Mark Peifer (He, him)
@peiferlabunc.bsky.social
Cell adhesion, cytoskeletal regulation, Wnt signaling & wherever science leads us + wildflowers & my own idiosyncratic views. First gen college grad
Diversity, equity & Inclusion are core American Values
https://peiferlab.web.unc.edu
Diversity, equity & Inclusion are core American Values
https://peiferlab.web.unc.edu
No, I do not want you to give me AI's suggestions for my future research. and I now know never to refer someone to "The Knowledge Lab and Data Science Institute at the University of Chicago"
December 1, 2025 at 6:54 PM
No, I do not want you to give me AI's suggestions for my future research. and I now know never to refer someone to "The Knowledge Lab and Data Science Institute at the University of Chicago"
and when someone took mine down, I re-posted them with this sign alongside
December 1, 2025 at 6:45 PM
and when someone took mine down, I re-posted them with this sign alongside
If you are teaching in an area where ICE has been active, please extend grace to affected students as we approach Final Exams. Below is the email I just wrote to my Biology colleagues.
December 1, 2025 at 3:25 PM
If you are teaching in an area where ICE has been active, please extend grace to affected students as we approach Final Exams. Below is the email I just wrote to my Biology colleagues.
UNC Faculty--ICE actions in the Triangle have terrified many of our students and their families. I posted these signs on outside doors of my building and am re-posting as they are removed. JOIN ME! They match what administrators told us to they shouldn't complain
December 1, 2025 at 12:14 AM
UNC Faculty--ICE actions in the Triangle have terrified many of our students and their families. I posted these signs on outside doors of my building and am re-posting as they are removed. JOIN ME! They match what administrators told us to they shouldn't complain
Turkey scraps and a sunny spot--what could be better
November 29, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Turkey scraps and a sunny spot--what could be better
Late November botany was limited but we did score a new plant for the preserve, an invasive Mahonia in tghe midst of the forest, which we collected before eradicating, as well as these cute puffball mushrooms. I highly recommend the new trails! 4/n
November 28, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Late November botany was limited but we did score a new plant for the preserve, an invasive Mahonia in tghe midst of the forest, which we collected before eradicating, as well as these cute puffball mushrooms. I highly recommend the new trails! 4/n
The new trails also revealed how truly large the protected area is. As we rounded the summit on the new trail, we got a good view of the watchtower on the other summit, nearly a mile away!! 3/n
parks.alamancecountync.gov/outdoors-2/c...
parks.alamancecountync.gov/outdoors-2/c...
November 28, 2025 at 1:22 PM
The new trails also revealed how truly large the protected area is. As we rounded the summit on the new trail, we got a good view of the watchtower on the other summit, nearly a mile away!! 3/n
parks.alamancecountync.gov/outdoors-2/c...
parks.alamancecountync.gov/outdoors-2/c...
The Lark Trail climbs to one of the summits where the old fire tower is sited, providing superb views with the leaves down. This is the part of the park we illicitly botanized before the park opened, and seeing it from this new perspective was interesting. We'd seen the car on an early visit 😉 2/n
November 28, 2025 at 1:15 PM
The Lark Trail climbs to one of the summits where the old fire tower is sited, providing superb views with the leaves down. This is the part of the park we illicitly botanized before the park opened, and seeing it from this new perspective was interesting. We'd seen the car on an early visit 😉 2/n
Our favorite local natural area, Cane Creek Mountains, opened a new trailhead on the west side, providing access to the last third of the park. We hiked the new Lark Trail, and halfway through learned about its namesake: the abandoned Studebaker Lark now complete with interpretive sign 1/n
November 28, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Our favorite local natural area, Cane Creek Mountains, opened a new trailhead on the west side, providing access to the last third of the park. We hiked the new Lark Trail, and halfway through learned about its namesake: the abandoned Studebaker Lark now complete with interpretive sign 1/n
Luckily I don't have to read the WHOLE paper--AI will summarize it for me
November 27, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Luckily I don't have to read the WHOLE paper--AI will summarize it for me
Intriguing but potentially mammalian specific. Drosophila has a single Ena/VASP family member and it does not have any apparent role in Wnt signaling, though it does play important roles in embryonic epithelial morphogenesis
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17507404/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17507404/
November 27, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Intriguing but potentially mammalian specific. Drosophila has a single Ena/VASP family member and it does not have any apparent role in Wnt signaling, though it does play important roles in embryonic epithelial morphogenesis
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17507404/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17507404/
First purple finches at our feeder today (not my picture)--the white throated sparrows arrived last week!
November 27, 2025 at 12:51 PM
First purple finches at our feeder today (not my picture)--the white throated sparrows arrived last week!
A wonderful tribute
![From Wiki
In October 2010, Munroe's fiancée was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer; there had been no prior family history.[51][52] The emotional effect of her illness was referenced in the comic panel "Emotion", published 18 months later in April 2012.[53] In September 2011, he announced that they had married.[54] In November 2012, Munroe published a comic entitled "Two Years", reflecting on their relationship since his wife's breast cancer diagnosis.[55] He revisited the subject in December 2017 with a comic entitled "Seven Years"[56], in November 2020 in a comic entitled "Ten Years"[57], and again in November 2025 in a comic entitled "Fifteen Years".[58]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:r3avzdjyhu6jm7vxia265ncu/bafkreidzec66yudsnsl7p7k2hs4v2vjpmsvxzxhit4ieqmmgb6ntgav5l4@jpeg)
November 26, 2025 at 11:02 PM
A wonderful tribute
It is hard to believe they aren’t associated with the football program. These folks seem to think they don't need to follow the rules the rest of us follow—e.g. park head in & don't park in handicapped spots. I contacted Parking--they claimed to be upping enforcement but the violations continue 2/n
November 26, 2025 at 2:51 PM
It is hard to believe they aren’t associated with the football program. These folks seem to think they don't need to follow the rules the rest of us follow—e.g. park head in & don't park in handicapped spots. I contacted Parking--they claimed to be upping enforcement but the violations continue 2/n
The New UNC logo is right on target--fund football and starve academics and research. How many millions did we spend on the re-brand??
November 26, 2025 at 12:53 PM
The New UNC logo is right on target--fund football and starve academics and research. How many millions did we spend on the re-brand??
1. Thank you to Brandeis for only requiring me to upload a letter to recommend someone for their PhD program.
2. Still irritated that U Chicago apparently gives a bonus oif the letter writer is from U Chicago
2. Still irritated that U Chicago apparently gives a bonus oif the letter writer is from U Chicago
November 25, 2025 at 4:01 PM
1. Thank you to Brandeis for only requiring me to upload a letter to recommend someone for their PhD program.
2. Still irritated that U Chicago apparently gives a bonus oif the letter writer is from U Chicago
2. Still irritated that U Chicago apparently gives a bonus oif the letter writer is from U Chicago
but the othere was more exciting--a quite rare shrub, Ptelea trifoliata (Common Hoptree or Wafer Ash)--we were looking for it as Brenda Wichmann had reported it on that stretch. That was fun. All in all a lovely day! 4/n
November 23, 2025 at 10:16 PM
but the othere was more exciting--a quite rare shrub, Ptelea trifoliata (Common Hoptree or Wafer Ash)--we were looking for it as Brenda Wichmann had reported it on that stretch. That was fun. All in all a lovely day! 4/n
As always, we're looking for plants and our hopes weren't high as its late November but we found TWO county records. One was an invasive, Berberis thunbergii (Japanese Barberry)--its foliage was a nice bright red 3/n
November 23, 2025 at 10:12 PM
As always, we're looking for plants and our hopes weren't high as its late November but we found TWO county records. One was an invasive, Berberis thunbergii (Japanese Barberry)--its foliage was a nice bright red 3/n
Down river you walk along both the river bank and alongside a long deep mill race that once fed into Carolina Mill. It's pretty "weedy" with lots of privet but the river views are lovely 2/n
November 23, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Down river you walk along both the river bank and alongside a long deep mill race that once fed into Carolina Mill. It's pretty "weedy" with lots of privet but the river views are lovely 2/n
Today we celebrated the lovely warm Fall day with a hike on the Hw River Trail at Glencoe. Glencoe is a lovely preserved mill town and the trails along the river are worth the visit. Up river is Great Bend Park and dam--we had a lovely lunch here 1/n
www.hawrivertrail.org/glencoe
www.hawrivertrail.org/glencoe
November 23, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Today we celebrated the lovely warm Fall day with a hike on the Hw River Trail at Glencoe. Glencoe is a lovely preserved mill town and the trails along the river are worth the visit. Up river is Great Bend Park and dam--we had a lovely lunch here 1/n
www.hawrivertrail.org/glencoe
www.hawrivertrail.org/glencoe
Yesterday, in honor of the visit of Carol Ann's brother James, an aficionado, there was a short meeting of the Bollard Appreciation Society in Hillsborough
November 23, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Yesterday, in honor of the visit of Carol Ann's brother James, an aficionado, there was a short meeting of the Bollard Appreciation Society in Hillsborough
It was a lovely Fall day in Piedmont NC. Carrboro Farmers Market, lunch and shopping at Weaver Street, a walk on the Riverwalk in Hillsborough and fondue with CA's brother James. And I slipped in a stop at Walmart (I know) to get sidewalk chalk--I had run though mine with my daily posts at UNC
November 23, 2025 at 2:16 PM
It was a lovely Fall day in Piedmont NC. Carrboro Farmers Market, lunch and shopping at Weaver Street, a walk on the Riverwalk in Hillsborough and fondue with CA's brother James. And I slipped in a stop at Walmart (I know) to get sidewalk chalk--I had run though mine with my daily posts at UNC
Glad to see local businesses taking action to protect their employees from ICE terrorism. I'm thinking about how to modify this sign for my lab building
November 23, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Glad to see local businesses taking action to protect their employees from ICE terrorism. I'm thinking about how to modify this sign for my lab building
Never thought I'd say this but GO DUKE. Send Belichick packing!
November 22, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Never thought I'd say this but GO DUKE. Send Belichick packing!