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aliocohen.bsky.social
Ali Cohen
@aliocohen.bsky.social
1.2K followers 420 following 36 posts
asst prof at Emory University studying how motivation & emotion influence learning, memory, & brain function across development
https://thelumenlab.org/
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Ali Cohen
davidho.bsky.social
This is the most astonishing graph of what the Trump regime has done to US science. They have destroyed the federal science workforce across the board. The negative impacts on Americans will be felt for generations, and the US might never be the same again.

www.nature.com/immersive/d4...
This line graph illustrates the percentage change in agency staff levels from the previous year for nine major U.S. federal scientific and health organizations between the fiscal years 2016 and 2025. The agencies tracked include the CDC, Department of Energy, EPA, FDA, NASA, NIH, NIST, NOAA, and NSF. For the majority of the timeline between 2016 and 2023, the agencies show relatively stable fluctuations, generally staying within a range of +5% to -5% change per year. However, there is a dramatic and uniform plummet starting in the 2024–25 period. Every agency depicted shows a sharp downward trajectory, with staffing losses ranging from approximately -15% to over -25%. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows the most significant decline, dropping to roughly -26%, while the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) shows the least severe but still substantial drop at approximately -15%.
January 20, 2026 at 10:53 PM
Reposted by Ali Cohen
motcogmeet.bsky.social
Check out our Spring 2026 lineup!
January 13, 2026 at 9:11 PM
Reposted by Ali Cohen
emilyliquin.bsky.social
A few days left to apply to join my lab as a PhD student! We study how people explore, how new ideas form, and how thinking develops. Learn more at liquinlab.github.io. Application review begins 1/15.
#PsychSciSky #CogPsyc #CogSci #DevPsyc
ELM Lab @ UNH
liquinlab.github.io
January 12, 2026 at 9:48 PM
Reposted by Ali Cohen
peiferlabunc.bsky.social
Hey @aaas.org I am a member and Fellow and am appalled by that statement. The devastating impact on trainees and their fellowships, the anxiety all have felt, and the devastating cuts in some fields are just some examples. Perhaps you all could respond directly??
cdelawalla.bsky.social Colette Delawalla @cdelawalla.bsky.social · 15d
This is a HUGE win…and one that happened because we ~collectively~ said “NO!”

But AAAS coming in and saying on record to the NYT “Science is doing ok. Things are not bad at all…” is baffling.

If things are hard for you as a scientist, please share in the comments.

www.nytimes.com/2026/01/10/s...
Congress Is Reversing Trump’s Steep Budget Cuts to Science
www.nytimes.com
January 10, 2026 at 2:45 PM
Reposted by Ali Cohen
vpmurty.bsky.social
Fresh off the press from all-star post-doc Blake Elliott: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

We show that the HPC supports coincidence detection across VTA and lPFC in service of novelty-evoked invigoration. Stay-tuned for how these circuits are altered in psychosis risk.
PNAS
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a peer reviewed journal of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) - an authoritative source of high-impact, original research that broadly spans...
www.pnas.org
January 7, 2026 at 2:00 AM
Reposted by Ali Cohen
gershbrain.bsky.social
Goal selection through the lens of subjective functions:
arxiv.org/abs/2512.15948
I welcome any feedback on these preliminary ideas.
Subjective functions
Where do objective functions come from? How do we select what goals to pursue? Human intelligence is adept at synthesizing new objective functions on the fly. How does this work, and can we endow arti...
arxiv.org
December 19, 2025 at 3:15 AM
Reposted by Ali Cohen
chanda.blacksky.app
AS A PROFESSOR, I AM ASKING

HOW ARE OUR STUDENTS SUPPOSED TO LEARN IN THESE CONDITIONS?

HOW ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO GO TO SCHOOL AND TAKE EXAMS KNOWING SOMEONE MIGHT JUST SHOW UP WITH AN EASY TO ACQUIRE AUTOMATIC WEAPON?

HOW??????????
joshuajfriedman.com Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · Dec 13
Longer statement from Brown University:

"We are very sorry to share that we have confirmed reports of multiple shooting victims, but we are not able to share their condition. They have been transported to local hospitals."
DECEMBER 13, 6:05PM: At 4:22 p.m., we alerted our campus to an active shooter incident near Barus & Holley Engineering. We informed our community to shelter in place by locking doors, silence phones and stay hidden until further notice. This remains an active crime scene, and law enforcement continues to search for the suspect. The situation is ongoing, and all members of the community should continue to shelter in place. We are very sorry to share that we have confirmed reports of multiple shooting victims, but we are not able to share their condition. They have been transported to local hospitals. Our first priority is the safety of our community and coordinating closely with local law enforcement and medical personnel to ensure their safety. We are working immediately to determine who was in the building at the time of the shooting. We had multiple exams scheduled in that building from 2 pm to 5 pm. We can confirm that support services are on site. Senior administrative leaders from across the university are convened in emergency command to mobilize ongoing response and support for our community. We are establishing support for our community and families. We have been and continue to be very grateful to law enforcement and emergency medical personnel. We have relocated students to get support services at a secure location. Please continue to take all steps to remain safe. Follow the instructions of law enforcement personnel and avoid the area.
December 13, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Reposted by Ali Cohen
emorycollege.bsky.social
Welcome to the first (happy) faces of #Emory2030 and thanks for giving us our favorite video of the year 💙 💛

Meet the Class of 3030 (so far) ➡️ https://bit.ly/48wlyxQ
December 11, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Reposted by Ali Cohen
ninarouhani.bsky.social
I will be recruiting 🌟PhD students🌟 for my newish lab! If you're interested in learning & memory mechanisms applied to individual, interactive & collective behavior using computational modeling, real-world experiments and fMRI, email me! RTs much appreciated 🙏 rouhanilab.com
Interactive Cognition Lab | USC
Interactive Cognition Lab at USC, led by principal investigator, Dr. Nina Rouhani.
rouhanilab.com
October 24, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Reposted by Ali Cohen
neurograce.bsky.social
I wrote an op-ed for the Washington Square News about the government's attempt to extort universities. nyunews.com/opinion/gues...
Guest Essay: Unity is the only way out of Trump’s ‘compact’ - Washington Square News
Grace Lindsay is an Assistant Professor of Psychology & Data Science at New York University. Nine universities received an Oct. 1 letter from the Trump administration with an offer: If you agree to a ...
nyunews.com
October 23, 2025 at 2:27 AM
Reposted by Ali Cohen
pf-hitchcock.bsky.social
We are hiring at Emory Psychology in Developmental!

Come join a wonderful department in a great city ☀️

apply.interfolio.com/173594
Apply - Interfolio {{$ctrl.$state.data.pageTitle}} - Apply - Interfolio
apply.interfolio.com
October 7, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Reposted by Ali Cohen
brendannyhan.bsky.social
My new op-ed with @lkfazio.bsky.social:

Trump sent a 'compact' to our universities. They should reject this devil's bargain.
Any institution that yields to these broad and intrusive demands would forever be subservient to the whims of the government.
www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
October 6, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Reposted by Ali Cohen
happypig.bsky.social
Dartmouth says no.
Dartmouth’s president declines trumps compact.
October 4, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Reposted by Ali Cohen
angelaradulescu.bsky.social
Indeed! What a gift to spend a week in such a delightfully collaborative and thoughtful community ☺️ 🙏
aliocohen.bsky.social Ali Cohen @aliocohen.bsky.social · Sep 1
#Neuro4Pros 4ever 🧠🤓
Grateful for a week of learning from & being in community with fellow early career profs & amazing facilitators @gunnarblohm.bsky.social @kordinglab.bsky.social @meganakpeters.bsky.social @yaelniv.bsky.social @patrickmineault.bsky.social Hannah Bayer

📸: @mohebial.bsky.social
September 4, 2025 at 9:27 PM
aliocohen.bsky.social
#Neuro4Pros 4ever 🧠🤓
Grateful for a week of learning from & being in community with fellow early career profs & amazing facilitators @gunnarblohm.bsky.social @kordinglab.bsky.social @meganakpeters.bsky.social @yaelniv.bsky.social @patrickmineault.bsky.social Hannah Bayer

📸: @mohebial.bsky.social
September 1, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Reposted by Ali Cohen
mmarneweck.bsky.social
Run don’t walk to the #Neuro4Pros summer school if it happens again and you’re an early career prof

Thanks again for the absolute best time ⭐️ @gunnarblohm.bsky.social @kordinglab.bsky.social @yaelniv.bsky.social @meganakpeters.bsky.social @patrickmineault.bsky.social, and Hannah Bayer
gunnarblohm.bsky.social The Viking (Gunnar Blohm) @gunnarblohm.bsky.social · Aug 26
Having fun facilitating this amazing group of young Profs at the #Neuro4Pros workshop with @kordinglab.bsky.social and @meganakpeters.bsky.social, @yaelniv.bsky.social, and Hannah Bayer.

Watch out world: this is the next generation of leaders!

compneurosci.com/Neuro4Pros/i...
August 30, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Reposted by Ali Cohen
standupforscience.bsky.social
🐤Promise you this is one you'll want to say you were a part of...

Help us get our 'ducks in a row' and IMPEACH AND REMOVE THAT DANG QUACK!!!! 📣🦆📣🦆📣🦆📣🦆

Link here: tinyurl.com/sufsci
rainbow rubber duckies all in a line
August 21, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Reposted by Ali Cohen
drugmonkey.bsky.social
It is impossible to explain to civilians how it feels to finally, FINALLY, land a clearly within-payline NIH grant score and then have it go unfunded because of all this regime bullshit.

You all have my sympathies. Unfair doesn’t even begin to describe it.
August 18, 2025 at 4:14 AM
aliocohen.bsky.social
Sound Science Saves Lives. Following the attack on our neighbors at the CDC and the lockdown here at Emory, this message feels more important than ever.

Will you join the GA scientific community @ossoff.senate.gov @warnock.senate.gov @repnikema.bsky.social

www.mobilize.us/mobilize/eve...
Rally: Sound Science Saves Lives · Mobilize
Science and public research are under attack in this country. Indiscriminate cuts to federal research agencies and political interference are causing research studies to be paused, programs halted, an...
www.mobilize.us
August 11, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Reposted by Ali Cohen
cdelawalla.bsky.social
I have an incentive for rich people like you @mcuban.bsky.social

Federally funded R&D has fueled the innovation that drives American prosperity. Scores of billionaires owe their fortunes to advancements made in labs across the nation.

An investment in @standupforscience.bsky.social to help save…
mcuban.bsky.social Mark Cuban @mcuban.bsky.social · Aug 10
Want to use rich people like me to your advantage? Incent us to help those who need it the most. Lower corp taxes for comps that pay a min of $25 per hour. Lower corp taxes if employees get stock at the same pct as the CEO.

Bottom up incentives work. Dems never innovate. They bitch
August 10, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Reposted by Ali Cohen
altcdc.altgov.info
There is nothing normal about this. We refuse to allow this to be the norm.

We will not stick our heads in the sand because it’s comfortable.

Today we need to rest and recover, but we will never stop fighting for what is right.
August 9, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Reposted by Ali Cohen
profhalloran.bsky.social
I've been trying to really gently move folks I know into understanding that we will not be going back to Before™. The amount of fundamental damage that has been done to our institutions can't simply be spackled up and painted over—the cracks are in the foundation and must be repaired.
katestarbird.bsky.social Kate Starbird @katestarbird.bsky.social · Aug 4
I’ve been having a few too many conversations like this. Them: Hi Kate, how are things with your work, with the world? Me: the university is under attack, democratic norms being broken in half, so, pretty bad. Them: But everything is going to come back and be okay after the midterms. Me: Uhh, no.
August 4, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Reposted by Ali Cohen
asinclair.bsky.social
📣 New preprint from the SCIMaP team!

Across three studies, we show that communicating the economic impact of NIH funding cuts—especially with interactive quizzes and maps—decreases approval and motivates action to oppose the cuts, across the political spectrum. 🧵 1/8
osf.io/preprints/ps...
OSF
osf.io
August 4, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Reposted by Ali Cohen
standupforscience.bsky.social
📣 ANNOUNCEMENT: 31 Days of Action – All August!

Funding cuts. Banned words. Fired public servants.

Trump & his cronies are dismantling America’s greatest experiment - our democracy - & with it, science.

Between now & Sept 30th we decide: Are we a democracy… or an oligarchy?

(1/4)
A bold, patriotic-themed flyer for “31 Days of Action” by Stand Up for Science. The top half features red diagonal banners with white text reading “31 Days of Action” and the Stand Up for Science logo beneath it. The background includes blue ink splatters, red and white stars, and distressed textures evoking protest art. The right side prominently displays the Statue of Liberty in grayscale, holding her torch high. At the bottom, there is a red QR code and a blue banner with the URL: “standupforscience.net/31-DAYS-OF-ACTION”. The overall design conveys urgency, activism, and American iconography.
August 1, 2025 at 4:44 PM