A short story about our heroes inside NIH: Between a Trump-imposed freeze on grant-making in Jan/Feb and new political hurdles in spring & early summer, NIH was in trouble. By the end of June, NIH was 8,300 grants and $3.1 billion behind its FY24 pace. Morale was in the toilet. Things were bleak.

Micropublication @micropub7n.bsky.social is peer reviewed and PubMed indexed. A great way to get the data out in uncertain times 👇🏼

I am so excited to have this published today detailing a new system for growing biofilms and observing the resulting populations (stress on the plural!) in chemostats! A chemostat-based model for growing bacterial biofilms | Microbiology Spectrum journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...

For what it’s worth, The Wyoming Worm lab has funding for 5 years along with exciting projects with solid foundations. We are is still looking for capable, dedicated, and fun-to-work-with lab members at all career stages. [email protected] scholar.google.com/citations?us...

Despite the mess, we are grateful to be funded, have exciting science happening, and have an opening for a postdoc! If you are interested in sensory biology and esp in cilia, thermosensation, or interoception, and would like to join an interactive & supportive group - please email. Please RT 🙏

Today my @nytimes.com colleagues and I are launching a new series called Lost Science. We interview US scientists who can no longer discover something new about our world, thanks to this year‘s cuts. Here is my first interview with a scientist who studied bees and fires. Gift link: nyti.ms/3IWXbiE

I have been trying to get this published as an op-ed, but I am going to post it here since I think it is timely in light of the "consent" extortion events. Deafening Quiet from the Scientific Establishment jeremymberg.github.io/jeremyberg.g... 1/14

Saturday morning, waiting for kid's soccer game, is a great time to indulge in the lowest form of humor: LAB HAIKU! 1. Does anyone know whose PCR is in there? BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

Worm peeps: nominate a newly minted PhD for the Sydney Brenner Thesis Award! #celegans

NSF GRFP solicitation is finally up. Life Sci deadline extended to Nov 10 but 2nd year grad students no longer eligible www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...

Learn all things C. elegans #research at the EMBO | The Company of Biologists Workshop "C. elegans Biology: IV LAWM" in Merida, Mexico, 24–28 February 2026. Registration by 16 January 2026 Abstract submission by 17 October 2025 meetings.embo.org/event/26-worm #EMBOWorms2026 #EMBOevents 🧪

Articles of Impeachment for RFK, Jr. introduced thehill.com/policy/healt...

Did you know? GSA Award nominations stay active for at least three years—giving nominees three chances to be selected and recognized for their impact on genetics. Nominate yourself or a colleague by October 1: buff.ly/YYKKGJx

The 2025-2026 #aECM club schedule is now posted on our website, where you can also find the link to sign up for access. I’m looking forward to lots of great talks and discussions! sundaramlab.com/blog/aecm-cl...

You asked for it! We delivered Quack-O-Grams to our members of Congress urging them to #ImpeachRFK, and get that Quack out of office! There's still time for you to get in on this fluffy, feathery action: Send your own duck at zurl.co/W1ZnB#ImpeachRFKand keep the momentum going! 🦆

CALL TO ACTION! During one of our meetings this week with a House Dem, who shall remain nameless, the idea that "DEI research doesn't save anyone's life" was espoused. My team was *flabbergasted* by this assertion. PLEASE DROP YOUR PEER REVIEWED WORKS OF "DEI" SAVING LIVES HERE SO WE CAN SHARE!

By adding your name, you join a growing chorus of federal workers and the public telling Senate Democrats: Stand firm. Protect our democracy. Fight, don’t fold. ✍️ Sign here and Spread the word 🔥 #FightingCR #SchumerShutdown

Some information from the NIGMS Advisory Council meeting today. On foreign grants... 1/3

today in I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying, original reprints from the CGC (1976, 1977) #celegans

Updating my analysis now that August data should be relatively complete. Not great news... The rate of investment of the appropriation is not increasing and it seems unlikely that the entire appropriation will be committed this year. 1/2

Had a great day hosting @lesleynweaver.bsky.social for a seminar at @queenscollegecuny.bsky.social ! Just forgot to take a photo at the seminar 🤷‍♀️

NEW: Don't ask too many questions, but... NIH may not re-terminate the 900ish grants at issue in the main NIH lawsuits after all. To the PIs of reinstated grants, SPEND NOW! 🧵 Here's what NIH is probably thinking. Bear with me:

WARNING WARNING WARNING #ResearchAdmini I am hearing reports of NIH Awards being issued with ~15% indirect cost rate without comment. I believe the hope is that they will be accepted with noticing this.

Courage is contagious! Congratulations FEMA signers on releasing your Declaration of Dissent, and welcome to the club! Sign the support letter for these brave FEMA workers who help people before, during, and after disasters!

📣 Save the date 📣 The next FASEB Science Research Conference on TGF-β Family in Development and Disease will take place: July 26-30, 2026 in Porto, Portugal! @faseborg.bsky.social With Mythreye Karthikeyan @mythreye.bsky.social, Rosemary Akhurst and Andrew Hinck web.cvent.com/event/af5f6d...

Certain extramural investigators have received NOAs this week listing the indirects at 15%. What's happening at your institution?

🚨ACTION OF THE DAY🚨 @standupforscience.bsky.social Day 21! QUACK-O-GRAM THURSDAY! For $3 we will hand deliver an "IMPEACH THE QUACK" rubber ducky to your House Representative! (By one of our team members in a duck suit!) DO IT (AND TELL YOUR FRIENDS) act.standupforscience.net/fundraising/...

Deadline extended www.instagram.com/p/DNd-PdvyU3F/

Sign the petition to call for the removal of RFK, Jr. www.standupforscience.net/rfk-impeachm...

on the importance of NIH funding- on the impact funding has on training the next generations- graduate class went from 90 down to 13-- nice movie with C. elegans swimming on a plate- what a disaster- gift link ---> wapo.st/3HaZ3Um

This letter, to Harvard's leaders encouraging them not to give in to Trump, is open for signature by everyone. You can remain anonymous if you want. But please read and sign if you can. crimsoncourage.fillout.com/august-letter

1/ SCOTUS is poised to let the Trump/Vought administration terminate NIH grants WITHOUT REASON. 🚨🧪 Act now, #shadowdocket decision coming any day now (Action call in 2nd post) Explainer: open.substack.com/pub/sciencea... Shareable graphics from: www.instagram.com/p/DNQ1k9vufj...

I spoke with @reinierprosee.bsky.social about my journey in science, and my hope and dreams. Thank you @dev-journal.bsky.social for this oppotunity! I'm looking for a home for the Ewe lab. Let's talk if you're hiring! :) journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...

I've now received five NIH notice of awards for new or continuing grants since January. Almost enough data to detect some patterns. Here are a few observations. 1/n

my lab needs a repeat pipetter that can dispense 1ml 12 times. (can be analog or digital). i've never had one of these- does anyone have one to recommend? (pls reski)

My colleagues and I are meeting with the NIH Director this afternoon to discuss the impacts of recent policy changes on early career researchers. It's a packed agenda, but if you have something you'd like me to try and share, please let me know.

#NIH PIs, start emailing Dr. Jayanta Bhattacharya and tell them what you are experiencing. CC Dr. Jon Lorsch and your ICO Director of Extramural Activities. Get them to talk with each other. #defendresearch

Court accepting updated list of plaintiffs/grantees impacted! MUST BE SUBMITTED BY AUGUST 1st 5pm EST! Please disseminate!!! Message from ACLU team below: 1/n

A quick update re NIH and NSF terminated grant tracking: Grant Watch has a new name! We're now called **Grant Witness** You can find us at grant-witness.us Please update your bookmarks and spread the word! 🙏 (And no, this wasn't our preference, but trademarks are a thing. 🤦‍♂️🤷‍♂️)

I'm keen on things to do with ageing, molecular bio, omics, worms, postdocs, plus Edinburgh uni and wider academia in general ☺️

Some sad news Judith Greenberg passed away. www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/s... Judith was my mentor when I started at NIH and the principal leader for the NIH Director’s Pioneer and New Innovator programs. 1/2

WormBase news: the upcoming October release of WormBase.org (WS298) will be the final major WormBase release. WormBase data is being incorporated into AllianceGenome.org. Please see this post for much more information community.alliancegenome.org/t/announcing...

The #BethesdaDeclaration signers killed it today during the roundtable with Jay. Some of my favorite highlights shared from my colleagues: 🧵 1/5

NASA must not be used as a political instrument divorced from its foundational commitment to scientific exploration, discovery, and service to humanity. www.standupforscience.net/voyager-decl...

Thanks to @isakoditomassi.bsky.social and the McClintock Letters Initiative who motivated me to submit this.

🪱#Worm25 has wrapped, and with that, it’s time to announce the winners of the #Worm25 Poster Awards!🎉Join us in congratulating this year’s recipients and learn more about their research: buff.ly/7DNpxzB

#StandUpForScience July 21 Day of Action

... a new virtual seminar series on apical extracellular matrix #aECM on different #organisms 🪱🪰🐁🌱🦠will start in Fall 2025, with short talks and discussions If you are interested 👉https://forms.gle/Y6UjbnXPH1pDHAE97 @meera-sundaram.bsky.social @gotworms.bsky.social @heiman.bsky.social

Hey 🧪 I’m looking for a sci-savvy illustrator to build a cartoon-style schematic for a paper about summer research experiences. HMU if this describes you or your side gig.

i wrote an essay for @thetransmitter.bsky.social about what it feels like to serve on an NIH grant review panel (study section) right now www.thetransmitter.org/craft-and-ca...