The sad truth is that vaccines and vaccination are a feedback loop. We take them for granted because they work well for the most part. Then we take them away because of concerns or downright quackery. Then the diseases come roaring back, making vaccines cool again. In the interim, people die.

Canceled my Amazon Prime a while back. But canceled my Hulu/Disney+ today. Bummed to miss out on High Potential and Abbott Elementary in their upcoming season.

The GRFP lives!! (due end of October) www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...

First Bernie Sanders. Then the CDC directors. Now, more than 1,000 current and former HHS staffers are demanding he step down.

There are lots of rumors flying around about what might happen to COVID vaccine access, but please note we still do not have any official news yet. While we wait, there are things you can do: 1️⃣ Wear a mask to prevent COVID transmission 2️⃣ Push your elected officials to speak up about vaccine access

What you missed overnight night.🥳 Utah's gerrymandered congressional map was struck down. The judge reinstated the citizen-led redistricting reforms voters approved in 2018. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...

1st day of classes went well for this associate professor! I’ll ride this tenure/promotion wave for another week. I’m teaching a new chemical biology class this semester. Excited to bring computational chemistry topics & hands-on activities in the computer lab. Also still masking this semester!

1/ Quick update on #fallvaccines: Flu and RSV vaccines remain business as usual this fall: if you’re eligible, you should be able to get them without issue. Vaccinations should start in September. Covid-19 vaccines are another story. There will be three key developments this week 👇

I got my COVID-19 booster today! I am hoping there will be a new updated version but who knows what will happen. Better to protect yourself until we get more information.

Why are some still spreading misinfo that "masks only work when everyone wears one," & use it as an excuse not to mask as "no-one else is." It isn't all or nothing. While it's safer when more mask because there's less virus in the air, a well-fitting mask protects you even if no-one else masks.

I swear if we reach 1000 followers on here before #ACSFall2025 I'll eat an entire banana 🍌

I got to share a bit about Indigenous values in chemistry on this pod! Thanks @nature for the feature and joining some an amazing list of ChangeMakers!

#ChemSky #ACSFall2025 Huge thank you to Prof. Isaiah Speight, Prof. Kensha Clark, and Prof. Davita Watkins for organizing this amazing lineup of impressive speakers. Hosted by organicdivision.org POLY and INOR. Thank you to ACS President Dr. Phillips for elevating this to a Presidential Symposium

“Increasing the presence of Indigenous researchers in a university benefits Indigenous students, who gain from being taught, mentored and supervised by Indigenous scientists in a variety of fields.” This is so impactful and empowering. Also the colleagues and collaborators who engage too! 1/2

I made a bold claim this spring, if you recontextualize the 2022 CDC mortality data and look at the root cause of mortality, **the #1 killer in the US stuff you breathe**. Clean air leads to better health, including lower blood pressure. www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/...

Still masking! Today’s travel day has been filled with people coughing and having runny noses. People cough on their hands and touch surfaces. Gross.

Day 2 of our Southwest Summit was filled with fun! Dr. Aaron Thomas from University of Montana shared his journey in STEM. Panel of undergrad, grad & postdoc experiences. Thinking about school schedules. Lastly, people got to practice their interview skills. Multiple ways to show STEM possibilities!

Excited to hang out with our CARE students and @nauleelab.bsky.social!! Finishing up some final research poster presentations practice & professional development activities before our celebration this Saturday!! I can’t believe it’s year 6 of this high school training program!

“More than 140 employees of the National Science Foundation have signed a letter denouncing what they described as efforts to undermine one of the country’s main science funding agencies. … Out of fear of retaliation, all but one of the employees’ signatures are redacted.”

I love sharing the amazing work my friends & I do that showcase chemistry being fun. Thank you to the #ChemEd2025 conference organizers for the invite. They even gave me this amazing plaque! So fortunate to connect with some amazing chemistry educators & enjoy sessions! @chemed2025co.bsky.social

Excited to be at the @chemed2025co.bsky.social ChemEd conference for the first time! Great sessions this morning and I’m giving a talk tomorrow! I’m bummed I didn’t pack my nerdy chemistry shirts.

I've been working on the mascot issue in various ways my entire life but more formally since around 2012. In massive numbers, Natives from citizens, organizations to entire tribal nations have organized and filed lawsuits, created policy changes on local and state levels to #ChangetheName.

Trying to get food aid. I’m heartbroken.

Thanks American Chemical Society for bringing together some amazing postdocs & faculty for this P2F program. Even with the funding/government situation, this space was a great place to build community for support. I enjoyed helping out & connecting with folks who are also on Bluesky! 1/2

I don’t even know what to say. So many brilliant scientists at the EPA.

Opening night of the American Chemical Society Postdoc to Faculty (P2F) workshop! Great to be back as a faculty facilitator. Helping postdocs, especially in this climate is crucial! So many questions about the upcoming hiring cycle. Refreshing the @chemjobber.bsky.social site was discussed :)

Connections with community is so important at the beginning. Reciprocity should be a part of the discussion.

The Senate just posted the report language of its FY26 science appropriations bill. This text lays out what they want done and carries the force of law if it is included in the final spending bill. It's a line-by-line refutation of Trump's proposed budget for NASA and NOAA.

A few weeks ago, I got to enjoy the 8-day Lemosho route on Mt. Kilimanjaro! I’ve been offline & playing catch up. This was such an unbelievable trip. Mind blowing to think I camped at 15000 ft above sea level! The various climates on the mountain were amazing. My microbiome mind had questions!

Great hike to see a marmot and columbine!

Setting my out of office vacation email starting now! It’s the last day of research with one of my summer students. Now for a mini break until July picks up again!

I will be damned if I allow a bunch of Confederate-waving January 6th apologists give the American people a lecture on flag waving. There is ZERO reason to enter an argument about patriotism with people who still worship traitors to America 150+ years later. They. Are. Breaking. The. Law.

Went outside to see the rising of the Strawberry Moon but there were some clouds. It came up a bit more but still some clouds.

Cuts have consequences, illustrated. As seen on TV 📺

This is a bummer. I guess being part of the 16% is at least something?

Many years ago we all connected & starting chatting about the Navajo Nation moratorium on genetics research. It’s been some time but amazing to stand next to these folks as we continue to navigate the discussion but this time with more folks! 1/2 #GeneticsEducationSummit25

Great to have Dr. Eric Green as a keynote speaker to highlight the human genome project and genomic medicine. Even though it’s a tumultuous time with NIH, this has brought up the importance to continue and be mindful of research for Indigenous communities.

Thanks @duluthone.bsky.social for the post! #GeneticsEducationSummit25

Being at the Voices of Diné summit has been special. Our tribal leaders are hearing and supporting all the work in our communities. A song was sang for us. It was somber as we recognize all the government cuts for funding all related research. It’s a challenging time for many scientists.

Excited to be at the Voices of the Diné: Bridging Science, Culture, & Community in Genetic Research Summit! I’ll be speaking tomorrow and 2 FLC students will be presenting posters & a talk!! Ahe’hee to the organizing committee/funders for supporting our community! #GeneticsEducationSummit25

Protect science.

Shout out to all of the faculty and students who made it through this semester in particular. What a time to be teaching and learning in spaces that are directly under attack from people who benefited from having access to the same resources themselves.

Today I’m sitting on a PhD comprehensive exam as an external member. This isn’t usual for PUI faculty but a student I mentor wanted an Indigenous voice in microbiome research as the work is crucial for American Indian & Alaska Native communities. It’s special to see the growth in her over the years!

Fire season doesn’t look great this year. The closest natural disaster here in Durango. Have your go-bag ready! Not sure where to start, this is a good list of items. I go through & update items that might expire. Helpful in case you have to leave quick! coremarkins.com/go-bag-sudde...

Two of my research students got their abstracts accepted for the 2025 SACNAS conference! Now we gotta figure out travel! #NativesInSTEM #microbiomeresearch

People ask me why I keep masking, people come to work sick. Someone is coughing down the hall, they’ve had a cough for about a week. One of their peers also had a similar cough, last week. Their PI had the cough 3+ weeks ago. I’m not wanting that cough, so I’ll keep masking.

For all the scientists who voted for Trump (and I know many of you), I hope the war on DEI was worth it.

Breaking news: A federal judge has ordered the immediate release of Rümeysa Öztürk, the Tufts PhD candidate whose sudden arrest by federal immigration agents made national news.