Steffi (she/her)
@sillysciencelady.bsky.social
PhD candidate in the Hawley and Gibson labs at the Stowers Institute. In love with #meiosis. Studying synaptonemal complex evolution 🧬 | 1st gen student and foster care experienced | she/her 🏳️🌈
Having been a PhD student of Scott’s is one of my greatest honors. I consider myself very lucky to have learned from him and that I found a research topic that I absolutely love, even on the most miserable days. 🧬
A bittersweet acceptance: Between a manuscript and grief
Stefanie Williams @sillysciencelady.bsky.social shares the story behind her paper on the synaptonemal complex, including a tribute to her supervisor Scott Hawley, who passed away while Stefanie was completing the research.
Stefanie Williams @sillysciencelady.bsky.social shares the story behind her paper on the synaptonemal complex, including a tribute to her supervisor Scott Hawley, who passed away while Stefanie was completing the research.
A bittersweet acceptance: Between a manuscript and grief - the Node
I was so excited when I received notification that my first first-author research paper was accepted. My excitement quickly turned into sadness with the realization that my co-PI was not seeing our vi...
thenode.biologists.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Having been a PhD student of Scott’s is one of my greatest honors. I consider myself very lucky to have learned from him and that I found a research topic that I absolutely love, even on the most miserable days. 🧬
Reposted by Steffi (she/her)
A bittersweet acceptance: Between a manuscript and grief
Stefanie Williams @sillysciencelady.bsky.social shares the story behind her paper on the synaptonemal complex, including a tribute to her supervisor Scott Hawley, who passed away while Stefanie was completing the research.
Stefanie Williams @sillysciencelady.bsky.social shares the story behind her paper on the synaptonemal complex, including a tribute to her supervisor Scott Hawley, who passed away while Stefanie was completing the research.
A bittersweet acceptance: Between a manuscript and grief - the Node
I was so excited when I received notification that my first first-author research paper was accepted. My excitement quickly turned into sadness with the realization that my co-PI was not seeing our vi...
thenode.biologists.com
November 17, 2025 at 9:58 AM
A bittersweet acceptance: Between a manuscript and grief
Stefanie Williams @sillysciencelady.bsky.social shares the story behind her paper on the synaptonemal complex, including a tribute to her supervisor Scott Hawley, who passed away while Stefanie was completing the research.
Stefanie Williams @sillysciencelady.bsky.social shares the story behind her paper on the synaptonemal complex, including a tribute to her supervisor Scott Hawley, who passed away while Stefanie was completing the research.
Reposted by Steffi (she/her)
Are you an early-stage graduate student (2nd or 3rd year) or early-stage postdoc based in the US or Canada, working primarily in Drosophila? Would you like to help improve the experience of all trainees working in Drosophila research? If so, read on.
(Please repost to reach a broad audience.)
(Please repost to reach a broad audience.)
November 12, 2025 at 4:49 AM
Are you an early-stage graduate student (2nd or 3rd year) or early-stage postdoc based in the US or Canada, working primarily in Drosophila? Would you like to help improve the experience of all trainees working in Drosophila research? If so, read on.
(Please repost to reach a broad audience.)
(Please repost to reach a broad audience.)
Very exciting news: My first first-author paper is now out (open access!) in Chromosoma! link.springer.com/article/10.1...
The synaptonemal complex component corolla regulates meiotic crossover formation in Drosophila melanogaster - Chromosoma
In Drosophila melanogaster females, as in most organisms, the segregation of homologous chromosomes in meiosis depends on the formation of crossovers between them. In most cases, crossovers require th...
link.springer.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Very exciting news: My first first-author paper is now out (open access!) in Chromosoma! link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reposted by Steffi (she/her)
We are hiring!
We are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic postdoc to study mammalian DSB repair using innovative genomic approaches.
Our lab is at the Curie Institute in Paris and offers vibrant scientific environnement and cutting edge platforms.
Please repost or apply here:
lnkd.in/eJ9q3QrR
We are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic postdoc to study mammalian DSB repair using innovative genomic approaches.
Our lab is at the Curie Institute in Paris and offers vibrant scientific environnement and cutting edge platforms.
Please repost or apply here:
lnkd.in/eJ9q3QrR
Institut Curie hiring Postdoctoral Position in Mammalian DSB Repair (F/M) in Paris, Île-de-France, France | LinkedIn
Posted 8:04:09 PM. About UsInstitut Curie Research CenterInstitut Curie is a major player in the research and fight…See this and similar jobs on LinkedIn.
lnkd.in
August 1, 2025 at 9:38 AM
We are hiring!
We are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic postdoc to study mammalian DSB repair using innovative genomic approaches.
Our lab is at the Curie Institute in Paris and offers vibrant scientific environnement and cutting edge platforms.
Please repost or apply here:
lnkd.in/eJ9q3QrR
We are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic postdoc to study mammalian DSB repair using innovative genomic approaches.
Our lab is at the Curie Institute in Paris and offers vibrant scientific environnement and cutting edge platforms.
Please repost or apply here:
lnkd.in/eJ9q3QrR
Reposted by Steffi (she/her)
With many postdoc grants like the NSF PRFB, Ford Fellowship, and Hanna H. Gray fellowships disappearing, I am currently looking for grants that could fund incoming postdoctoral scholars. Here is a thread of some of them 🧵
July 24, 2025 at 7:26 PM
With many postdoc grants like the NSF PRFB, Ford Fellowship, and Hanna H. Gray fellowships disappearing, I am currently looking for grants that could fund incoming postdoctoral scholars. Here is a thread of some of them 🧵
Reposted by Steffi (she/her)
Tenure-track faculty search of the UCSF Biochemistry & Biophysics Department is open for applications!
We are looking for creative, innovative scientists asking fundamental questions in any area of biology.
Join our vibrant, collaborative, and supportive community!
aprecruit.ucsf.edu/JPF05702
We are looking for creative, innovative scientists asking fundamental questions in any area of biology.
Join our vibrant, collaborative, and supportive community!
aprecruit.ucsf.edu/JPF05702
July 23, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Tenure-track faculty search of the UCSF Biochemistry & Biophysics Department is open for applications!
We are looking for creative, innovative scientists asking fundamental questions in any area of biology.
Join our vibrant, collaborative, and supportive community!
aprecruit.ucsf.edu/JPF05702
We are looking for creative, innovative scientists asking fundamental questions in any area of biology.
Join our vibrant, collaborative, and supportive community!
aprecruit.ucsf.edu/JPF05702
Reposted by Steffi (she/her)
Very pleased to say we have an Assistant Professor job opening (tenure track) in the Department of Genetics at Trinity College Dublin! 😀
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DOA399/a... - deadline is August 19th! Please repost!
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DOA399/a... - deadline is August 19th! Please repost!
July 23, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Very pleased to say we have an Assistant Professor job opening (tenure track) in the Department of Genetics at Trinity College Dublin! 😀
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DOA399/a... - deadline is August 19th! Please repost!
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DOA399/a... - deadline is August 19th! Please repost!
Reposted by Steffi (she/her)
PSA for flood response: remember to NEVER mix cleaning solutions across classes, especially bleach x any ammonia or ammonium salts derivative (e.g. Lysol & many medical-grade spray cleaners)!! Biological hazard-graded respirators won’t protect against hazardous chemical fumes.
July 13, 2025 at 1:56 AM
PSA for flood response: remember to NEVER mix cleaning solutions across classes, especially bleach x any ammonia or ammonium salts derivative (e.g. Lysol & many medical-grade spray cleaners)!! Biological hazard-graded respirators won’t protect against hazardous chemical fumes.
Reposted by Steffi (she/her)
TIL (on mastodon) that the US National Park Service has crochet patterns!
www.nps.gov/articles/000...
www.nps.gov/articles/000...
Halibut Crochet Pattern (U.S. National Park Service)
www.nps.gov
July 11, 2025 at 8:22 PM
TIL (on mastodon) that the US National Park Service has crochet patterns!
www.nps.gov/articles/000...
www.nps.gov/articles/000...
Reposted by Steffi (she/her)
We ran a randomized controlled trial to see how much AI coding tools speed up experienced open-source developers.
The results surprised us: Developers thought they were 20% faster with AI tools, but they were actually 19% slower when they had access to AI than when they didn't.
The results surprised us: Developers thought they were 20% faster with AI tools, but they were actually 19% slower when they had access to AI than when they didn't.
July 10, 2025 at 7:47 PM
We ran a randomized controlled trial to see how much AI coding tools speed up experienced open-source developers.
The results surprised us: Developers thought they were 20% faster with AI tools, but they were actually 19% slower when they had access to AI than when they didn't.
The results surprised us: Developers thought they were 20% faster with AI tools, but they were actually 19% slower when they had access to AI than when they didn't.
Reposted by Steffi (she/her)
🧪 After the workshop on 7/7, the FDA and NIH are asking for public comments on implementing novel methodologies and other strategies to reduce the use of animal testing by 7/14:
www.fda.gov/news-events/...
www.fda.gov/news-events/...
FDA-NIH Workshop: Reducing Animal Testing
The FDA is hosting a workshop on reducing animal testing. The workshop is open to current FDA and NIH employees.
www.fda.gov
July 10, 2025 at 8:13 PM
🧪 After the workshop on 7/7, the FDA and NIH are asking for public comments on implementing novel methodologies and other strategies to reduce the use of animal testing by 7/14:
www.fda.gov/news-events/...
www.fda.gov/news-events/...
Reposted by Steffi (she/her)
Reposting this as the same issue continues at #IZFC2025: lots of red/green LUTs in talks.
Especially the #zebrafish crowd, with imaging as a key technique in our field, should be able to do better. And know how to.
#WeTheColorBlind #2025IZFC @izfs.bsky.social
Especially the #zebrafish crowd, with imaging as a key technique in our field, should be able to do better. And know how to.
#WeTheColorBlind #2025IZFC @izfs.bsky.social
PSA: around 5-8% of the population has a color vision impairment for red/green.
Many talks at #2025ICDB still use red-green LUTs on slides that are not accessible to everyone.
Changing to more accessible colors is doable and easy.
We can do better.
#devbio
#ICDB2025 #WeTheColorBlind
Many talks at #2025ICDB still use red-green LUTs on slides that are not accessible to everyone.
Changing to more accessible colors is doable and easy.
We can do better.
#devbio
#ICDB2025 #WeTheColorBlind
July 10, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Reposting this as the same issue continues at #IZFC2025: lots of red/green LUTs in talks.
Especially the #zebrafish crowd, with imaging as a key technique in our field, should be able to do better. And know how to.
#WeTheColorBlind #2025IZFC @izfs.bsky.social
Especially the #zebrafish crowd, with imaging as a key technique in our field, should be able to do better. And know how to.
#WeTheColorBlind #2025IZFC @izfs.bsky.social
The preprint for my first first-author paper is up! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Using evolution as a tool: Replacing corolla in Drosophila melanogaster with its Drosophila mauritiana ortholog creates a novel hypomorphic allele
In Drosophila melanogaster females, as in most organisms, the segregation of meiotic chromosomes depends on the proper distribution of crossovers along paired maternal and paternal chromosomes. In mos...
www.biorxiv.org
June 14, 2025 at 1:02 AM
The preprint for my first first-author paper is up! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
In this review, I write about why it is important to study synaptonemal complex protein evolution and highlight this with a few key examples of conserved features and unique adaptations.
From conservation to adaptation: understanding the synaptonemal complex’s evolutionary dynamics
The synaptonemal complex (SC) is structurally conserved across eukaryotes and is essential for a proper progression of meiosis. Despite this conservat…
www.sciencedirect.com
April 18, 2025 at 2:50 AM
In this review, I write about why it is important to study synaptonemal complex protein evolution and highlight this with a few key examples of conserved features and unique adaptations.
It was an honor to be the last PhD student he took in. He was always excited about even the smallest progress I made. But he was truly more than just a scientific advisor and I will miss him deeply. Rest In Peace, Scott. And thank you for everything.
Sadly, our colleague and friend Scott Hawley passed away this morning. He was an irreplaceable presence and force for good in the meiosis an Drosophila communities and will be sorely missed.
January 31, 2025 at 6:39 PM
It was an honor to be the last PhD student he took in. He was always excited about even the smallest progress I made. But he was truly more than just a scientific advisor and I will miss him deeply. Rest In Peace, Scott. And thank you for everything.
Reposted by Steffi (she/her)
If you have been affected by the fires in LA, or are concerned about your ability to keep precious Drosophila strains going during the latest funding crisis, we will host your strains as a backup. Please email me.
Please amplify. If you are also able to host fly strains, add your name as well.
Please amplify. If you are also able to host fly strains, add your name as well.
January 28, 2025 at 9:45 PM
If you have been affected by the fires in LA, or are concerned about your ability to keep precious Drosophila strains going during the latest funding crisis, we will host your strains as a backup. Please email me.
Please amplify. If you are also able to host fly strains, add your name as well.
Please amplify. If you are also able to host fly strains, add your name as well.
Today I passed my qualifying exam and am officially a PhD candidate 🎉
December 14, 2024 at 3:31 AM
Today I passed my qualifying exam and am officially a PhD candidate 🎉