Rachel Poretsky
@rporetsky.bsky.social
Professor in Microbial Ecology, mostly aquatic and wastewater. Public health. Bike/transit enthusiast. LCI. Mom. Vegan. Compact-sized. Brooklyn —> Chicago with lots of stops on the way.
It me :)
We’re excited to be at #ASMCUE to present some of our classroom applications. If you’re here, check out our microbrew talk tomorrow morning.
November 21, 2025 at 8:48 PM
It me :)
Reposted by Rachel Poretsky
November 2, 2025 at 11:37 PM
In honor of the transit bill that was passed in the middle of the night last night, saving public transit in Illinois from certain disaster, here’s a picture of my cargo bike dressed up as a @chicagocta.bsky.social train for Halloween.
October 31, 2025 at 5:12 PM
In honor of the transit bill that was passed in the middle of the night last night, saving public transit in Illinois from certain disaster, here’s a picture of my cargo bike dressed up as a @chicagocta.bsky.social train for Halloween.
Reposted by Rachel Poretsky
The average nucleotide identity (ANI) underpins how we map microbial diversity, compare species, and connect genomes to ecology.
I wrote a short piece reflecting on the discovery and significance of this metric (and really enjoyed digging into the context and story behind it!) #microsky 🧬
I wrote a short piece reflecting on the discovery and significance of this metric (and really enjoyed digging into the context and story behind it!) #microsky 🧬
Average nucleotide identity — the backbone of modern ecological genomics - Nature Reviews Genetics
In this Journal Club, Luis Orellana recalls a 2005 publication by Konstantinidis and Tiedje that introduced average nucleotide identity as a sequence-based metric to determine the relatedness between ...
www.nature.com
October 30, 2025 at 9:11 PM
The average nucleotide identity (ANI) underpins how we map microbial diversity, compare species, and connect genomes to ecology.
I wrote a short piece reflecting on the discovery and significance of this metric (and really enjoyed digging into the context and story behind it!) #microsky 🧬
I wrote a short piece reflecting on the discovery and significance of this metric (and really enjoyed digging into the context and story behind it!) #microsky 🧬
Reposted by Rachel Poretsky
Reposted by Rachel Poretsky
The Life After Cars audiobook read by Doug and Sarah is out, too! You can listen while you walking, biking and taking public transit.
October 22, 2025 at 1:41 AM
The Life After Cars audiobook read by Doug and Sarah is out, too! You can listen while you walking, biking and taking public transit.
New story about yesterday’s #NoKings didn’t even make it above the fold in today’s @nytimes.com.
October 19, 2025 at 4:24 PM
New story about yesterday’s #NoKings didn’t even make it above the fold in today’s @nytimes.com.
Reposted by Rachel Poretsky
Three reasons I have hope for America, even after a very dark week: www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/why-i-have...
Why I Have Hope for America
This weekend's "No Kings" rallies stand as an important corrective amid a dark moment
www.doomsdayscenario.co
October 17, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Three reasons I have hope for America, even after a very dark week: www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/why-i-have...
Reposted by Rachel Poretsky
BREAKING: Friday night massacre underway at CDC. Doznes of "disease detectives," high-level scientists, entire Washington staff and editors of the MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) have all been RIFed and received the following notice:
October 11, 2025 at 2:10 AM
BREAKING: Friday night massacre underway at CDC. Doznes of "disease detectives," high-level scientists, entire Washington staff and editors of the MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) have all been RIFed and received the following notice:
Reposted by Rachel Poretsky
I don’t know who needs to hear this but the CDC is being eviscerated right now. America is not going to have any kind of outbreak response capacity after tonight. Americans’ health data is no longer secure. Say goodbye to federal public health in any capacity. It’s a disaster. We won’t recover.
October 11, 2025 at 3:05 AM
I don’t know who needs to hear this but the CDC is being eviscerated right now. America is not going to have any kind of outbreak response capacity after tonight. Americans’ health data is no longer secure. Say goodbye to federal public health in any capacity. It’s a disaster. We won’t recover.
Reposted by Rachel Poretsky
Three newly published books argue that cars are destroying society as well as the planet.
Is the world finally ready to rein in the automobile?
My essay, in @bloomberg.com (gift link below)
Is the world finally ready to rein in the automobile?
My essay, in @bloomberg.com (gift link below)
‘Car Brain’ Is Making the US Unhealthy and Dangerous. EVs Won’t Fix It.
A trio of new books argue that we need to confront the full range of costs that car-based living has imposed on our cities, our health and our society.
www.bloomberg.com
October 10, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Three newly published books argue that cars are destroying society as well as the planet.
Is the world finally ready to rein in the automobile?
My essay, in @bloomberg.com (gift link below)
Is the world finally ready to rein in the automobile?
My essay, in @bloomberg.com (gift link below)
Reposted by Rachel Poretsky
Apple has removed an ICE tracking app that allows users to report ICE activity nearby from its App Store.
The removal came after a direct demand from Trump’s DOJ.
Once again, Big Tech is bending the knee to our tyrant-in-chief to protect its bottom line.
The removal came after a direct demand from Trump’s DOJ.
Once again, Big Tech is bending the knee to our tyrant-in-chief to protect its bottom line.
October 3, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Apple has removed an ICE tracking app that allows users to report ICE activity nearby from its App Store.
The removal came after a direct demand from Trump’s DOJ.
Once again, Big Tech is bending the knee to our tyrant-in-chief to protect its bottom line.
The removal came after a direct demand from Trump’s DOJ.
Once again, Big Tech is bending the knee to our tyrant-in-chief to protect its bottom line.
Reposted by Rachel Poretsky
bluesky please don’t implode, I refuse to try any more new things
October 3, 2025 at 8:11 PM
bluesky please don’t implode, I refuse to try any more new things
Reposted by Rachel Poretsky
Logan Square neighborhood, Chicago. Man wearing a balaclava in a white, unmarked vehicle, pulls the pin on a tear gas canister and tosses it in the road.
"Just trying to grab some lunch and these fucking losers showed up. FUCK ICE!"
source: www.reddit.com/r/LoganSquar...
"Just trying to grab some lunch and these fucking losers showed up. FUCK ICE!"
source: www.reddit.com/r/LoganSquar...
October 3, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Logan Square neighborhood, Chicago. Man wearing a balaclava in a white, unmarked vehicle, pulls the pin on a tear gas canister and tosses it in the road.
"Just trying to grab some lunch and these fucking losers showed up. FUCK ICE!"
source: www.reddit.com/r/LoganSquar...
"Just trying to grab some lunch and these fucking losers showed up. FUCK ICE!"
source: www.reddit.com/r/LoganSquar...
Among them, a Poretsky Lab alum whom we miss very much here in Chicago (but are so excited for.)
Welcome, MarMic Class of 2030!! 👩🔬
13 students from 8 countries have arrived to our International Max Planck Research School of Marine Microbiology MarMic.
We’re very happy to have you & look forward to the years ahead!
www.mpi-bremen.de/en/Welcome-M...
@maxplanck.de #marinebiology
13 students from 8 countries have arrived to our International Max Planck Research School of Marine Microbiology MarMic.
We’re very happy to have you & look forward to the years ahead!
www.mpi-bremen.de/en/Welcome-M...
@maxplanck.de #marinebiology
October 1, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Among them, a Poretsky Lab alum whom we miss very much here in Chicago (but are so excited for.)
Reposted by Rachel Poretsky
Hi, Pete Hegseth. It’s me. Army veteran, Judge Advocate lawyer, and law professor. Your vain and gross performance to our nation’s military leaders succeeded only in proving your incompetence, dangerousness, and childishness. You’re a petty spoiled 7th grade boy without the sophistication or class.
September 30, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Hi, Pete Hegseth. It’s me. Army veteran, Judge Advocate lawyer, and law professor. Your vain and gross performance to our nation’s military leaders succeeded only in proving your incompetence, dangerousness, and childishness. You’re a petty spoiled 7th grade boy without the sophistication or class.
Reposted by Rachel Poretsky
This is your daily reminder that registration is open and *FREE* for #BiM2025 #BlackInMicro Week. Get ready to join our online celebration: linktr.ee/BlackInMicro (or see link in bio)
September 30, 2025 at 7:44 PM
This is your daily reminder that registration is open and *FREE* for #BiM2025 #BlackInMicro Week. Get ready to join our online celebration: linktr.ee/BlackInMicro (or see link in bio)
Reposted by Rachel Poretsky
I’m a sewage system. I also have a great personality.
September 30, 2025 at 11:33 PM
I’m a sewage system. I also have a great personality.
Reposted by Rachel Poretsky
Please share with anyone who cares about NSF support for graduate students and take 30 seconds to sign and leave a comment.
The deadline for the 2025 Graduate Research Fellowship Program is about one month away and literally no one can apply. #NSFGRFP
jasonjwilliamsny.github.io/grfp2025/
The deadline for the 2025 Graduate Research Fellowship Program is about one month away and literally no one can apply. #NSFGRFP
jasonjwilliamsny.github.io/grfp2025/
An Open Letter to U.S. STEM Leadership on the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program
An Open Letter to U.S. STEM Leadership on the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program
jasonjwilliamsny.github.io
September 25, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Please share with anyone who cares about NSF support for graduate students and take 30 seconds to sign and leave a comment.
The deadline for the 2025 Graduate Research Fellowship Program is about one month away and literally no one can apply. #NSFGRFP
jasonjwilliamsny.github.io/grfp2025/
The deadline for the 2025 Graduate Research Fellowship Program is about one month away and literally no one can apply. #NSFGRFP
jasonjwilliamsny.github.io/grfp2025/
Reposted by Rachel Poretsky
NSF GRFP is out 2.5 months late w/key changes
1. 2nd year graduate students not eligible.
2. "alignment with Administration priorities"
3. Unlike prior years, they DO NOT specify the expected number of awards... that is a BIG problem.
a brief 🧵 w/receipts
www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
1. 2nd year graduate students not eligible.
2. "alignment with Administration priorities"
3. Unlike prior years, they DO NOT specify the expected number of awards... that is a BIG problem.
a brief 🧵 w/receipts
www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
www.nsf.gov
September 27, 2025 at 12:04 AM
NSF GRFP is out 2.5 months late w/key changes
1. 2nd year graduate students not eligible.
2. "alignment with Administration priorities"
3. Unlike prior years, they DO NOT specify the expected number of awards... that is a BIG problem.
a brief 🧵 w/receipts
www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
1. 2nd year graduate students not eligible.
2. "alignment with Administration priorities"
3. Unlike prior years, they DO NOT specify the expected number of awards... that is a BIG problem.
a brief 🧵 w/receipts
www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
Reposted by Rachel Poretsky
Only an administration intent on committing war crimes in the present and future would stoop to calling Wounded Knee a "battle" rather than what it truly was: a massacre of over 250 Lakotas, mainly women, children, and the elderly. 1/
September 26, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Only an administration intent on committing war crimes in the present and future would stoop to calling Wounded Knee a "battle" rather than what it truly was: a massacre of over 250 Lakotas, mainly women, children, and the elderly. 1/
Stay ahead in infectious disease research! Join the Tools for Tomorrow Webinar Series from the NIAID BRCs. Monthly updates, new tools, fresh insights. Starts Oct 10, 2 PM UTC.
Register: tinyurl.com/NIAIDBRCWebi...
Register: tinyurl.com/NIAIDBRCWebi...
Microsoft Forms
tinyurl.com
September 26, 2025 at 3:16 AM
Stay ahead in infectious disease research! Join the Tools for Tomorrow Webinar Series from the NIAID BRCs. Monthly updates, new tools, fresh insights. Starts Oct 10, 2 PM UTC.
Register: tinyurl.com/NIAIDBRCWebi...
Register: tinyurl.com/NIAIDBRCWebi...
Reposted by Rachel Poretsky
So if Jimmy Kimmel had just suggested killing homeless people by involuntary lethal injection, like Brian Kilmeade did on Fox, he’d still have a job?
September 18, 2025 at 11:22 AM
So if Jimmy Kimmel had just suggested killing homeless people by involuntary lethal injection, like Brian Kilmeade did on Fox, he’d still have a job?
Reposted by Rachel Poretsky
TERRORISM EXPERT HERE:
He cannot designate an idea as a terrorist group.
There is no org called ANTIFA. There is no leadership or funding path or no membership. Also there is no terrorism law in America. Ask Luigi.
He wants to call anyone a terrorist. That’s Fascism.
#ReleaseTheEpsteinFiles
He cannot designate an idea as a terrorist group.
There is no org called ANTIFA. There is no leadership or funding path or no membership. Also there is no terrorism law in America. Ask Luigi.
He wants to call anyone a terrorist. That’s Fascism.
#ReleaseTheEpsteinFiles
September 18, 2025 at 2:04 AM
TERRORISM EXPERT HERE:
He cannot designate an idea as a terrorist group.
There is no org called ANTIFA. There is no leadership or funding path or no membership. Also there is no terrorism law in America. Ask Luigi.
He wants to call anyone a terrorist. That’s Fascism.
#ReleaseTheEpsteinFiles
He cannot designate an idea as a terrorist group.
There is no org called ANTIFA. There is no leadership or funding path or no membership. Also there is no terrorism law in America. Ask Luigi.
He wants to call anyone a terrorist. That’s Fascism.
#ReleaseTheEpsteinFiles
I did lab work and didn’t hurt myself or break anything. I did, however, have to constantly ask the labbies where things were.
September 12, 2025 at 12:12 AM
I did lab work and didn’t hurt myself or break anything. I did, however, have to constantly ask the labbies where things were.