Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Brielle Ferguson @brielleryan.bsky.social · 1d

Had such a great conversation with @phdgprotein86.bsky.social. It's always great to go down memory lane with @heydrdukes.bsky.social to the early days of @blackinneuro.bsky.social, but listening back also gave me a much-needed reminder of the power of community, especially right now.

BioTechniques @biotechniques.bsky.social · 1d

Surviving isn’t enough; underrepresented groups in academia need to thrive.

In this STEM Tea episode, @phdgprotein86.bsky.social is joined by @brielleryan.bsky.social and @heydrdukes.bsky.social.
Learn why visibility is sometimes the most important step >>> www.biotechniques.com/podcasts/ste... 🧪

STEM Tea | Founding Black in Neuro

Brielle Ferguson and Angeline Dukes discuss Black in Neuro, the power of visibility in representation and critical lessons about mentorship.

www.biotechniques.com

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Brielle Ferguson @brielleryan.bsky.social · 26d

Came home to this treasure from/by the brilliant @itsafronomics.bsky.social.

Can’t wait to dig in! 🤩

A book on a counter, the title reads the double tax.

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Angeline J. Dukes, PhD @heydrdukes.bsky.social · Sep 11

#BINW25 Day 2 kicked off with an incredible panel on Science Communication & Ethics ✨

Great advice from our panelists:
•Ask the community what they want to learn!
•Be transparent about research (pros/cons, who has access, etc)
•Collaborate with others w/ similar passions

#BlackInNeuro 🧠

Four Black women panelists for the Black In Neuro conference. Three are in person seated on stage and one is joining on zoom. There is also a live ASL interpreter waiting to sign the event

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Madhu Pai, MD, PhD @madhupai.bsky.social · Sep 11

“If a new pandemic began today, mRNA vaccines are currently the only type of vaccine that could be developed quickly enough to disrupt its spread”

www.cnn.com/2025/09/10/h...

How RFK Jr.’s misguided science on mRNA vaccines is shaping policy − a vaccine expert examines the false claims | CNN

At a Sept. 4, 2025, hearing before the Senate Finance Committee, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced heated questions from numerous senators about his vaccine policies, inc...

www.cnn.com

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Roxane Gay @roxanegay.bsky.social · 29d

Meanwhile, on HBCU campuses, lockdowns after bomb threats and though I'm sure this won't interest most media types, it is worth noting: abcnews.go.com/amp/US/multi...

Multiple HBCUs under lockdown after receiving threats amid rising campus security concerns

At least six historically Black colleges enacted lockdowns after receiving threats, amid heightened concerns following recent campus violence at Utah Valley University.

abcnews.go.com

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Brielle Ferguson @brielleryan.bsky.social · 29d

Closing off our #BINW25 sessions with a panel featuring leaders in sectors beyond the bench.

Peace Olaniran, and Drs. Sheena M. Posey Norris, Korie Grayson are sharing insights from their inspiring journeys on how they navigated transitioning out of academia.

Three panelists on stage with a moderator. An ASL interpreter is signing in the background.

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Brielle Ferguson @brielleryan.bsky.social · Sep 11

Amazing conversation and learned so much! 💎💎💎

A panel of speakers on stage with the stage projected onto three screens. The audience is in the background listening intently.

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Black In Neuro @blackinneuro.bsky.social · Sep 11

Kicking off #BINW25 Day 2 with a session on science communication. We're learning from three leaders in this space on combating misinformation, science accessibility, and building visibility for underrepresented scientists.

Join the livestream here: www.youtube.com/blackinneuro...

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Brielle Ferguson @brielleryan.bsky.social · Sep 10

Happy #BINW25! What a whirlwind it's been since we started, but I credit so much of my progress to the community I've found through blackinneuro.bsky.social.

In honor of 5 years of #BIN, we'd love for you to share your Then & Now posts, just remember to use the hashtag #BlackInNeuroRollCall.

Text on a dynamic background with photos of Brielle in her lab as a postdoc and her lab at Harvard. The text reads, “Celebrating 5 years of diversifying the neurosciences. In July 2020, I was in the 3rd year of a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford, studying attention dysfunction in epilepsy. Now, I’m an assistant professor at Harvard, leading a lab investigating circuit mechanisms of attention and cognition in health and disease. #BINW25 #5YearsofBIN

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Black In Neuro @blackinneuro.bsky.social · Sep 10

Our next session is on how to best "Communicate Your Credentials" from Melissa Reitkopp. You won't want to miss these tricks of the trade for standing out in this current moment. Join the livestream below:

www.youtube.com/live/ApDxGan...

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Brielle Ferguson @brielleryan.bsky.social · Sep 10

We’re so happy to have the @alleninstitute.org and @simonsfoundation.org join us here at #BINW25.

Stop by their tables to learn more about funding, career opportunities and more!

The Simons Foundation table, with information and brochures.

The Allen Institute table, with information and brochures.

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Reposted by Brielle Ferguson

Angeline J. Dukes, PhD @heydrdukes.bsky.social · Sep 10

Happy #BlackInNeuro Week 2025!!! ❤️🎉

So much has changed over the past 5 years and we’d love to see how you’ve grown! Use the link below to make your own Then & Now post 🥰

#BINW25 #BlackInNeuroRollCall #5YearsOfBIN 🙌🏾 🧠

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Black In Neuro @blackinneuro.bsky.social · Sep 10

Our second #BINW25 hybrid session is LIVE! We’re learning from scholars around the globe about their experiences navigating academia. Join us for the #NeuroAcrossTheDiaspora Symposium below:

www.youtube.com/live/TubJDkY...

#NeuroAcrossTheDiaspora - #BINW25

YouTube video by Black In Neuro

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by Brielle Ferguson

Black In Neuro @blackinneuro.bsky.social · Sep 10

We’ve come a long way since 2020, and so have you! 🥳 Create your ‘then and now’ roll call post with the #BINW25 template using the link or QR code below.

Tag your post on social media with #BlackInNeuroRollCall

As always, we can't wait to connect with everyone 👋🏽

drive.google.com/drive/folder...

A QR code that links to https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/14yLDHkmO7qgpEu-RoKBZ24GUrER2fmk5?usp=drive_link

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Brielle Ferguson @brielleryan.bsky.social · Sep 10

@blackinneuro.bsky.social Good morning, and happy #BINW25 🎉

If you're joining on-line, check your inbox for your link to join the #BINW25 zoom. You can also follow along with livestream here: www.youtube.com/blackinneuro...

If you're joining in person, can't wait to meet you! 🤩

YouTube

Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

www.youtube.com

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Brielle Ferguson @brielleryan.bsky.social · Aug 10

Had THE best time hosting the lab at my place for the first time (minus two who were out of town). So grateful for this wonderful group of humans 🥹

The Ferguson Lab is standing on a set of stairs, from the bottom to the top. They're all facing the camera smiling wide on a summer day.

The Ferguson Lab is pictured in a selfie, with four team members smiling at the camera with Brielle.

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Brielle Ferguson @brielleryan.bsky.social · Aug 8

Had so much fun at the Boston @BlackInNeuro social. 🥳 So beautiful to see these local communities forming.

A large group of people sitting at a long table outside all facing toward the camera smiling wide.

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Brielle Ferguson @brielleryan.bsky.social · Jul 3

Congrats!!! So incredibly well deserved 🎉🎉🥳🥳🥳

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Theanne Griffith, PhD 🇧🇧👩🏽‍🔬🇭🇷 @doctheagrif.bsky.social · Jun 19

I’m so honored to be selected as both a 2025 McKnight Scholar and 2025 HHMI Freeman Hrabowski Scholar. And I couldn’t be prouder to share these honors with awesome @ucdavis.bsky.social colleagues 💙💛💙💛

health.ucdavis.edu/news/headlin...

UC Davis researchers honored by McKnight and Howard Hughes Medical Institute

UC Davis faculty Sergey Stavisky, Theanne Griffith and Elisa Zhang receive prestigious early-career recognition from McKnight Endowment Fund and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

health.ucdavis.edu

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Ishmail Abdus-Saboor @ishmailsaboor.bsky.social · Jul 2

I am happy to share that I’ve been awarded tenure here at Columbia University. Alhamdulillah. I thank my wife, parents, mentors, colleagues, friends, and family. I thank my lab members, present and past, for entrusting their careers in my hands and making this a thrilling journey.

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Brielle Ferguson @brielleryan.bsky.social · Jul 2

A late shout out to my first graduate student, Ricky, for crushing his qualifying exam. Such a big milestone, and super excited to see all you accomplish.

Wins can feel like they’re hard to come by these days, so celebrating all of them!! Congrats to the new PhD candidate!!🎉🥳

Ricky, standing holding balloons and cupcakes, smiling wide. The balloons are decorated with “Ricky’s PQE”.

Ricky, standing holding balloons next to Brielle, smiling wide.

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Beth Stevens @bethstevenslab.bsky.social · May 9

Let’s get the word out about the importance of federal funding of curiosity -driven science
We all have similar stories to share

Harvard Brain Science Initiative @harvardbrainsci.bsky.social · May 7

Protecting the Brain Requires Persistence
@bethstevenslab.bsky.social, NIH-supported investigator of Alzheimer’s and other disorders, explains how one discovery can lead to another.
news.harvard.edu/gazette/stor...

Taking the long view on Alzheimer’s — Harvard Gazette %

Beth Stevens' work has built a foundation for new kinds of medicines to treat neurodegenerative diseases. "I was just following the science."

news.harvard.edu

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Brielle Ferguson @brielleryan.bsky.social · May 7

Something good - Got to share space with one of the GOATs when I hosted @KafuiDzirasa a few weeks ago for our seminar series. Always the inspiration, even in this moment, the visit left me feeling motivated and energized to keep on keeping on.

Brielle and Kaf are pictured sitting on a stage, facing the camera, smiling wide.

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Talia Lerner @talialerner.bsky.social · Apr 29

All NIDA F31 diversity scholars officially losing their funding...

I barely have words.

Expected at this point but so so disappointing and unfair. We are effectively punishing some of America's best science students for telling the government they are from an underrepresented community.

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Black In Neuro @blackinneuro.bsky.social · Apr 28

Join us this Friday for our next #BlackInNeuroSeminarSeries with @brielleryan.bsky.social ! 🧠✨
Assistant Professor @harvardmed.bsky.social & BIN Co-Founder! She’s sharing her neuroscience!
📅 May 2 | 🕛 12PM ET
Don't miss it! 🔥
us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

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