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Clara Howcroft Ferreira

@clarahowcroft.bsky.social
368 followers 232 following 44 posts

Assistant Professor of Neuroscience at Northumbria University, researching social behaviour in Drosophila. ferreira-lab.weebly.com

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Reposted by Clara Howcroft Ferreira
Andrew Lin @andrewclin.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
We're hiring! Join us as a postdoc to study how the brain is optimised for sensory coding and memory Please spread the word! Apply at jobsite.sheffield.ac.uk/job/Research... Deadline: 5 October 2026 Learn more at: www.aclinlab.org
jobsite.sheffield.ac.uk
Research Associate: Neuroscience (2 Posts)
Research Associate: Neuroscience (2 Posts)
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Reposted by Clara Howcroft Ferreira
tomtom-auer.bsky.social @tomtom-auer.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Thrilled to be co-organising the EMBO Workshop Comparative (neuro)science in insects, 13–16 April 2027, Engelberg 🇨🇭 with @megyounger.bsky.social, @nkonst4.bsky.social, and Yun Ding@UPENN Abstracts due 11 Dec 2026 🔗 meetings.embo.org/event/27-ins... Register and join us! #EMBOneuroInsects
meetings.embo.org
Comparative (neuro)science in insects
Comparative studies are essential for uncovering shared and divergent biological principles. Insects, with their extraordinary diversity, rich natural histories, and increasing experimental tractabil…
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Clara Howcroft Ferreira @clarahowcroft.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
We also have a Senior Research Assistant position associated with this award! We're looking for someone interested in joining us at @northumbriauni.bsky.social to support and lead research on the 'safety in numbers' effect in flies. Apply by 15th September: work4.northumbria.ac.uk#en/sites/CX_...
work4.northumbria.ac.uk
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Clara Howcroft Ferreira @clarahowcroft.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
The Research Fellow position associated with our 5-year BBSRC New Investigator Award is now open for applications! We're looking for someone to join us at @northumbriauni.bsky.social to research the 'safety in numbers' effect in flies. Apply by 15th September: work4.northumbria.ac.uk#en/sites/CX_...
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Reposted by Clara Howcroft Ferreira
Vivek Nityananda @viveknityananda.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Very proud of the special issue of Animal Behaviour I worked on with @wascherclaudia.bsky.social and @nicolakoyama.bsky.social on addressing biases in animal behaviour. Thanks to all authors- plenty of cool papers to read. Here's our editorial: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... @asab.org
sciencedirect.com
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Reposted by Clara Howcroft Ferreira
Eurico Morais-de-Sá @polarityi3s.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
The #DrosTuga2026 website is now live! Join us in Leiria on 26–27 November 2026 for the Portuguese #Drosophila meeting. Save the date as registration opens in late August! Please share this post. We warmly welcome the #FlyResearch community from around the world! drostuga2026.mystrikingly.com
drostuga2026.mystrikingly.com
Drostuga2026 on Strikingly
DrosTuga 2026 is the annual meeting of the Portuguese Drosophila research community, bringing together researchers from Portugal and abroad. Here you can discover the dates, speakers, programme, venu...
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Clara Howcroft Ferreira @clarahowcroft.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Really happy to share exciting news for the lab: @ukri.org has awarded us a ~£1M BBSRC New Investigator award over 5 years to investigate the neurobiological basis of 'safety in numbers'. 🧵 1/3
ferreira-lab.weebly.com
MY SITE
MY SITE
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Clara Howcroft Ferreira @clarahowcroft.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Lovely tribute to the wonderful human and researcher Ed Kravitz by Alo Basu and @mariadelapax.bsky.social starting the day at #ICN2026. His legacy continues in good hands!
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Reposted by Clara Howcroft Ferreira
Junior European Drosophila Investigators @fly-jedi.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
The amazing JEDI crowd 2026! Hurray for an inspiring #Drosophila meeting at a gorgeous location. Thank you to everyone who attended!
The JEDI crowd of 2026
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Clara Howcroft Ferreira @clarahowcroft.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
@dahaniel.muench.bio one of the co-organisers of the @fly-jedi.bsky.social 2026 meeting using a gorgeous and scrumptious-looking picnic scene to explain his lab's research question.
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Reposted by Clara Howcroft Ferreira
Junior European Drosophila Investigators @fly-jedi.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
The first few talks of this year's conference have been amazing! Here is a picture of @katrin-domsch.bsky.social rocking the stage talking about #Drosophila muscle development!
Katrin Domsch at this year's JEDI conference
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Reposted by Clara Howcroft Ferreira
Junior European Drosophila Investigators @fly-jedi.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Today our keynote speaker Eugenia Chiappe from @champalimaudf.bsky.social gave an inspiring talk. The JEDI's enjoyed interacting with a first generation JEDI, who attended these #Drosophila meetings when she first started her lab. Thank you, Eugenia!
Eugenia Chiappe speaking at the JEDI meeting
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Reposted by Clara Howcroft Ferreira
Vivek Nityananda @viveknityananda.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
Know an amazing person in neuroethology who champions inclusivity and is a great mentor? Nominate them for this prize and let them know their efforts are important!
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Clara Howcroft Ferreira @clarahowcroft.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
🎉 Exciting news for our lab: we will have open positions soon #PostdoctoralResearcher #ResearchTechnician! If you are interested in #SocialBehaviour, #FearResponses, and #DrosophilaMelanogaster, get in touch with a short CV and a statement of research interests.
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Wolf Huetteroth @wolfhuette.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
Want to do a #Postdoc with us? Together with @clarahowcroft.bsky.social I'm sure we can find a project for you: #Drosophila #Insect #affectiveState #Play #Social #Fear #Neuropeptide #DecisionMaking #Intentionality #Sentience Hit us with your ideas and get in touch! bsky.app/profile/ec.e...
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Reposted by Clara Howcroft Ferreira
Zita Carvalho-Santos Lab @zsantoslab.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
‼️ GENTLE REMINDER ‼️
Only 1 week left to register! Don’t miss this opportunity to come together and discuss the hottest topics in Drosophila research! Join us in Pamela to enjoy great science, sun, and of course… pastéis de nata! We can’t wait to see you there!
fly-jedi.org
Junior European Drosophila Investigators | JEDI Meeting 2026 | Palmela, Portugal
JEDI Meeting 2026 in Portugal 🇵🇹 - June 1–3, 2026
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Clara Howcroft Ferreira @clarahowcroft.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
Very proud supervisor moment: the industrious Rui Gonçalves, a fantastic PhD student in the lab, presenting at the Scotish fly meeting 2026!
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Clara Howcroft Ferreira @clarahowcroft.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
Wonderful work by the great Zita Carvalho-Santos and her fantastic lab!
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Reposted by Clara Howcroft Ferreira
Junior European Drosophila Investigators @fly-jedi.bsky.social · 15/03/2026
Calling all #Drosophila #NewPI #researchers! A few spots remain for the upcoming JEDI Conference - and you won’t want to miss this! Every attendee gives a talk, making the exchange dynamic, personal, and highly interactive - all at a stunning venue that inspires collaboration and creativity.
View of the historic hotel Pousada Castelo in Palmela.
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Reposted by Clara Howcroft Ferreira
Junior European Drosophila Investigators @fly-jedi.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
The registration is open! Junior #Drosophila PIs, join us for inspiring scientific discussion, contribute a talk and listen to our keynote speaker, Eugenia Chiappe. We meet in Palmela, Portugal from June 1st to 3rd. Register soon as spots are limited! congressos.mundiconvenius.pt/geral/inseri...
congressos.mundiconvenius.pt
New registration
New registration
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Clara Howcroft Ferreira @clarahowcroft.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
Join us for a cool project looking at the neural basis of how social isolation affects female aggression!
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Reposted by Clara Howcroft Ferreira
Eleanor Bath @eleanorbath.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
We're advertising a PhD project on how social isolation influences aggression in flies. Based at Durham, co-supervised by @clarahowcroft.bsky.social . Despite what the ad says, this is also open to international applicants! Any questions, shoot me a msg! www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
findaphd.com
Angry and Alone: How Social Experience Shapes Female Aggression in Flies at Newcastle University on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - Angry and Alone: How Social Experience Shapes Female Aggression in Flies at Newcastle University, listed on FindAPhD.com
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Clara Howcroft Ferreira @clarahowcroft.bsky.social · 15/01/2026
Get ready to join us in Portugal this year, 1-3 June, in panoramic Palmela, just south of Lisbon! We have planned 3 days of science discussions and activities aimed at fostering our network of JEDIs in a supportive, fun, and sunny setting.
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Reposted by Clara Howcroft Ferreira
Dafni Hadjieconomou @drosostalis.bsky.social · 11/01/2026
📣First preprint of the lab📣 Did that really happen?😅 Enteric neurons, aka somatic postmitotic cells, must hold on to their sex identity tight, to deliver a tuned response to signals from the ovary that instruct the animal to engage sex-matched behavioural programmes. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
biorxiv.org
Genetic sex of enteric neurons enables ovarian relaxin to gate maternal gut plasticity
Animals must align intestinal plasticity and feeding with reproductive state, yet the checkpoint that gates these adaptations is unknown. Here we show that an ovary-to-enteric-neuron axis gates the on...
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Reposted by Clara Howcroft Ferreira
Nikos Konstantinides @nkonst4.bsky.social · 10/01/2026
I am very happy (and a bit scared) to present to you what we have been working on over the last 4 years. This manuscript is exactly what I dreamt of when I started the lab and I could not be happier and prouder of the outcome!
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Clara Howcroft Ferreira @clarahowcroft.bsky.social · 04/01/2026
Happy New Year from seasonally beautiful Newcastle-upon-Tyne! Get in touch if you are interested in our #PhDstudentship to research the neurobiological basis of social behaviour and its dysfunction in Drosophila melanogaster. Deadline for applications: 23rd January.
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Clara Howcroft Ferreira @clarahowcroft.bsky.social · 17/12/2025
Thank you @deepanshund.bsky.social for the invitation and hosting me. I really enjoyed coming over to the #ManchesterFlyClub, meeting and discussing with your diverse and interesting community! Looking foward to seeing you all again soon at one of our northern Drosophila gatherings.
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Clara Howcroft Ferreira @clarahowcroft.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
Very sad news. Witnessing and benefiting from Adam's passion and generosity as a student was truly inspirational, and his work continues to be the backbone of the research we do. Thank you.
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Reposted by Clara Howcroft Ferreira
Champalimaud Research @champalimaudr.bsky.social · 03/12/2025
🧠 Applications for the International Neuroscience Doctoral Programme (INDP) @champalimaudf.bsky.social open until 31 January 2026. ☀️ Join our vibrant and international research community in sunny Lisbon! 🔗 fchampalimaud.org/champalimaud...
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Reposted by Clara Howcroft Ferreira
Daniel Münch @dahaniel.muench.bio · 27/11/2025
New work from the lab 🧠🪰🎉 Using pan neuronal volumetric brain imaging in three Drosophila species, we show that niche adaptations arise from central sensory processing, not peripheral tuning. Great collab led by @enriberti.bsky.social @tomtom-auer.bsky.social 🤝 Out now in @nature.com rdcu.be/eRWuD
rdcu.be
Evolution of taste processing shifts dietary preference
Nature - Calcium imaging of taste neurons and the ventral brain provides insight into evolutionary divergence of food choice in Drosophila species, supporting a role of sensorimotor processing in...
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Clara Howcroft Ferreira @clarahowcroft.bsky.social · 22/11/2025
Interested in the neurobiological basis of social behaviour and its dysfunction? Join the Ferreira and @wolfhuette.bsky.social groups at Northumbria University for a fully funded PhD opportunity studying group behaviour in flies. Further details are available here: www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
findaphd.com
Neuronal circuit-level action of genes underlying social behaviour dysfunction in Drosophila melanogaster (Ref: RDF26/SE/GNS/FERREIRA) at Northumbria University on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - Neuronal circuit-level action of genes underlying social behaviour dysfunction in Drosophila melanogaster (Ref: RDF26/SE/GNS/FERREIRA) at Northumbria University, listed on FindAPhD.com
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Junior European Drosophila Investigators @fly-jedi.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
Preparations for the next JEDI meeting are underway! The upcoming Junior European #Drosophila Investigator / #NewPI meeting is planned for Portugal in June. Final dates and additional details will be announced soon - stay tuned for updates!​
AI-generated image of a lightsaber-wielding figure conquering Portugal.
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Reposted by Clara Howcroft Ferreira
Philipp Brand @pbrand.bsky.social · 16/10/2025
Excited to share our new #biorxivpreprint We discovered that the fruit fly #drosophila erecta requires food odor to mate and arousal is further enhanced by social group motion. Cross-species analysis of brain activity reveals a novel gate evolved from within a conserved circuit shorturl.at/gGYm7
a group of Drosophila erecta fruit flies on a small food patch. flies on white background
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Junior European Drosophila Investigators @fly-jedi.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
Hello everyone! We decided to automate our sign-up process for the JEDI network. Please register using this link: docs.google.com/forms/d/1IdO... Thanks to everyone who reached out! We are looking forward to building our community with you. Share and repost!!! #Drosophila @fly-eds.bsky.social
docs.google.com
Welcome to the JEDI Network!
Dear JEDI mates, This is the first step toward creating a complete list of the Junior European Drosophila Investigators (JEDI). We believe this is an important milestone - that will not only to improv...
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Reposted by Clara Howcroft Ferreira
Junior European Drosophila Investigators @fly-jedi.bsky.social · 26/09/2025
Dear JEDIs, as we are self-organizing using the #EDRC as a nucleator we decided it is time for a JEDI database to boost our network! If you identify as a JEDI, please contact us here or send a mail to katja.rust@uni-marburg.de to be added to our database. #Drosophila @fly-eds.bsky.social
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Clara Howcroft Ferreira @clarahowcroft.bsky.social · 24/09/2025
Learning from and doing experiments with Ed was one of the main reasons I became fascinated with flies during the curricular year of my PhD. Sad news, but what an amazing life to be remembered - a fantastic scientist and a wonderful person.
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Emmanuel Perisse @manuperisse.bsky.social · 15/09/2025
You just finished your PhD and you are looking for a postdoc to study stress-dependent modulation of learning. We are using the powerful fly model to understand the underlying circuits and mechanisms. You can apply here: emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/CDD/U...
emploi.cnrs.fr
Portail Emploi CNRS - Offre d'emploi - Postdoc position (M/F) in Neuroscience, stress modulation of learning (H/F)
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Alex Gould Lab @alexgouldlab.bsky.social · 14/08/2025
Drosophila research without FlyBase would be untenable. Time for all labs who can afford it to step up.
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Shefali @iamshef.bsky.social · 21/07/2025
#FlyCROSS mentee surveys are open for #earlycareer #Drosophila scientists. If you're a #gradstudent #postdoc or pretenure faculty or equivalent - fill up the survey by Sept 1 to participate & be matched by #mentor of your preferences to gain guidance to your unique needs. @flybase.bsky.social
docs.google.com
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Andreas Prokop @poppi62.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
Now proper out: doi.org/10.1093/gene...
doi.org
Toward more sustainable research: reducing the environmental impact when working with Drosophila
Abstract. The ever-increasing amounts of plastic waste and greenhouse gas emissions worldwide threaten our environment. Biomedical laboratories across the
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Clara Howcroft Ferreira @clarahowcroft.bsky.social · 24/06/2025
The lab's first PhD student, Mirjam Heinemans, co-supervised with the fantastic Marta Moita @moitalab.bsky.social, brilliantly presented and defended her thesis today! Massive congratulations Dr Heinemans!!!
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Shefali @iamshef.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
Hey #Drosophila folks ! #FlyCROSS is back and #Mentor surveys are open NOW ! If you're a faculty/postdoc/ equivalent in any scientific career & have #Drosophila research experience - we'd be delighted to have you as mentors to empower early career scientists in the #Dros community !
docs.google.com
Summer 2025 Survey For Mentors : FlyCROSS Mentor Mentee Matching Program
We appreciate you taking the time and volunteering to be a mentor! Add dmelcross@gmail.com to your email address book or safe sender list, so that you can receive our emails. To be a participating me...
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Clara Howcroft Ferreira @clarahowcroft.bsky.social · 21/06/2025
It was a lovely first Fly North(East) meeting, diverse and supportive. Thank you all for sharing your science and the enthusiasm in strengthening our community. Thank you @gensocuk.bsky.social for the sponsorship that made it possible.
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Andreas Prokop @poppi62.bsky.social · 13/06/2025
Towards more sustainable research: reducing the environmental impact when working with #Drosophila. Challiner, Saurya., Patel, Raff, Fostier, Prokop, A. (2025) @genetics-gsa.bsky.social‬, in press -- doi.org/10.1093/gene... - Always happy to discuss and hear your ideas and views!
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Dr. Tora K. Smulders-Srinivasan @toraks.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
We hosted the first North East Fly Meeting today! It was great to connect with people from all over as well as the local universities. A great learning and networking opportunity for us all! Sometimes it's just great to talk flies with all fly people! @clarahowcroft.bsky.social @dpdoupe.bsky.social
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Clara Howcroft Ferreira @clarahowcroft.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
It is already tomorrow, our first Fly North(East) England meeting at Northumbria University Newcastle! Co-organized with @toraks.bsky.social @dpdoupe.bsky.social. Looking forward to a day of bulding bridges and discussing how to nurture our network.
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Ines Hahn @exdrososcientia.bsky.social · 06/06/2025
Registration is open for the third #NeuroBioUK!! @dozenoaks.bsky.social @alexfellows1.bsky.social and I are excited to see you again in York!
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Katja Rust @rustflylab.bsky.social · 06/06/2025
Apparently we do not have a JEDI starter pack yet. @fly-jedi.bsky.social and everyone else: let me know which other Junior European #Drosophila Investigators are missing! go.bsky.app/PcTGEMc
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Clara Howcroft Ferreira @clarahowcroft.bsky.social · 06/06/2025
Proud to work @northumbriauni.bsky.social #pridemonth
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