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Boyce Thompson Institute
@btiscience.bsky.social
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Discovery inspired by plants. Click the link to explore more about BTI and for our “House Rules” for Social Media Comments. linktr.ee/BTIScience
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Warm up with our Fireside Fall Latte. BTI scientists study plant defense compounds like caffeine to understand how plants interact with their environment and shape our lives. We hope you’ve enjoyed the series! Find more at recipes.btiscience.org
A close-up view of a latte topped with frothy steamed milk and sprinkled with cinnamon. Below the image, text reads: FIRESIDE FALL LATTE Ingredients: 1 ounce apple syrup 1/2 ounce cinnamon syrup 2 teaspoons honey 1 fluid ounce espresso steamed milk whipped cream ground cinnamon, for garnish cinnamon stick, for garnish Text on a beige background with instructions for making the latte: In an 8-ounce cup, combine syrups, honey, and espresso. Fill cup with steamed milk and top with whipped cream. Sprinkle with cinnamon and garnish with cinnamon stick. Serve immediately. A close-up of roasted coffee beans with text below: COFFEE BTI scientists study how plant defense compounds like caffeine shape both ecosystems and human experience. Understanding these natural chemical strategies reveals how plants interact with their environment and highlights the transformative power of plant science education and discovery to connect society with the systems that sustain us.
November 26, 2025 at 4:19 PM
btiscience.bsky.social
Heirloom Tomato & Herb Salad is next in our Plant-Powered Thanksgiving series. BTI and partners are using wild tomato diversity and new breeding tools to boost drought and disease resilience. Try the recipe, then visit recipes.btiscience.org for the full cookbook.
A colorful close-up of a fresh heirloom tomato and herb salad featuring red, yellow, and orange cherry tomatoes, chopped red onions, and green herbs. Below the image, the text reads: Title: “Heirloom Tomato & Herb Salad” Ingredients: ½ cup chopped red onion (about ½ small red onion) 1 pint (12 ounces or 2 cups) cherry tomatoes, halved 1 pound additional tomatoes (about 1 large, 2 medium or 3 small), cut into bite-sized wedges ¼ cup thinly sliced fresh basil and/or small basil leaves (or substitute parsley, dill and/or chives) 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons thick balsamic vinegar or balsamic glaze ½ teaspoon flaky sea salt or kosher salt, to taste Freshly ground black pepper, to taste A beige background with text listing step-by-step instructions for making the heirloom tomato and herb salad: Fill a small bowl with ice water and add chopped red onion (soaking tames flavor and adds crispness). Set aside while prepping remaining ingredients. Spread tomato wedges over a large serving platter. Drain onions and layer one-third on top. Add half of cherry tomatoes, then another one-third of onions. Finish with remaining cherry tomatoes, remaining onions, and sprinkle basil. Drizzle olive oil, then balsamic vinegar. Sprinkle salt and black pepper. Serve promptly. A vibrant assortment of red, orange, and yellow tomatoes fills the top half of the image. Below, text reads: Title: “Tomatoes” Description: “By tapping into the genetic diversity of wild tomato species and developing precise next-generation breeding tools, BTI and its partners (including Meiogenix and FFAR) are working to boost drought and disease resilience in tomato crops. These innovations help strengthen sustainable agriculture, preserve biodiversity, and support reliable, nutritious food supplies for communities worldwide.”
November 25, 2025 at 3:04 PM
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Cozy Creamed Corn is the next dish in our Plant-Powered Thanksgiving series. BTI scientists are improving corn with genome editing to boost resilience, yield, and nutrition. Try the recipe, then visit recipes.btiscience.org to get the full cookbook.
"Recipe card for Cozy Creamed Corn on a beige background with an image of creamy corn garnished with herbs at the top. The text reads: COZY CREAMED CORN INGREDIENTS: 32 oz frozen whole kernel corn 8 oz cream cheese cubed ½ cup unsalted butter* cubed ½ cup heavy cream 1 tbs sugar 2 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon onion powder ¼ teaspoon pepper or more to taste ¼ teaspoon salt or more to taste Parsley or Thyme for garnish A small decorative logo is in the bottom left corner, and a brown arrow pointing right is in the bottom right corner. "Step-by-step cooking instructions for a recipe on a beige textured background. The text reads: Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan. Cover over medium-low heat for 10 minutes. Stir Cook another 5–10 minutes until heated through. Garnish with chopped parsley and thyme. A small decorative logo is in the bottom left corner, and a brown arrow pointing right is in the bottom right corner." Educational card about corn with a close-up image of fresh corn on the cob in the background. The heading reads: CORN. The text explains: Corn, or maize, is a major crop worldwide, and its derivatives are utilized in practically every facet of our lives. For millennia, humans have intentionally bred crops to fit the ever-evolving needs of society. Now, with advancements in science and technology, BTI is helping to bioengineer crops like corn by tweaking their genomes, the plants’ biological blueprints, to create drought-resistant, higher-yield, and extra-nutritious versions. A small decorative logo is in the bottom left corner.
November 24, 2025 at 5:06 PM
btiscience.bsky.social
The next dish in our Plant-Powered Thanksgiving series: Maple Candied Sweet Potatoes. BTI scientists decoded the sweet potato’s complex genome, paving the way for more resilient, nutritious, and climate-ready crops. Visit recipes.btiscience.org to learn more and download the full cookbook.
Image of candied sweet potatoes with text that says "'MAPLE CANDIED SWEET POTATOES INGREDIENTS" 5–6 medium sweet potatoes (3–4 lbs) 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup (8 Tbsp; 113g) unsalted butter 1 Tablespoon (15ml) water 1/4 cup (60ml) pure maple syrup 1 cup (200g) packed light or dark brown sugar 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract optional: 2 teaspoons orange zest Optional for garnish: chopped fresh or dried rosemary, flaky sea salt 1) Peel then slice the sweet potatoes into 1/2 inch thick slices. Place in a greased 9×13-inch or other 3 quart baking dish. Sprinkle salt on top and toss to coat. I just use nonstick spray to grease. 2) Preheat oven to 375°F (191°C). 3) Make the sauce: Cut stick of butter in half. (Helps it melt easier.) Combine all the butter, water, maple syrup, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger into a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook and stir until the butter has melted. Stop stirring and bring to a gentle boil. Boil for 2 minutes without stirring. Remove sauce from heat and stir in the vanilla extract. (And orange zest, if using.) 4) Pour sauce over potatoes and toss to coat. 5) Bake for 1 hour, stopping and stirring the sweet potatoes every 20 minutes. After the first 20 minutes, I cover the dish with aluminum foil so the potatoes bake evenly. 6) Remove from the oven, sprinkle with rosemary and sea salt (if using), then cool uncovered for 10 minutes before serving. The sauce is thin right out of the oven but thickens as it cools. 7) Cover and store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Sauce will be thick after refrigeration, but thins out as you warm the leftovers up. Simply warm in the microwave. Sliced sweet potato on a wooden surface. Below, text reads: SWEET POTATO By finally unraveling the sweetpotato's extraordinarily complex genome, BTI scientists are giving plant breeders powerful tools to develop more resilient, nutritious, and climate-ready crops. This breakthrough in plant genomics helps protect food supplies, deepens global biodiversity knowledge, and shows how transformative plant science can support sustainable agriculture.
November 21, 2025 at 3:12 PM
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Discover the first recipe in our Plant-Powered Thanksgiving series: a Ground Cherry Tart inspired by BTI research. See how our scientists are turning this overlooked fruit into a resilient, sustainable crop — then try the recipe and tag us to share your creation!
A decorative recipe card with a bright yellow tart surrounded by colorful fruits at the top. Text reads: Ground Cherry Tart Ingredients: 80 g powdered sugar 9 tbsp unsalted butter (softened) 1 egg 185 g all-purpose flour 47 g corn starch 1 pinch salt 1 batch ground cherry curd Text on a beige background with brown font listing steps 1–6 for making a tart crust: Preheat oven to 350°F. Beat softened butter with powdered sugar. Add egg and mix until combined. Add flour, corn starch, and salt; mix until just combined. Move dough onto parchment paper, cover with another sheet, and roll to 1/8-inch thickness. Freeze for 15 minutes or refrigerate for 1 hour. Remove parchment, place dough in an 8-inch tart pan with removable bottom (or pie plate), press into pan, then refreeze for 10 minutes. Text on a beige background with brown font listing steps 7–11 for making a tart: 7. Cover tart crust with parchment paper, fold or crumple if needed, then add baking weights, dry beans, or rice. 8. Bake at 350°F for 15–20 minutes. 9. Remove weights and parchment; let cool. 10. Add 1 batch of lemon curd (hot is fine) into crust and bake for 10 more minutes at 350°F. 11. Cool on counter, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Decorate with fruit, powdered sugar, etc. Close-up of two ground cherries with papery husks partially peeled back, revealing bright orange fruit inside. Below the image, text reads: Ground Cherry BTI researchers are using cutting-edge plant science to transform ground cherry, an underutilized specialty fruit, into a more resilient, productive, and sustainable crop. Improving ground cherry not only benefits those who grow and consume this nutritious fruit but also enhances our understanding of plant biology, which is crucial for future agricultural developments.
November 20, 2025 at 4:46 PM
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BTI's NSF REU Program is training the next generation of plant scientists. Check out this video the researchers made to show what it’s all about! Applications for 2026 are open: reu.btiscience.org

Thanks to @ScienceIRL for the awesome video! www.instagram.com/science_irl/
November 10, 2025 at 7:06 PM
btiscience.bsky.social
BTI alumni take top honors at FuzeHub’s 2025 Commercialization Competition! Congratulations to Alexa Schmitz (founder of REEgen) and Murli Manohar (founder of CryoBio) for winning 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 at the FuzeHub pitch competition last week.
Two people smile and pose on stage at an event, holding a glass award that reads “Winner.” They both wear conference badges, and the background features a blue geometric design and a table draped with a banner that includes the New York State logo and the phrase “State of Opportunity.
November 6, 2025 at 3:22 PM
btiscience.bsky.social
👻 With Halloween just around the corner, we asked some members of our BTI community what would really scare them in a haunted house 🎃😱
October 30, 2025 at 2:35 PM
btiscience.bsky.social
No drama when the day features a llama. And it's not so 'ruff' when you get to enjoy some doggy fluff. Thanks Cornell Companions for stopping by!
Close up on a golden retriever being petted. A group of people gathers indoors to pet a dark-colored llama wearing a purple halter. The scene includes several smiling participants, one of whom is holding the llama’s lead. Portrait paintings hang on the wall behind them. A person sits on a step indoors, smiling warmly at a golden retriever therapy dog. The dog looks up at her happily while being petted. People are standing nearby, and plants can be seen in the background. Several people stand in a hallway petting a black llama wearing a halter and a vest labeled “LLAMA.” The group is smiling and engaged, surrounded by plants and framed portraits on the walls.
October 29, 2025 at 9:50 PM
btiscience.bsky.social
Yesterday BTI hosted our Fall Community Lunch, a perfect break to connect, chat, and get festive! 🍂 From pumpkin decorating to tasty fall treats, it was all about good food and great company. Thanks to everyone who joined in the fun!
A wide view of a room with multiple tables where people are gathered for a pumpkin decorating activity. Pumpkins and craft materials are visible on the tables. A group of people seated at a long table working on pumpkin painting and decorating. The table is covered with small paint pots, brushes, stickers, and colorful craft supplies. A yellow pumpkin with a tree design is in the foreground. A close-up of a table where participants are decorating pumpkins. A pumpkin with a painted face is in the foreground, surrounded by craft supplies and a large water bottle. A row of decorated pumpkins displayed on a white folding table. Each pumpkin has unique designs, including faces, patterns, and Halloween-themed artwork. Two ghost figurines are placed among the pumpkins.
October 29, 2025 at 2:30 PM
btiscience.bsky.social
PlantGene's CRISPR Help Session Part II is an interactive Q&A event. The audience will have an opportunity to ask specific questions to expert speakers Chung-Jui Tsai and Joshua Clem about analysis of edited lines. Register here: cornell.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

#Biotechnology #CRISPR
Promotional graphic for a CRISPR webinar titled “CRISPR Help Session Part II: Analysis of Edited Lines.” The event is on November 18 at 11:00 AM ET. Speakers are CJ Tsai from the University of Georgia and Josh Clem from the University of Maryland. The text notes it will be an interactive Q&A where attendees can ask experts questions. Zoom logo is shown at the bottom left. The background is dark with a blue and black particle pattern.
October 24, 2025 at 1:05 PM
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BTI is hiring a tenure-track Assistant Professor in plant science or related fields. Join a collaborative research community advancing discoveries to improve agriculture, the environment, and human health.

Learn more & apply btiscience.org/get-involved/careers

Please share with your networks!
Text says Assistant Professor in the top left corner. This is over a picture of the BTI greenhouse. A hand holds a sign on the bottom that says We're Hiring
October 23, 2025 at 6:38 PM
btiscience.bsky.social
Shape the future of #PlantScience! BTI, affiliated with Cornell, seeks a tenure-track Assistant Professor to drive discovery in plant biology. Review of applications begins November. Apply: recruiting.paylocity.com/Recruiting/J...
Hiring announcement graphic for an Assistant Professor position at the Boyce Thompson Institute. The image shows a greenhouse and brick building under a blue sky, with text reading ‘Assistant Professor’ at the top and a hand holding a sign that says ‘We’re Hiring’ in the foreground. The BTI logo is visible in the corner.
October 2, 2025 at 3:13 PM
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Now accepting applications for the Jane Silverthorne Postdoctoral Fellowship Program at BTI! 🌿 Supporting bold scientists tackling plant science frontiers with cross-disciplinary approaches. Full funding for high-risk, high-reward research. Apply by Jan 15, 2026! 🧬 spf.btiscience.org
Promotional graphic for the Jane Silverthorne Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. Text reads: 'Jane Silverthorne Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. Supporting early-career scientists with high-risk, high-reward research projects that bridge fundamental science with real-world solutions. BTI – Powered by the Jane Silverthorne Innovation Fund. Now Accepting Applications.' On the right side, there is a circular photo of a woman with long blonde hair and glasses, wearing a black top. The design includes green and white waves with a leaf and circuit logo.
October 1, 2025 at 1:33 PM
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BTI’s Post Graduate Society (PGS) recently held their annual symposium, a full day celebrating science with poster sessions, talks, and great opportunities to connect.
September 30, 2025 at 1:43 PM
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A reminder and new link! Join AGROSAVIA & BTI for a workshop on how pangenomes are transforming genomics, breeding & agriculture!

Oct 1, 2025 | 9–4 US / 8–3 COL
For students, postdocs & researchers in #PlantScience.

Register: www.agrosavia.co/eventos/ft_1...
Flyer for the Virtual Pangenome Workshop, scheduled for October 1, 2025, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. US Eastern Time (8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Colombia time). The flyer features a DNA double helix filled with images of colorful tomatoes and peppers. Logos of BTI and AGROSAVIA appear at the bottom. This version is simpler, without speaker details or workshop description text. Flyer for the Virtual Pangenome Workshop, scheduled for October 1, 2025, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. US Eastern Time (8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Colombia time). The flyer features a DNA double helix filled with images of various colorful tomatoes and peppers. Text explains the workshop aims to introduce the transition from individual genomes to pangenomes, highlighting advantages and applications in agriculture through case studies of key crops. Speakers include Silvia Restrepo (BTI), Fei Zhangjun (BTI), Lukas Mueller (BTI), James Giovannoni (USDA), Joyce Van Eck (BTI), Luz Stella Barrero (AGROSAVIA), Valeria Velasquez (AGROSAVIA), and Paola Zuluaga (AGROSAVIA). Logos of BTI and AGROSAVIA appear at the bottom.
September 29, 2025 at 3:31 PM
btiscience.bsky.social
Join AGROSAVIA & BTI for a workshop on how pangenomes are transforming genomics, breeding & agriculture!
Oct 1, 2025 | 9–4 US / 8–3 COL
For students, postdocs & researchers in #PlantScience.

Register: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/4e70c4...
A promotional poster for the "Virtual Pangenome Workshop" held on October 1, 2025, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (US ET) and 8:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Colombia time). The poster features a DNA double helix structure filled with various colorful tomatoes. The workshop aims to introduce the transition from individual genomes to pangenomes, focusing on applications in agriculture and breeding. Speakers include members from the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI), USDA, and AGROSAVIA. Logos of BTI and AGROSAVIA are displayed at the bottom. A simplified promotional image for the "Virtual Pangenome Workshop" on October 1, 2025, with the same times as the first image. It features a DNA helix filled with various colorful tomatoes. The image includes logos for BTI and AGROSAVIA at the bottom but does not include additional text about the agenda or speakers.
September 24, 2025 at 1:33 PM
btiscience.bsky.social
Sarah Siegle spent her summer in BTI’s REU program exploring how lignin in corn affects nitrification and how genomic models can predict lignin content. Along the way, she gained five key insights and reflects on her time at BTI as a season of growth and inspiration.
btiscience.org/explore-bti/...
A graphic featuring a large green quotation mark and a text box with the quote: “Overall, this summer was a dream experience for me as an aspiring scientific researcher.” At the bottom left is a circular photo of Sarah Siegle, smiling with long red hair and wearing a green button-down shirt. Her name “Sarah Siegle” appears in bold green text to the right of her photo. The background shows a faint image of a laboratory setting with scientific equipment.
September 19, 2025 at 2:57 PM
btiscience.bsky.social
Join AGROSAVIA & BTI for a workshop on how pangenomes are transforming genomics, breeding & agriculture!
Oct 1, 2025 | 9–4 US / 8–3 COL
For students, postdocs & researchers in #PlantScience.
Register: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/4e70c4...
Promotional graphic for the Virtual Pangenome Workshop. At the top is a DNA double helix forming a circular frame filled with different varieties of tomatoes in various shapes and colors. On the right, large white text reads: “Virtual Pangenome Workshop.” Below, event details are listed: “October 1, 2025. 9:30 am – 4 pm (US ET). 8:00 am – 3 pm (Colombia time).” At the bottom are two logos: Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) on the left and AGROSAVIA on the right.
September 16, 2025 at 8:30 PM
btiscience.bsky.social
The 2025 BTI PGS Symposium is happening Sept. 23. Open to all members of the BTI + Cornell community. Register by Sept. 9 to attend or present! A day of research, connections, and great food awaits. Register here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Poster for the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) PGS Symposium, scheduled for Tuesday, September 23, 2025, from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM at the Robert Purcell Community Center. The poster features colorful science-themed illustrations including DNA strands, bacteria, a microscope, a mushroom, light bulbs, test tubes, and an atom model. A QR code for registration is centered on the poster. Text at the bottom notes: "Breakfast and lunch (unlimited food Toni Morrison dining hall!) provided."
September 5, 2025 at 2:09 PM
btiscience.bsky.social
Your feed is probably full of #BackToSchool posts with kids sharing their dreams and goals for the future. We thought it would be fun to check in with our plants too! Just like those heading back to school, our plants also are hard at work chasing big goals.
Soybean (Williams 82) Alt text: Chalkboard-style sign next to a photo of fuzzy soybean pods on the plant. The sign reads: “My name: Soybean (Williams 82). My lab: Center for Plant Biotechnology Research. I want to: Help researchers understand the genetic blueprint of soybean and discover ways to develop soybeans with traits that can better serve agriculture.” Tomato (Translational Lab) Alt text: Chalkboard-style sign next to a photo of healthy and blossom-end-rot-affected tomatoes. The sign reads: “My name: Tomato. My lab: Translational Lab. I want to: Unlock strategies that eliminate blossom-end-rot and drive yield improvements.” Coffee Alt text: Chalkboard-style sign next to a coffee plant with clusters of ripening and shriveled coffee berries. The sign reads: “My name: Coffee. My lab: Giovannoni Lab. I want to: Learn about how my berries mature and ripen and how that process compares to my not so close but not so distant relative, tomato.” Tomato (Giovannoni Lab) Alt text: Chalkboard-style sign next to a tomato plant with ripe red fruit on the vine. The sign reads: “My name: Tomato. My lab: Giovannoni Lab. I want to: Learn about my genetic make up and how my wild relatives might contribute to my progeny being more productive, nutritious, flavorful and resistant to stress.”
September 4, 2025 at 2:08 PM
btiscience.bsky.social
Your feed is probably full of #BackToSchool posts with kids sharing their dreams and goals for the future. We thought it would be fun to check in with our plants too! Just like those heading back to school, our plants also are hard at work chasing big goals.
Solanum cornelio­mulleri Alt text: Chalkboard-style sign next to a photo of fuzzy green tomatoes on the vine. The sign reads: “My name: Solanum cornelio­mulleri. My lab: Julkowska and Restrepo Labs. I want to: Teach valuable lessons from my skills of surviving drought and pathogen attacks.” Groundcherry Alt text: Chalkboard-style sign next to a photo of a green groundcherry fruit encased in its papery husk. The sign reads: “My name: Groundcherry. My lab: Van Eck Lab. I want to: Stop dropping my fruit to the ground.” Cotton Alt text: Chalkboard-style sign next to a close-up of a large cotton plant leaf. The sign reads: “My name: Cotton. My lab: Nelson Lab. I want to: Make the fabric of your lives, but with less water!” orn (Maize) Alt text: Chalkboard-style sign next to an ear of corn with multicolored kernels on the stalk. The sign reads: “My name: Corn (Maize). My lab: Stern Lab. I want to: Grow better in the cold, with help from miscanthus, a grass that thrives in chilly weather, to guide me toward chilling-tolerant photosynthesis.”
September 4, 2025 at 2:08 PM
btiscience.bsky.social
Our summer researchers brought plant science to 90 campers at the YMCA of Ithaca & Tompkins County! Younger kids explored nature with bingo and leaf-press art, while older campers learned to ID trees and made UV leaf prints. A day full of discovery, creativity, and the wonder of plants!
August 21, 2025 at 5:39 PM
btiscience.bsky.social
Check out this awesome video recap of the Summer Research Experience program created by REU student Camila Hoyos Ayala! Are you an alum of our summer research program? If so, what is one of your favorite memories?

Video by Camila Hoyos Ayala.
August 20, 2025 at 2:06 PM
btiscience.bsky.social
Our summer undergrads joined OCM BOCES’ CHIPS Camp at TC3, sparking 7th-graders’ excitement with strawberry DNA extractions and a plant-insect game (fun fact: crickets hear with their legs!). Thanks to OCM BOCES + TC3 for hosting an inspiring camp.
August 19, 2025 at 5:35 PM