Family bonding time in front of the telly.

Trigger warning: a cotton ball growling is a terrifying thing.

Enjoying a morning in York.

Late summer in the burbs of Chicago has its charms.

*Walking around thinking about turning 40 in a few years* The universe:

Horrid awful morning in Central Park

On Wednesday I had to say goodbye to my loving George after 13 years. He was sweet, needy, dumb as a rock, and an all around amazing loaf of orange fur. I’m going to miss this bestest dude.

I’m thrilled to announce that I will start a postdoc at @pdaphd.bsky.social 's Laboratory at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 I’m beyond honored and excited about this opportunity 🙌😊Stay tuned for cool microscopy and data! (pic I took back in 2019 secretly wishing to come back)

DIV21 hippocampal neurons grown on filters (3um pore size) to enrich for dendrites and axons away from cell bodies. Magenta- DAPI. Cyan- MAP2. Orange- PSD95.

My 13 year old chonkmonster has discovered gabapentin makes his 1 year old sister remarkably more tolerable.

Saturday morning Arthur’s Seat views.

Casual morning stroll.

My shadow undersecretary while I’m reading a pile of grant proposals. Her devotion is due to payment in the form of laser pointer chase time each time I read a proposal.

Enjoy the imported, tariff free, Scottish weather- San Diegoburgh.

What an inspiring RNA-packed afternoon! A huge thank you to @pdaphd.bsky.social and @agatsiou.bsky.social for two brilliant talks, and to everyone who joined us for a great session full of science, questions, and RNA excitement. Always a pleasure to spend the afternoon geeking out together!

Sunshine in Holyrood park vibes.

Scottish beach day.

DIV20 hippocampal neuron Cyan- myr mScarlet3 Orange- GFP-SynGAP1

Spent the day in my happy place.

Hard to imagine a more beautiful city to live in during my PI adventure.

Thinking of entering a kitten bowling league.

Thanks to @brennan-lab-ucd.bsky.social for hosting me at UCD. It’s been a fabulous visit to Dublin to chat science and soak up the Irish sun.

A very gay Edinburgh day.

Green- neuron White- mRNA Black- RNA binding proteins Grey- ribosomes Orange- newly synthesized proteins Pink- plasticity Blue/purple- whimsy

Fluorescence Friday double feature: DIV21 hippocampal neurons. Grey-DAPI Cyan- MAP2 Magenta- Beta actin Orange- vGAT

Testing some new antibodies today lead to a bit of a reprieve from the maddening state of the world. DIV21 hippocampal neurons. Grey-DAPI Cyan- MAP2 Magenta- Beta actin Orange- PSD95

Many US students don’t know how to seek opportunities outside the US. With some help from our colleagues in EU and Canada, we could put together a consolidated website of PhD opportunities and scholarships outside the US, organized by field. There might still be time for this year in some places.

Save the date for the next edition of this wonderful meeting. We look forward to seeing you in Portugal!!

Still in progress.. but having fun with animating the research in my lab.

My iPad drawings were starting to feel a little stale… so now dabbling with animations. I really need full time supervision.

Want to live in a place where RFK Jr isn’t overseeing the health of millions? Where vaccines are preferred medical treatments over methylene blue? There is still one week left to apply for a 5 year postdoc position within my lab. www.donlin-asp-lab.com/openings

Proud PI moment when the lab has worked out UV RNA-protein crosslinking followed by polyA RNA pull-down.

This will be absolutely devastating. For trainees- all I can say is there is a whole world doing amazing research.. and if you can, consider moving abroad. I did and it was the best decision I ever made. We and others are hiring and happy to have you in these dark times.

I do apparently still have biochemical skills from my PhD. UV cross-linking and RNA pull-down optimisation experiments with silver staining. Inputs vs with/without crosslinking.

The Donlin-Asp Lab ( @pdaphd.bsky.social ) is hiring a postdoc to conduct primary research into how neurons transport mRNA to distal sites and use these mRNAs as substrates for local protein synthesis during synaptic plasticity. elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid... @edinunineuro.bsky.social

Interested in: Post-transcriptional gene regulation in neurons? The soft murmur of rain on cobblestones accompanying you on a stroll through the moody twilight? The ability to afford eggs? Come join us in Edinburgh! www.donlin-asp-lab.com/openings

Woke up to news a lab member was accepted into an imaging course in Quebec… so now the lab will be force fed bougie baked treats.

When you need to do RNA pulldowns, but your buildings cold-rooms will never be RNase free.

My lab is happy to poach people considering greener pastures. We’re currently recruiting a postdoc. 5 years of funding. Visa fees covered by the lab. www.donlin-asp-lab.com/openings I myself avoided Trump 1.0 as a postdoc in Germany- which ended up being an amazing experience.

Dolly just repeatedly smacked the page of a grant I’m reviewing. Not sure how I’m supposed to integrate this into my review- or how to give her appropriate credit.

Also important to clarify for those unfamiliar with working abroad- all visa associated costs will be covered by the lab.

A plug that my lab is currently recruiting a postdoc. 5 years of funding, the lab has steady funding for the next 8 years, and no active attempts to burn down the scientific enterprise in your potential new home.. Plus the occasional bagpipe player rocking a kilt on the street.

Great time hosting @brennan-lab-ucd.bsky.social at the Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences!

Thanks to our recent Wellcome funding- we're hiring a Postdoctoral Researcher to explore the mechanisms underlying synaptic RNA capture and selective local protein synthesis. This position has 5 years of funding. Please reach out if you have any questions! elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...

New year, new lab analysis workstation.

Trying to recall what personal space is like.

Ending the year with a UV cycle in the labs new hood. May 2025 be boring and low key.

No responsibilities. Heating on. Doesn’t contribute to the heating bill. I’d be making that face too if we could swap places

So blessed to have this graceful creature in my life.