning, its a long thread.
4
66
163
With the nation riveted by the Meghan and Harry interview, use it as the reason to take a look around you, to listen, like Oprah did, to your Black colleagues and trainees. You'll hear stories equally as powerful and unsettling about events in our own labs and Universities. 1/2.
3
26
148
Two others to honor on this exciting day for science-the field's founders Ron Konopka and Seymour Benzer, both passed on.
2
82
153
Fuck scientific lineages--we should be valuing mentoring, and NO, they are not necessarily the same.
4
7
139
If folks are using Zoom's transcript of my Cell and Developmental Biology class, they are living in an alternate universe
20
4
150
Our @UNC Department was supposed to have its 1st faculty meeting today-instead the Chair led a Zoom check-in where people could share thoughts, feelings & questions. It was VERY helpful and I think from the conversation one will now be setup for our grad students & postdocs.
5
6
146
If you want to answer cutting edge questions in an animal system, the genetic, molecular and cell biological tools available in Drosophila combined with 100 years of prior work make it THE place to work. A recent issue of @Dev_Cell provides 2 examples 1/n
2
30
158
One exciting discovery was cross talk between different organelles. Best characterized is cross talk between the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria, allowing transfer of lipids synthesized in the ER. A recent paper revealed stunning new insights 3/n.
2
21
162
Please quit repeating this false narrative. It's so ridiculous to call science published in Immunity, JBC, Molecular Therapy, the Journal of Immunology, Nucleic Acids Research and other leading journals "long buried".
It took the front page and 3 more pages to begin to tell the story of this "long buried science"
9
16
150
@atrupar I hope my white scientific colleagues are listening--this year has been a time to start some very serious reflection about privilege.
4
9
128
Some thoughts on the passing of a hero, Paul Farmer of @PIH . In the early 2000s I was having a mid-life "crisis". I'd been politically involved from high school through my postdoc, but then a faculty job and two kids changed everything 1/n.
3
27
140
I'm taking a refuge this morning from anger and grieving in some cool science from the @bilderlab . The fruit fly Drosophila pioneered work on "tumor suppressors" genes that when mutated contribute to cancer. 1/12
1
32
141
Grad student recruitment is always fun but its especially so when you get those recruits who clearly just LOVE science and are so ready for grad school. I had a series of those today.
3
0
136
@lizcgoodwin This whole policy is beyond disturbing but to anyone with the slightest knowledge of the Holocaust this detail is even more chilling.
2
25
119
Are you or do you know a graduating senior who wants to help learn how cells change shape and move during embryonic development, and how this may go wrong in disease, while getting research experience and learning more about the career of a scientist. Please RT 1/5
1
68
142
If you are or know an undergrad graduating this Spring, looking for an opportunity to spend 1-2 years working full time in a lab, building their skills in experimentation and problem solving while learning more about a career in research, our lab is hiring! Please RT
4
102
139
This is awesome and SO LONG over due (and perfect timing as this is the focus of my Genetics class tomorrow).
BREAKING NEWS.The 2024 #NobelPrize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for the discovery of microRNA and its role in post-transcriptional gene regulation.
5
6
136
Epithelial tissues serve as barriers between the outside world and our bodies, and between different tissue compartments. Tight junctions are the key, sealing and thus regulating diffusion across an epithelial sheet 1/n
3
31
135
Reading this paper for me was science-fiction come true, successively zooming in from whole cells to atomic models, all in intact cells. This has been the dream of cell biologists like me for decades, and now its coming true. Kudos to the authors 10/n.
7
7
129