Liz Chrastil
@chrastil.bsky.social
spatial neuroscience researcher, associate professor at UC Irvine, creator of virtual environments, lover of mazes
faculty.sites.uci.edu/spatialneuro/
faculty.sites.uci.edu/spatialneuro/
Reposted by Liz Chrastil
We’re hiring! The Suthana Lab @ Duke is looking for a Research Assistant to join our team studying human memory & real-world 🧠 dynamics using wearable tech & intracranial recordings.
Apply: careers.duke.edu/job/Durham-C...
You can also email [email protected] with CV/questions. Please share!
Apply: careers.duke.edu/job/Durham-C...
You can also email [email protected] with CV/questions. Please share!
February 5, 2026 at 4:41 PM
We’re hiring! The Suthana Lab @ Duke is looking for a Research Assistant to join our team studying human memory & real-world 🧠 dynamics using wearable tech & intracranial recordings.
Apply: careers.duke.edu/job/Durham-C...
You can also email [email protected] with CV/questions. Please share!
Apply: careers.duke.edu/job/Durham-C...
You can also email [email protected] with CV/questions. Please share!
Reposted by Liz Chrastil
It shouldn't take having a 5yo to be sick imagining the terror felt by a child still little enough to be held and rocked when scary things happen and by his frantic family members, but I do have a 5yo and thinking of this little guy shoved into a van, a cell, a plane, another van, another cell ...
A five-year-old boy seized on his way home in Minnesota and now locked up in Texas. His family didn't know where he was for 24 hours.
Here’s the report from KARE. The boy is five-year-old Liam Ramos.
January 21, 2026 at 11:43 PM
It shouldn't take having a 5yo to be sick imagining the terror felt by a child still little enough to be held and rocked when scary things happen and by his frantic family members, but I do have a 5yo and thinking of this little guy shoved into a van, a cell, a plane, another van, another cell ...
Reposted by Liz Chrastil
Multidisciplinary training, over time, produces the highest impact people
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Recent discoveries on the acquisition of the highest levels of human performance
Scientists have long debated the origins of exceptional human achievements. This literature review summarizes recent evidence from multiple domains on the acquisition of world-class performance. We re...
www.science.org
December 20, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Multidisciplinary training, over time, produces the highest impact people
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Liz Chrastil
The way to make this matter is for the outrage from the general public to become more of a problem than the Trump Regime's outrage. A thing we know is possible from Jimmy Kimmel.
So far, so good. Keep going.
So far, so good. Keep going.
Per NY Times’s Michael Grynbaum on X, this is Sharyn Alfonsi’s email to her “60 Minutes” colleagues in full:
December 22, 2025 at 4:20 AM
The way to make this matter is for the outrage from the general public to become more of a problem than the Trump Regime's outrage. A thing we know is possible from Jimmy Kimmel.
So far, so good. Keep going.
So far, so good. Keep going.
Reposted by Liz Chrastil
This afternoon, I was in a meeting with Jay Bhattacharya, and I can confirm this is *exactly* what he both wants and will be doing.
THIS IS NOT HYPERBOLE.
THIS IS NOT HYPERBOLE.
I missed this from a couple of weeks ago, but if you're an NIH-funded investigator, please read.
Peer review will exist to make things look legitimate, but can, and will, be over-ruled. Funding decisions, ultimately, will be done by political appointees.
grants.nih.gov/news-events/...
Peer review will exist to make things look legitimate, but can, and will, be over-ruled. Funding decisions, ultimately, will be done by political appointees.
grants.nih.gov/news-events/...
Implementing a Unified NIH Funding Strategy to Guide Consistent and Clearer Award Decisions | Grants & Funding
grants.nih.gov
December 5, 2025 at 10:07 PM
This afternoon, I was in a meeting with Jay Bhattacharya, and I can confirm this is *exactly* what he both wants and will be doing.
THIS IS NOT HYPERBOLE.
THIS IS NOT HYPERBOLE.
Huge congratulations to my students Erica and Daniela who defended their PhD thesis this week! Plus a rainbow after one of them, seems very fitting for the whole process!
November 26, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Huge congratulations to my students Erica and Daniela who defended their PhD thesis this week! Plus a rainbow after one of them, seems very fitting for the whole process!
Reposted by Liz Chrastil
In Buzzy Papers we set out to compile some of the most exciting neuroscience papers published in the past two years! A panel of 10 neuroscientists selected the papers from a preliminary list our editorial team assembled by considering publications in top neuroscience journals
The field is buzzing about work on brain-computer interfaces for speech, the mechanism of psychedelics, a broader definition of hippocampal representations and more.
www.thetransmitter.org/community/th...
#neuroskyence #StateOfNeuroscience
www.thetransmitter.org/community/th...
#neuroskyence #StateOfNeuroscience
November 20, 2025 at 3:11 AM
Come see our lab's posters at #SfN2025!
With great work including @alinatu.bsky.social @mjstarrett.bsky.social @aaronbornstein.bsky.social and more!
With great work including @alinatu.bsky.social @mjstarrett.bsky.social @aaronbornstein.bsky.social and more!
November 15, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Come see our lab's posters at #SfN2025!
With great work including @alinatu.bsky.social @mjstarrett.bsky.social @aaronbornstein.bsky.social and more!
With great work including @alinatu.bsky.social @mjstarrett.bsky.social @aaronbornstein.bsky.social and more!
Reposted by Liz Chrastil
In a major win for UC faculty groups and unions that sued, a federal judge on Friday blocked the Trump from imposing a $1.2-billion fine on UCLA along with stipulations for deep campus changes in exchange for being eligible for federal grants: www.latimes.com/california/s...
Judge blocks Trump administration push to fine UCLA $1.2 billion for alleged antisemitism
A federal judge late Friday issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration from imposing a $1.2-billion fine on UCLA for alleged civil rights violations over antisemitism, its recog...
www.latimes.com
November 15, 2025 at 4:12 AM
In a major win for UC faculty groups and unions that sued, a federal judge on Friday blocked the Trump from imposing a $1.2-billion fine on UCLA along with stipulations for deep campus changes in exchange for being eligible for federal grants: www.latimes.com/california/s...
Reposted by Liz Chrastil
Want a party that actually fights back? Run for office. We’ll help you. runforwhat.net
Run for Something
Find offices you can run for
runforwhat.net
November 10, 2025 at 12:38 AM
Want a party that actually fights back? Run for office. We’ll help you. runforwhat.net
Reposted by Liz Chrastil
I wonder what it feels like to be so alienated from God and humanity that causing the deaths of over half a million people doesn't wrack your entire body and soul, doesn't tear you apart with grief and horror, doesn't haunt your every waking moment and torment your every minute of sleep.
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 7, 2025 at 5:35 AM
I wonder what it feels like to be so alienated from God and humanity that causing the deaths of over half a million people doesn't wrack your entire body and soul, doesn't tear you apart with grief and horror, doesn't haunt your every waking moment and torment your every minute of sleep.
Reposted by Liz Chrastil
“Of all the words spoken in opposition to, or aghast at what’s happening in the United States, only one set of remarks has rattled in my head day after day, for going on a month now.”
Compelling and insightful article today from @brianbeutler.bsky.social
1/
Compelling and insightful article today from @brianbeutler.bsky.social
1/
The Defiant Resistance Speech An American Should Have Given
There's power waiting to be claimed by an ambitious political figure who makes this his or her cause.
www.offmessage.net
November 1, 2025 at 12:23 AM
“Of all the words spoken in opposition to, or aghast at what’s happening in the United States, only one set of remarks has rattled in my head day after day, for going on a month now.”
Compelling and insightful article today from @brianbeutler.bsky.social
1/
Compelling and insightful article today from @brianbeutler.bsky.social
1/
Reposted by Liz Chrastil
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
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
Reposted by Liz Chrastil
I don’t know who needs to hear this but the CDC is being eviscerated right now. America is not going to have any kind of outbreak response capacity after tonight. Americans’ health data is no longer secure. Say goodbye to federal public health in any capacity. It’s a disaster. We won’t recover.
October 11, 2025 at 3:05 AM
I don’t know who needs to hear this but the CDC is being eviscerated right now. America is not going to have any kind of outbreak response capacity after tonight. Americans’ health data is no longer secure. Say goodbye to federal public health in any capacity. It’s a disaster. We won’t recover.
Reposted by Liz Chrastil
BREAKING: A federal judge has granted a restraining order blocking President Trump's call-up of the National Guard in Portland.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
October 4, 2025 at 11:44 PM
BREAKING: A federal judge has granted a restraining order blocking President Trump's call-up of the National Guard in Portland.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Liz Chrastil
🚨 Are you an alum from one of the 9 universities Trump is attempting to extort right now?
✍️ Sign this petition to defend your university, free speech, and democracy. I signed.
This is a time for courage, not capitulation.
#JustSayNo #Compact 🧪🧠🧬
(context in thread)
✍️ Sign this petition to defend your university, free speech, and democracy. I signed.
This is a time for courage, not capitulation.
#JustSayNo #Compact 🧪🧠🧬
(context in thread)
Trump attacks 9 universities: Sign the alumni petition to defend your school now
Are you an alum outraged by Trump's attacks on universities? Defend your school now by signing this alumni petition in support of these 9 universities as well as campus communities across America.
alumni.controlshift.app
October 3, 2025 at 7:27 PM
🚨 Are you an alum from one of the 9 universities Trump is attempting to extort right now?
✍️ Sign this petition to defend your university, free speech, and democracy. I signed.
This is a time for courage, not capitulation.
#JustSayNo #Compact 🧪🧠🧬
(context in thread)
✍️ Sign this petition to defend your university, free speech, and democracy. I signed.
This is a time for courage, not capitulation.
#JustSayNo #Compact 🧪🧠🧬
(context in thread)
Reposted by Liz Chrastil
ER doc here! This is a lie. Wait times are up because the American healthcare system is an unsustainable business model and a for-profit national healthcare system just doesn’t work. These problems will continue to get worse until we change that system. It literally has nothing to do with immigrants
Vance: "If you're an American citizen & you've been to the hospital in the last few years, you've probably noticed wait times are especially large & very often somebody who's there in the ER is an illegal alien. Why do those people get healthcare benefits at hospitals paid for by American citizens?"
October 1, 2025 at 6:49 PM
ER doc here! This is a lie. Wait times are up because the American healthcare system is an unsustainable business model and a for-profit national healthcare system just doesn’t work. These problems will continue to get worse until we change that system. It literally has nothing to do with immigrants
Reposted by Liz Chrastil
the president of the united states wants to use the american military to kill american citizens on american soil. that's the whole story!
September 30, 2025 at 2:43 PM
the president of the united states wants to use the american military to kill american citizens on american soil. that's the whole story!
Reposted by Liz Chrastil
The NIH has confirmed that it is complying with court orders and re-instating $500 million in frozen research grants to UCLA, Vice Chancellor for Research & Creative Activities Roger Wakimoto wrote today. He says workers “have shown great resilience in this challenging time.”
September 24, 2025 at 10:08 PM
The NIH has confirmed that it is complying with court orders and re-instating $500 million in frozen research grants to UCLA, Vice Chancellor for Research & Creative Activities Roger Wakimoto wrote today. He says workers “have shown great resilience in this challenging time.”
Reposted by Liz Chrastil
Huntington’s disease treated successfully for first time in gene therapy trial
Huntington’s disease treated successfully for first time in gene therapy trial
UCL trialled hours-long surgical procedure to treat disease which causes dementia and paralysis
Huntington’s disease, a devastating degenerative illness that runs in families, has been treated successfully for the first time in a breakthrough gene therapy trial.
The disease, caused by a single gene defect, steadily kills brain cells leading to dementia, paralysis and ultimately death. Those with a parent with Huntington’s have a 50% chance of developing the disease, which until now has been incurable. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
September 24, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Huntington’s disease treated successfully for first time in gene therapy trial
Reposted by Liz Chrastil
While I am genuinely concerned for my colleagues who are doctors currently on H1B visas, I acknowledge that I can't make people care about other humans.
But American *should* care about the fact that their ability to get medical care WILL be affected by these visa restrictions.
But American *should* care about the fact that their ability to get medical care WILL be affected by these visa restrictions.
23% of all resident medical doctors are on H1B, many working in rural and underserved hospitals because those hospitals have trouble getting doctors to move to Danville, VA or Salina, KS.
www.business-standard.com/amp/immigrat...
www.business-standard.com/amp/immigrat...
www.business-standard.com
September 21, 2025 at 8:13 PM
While I am genuinely concerned for my colleagues who are doctors currently on H1B visas, I acknowledge that I can't make people care about other humans.
But American *should* care about the fact that their ability to get medical care WILL be affected by these visa restrictions.
But American *should* care about the fact that their ability to get medical care WILL be affected by these visa restrictions.
Reposted by Liz Chrastil
Asking journalists to sign a pledge not to disclose anything the Pentagon doesn’t want you to see just as Pentagon is:
-sending troops into US cities
-illegally murdering alleged low level drug runners
-possibly preparing to invade Venezuela
-sending troops into US cities
-illegally murdering alleged low level drug runners
-possibly preparing to invade Venezuela
The Pentagon is implementing new guidelines that will require journalists to sign a pledge and agree to report only approved and officially released information.
Defense Secretary Hegseth requires new 'pledge' for reporters at the Pentagon
The Pentagon is implementing new guidelines that will require journalists to sign a pledge and agree to report only approved and officially released information.
www.npr.org
September 20, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Asking journalists to sign a pledge not to disclose anything the Pentagon doesn’t want you to see just as Pentagon is:
-sending troops into US cities
-illegally murdering alleged low level drug runners
-possibly preparing to invade Venezuela
-sending troops into US cities
-illegally murdering alleged low level drug runners
-possibly preparing to invade Venezuela
Reposted by Liz Chrastil
This thread.
Free speech to say the things conservatives want to say and hear.
But dare to criticize, simply quote what they say, or state what they do?
1/2
Free speech to say the things conservatives want to say and hear.
But dare to criticize, simply quote what they say, or state what they do?
1/2
Here's a partial list of university faculty who have been fired or suspended this week. 🧵
How are free speech and academic freedom doing at your university?
#academicsky #edusky #aaup #freespeech
1/x
1. A tenured Professor at Florida Atlantic:
How are free speech and academic freedom doing at your university?
#academicsky #edusky #aaup #freespeech
1/x
1. A tenured Professor at Florida Atlantic:
FAU professor put on leave after social media comments about Charlie Kirk assassination
FAU President Adam Hasner released a statement Saturday on X, saying he became aware of repeated comments made online by the professor.
www.palmbeachpost.com
September 16, 2025 at 2:37 PM
This thread.
Free speech to say the things conservatives want to say and hear.
But dare to criticize, simply quote what they say, or state what they do?
1/2
Free speech to say the things conservatives want to say and hear.
But dare to criticize, simply quote what they say, or state what they do?
1/2
Yes come work with us!!
Come work with us! UC Irvine Cognitive Sciences is looking for a new Assistant Professor to join our team: recruit.ap.uci.edu/JPF09896
I'm not on the committee, but happy to talk if you're interested.
I'm not on the committee, but happy to talk if you're interested.
Assistant Professor - Cognitive Sciences
University of California, Irvine is hiring. Apply now!
recruit.ap.uci.edu
September 12, 2025 at 4:36 AM
Yes come work with us!!