“The quiet power of program officers lies not in control, but in care. Care for the science, for the people who conduct it, and for the public it is meant to serve.”

I’m so sad to not be at SfN this year! Go get inspired for me and report back please.

I am on it SO HARD 🤣

You are not a schmuck. You cared enough about your colleagues to do everything in your power to get them a fair and thorough review. Because when the SROs return, we can only move to reschedule as quickly as we have all scores to know what will be discussed. You value your community. Thank you.

Schrödinger's employment.

Wouldn’t it be wild if after the shutdown ends, I turn on my computer and work phone for the first time (I’m not permitted to now), and one of my missed emails is a RIF layoff? What a world.

The “problem” with vaccines? They so effective at preventing deaths that they create generations of people that question whether disease was a problem in the first place because they have never experienced the horrors of a world without vaccines.

Postdocs applying for K99s, particularly if it's your last opportunity: DO NOT forget to include a foreign justification document if you have any sort of foreign collaboration. Your application will be withdrawn if you don't have that.

And a whole lot of reviewers who want to give their colleagues and field a fair shot at progress, even as they themselves struggle. SROs and POs can’t do anything if we can’t get those grants through peer review!

H/T to my NORDP colleague MV. New NIH policies on AI just dropped. (Don't) Also "no more than six new, renewal, resubmission, or revision applications from an individual Principal Investigator/Program Director or Multiple Principal Investigator for all council rounds in a calendar year."

Also be sure to read the instructions a Forms I SF424. These Fs will have the new format/review instructions so there are different components from the previous NOFOs.

NYT: One estimate finds that DOGE’s “firings, re-hirings, lost productivity and paid leave of thousands of workers” will actually COST taxpayers “upward of $135 billion this fiscal year.” @nytimes.com 🤡 www.nytimes.com/2025/04/24/u...

If you were planning to submit Neuroscience related T32s to PAR-22-265, PAR-24-126, or PAR-24-108, note those are now expired and you need to submit through PAR-25-168. See this notice: grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...

Digging into the reinstated NIH grants. This story is an evolving doozy. The reinstated grant is an R21 from Seattle Children's Hospital I was very confused when I read the title: "An intervention to promote healthy relationships among transgender and gender expansive youth" 1/n

OK. Do you have a picture in your mind? It's worse than that...

Folks, my rescheduled review panel has been submitted to FRN

you’re fired. wait you’re rehired. email us a list of things you’ve done today wait forget it you’re fired again. come back your job was important. you’re fired. or hired. come in to the office. wait the office has no computers go home. we are the department of government efficiency.

Among the best articles I've read on the capture of NIH. Seeing all this laid out, it's plain that the motivation is to destroy the university and scientific system. #academicsky #neuroskyence

🤣🤣🤣 we love to see it. Hang in there everyone!

Way more people here! Anything you want to know about NIH peer review? Ever wondered why you can’t get your grant scores at meeting end? The SRO has to check them against in-discussion notes! Every meeting there are typos that take a day or two to fix. Trust me, you want those scores to be right!

A little over a year ago, I left academia, transferred my R01, and became a Scientific Review Officer at NIH. In celebration of my one year anniversary, let’s demystify the process! Any burning, *anonymous* questions you have about leaving academia?? ngl.link/ashleymkopec

Changes in review coming. I think there are a number improvements to the fellowship applications & review criteria that will help focus on the training plan & potential. nexus.od.nih.gov/all/2024/04/...

Yes. Sitting on SS really helped cement to write more simply/clearly and embrace white space.

Anyone here have sinus surgery? I have a chronic infection and a deviated septum that need to be corrected. How bad is this going to be? 😬

When you reimpose child labor laws vs making kid lunches free

THAT'S BECAUSE PREGNANCY IS BODY HORROR like even if it is a wanted, cherished pregnancy holy shit the things that are happening in there are TERRIBLE

Hey folks! New SRO app just dropped! My branch is hiring (Aging and Neurodegeneration) so feel free to reach out with any questions!

NIA R36 dissertation award has been reissued with a larger salary and increased research expenses budget. www.nia.nih.gov/research/blo...

Sharing here as well. Spread the word about R36s - they are fantastic and under utilized!

I think the recovery time for the collective trauma we all lived through might be longer than imagined. And it doesn't help that more and more things keep piling on.

It was fun working on this piece with @avaskham.bsky.social and @thetransmitter.bsky.social ! I’m proud of my decision, and I’m happy as a SRO. No regrets. Just peace. If you are considering a career change, there is a reason you feel that way. Trust yourself.

Folks, please. I don’t want to call them skeets.

PS - if you want to review for me lmk 🤣🫡

Upcoming webinar related to the new NOFO for NIGMS IMSD & GRISE T32 training grants. grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...

Hey folks! There is a new SRO/PO job ad open through 11/29. This is for social and behavioral scientists. Apply! Usajobs.gov/job/760808800

We are thrilled to announce the launch of The Transmitter, a publication for the neuroscience community that offers news and analysis of the field, written by journalists and scientists. Explore thetransmitter.org

Day 2 SfN and I know just what you’re thinking. How does NIH grant review work? You’re a broken record! But I’m willing to indulge you from 2-4 at the CSR booth. Come say hi and ask me all the worlds questions about review!

Come see me and @philrivera.bsky.social tonight! There are over 30 tables on all different topics with at least 2 mentors per table who will share with you informal, real life info. Something for everyone - bring a friend!

Calling all stress neurobiologists - the 2024 Stress Neurobiology Workshop will be held in Boston June 4-7, and the scientific program is now live! www.stress2024.com/speakers The website also has info on applying to be a postdoc speaker, as well as travel award submission.

If you identify as Black In Neuro and are presenting at #SfN2023, please fill out this form with your poster or talk details, so we can share it with the community! Tags: 🧠🟦 #BlackInSTEM forms.gle/7Szrw6avu6m8...

"The reframing...serves to focus reviewers on three central questions reviewers should be evaluating:  How important is the proposed research, how rigorous and feasible are the methods, and whether the investigators and institution have the expertise/resources necessary to carry out the project"

The new NIH approach to grant review is a GO and will apply to submissions after Jan 25, 2025. One more year to work that reputational bias, friends. grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...

NIH is updating peer review, um, process? Standards? Not sure what I would call it. One stated goal is to reduce reputational bias. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-revises-grant-review-process-improve-focus-scientific-merit-reduce-reputational-bias

What does an NSF Program Director mean when they say "Send me a 1-pager"? Find out all about it in today's IOS blog post. iosblog.nsfbio.com/2023/10/17/n...

Super excited to take on RFA review for “Role of Environmental Stress in the Health Inequities of ADRD” next round with my normal Fellowships! grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/r… Get your apps in by Nov. 1!

TWO pattern recognition papers in one week?! Be still my heart!