AZ Faust
@azfaust.bsky.social
Mostly about grants. Some about education.
Reposted by AZ Faust
More on NSF
Here are the number grants that were active in each year (at least part) including the effects of grant terminations (data from grant-witness.us) by directorate from 2021-2025.
The only directorates showing losses are STEM Education and Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences.
Here are the number grants that were active in each year (at least part) including the effects of grant terminations (data from grant-witness.us) by directorate from 2021-2025.
The only directorates showing losses are STEM Education and Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences.
February 6, 2026 at 11:16 PM
More on NSF
Here are the number grants that were active in each year (at least part) including the effects of grant terminations (data from grant-witness.us) by directorate from 2021-2025.
The only directorates showing losses are STEM Education and Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences.
Here are the number grants that were active in each year (at least part) including the effects of grant terminations (data from grant-witness.us) by directorate from 2021-2025.
The only directorates showing losses are STEM Education and Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences.
Reposted by AZ Faust
Your Black History Moment
Not in The Epstein Files.
Not in The Epstein Files.
February 6, 2026 at 9:33 PM
Your Black History Moment
Not in The Epstein Files.
Not in The Epstein Files.
Reposted by AZ Faust
Donald Trump is a racist.
February 6, 2026 at 4:26 PM
Donald Trump is a racist.
Reposted by AZ Faust
New paper alert! The latest from my lab describing atypicalities in the processing of cues in the PFC and V1 of preterm mice trained on a visual discrimination task: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Divergent representation and processing of task cues in sensory and prefrontal cortices of preterm-born mice - Nature Communications
Here authors show that the function of prefrontal cortex, an area that controls executive function and cognition, is impaired on a cellular and network level in mice born preterm.
www.nature.com
February 5, 2026 at 10:14 PM
New paper alert! The latest from my lab describing atypicalities in the processing of cues in the PFC and V1 of preterm mice trained on a visual discrimination task: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by AZ Faust
Been on multiple search committees
For me (personally so YMMV)…I basically dismiss everything that’s labeled *submitted* unless there’s a preprint I can read
For me (personally so YMMV)…I basically dismiss everything that’s labeled *submitted* unless there’s a preprint I can read
You can read more about that experience here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Preprints as tools to advance careers - Nature Reviews Cancer
The practice of posting preprint manuscripts on servers such as bioRxiv has become increasingly common. In this Comment, Hindle and Sever explore the utility of preprints for advancing researchers…
www.nature.com
February 5, 2026 at 8:05 PM
Been on multiple search committees
For me (personally so YMMV)…I basically dismiss everything that’s labeled *submitted* unless there’s a preprint I can read
For me (personally so YMMV)…I basically dismiss everything that’s labeled *submitted* unless there’s a preprint I can read
Reposted by AZ Faust
More on NSF funding data
A deeper dive into the numbers of awards by Directorate.
1/9
A deeper dive into the numbers of awards by Directorate.
1/9
a picture of a person in the water with the words call of the deep below it
ALT: a picture of a person in the water with the words call of the deep below it
media.tenor.com
February 5, 2026 at 6:05 PM
More on NSF funding data
A deeper dive into the numbers of awards by Directorate.
1/9
A deeper dive into the numbers of awards by Directorate.
1/9
Jeremy Berg, continuing to be our national treasure
But, as they say, there is no time like the present
[OK, maybe the 1930s if you want to nitpick]
But, with some data wrangling, my first NSF Funding Curves!
2/3
[OK, maybe the 1930s if you want to nitpick]
But, with some data wrangling, my first NSF Funding Curves!
2/3
February 5, 2026 at 5:08 PM
Jeremy Berg, continuing to be our national treasure
Reposted by AZ Faust
NIGMS will have council meeting tomorrow. You can watch the open session here. nigms.nih.gov/node/145911
February 2026 National Advisory General Medical Sciences Council Meeting | National Institute of General Medical Sciences
nigms.nih.gov
February 4, 2026 at 2:04 PM
NIGMS will have council meeting tomorrow. You can watch the open session here. nigms.nih.gov/node/145911
Reposted by AZ Faust
Yeah, I’ve plenty of grad students that will disagree about not having their awards terminated.
And a bunch of PIs of GRISE, URISE and IMSD grants.
Those just being the ones I manage:
And a bunch of PIs of GRISE, URISE and IMSD grants.
Those just being the ones I manage:
One observation: Several senators brought up terminated grants. Bhattacharya kept saying the agency hasn't cut any funds. That is false.
When he says no funds have been cut, he means NIH spent all its allocated money, as required by law. In fact, a watchdog found NIH illegally impounded funds.
When he says no funds have been cut, he means NIH spent all its allocated money, as required by law. In fact, a watchdog found NIH illegally impounded funds.
February 3, 2026 at 9:18 PM
Yeah, I’ve plenty of grad students that will disagree about not having their awards terminated.
And a bunch of PIs of GRISE, URISE and IMSD grants.
Those just being the ones I manage:
And a bunch of PIs of GRISE, URISE and IMSD grants.
Those just being the ones I manage:
Reposted by AZ Faust
The original language benchmarked to FY24. Russell Vought reportedly threatened a White House veto over that language. Just so we are all clear where to place blame.
February 3, 2026 at 10:27 PM
The original language benchmarked to FY24. Russell Vought reportedly threatened a White House veto over that language. Just so we are all clear where to place blame.
I have not seen this unicorn. Everything I saw from FY2025 was that funding went entirely by scores, meaning that I saw no select pays from the small bunch I worked on. Usually I see at least a couple a year, so this stood out to me.
If there are NDs being funded, we want to hear about them!
If there are NDs being funded, we want to hear about them!
Has anyone heard about grants ND being funded or is that just a an unfounded rumor?
February 3, 2026 at 10:17 PM
I have not seen this unicorn. Everything I saw from FY2025 was that funding went entirely by scores, meaning that I saw no select pays from the small bunch I worked on. Usually I see at least a couple a year, so this stood out to me.
If there are NDs being funded, we want to hear about them!
If there are NDs being funded, we want to hear about them!
This is the key to understanding this moment. Prior experience is not useful.
I started offering career advice to two junior colleagues today in separate meetings, and both times I caught myself thinking that, if I'm honest, I don't have very good advice on navigating the current funding and job climate. I think it's important to say that no one does.
February 3, 2026 at 1:48 PM
This is the key to understanding this moment. Prior experience is not useful.
Folks, NIH is a mess.
What in the actual...??? So wild. I just received summary statements for a discussed grant in which one of the reviewers was clearly commenting on a different proposal and it was the worst score of the 3 reviewers. I have never heard of a non-score, but my point is everything seems to be a mess.
February 2, 2026 at 10:28 PM
Folks, NIH is a mess.
This is the sort of thing that abundant (or reasonably available) federal funding protects you from: having to prostrate yourself in front of immoral rich a&&holes
February 2, 2026 at 1:42 PM
This is the sort of thing that abundant (or reasonably available) federal funding protects you from: having to prostrate yourself in front of immoral rich a&&holes
I looked these names up yesterday and one thing that stuck out to me is that all of these people are invested in "living with the disease" philosophy. And it terrifies me but I think this is where we're going in the next 3 years.
[Takes deep breath]
Secretary Kennedy announced the new members for the Federal Alzheimer's Advisory Council.
www.hhs.gov/press-room/h...
1/3
Secretary Kennedy announced the new members for the Federal Alzheimer's Advisory Council.
www.hhs.gov/press-room/h...
1/3
www.hhs.gov
January 30, 2026 at 10:10 PM
I looked these names up yesterday and one thing that stuck out to me is that all of these people are invested in "living with the disease" philosophy. And it terrifies me but I think this is where we're going in the next 3 years.
IME, all the lore about "lone scientist goes against the grain and makes a big discovery" are fiction. You dig under the surface, talk to people that were there, and realize that it's always a group of people (even if just one got credit), always something that others were working on too...
Am I asking too much to ask that the Director of the National Institutes of Health gets his facts approximately correct?
There are examples that would illustrate his point, but this is not it.
This really makes me crazy; it reflects lack of knowledge, scholarship, and care.
13/14
There are examples that would illustrate his point, but this is not it.
This really makes me crazy; it reflects lack of knowledge, scholarship, and care.
13/14
January 30, 2026 at 8:24 PM
IME, all the lore about "lone scientist goes against the grain and makes a big discovery" are fiction. You dig under the surface, talk to people that were there, and realize that it's always a group of people (even if just one got credit), always something that others were working on too...
Reposted by AZ Faust
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...
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...
NOT-OD-26-021: Notice of Temporary Extension of Eligibility for the NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00)
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts: Notice of Temporary Extension of Eligibility for the NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) NOT-OD-26-021. OD
grants.nih.gov
January 30, 2026 at 4:35 PM
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...
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...
He’s right
Bullshit artists see how good LLMs are at generating bullshit, and assume everyone else's jobs can be replaced as easily.
January 29, 2026 at 10:19 PM
He’s right
If you have a preteen know that the HPV vaccine is approved for kids down to age 9. It's not on the schedule until 11 but given that this vaccine is on the chopping block, ask your pediatrician if your kids can receive it early.
As the CDC removes vaccines from its childhood schedule, vaccination rates decline and measles spreads, parents are trying to figure out how to keep their children safe — including, in some cases, by limiting their activities or seeking vaccinations early. I talked to a number of them. Gift link:
Parents Navigate a Fracturing Vaccine Landscape
www.nytimes.com
January 29, 2026 at 4:40 PM
If you have a preteen know that the HPV vaccine is approved for kids down to age 9. It's not on the schedule until 11 but given that this vaccine is on the chopping block, ask your pediatrician if your kids can receive it early.
AI will not cure cancer, story #587:
I have a client who is studying a potential therapeutic target. All the literature suggests that co-targeting their original target and another molecule should be synergistic because they participate in parallel pathways.
I have a client who is studying a potential therapeutic target. All the literature suggests that co-targeting their original target and another molecule should be synergistic because they participate in parallel pathways.
January 29, 2026 at 2:01 PM
AI will not cure cancer, story #587:
I have a client who is studying a potential therapeutic target. All the literature suggests that co-targeting their original target and another molecule should be synergistic because they participate in parallel pathways.
I have a client who is studying a potential therapeutic target. All the literature suggests that co-targeting their original target and another molecule should be synergistic because they participate in parallel pathways.
🙄
CEO of a company whose wealth depends on convincing you that LLMs are super smart says that LLMs are super smart.
CEO of a company whose wealth depends on convincing you that LLMs are super smart says that LLMs are super smart.
Anthropic CEO. "at a high level, I am concerned that LLMs are approaching (or may already have reached) the knowledge needed to create and release [biological weapons] end-to-end, and that their potential for destruction is very high." www.darioamodei.com/essay/the-ad...
January 29, 2026 at 1:54 PM
🙄
CEO of a company whose wealth depends on convincing you that LLMs are super smart says that LLMs are super smart.
CEO of a company whose wealth depends on convincing you that LLMs are super smart says that LLMs are super smart.
Reposted by AZ Faust
Another worthwhile investment is getting organized with your scientific communities (institutions, societies, etc.) to advocate for science. We’ve been taught as scientists to remain apolitical, but we no longer have that luxury.
January 29, 2026 at 1:53 AM
Another worthwhile investment is getting organized with your scientific communities (institutions, societies, etc.) to advocate for science. We’ve been taught as scientists to remain apolitical, but we no longer have that luxury.
I have been thinking about Dave's comment a lot over the last 12 hours. This round has been brutal, good scores are few and far in between (and still not sure if they're even fundable) so as I am meeting with clients, I have been pondering myself what other strategies are there.
What other strategy is there? Resubmit, resubmit and resubmit?
January 28, 2026 at 3:09 PM
I have been thinking about Dave's comment a lot over the last 12 hours. This round has been brutal, good scores are few and far in between (and still not sure if they're even fundable) so as I am meeting with clients, I have been pondering myself what other strategies are there.
Huberman decided that grifting the MAGA-sphere was more profitable than scientific integrity.
Or, perhaps, he is not looking for good faith engagement and discussion about science but rather has a different agenda with his podcast...
Coming to you (well, maybe not you, and probably not me) on CBS...
7/7
Coming to you (well, maybe not you, and probably not me) on CBS...
7/7
a penguin is holding a sign that says " coming soon "
ALT: a penguin is holding a sign that says " coming soon "
media.tenor.com
January 28, 2026 at 2:08 PM
Huberman decided that grifting the MAGA-sphere was more profitable than scientific integrity.
If this is the strategy for funding moving forward, I need to find a new job tomorrow. I certainly don't have any back channels to work, especially in this administration.
We stop talking about percentiles, paylines etc like it's the before times. Admin and leadership are still doing that because it still hasn't hit them yet. POs don't even know what the rules are anymore so grant reviews are just performative.
We're working back channels to get our grants funded.
We're working back channels to get our grants funded.
Even people who score well (10th or even 5th %ile) are left without funding. Where do we go from here?
January 28, 2026 at 1:10 AM
If this is the strategy for funding moving forward, I need to find a new job tomorrow. I certainly don't have any back channels to work, especially in this administration.