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What's the deal with your nickname? How did you get it? If your nickname is self-explanatory, then tell everyone when you first started using the internet, and what was the first thing that made you say "wow, this isn't just a place for freaks after all?" Was it a website? Was it an email from a long-lost friend? Go on, spill it.

I like: science, especially evolutionary and developmental biology; progressive politics and genderqueer politics and antiracism and feminism; public education; delicious delicious food; sex and sexuality and porn; puzzle-solving narrative games; board games and you know, actually, any game that's not a platformer; web comics; children's fiction and YA fiction; turtles. And insects!!!

I am finishing up a PhD in evolutionary biology, and I study treehoppers which are the coolest, most interesting looking insect that there is. My specific research question is "How did treehoppers evolve to look so, so pretty?" Well, actually it's "What developmental mechanisms underlie the evolution of the membracid helmet" but the first one is better. It's really exciting and fun and involves a lot of high throughput RNA sequencing.

My field is molecular developmental evolution. I am all up in your HOX genes. There was totally an X-Files episode about my discipline! The multiple instances of non-consensual sex in that episode are *not* considered best scientific practice, but the mad cackling and arrogant disregard for meddling in God's domain are necessary experimental conditions.

Here's my faves and flags character sheet: Made of Star Stuff the fair sun