Chrystal Starbird
@drstarbird.bsky.social
Scientist, mother, perpetual learner. Assistant Professor, Structural Biologist, Advocate, and Speaker. Views my own.
signal @starbic.01
www.starbirdlab.com
signal @starbic.01
www.starbirdlab.com
Pinned
Chrystal Starbird
@drstarbird.bsky.social
· Nov 11
Hi All! I’m a structural biologist who studies the structural basis of signaling via RTKs. I’m a new Assistant Professor at UNC and a #firstgen scholar who fights to make science accessible! I’m a bit spicy 😁, but try my best to lead with kindness. A recent lab outing:
Y’all…we worked and Biochemistry was ahead but suddenly Immuno came back strong to steal the lead (😁). Let’s take back and lead and support our students! Details below #ABRCMS2025
abrcms.org/donate/stude...
abrcms.org/donate/stude...
ABRCMS Fundraising - Student Presentation Awards - ABRCMS
Judges – Help Us Raise Funds for Student Presentation Awards Thank you for your service as a judge at ABRCMS. Your dedication has helped shape the future of countless student scientists, and we’re dee...
abrcms.org
November 23, 2025 at 2:29 AM
Y’all…we worked and Biochemistry was ahead but suddenly Immuno came back strong to steal the lead (😁). Let’s take back and lead and support our students! Details below #ABRCMS2025
abrcms.org/donate/stude...
abrcms.org/donate/stude...
PAIR-UP session is about to start in 210A/B. Please come hear about some funded science and community building!
November 22, 2025 at 6:09 PM
PAIR-UP session is about to start in 210A/B. Please come hear about some funded science and community building!
Reposted by Chrystal Starbird
This week, I withdrew from a speaking engagement at a public university because they sent me a list of prohibited “words & concepts.” I will not humor this censorship. It does a disservice to the stories I’m discussing & the audience, who deserve unfettered access to information & conversation.
November 20, 2025 at 10:20 PM
This week, I withdrew from a speaking engagement at a public university because they sent me a list of prohibited “words & concepts.” I will not humor this censorship. It does a disservice to the stories I’m discussing & the audience, who deserve unfettered access to information & conversation.
I love it when songs tell people’s ages😁
November 21, 2025 at 6:28 AM
I love it when songs tell people’s ages😁
Reposted by Chrystal Starbird
Thrilled to be at ABRCMS in San Antonio to support the theme of “Empowering future leaders in the Scientific Workforce”- this meeting always reminds me of the promise for the future of science! @dmortonphd.bsky.social #RNA
November 20, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Thrilled to be at ABRCMS in San Antonio to support the theme of “Empowering future leaders in the Scientific Workforce”- this meeting always reminds me of the promise for the future of science! @dmortonphd.bsky.social #RNA
We are SO excited to be at #ABRCMS2025! There are a few opportunities to hear from my lab. Nicole is applying to graduate school and Lesley to medical school, and both have been excellent additions to my lab! Come see their posters today!
November 20, 2025 at 1:51 PM
We are SO excited to be at #ABRCMS2025! There are a few opportunities to hear from my lab. Nicole is applying to graduate school and Lesley to medical school, and both have been excellent additions to my lab! Come see their posters today!
We’re here! #SanAntonio #ABRCMS2025
November 19, 2025 at 9:10 PM
We’re here! #SanAntonio #ABRCMS2025
We just had to pull up and abort a landing because there were “too many planes approaching at the same time” 😬😰😬
My husband just told me he had a nightmare about a plane crash last night… as he drives me to the airport 😬🙏🏾
November 19, 2025 at 3:25 PM
We just had to pull up and abort a landing because there were “too many planes approaching at the same time” 😬😰😬
My husband just told me he had a nightmare about a plane crash last night… as he drives me to the airport 😬🙏🏾
November 19, 2025 at 11:28 AM
My husband just told me he had a nightmare about a plane crash last night… as he drives me to the airport 😬🙏🏾
Reposted by Chrystal Starbird
ICE has been spotted in Durham today and people are scared but also mobilizing to support our neighbors on a level that's honestly awe-inspiring. If you want to help locally or donate from anywhere, Siembra NC is doing incredible organizing work already www.siembranc.org
November 18, 2025 at 8:07 PM
ICE has been spotted in Durham today and people are scared but also mobilizing to support our neighbors on a level that's honestly awe-inspiring. If you want to help locally or donate from anywhere, Siembra NC is doing incredible organizing work already www.siembranc.org
If you’re going to be at #ABRCMS, there are a few opportunities to hear from my lab. Nicole is currently applying to graduate school and Lesley is applying to medical school, and both have been EXCELLENT additions to my lab. Come hear about their work! 👇🏾
November 17, 2025 at 3:54 PM
If you’re going to be at #ABRCMS, there are a few opportunities to hear from my lab. Nicole is currently applying to graduate school and Lesley is applying to medical school, and both have been EXCELLENT additions to my lab. Come hear about their work! 👇🏾
I just spent the evening learning about tornados from my 12 year old. I learned about CAPE, PWAT, surface rh, hodographs, etc. and some things I knew about, like the Venturi effect. I mean, he was drawing graphs, diagrams, and equations. I had no idea he knew this much 🤯
November 16, 2025 at 3:48 AM
I just spent the evening learning about tornados from my 12 year old. I learned about CAPE, PWAT, surface rh, hodographs, etc. and some things I knew about, like the Venturi effect. I mean, he was drawing graphs, diagrams, and equations. I had no idea he knew this much 🤯
Reposted by Chrystal Starbird
A bad thing is unfolding at NIH this week: It looks like the Trump administration is trying to replace key civil servant scientific leaders, the Institute Directors, with political hires. These directors control the NIH budget, tens of billions.
A bit of a video explainer here: 1/ 🧪
A bit of a video explainer here: 1/ 🧪
November 13, 2025 at 10:31 PM
A bad thing is unfolding at NIH this week: It looks like the Trump administration is trying to replace key civil servant scientific leaders, the Institute Directors, with political hires. These directors control the NIH budget, tens of billions.
A bit of a video explainer here: 1/ 🧪
A bit of a video explainer here: 1/ 🧪
Reposted by Chrystal Starbird
Multiple tenure-track faculty positions at the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center in Chapel Hill!
We seek creative scientists working in fundamental molecular, cellular, and computational areas. Basic and translational cancer research, all ranks.
unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/309...
We seek creative scientists working in fundamental molecular, cellular, and computational areas. Basic and translational cancer research, all ranks.
unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/309...
Open Rank
The UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, in collaboration with departments in the School of Medicine and across the entire University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is seeking outstanding ca...
unc.peopleadmin.com
November 14, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Multiple tenure-track faculty positions at the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center in Chapel Hill!
We seek creative scientists working in fundamental molecular, cellular, and computational areas. Basic and translational cancer research, all ranks.
unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/309...
We seek creative scientists working in fundamental molecular, cellular, and computational areas. Basic and translational cancer research, all ranks.
unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/309...
Reposted by Chrystal Starbird
New preprint 🥳! We made photoclickable HaloTag ligands to precisely control protein labeling on living cells. With it, we can do some cool multicolor stuff. Huge congrats to Franzi and all co-authors! Check it out 👇
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
November 13, 2025 at 4:20 PM
New preprint 🥳! We made photoclickable HaloTag ligands to precisely control protein labeling on living cells. With it, we can do some cool multicolor stuff. Huge congrats to Franzi and all co-authors! Check it out 👇
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Chrystal Starbird
NEW: Jenna Norton, an NIH employee who is openly critical of Trump & RFK Jr, has been put on "non-disciplinary" administrative leave. She says the administration is trying to "scare and silence me." An HHS official, asked to comment, called her a radical leftist.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/u...
N.I.H. Worker Who Criticized Trump Health Policies Says She Is on Administrative Leave
www.nytimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:56 AM
NEW: Jenna Norton, an NIH employee who is openly critical of Trump & RFK Jr, has been put on "non-disciplinary" administrative leave. She says the administration is trying to "scare and silence me." An HHS official, asked to comment, called her a radical leftist.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/u...
Reposted by Chrystal Starbird
Holy crap. They're triaging 2 out of 3 applications that are submitted. 2 out of every 3 applications will not even have a chance for discussion.
Just got an email from my SRO for the study section that was missed in October. Good news is that they are trying to reschedule ASAP (Dec/Jan). The bad news is that CSR is mandating that only the the top third (not half) of applications will get discussed for the next 2 rounds.
November 13, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Holy crap. They're triaging 2 out of 3 applications that are submitted. 2 out of every 3 applications will not even have a chance for discussion.
Sharing this jic others with alpha-gal syndrome haven’t heard of options like this. Thanks @peiferlabunc.bsky.social for the tip!
amaroohills.com/collections/...
amaroohills.com/collections/...
November 14, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Sharing this jic others with alpha-gal syndrome haven’t heard of options like this. Thanks @peiferlabunc.bsky.social for the tip!
amaroohills.com/collections/...
amaroohills.com/collections/...
I experienced this for several years (thankfully not forever). It’s so hard to diagnose because the reactions often happen hours after exposure. Thankfully I had an allergist who asked about recent tick bites and could make the connection before it got worse. My heart goes out to this family.
A 47-year-old airline pilot from New Jersey is the first person known to have died from alpha-gal syndrome, a red meat allergy caused by a tick bite. on.nbcboston.com/ybvB4e5
First death reported from meat allergy caused by tick bite
After months of investigation, researchers confirmed that a New Jersey man died of a tickborne allergy called alpha-gal syndrome after eating a hamburger.
on.nbcboston.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:07 AM
I experienced this for several years (thankfully not forever). It’s so hard to diagnose because the reactions often happen hours after exposure. Thankfully I had an allergist who asked about recent tick bites and could make the connection before it got worse. My heart goes out to this family.
Reposted by Chrystal Starbird
@gabbygrowsxtals.bsky.social Operations Manager in the @getacrystal.bsky.social & Research Scientist extraordinaire in my research group, is a candidate to join the Communications Committee for ACA @acastructuralsci.bsky.social!! 👩🏻🔬 🧪 🔬 💎 🎙️
Vote in ACA election by tomorrow 11/14!
Vote in ACA election by tomorrow 11/14!
November 13, 2025 at 6:26 PM
@gabbygrowsxtals.bsky.social Operations Manager in the @getacrystal.bsky.social & Research Scientist extraordinaire in my research group, is a candidate to join the Communications Committee for ACA @acastructuralsci.bsky.social!! 👩🏻🔬 🧪 🔬 💎 🎙️
Vote in ACA election by tomorrow 11/14!
Vote in ACA election by tomorrow 11/14!
Reposted by Chrystal Starbird
After 10 years, I am stepping down as chair of our department and we have an active search going on! Utah is a phenomenal place to live and work and it's been the honor of a lifetime chairing the department founded by Lou Goodman. #MedSky #Neuroskyence Repost!
jobs.chronicle.com/job/37914733...
jobs.chronicle.com/job/37914733...
Chair of Pharmacology and Toxicology - Salt Lake City, Utah job with The University of Utah | 37914733
The University of Utah seeks a Chair of Pharmacology and Toxicology
jobs.chronicle.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:28 PM
After 10 years, I am stepping down as chair of our department and we have an active search going on! Utah is a phenomenal place to live and work and it's been the honor of a lifetime chairing the department founded by Lou Goodman. #MedSky #Neuroskyence Repost!
jobs.chronicle.com/job/37914733...
jobs.chronicle.com/job/37914733...
There is SO much hurt. I’ve generally been quieter and focused on living and being present. But between personal and professional losses for my friends and community, most of what I hear is painful. I hope everyone is doing what they can to maintain as much peace and joy as you can in this moment 🙏🏾
November 13, 2025 at 4:48 PM
There is SO much hurt. I’ve generally been quieter and focused on living and being present. But between personal and professional losses for my friends and community, most of what I hear is painful. I hope everyone is doing what they can to maintain as much peace and joy as you can in this moment 🙏🏾
Reposted by Chrystal Starbird
I received this email about Democrats caving to end the shutdown from one of the SNAP recipients I spoke to:
November 10, 2025 at 2:17 PM
I received this email about Democrats caving to end the shutdown from one of the SNAP recipients I spoke to:
Must be nice to have the Supreme Court on speed dial
November 8, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Must be nice to have the Supreme Court on speed dial