Today is the anniversary of the April 1 RIFs at NIH and HHS. Thinking of my colleagues who lost their jobs last year. These cuts did no improve efficiency. They undermined the functioning of our government.

Just a reminder that 1yr ago today many dedicated NIH employees received RIF notices and started the process where many others were told they must leave their positions/ICs after years of service. The pain felt across the scientific community in the last year is also felt by those serving it.

Also another kick in the teeth for us ECRs who started faculty positions around COVID-times. Juuuuust as we start to become senior-enough to be considered for standing study sections, the big perk evaporates.

Had an amazing Thursday and Friday at Wash U Neuroscience as part of their annual O'Leary Prize competition! It was like a family reunion to me, filled with amazing science, good friends and colleagues, and heaps of fond memories. Amazing new Neuroscience building, too. Until next time, WUSTL!

Wait… localized norepinephrine transients in the awake visual cortex?! Who would have guessed this neuromodulatory signal is that spatially precise, right where visual processing is happening. Brain state control just got a lot more local. @ruedigersarah.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Our NIAAA funded Post-DoctT32 has received its NoA (non competing renewal). Are you looking for a post-doc and interested in joining our amazing center? If so, reach out! Here is a convenient form that you can use to upload CV and a cover letter! unc.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

A new paper shows that women, particularly those early in their careers, have been disproportionately affected by NIH grant terminations. www.statnews.com/2026/03/23/n...

Today I received a note from a grad student who lives in Tehran. Her note gives you firsthand experience of what it’s like to live in a city that is being bombed, and what it’s like to be young and feel despair about your future. rezashadmehr.blogspot.com/2026/03/hope...

Smell, taste, interoception, chemisthesis! The Association for Chemoreception Sciences (AChemS) is focused on understanding chemical senses. Our Annual Meeting (St. Pete, FL) is April 22-25, and Early Registration deadline is MONDAY 3/16. Join us for a great meeting! achems.org/2026/index.php

Here lies Morning Plans Killed in the tragic fires of early afternoon emergencies. @redpenblackpen #PhDchat #ECRchat #postdoc #Phdforum #acwri

This is so important! News about the good RESEARCH, TECH DEVELOPMENT and TRAINING supported by NIH is what we get for our tax dollars, and should know about. Placing that responsibility outside NIH (PIs/institutions) mixes the publicly funded mission w/ institutional branding that could be confusing

I am focused on the Stand Up for Science events today, but I will dig into these data early next week. I was continuously funded from when I started my independent career in 1988 until I move to NIH in 2003, usually with multiple grants. 1/2

The data is in: the NIH goalposts have shifted. What were once almost certain fundable scores have become coin flips and what used to be likely grants have become aspirational, leading to fewer awards. Another manifestation of how HHS policies have led to fewer awards and less science.

So... A friend was supposed to give a PURELY SCIENTIFIC talk at NIH within the next couple of weeks and it was cancelled because of a "new process" where all speakers/talks have to be CLEARED BY A POLITICAL APPOINTEE.

I saw this list and asked my excellent, always-professional program officials about whether these, like the expired "NOSIs" needed to be listed on the cover page to be properly sorted, and the answer I got was "no." I will be interested to see how these HTs are used in practice.

The UAB Heersink School of Medicine is seeking to recruit up to 16 new research-intensive faculty as part of a major strategic investment in neurosciences. Faculty will be housed in a brand new research facility at the heart of campus, which is scheduled for completion this summer.

I feel like a broken record, but this will kill trans kids. It will kill them when they die by suicide. When their parents kick them out and they meet one of the countless dangers facing unhoused queer youth. When their parents kill them in a rage.

Some shit is about to go down with NIH study sections, friends. Keep your eyes peeled for change that may affect your grant submissions.

Made a short video as a response. 3 questions remain for me. 1) What is the definition of a "DEl activity," and how is it being communicated to NIH staff so they can determine whether a grant qualifies? (Continued below)

I spoke with Laura Schenkman at The Transmitter about my candidacy for the House! Going from the lab to public life is a huge transition. From a lifetime of research to biotech to democracy to running for office, here’s the story of one scientist: www.thetransmitter.org/policy/is-th...

It will be interesting to see the shift of learning in higher education away from digital after 2 decades of ever-increasing amounts of digital content. LLMs (and grade-chasing) will effectively negate the utility of using tools of digital convenience to teach/evaluate. (1/2)

New and competitive renewal awards. The number of awards is 569 compared with more than 2200 through the same date in earlier fiscal years. All ICs have now made awards except for NIAAA, NCCIH, NLM, FIC, and OD. NEI (Eye Institute) made its first award during the new period. 3/4

Happy Mardi Gras and Happy Lunar New Year 🧧 to all those who celebrate!

1/3 This week has been exhausting. NIH staff are trying to thread a needle with a vanishingly small eye to generate performance evaluation criteria. Because of course they have to change so no one can be rated as “Outstanding”.

I don’t really know what I expect in posting this, but maybe some people see it and can learn from it. I’ll call it “lessons from an unwilling immigration attorney.” 1/

In our new poll with the Boston Globe of NIH funded scientists in Mass ... - 72% say they have delayed or cancelled projects - 66% reduced research scope - 56% paused experiments or students. www.bostonglobe.com/2026/02/09/m...

Excited to co-host this conference with @marissascavuzzo.bsky.social and Steve Liberles focused on the peripheral nervous system -- No Brainer! Check out the amazing list of speakers and apply for one of the spots for this small, interactive meeting on the beautiful Janelia Campus at HHMI.

UChicago Chemistry is currently taking application for a Research Assistant Professor in Neuroscience. See full description and Apply here: apply.interfolio.com/180073 #UChicago #Neuroscience #Chemistry #AcademicJobs #STEM #Research #BrainPlasticity #ScienceCareers #Chicago

NIGMS will have council meeting tomorrow. You can watch the open session here. nigms.nih.gov/node/145911

Going to try and watch this until I’m blinded by rage

If you are a student whose NSF GRFP application was returned without review for vague 'eligibility' reasons: 1) Let your department chair & Graduate School know. Encourage them to contact NSF & congress 2) Write to your congressional reps. 3) Write to [email protected] to request re-consideration;

Washington University in St. Louis is hiring for 7 new positions! Individual job details below!👇 #ScienceJobs

A sad day at NIH... The NIH Record was a great way for NIH folks to find out what was going on across NIH. Many important stories published there over the years. nihrecord.nih.gov/2026/01/30/n...

Regeneron is hiring for 7 new positions! Individual job details below!👇 #ScienceJobs

Notice of Temporary Extension of Eligibility for the NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00): for Individuals whose final due date was September-November 2025 and January-March 2026. As always, reach out to your PO/IC contact to discuss. grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...

🧵Good news out of #NIH today. (1) NIH is extending #ESI and #K99/R00 eligibility to accommodate researchers whose eligibility would have ended during the previous shutdown. Take a look at NOT-OD-26-020. If your ESI status would have ended in 2025, you get an automatic extension through 2026/03/31.

This morning in suburban Rochester I got to see my first "sun dog!" If it's going to be 3 degrees we may as well get some rare atmospheric light shows!

Oh goody...Andrew Huberman is going to be a commentator on CBS News. I first learned of him when he did a 4+ hour podcast with Director Bhattacharya (also the first time I heard Bhattacharya on a podcast). 1/7

"Postdoctoral Associate at Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Olivette, MO, USA" Read more here: https://arabidopsis.org/news/jobs/view?file=Pandey_1-27-26.pdf #PlantSciJobs

We have two funded postdoctoral positions available. Topics encompass: -Next gen light-sheet fluorescence microscopy instrumentation -Structured illumination microscopy and other approaches to extend the resolution limit. -Nonlinear microscopy combined with adaptive optics / phase conjugation

University operating status for Monday, Jan. 26 ❄️ Classes and activities are cancelled for River Campus, Eastman School, School of Nursing, and SMD Graduate Program Only essential staff should report to work on Monday See rochester.edu/emergency for full info and updates

Story about in The Transmitter about the pending spending bill www.thetransmitter.org/funding/neur... 1/4

The bill includes a 33 percent budget increase for the NIH’s BRAIN Initiative, which has faced significant funding cuts over the past two years. By @avaskham.bsky.social #neuroskyence www.thetransmitter.org/funding/neur...

Section 239 would block forward funding and return to incremental funding. Importantly, Section 531 would place deadlines on NIH to post grant opportunities and award funds in a timely manner.

Are you an early-stage graduate student (2nd or 3rd year) or early-stage postdoc based in the US or Canada, working primarily in Drosophila? Would you like to help improve the experience of all trainees working in Drosophila research? If so, read on. (Please repost to reach a broad audience.)

I'll tell you what I do like though... Kindness. People who practice kindness in every aspect of their lives are the ones who hold this world together, making it better, safer, healthier, happier, and more peaceful. I look for those kind people in this world, and abhor those who reject kindness.

Apply to the Neurobiology course at MBL! It is supercool. Apps due Feb 4.

Parent and pediatrician here. All vaccines are still available & recommended. Talk to your pediatrician for more info. Know this: Even as our government shifts its recommendation language, I would never forgo the RSV, hepatitis A & B, or meningitis vaccines for my own kids.

Must say, while interviews with established PIs with deep cuts to their funding are important, the principal and longest term effects are on the trainees. An entire generation wiped of confidence.

🧪📣 McGill University is recruiting exceptional researchers through the Canada Impact+ Research Chairs program. #McGillResearch #ImpactPlus #AcademicCareers #ResearchLeadership