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Jo Handelsman, PhD

@johandelsman.bsky.social

160 followers 110 following 12 posts

microbiologist, Director of the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery and Professor of Plant Pathology; Chair of the Coalition for the Life Sciences; committed to studying microbial communities and STEM education. @jo44atWID

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Biology 48%

Agriculture 23%

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Reposted by Jo Handelsman, Sarah Mitchell

Seth Judson @sethjudson.bsky.social · Feb 22

A whole generation of early career scientists and physician-scientists, including colleagues and myself, are particularly vulnerable to these funding freezes and cuts, with jobs and careers depending on federal grants.

#IDsky
#Medsky
#Episky

www.science.org/content/arti...

U.S. early-career researchers struggling amid chaos

Uncertain funding, government firings, and distressed universities hit vulnerable groups especially hard

www.science.org

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Reposted by Jo Handelsman

Tiny Earth @tinyearthnet.bsky.social · Jul 1

Congrats to the June 2025 cohort of TEPIs! Ten instructors from three countries participated in Canada’s first TEPI training at Carleton University in Ottawa where they learned how to implement the Tiny Earth research flow and scientific teaching principles. Welcome to the Tiny Earth community!

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Jo Handelsman, PhD @johandelsman.bsky.social · May 29

www.regulations.gov/commenton/OP...

Jo Handelsman, PhD @johandelsman.bsky.social · May 29

Calling all scientists to comment on this proposed rule by June 7th.

Jo Handelsman, PhD @johandelsman.bsky.social · May 29

The Administration proposes to change positions of scientific officers in federal agencies to political appointees. If you wish to learn more or comment, the Federal Register is open for comment until June 7.

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Reposted by Jo Handelsman

Coalition for Life Sciences @c4lifesciences.bsky.social · May 28

Today CLS objected to the proposed politicization of staff positions at US Science Agencies, particularly program managers whose expertise is critical to a strong and vibrant innovation ecosystem.

#ScheduleF

www.coalitionforlifesciences.org

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Reposted by Jo Handelsman, Martin Parker

Woke Willy @wokewilly.bsky.social · Apr 29

🤣🦅🤣

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Reposted by Jo Handelsman, Erica Smith

Dave Levitan @davelevitan.bsky.social · Apr 29

NEW: Per multiple sources, the National Cancer Institute’s Board of Scientific Advisors has been entirely disbanded.

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Reposted by Jo Handelsman, Anita Guerrini, Shannon M. Monnat , and 1 more Jo Handelsman, Anita Guerrini, Shannon M. Monnat, Katrina M. Walsemann

Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · Apr 28

Deaths from heart disease down 75%, that’s NIH.

Deaths from stroke down 75%, that’s NIH.

HIV/AIDS no longer a death sentence, that’s NIH.

99% of FDA approved drugs in the last decade, that’s NIH.

Please show this video to anyone who doesn’t understand why the NIH is so important.

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Reposted by Jo Handelsman

ASM @asm.org · Apr 28

Call for Abstracts now open for the 2025 ASM Conference on Biofilms! Submit your abstract and showcase your innovative research to a global audience of peers and professionals. 📢 Submit your research: asm.social/2o5

ASM Conference on Biofilms 2025 call for abstracts now open.

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Reposted by Jo Handelsman

Coalition for Life Sciences @c4lifesciences.bsky.social · Apr 28

CLS stormed Capitol Hill Thursday, delivering our message of the terrible consequences from abrupt terminations of grants.

www.coalitionforlifesciences.org/cls-calls-on...

@needhibhalla.bsky.social @johandelsman.bsky.social

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Reposted by Jo Handelsman

Marc Chevrette @wildtypemc.bsky.social · Apr 27

antiSMASH8: The Ocho

Manuscript is out!
doi.org/10.1093/nar/...

antiSMASH 8.0: extended gene cluster detection capabilities and analyses of chemistry, enzymology, and regulation

Abstract. Microorganisms synthesize small bioactive compounds through their secondary or specialized metabolism. Those compounds play an important role in

doi.org

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Jo Handelsman, PhD @johandelsman.bsky.social · Apr 19

Please share the letter from the Coalition for the Life Sciences re termination of ongoing NIH grants. It's a breach trust betw researchers and govt, bad for trainees, potentially fatal for patients in clinical trials, and diminishes the US science. www.coalitionforlifesciences.org/cls-calls-on...

CLS Calls on the Trump Administration to Restore Research Funding - The Coalition for the Life Sciences

On April 14, 2025, CLS Chair Jo Handelsman and Exec Director Adrienne Hallett sent a letter outlining the tremendous consequences of terminating research and asking that it be reinstated.

www.coalitionforlifesciences.org

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Jo Handelsman, PhD @johandelsman.bsky.social · Mar 10

Did you miss my @npr.org Wisconsin Today interview with Kate Archer Kent? You're in luck. Here it is again with a transcript! www.wpr.org/news/nih-fun...

NIH funding cuts 'a travesty to biomedical research,' says UW research director

Layoffs are likely and clinical trials could be interrupted if funding is cut, Jo Handelsman says.

www.wpr.org

Jo Handelsman, PhD @johandelsman.bsky.social · Mar 3

“To be blunt, it’s disastrous if it would happen.” I spoke to City Cast Madison host Bianca Martin on today’s podcast about proposed federal funding cuts to science.

Federal Funding Cuts Could Be “Disastrous” for UW by City Cast Madison

megaphone.link

Reposted by Jo Handelsman

Coalition for Life Sciences @c4lifesciences.bsky.social · Feb 25

www.statnews.com/2025/02/24/s...

Some NIH study sections will resume reviewing grants, but final funding decisions are still in limbo

While some NIH study sections will resume, advisory council meetings, which make final funding decisions, seem to still be held up.

www.statnews.com

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Jo Handelsman, PhD @johandelsman.bsky.social · Feb 22

Support our early career scientists. We're seeing more posts like these. It's a tough time in science and we must provide kindness and support to others to cope with the uncertainty.

Seth Judson @sethjudson.bsky.social · Feb 22

U.S. early-career researchers struggling amid chaos

Uncertain funding, government firings, and distressed universities hit vulnerable groups especially hard

www.science.org

Jo Handelsman, PhD @johandelsman.bsky.social · Feb 22

Avian influenza has a >50% mortality rate in humans. Why is there so little concern? The 1918 influenza had a 2.5% mortality rate and it caused deaths of 50-100 million people when the world's population was only 1.9 Billion. cdn.who.int/media/docs/d....

cdn.who.int

Jo Handelsman, PhD @johandelsman.bsky.social · Feb 22

See Coalition for the Life Sciences' letter to the Senate Committee on Finance and HELP Committee about the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services.
www.coalitionforlifesciences.org/to-the-senat... and www.coalitionforlifesciences.org/to-the-senat...

www.coalitionforlifesciences.org

Jo Handelsman, PhD @johandelsman.bsky.social · Feb 22

The Coalition for the Life Sciences posted information that every scientist should know about F&A costs. www.coalitionforlifesciences.org/facilities-a.... See also Q&A about indirect costs. www.coalitionforlifesciences.org/wp-content/u...

www.coalitionforlifesciences.org

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Jo Handelsman, PhD @johandelsman.bsky.social · Feb 22

See posts on @c4lifesciences.bsky.social and at website www.coalitionforlifesciences.org for responses to Federal actions about science.

homepage - The Coalition for the Life Sciences

www.coalitionforlifesciences.org

Reposted by Jo Handelsman, Melissa Mallon

STAT @statnews.com · Feb 21

#Breaking - Federal judge extends restraining order on Trump administration’s cap on NIH indirect costs

Federal judge extends restraining order on Trump administration's cap on NIH indirect costs

Judge Angel Kelley kept in place an order blocking the Trump administration from implementing a 15% cap on NIH indirect cost payments

buff.ly

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Reposted by Jo Handelsman

Wisconsin Institute for Discovery @widofficial.bsky.social · Feb 21

THIS MORNING AT 9:00! Listen to @johandelsman.bsky.social speak on Wisconsin Today about the struggle with scientific funding and the ripple effect it will have on everyday Americans. www.wpr.org/shows/wiscon...

Wisconsin Today

“Wisconsin Today” explores the people, places and ideas shaping life in Wisconsin. Join hosts Rob Ferrett and Kate Archer Kent for news and in-depth conversations that you can’t find anywhere else. Do...

www.wpr.org

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Reposted by Jo Handelsman