Mara Duncan
@mcduncanlab.bsky.social
Associate Professor at the University of Michigan. I post photos of my cat and garden, and helpful tips for running a lab. Thoughts my own.
Pinned
Mara Duncan
@mcduncanlab.bsky.social
· Nov 29
🧪Dear Grad student,
Are you overdue for a thesis committee meeting but feel like you have nothing to show since your last meeting? I'm begging you to schedule that meeting now!
1/🧵
Are you overdue for a thesis committee meeting but feel like you have nothing to show since your last meeting? I'm begging you to schedule that meeting now!
1/🧵
Reposted by Mara Duncan
DECRAs are out! Good luck young investigators. If you are unlucky- please don't let this moment define you.
#ARC
#ARC
Research Management System - Scheme Round Statistics for Approved Applications - Discovery Early Career Researcher Award 2026 round 1
RMS is the ARC's Research Management System, a web-based system used by eligible researchers to prepare and submit research proposals and assessments under the ARC National Competitive Grants Program ...
rms.arc.gov.au
November 25, 2025 at 12:15 AM
DECRAs are out! Good luck young investigators. If you are unlucky- please don't let this moment define you.
#ARC
#ARC
Reposted by Mara Duncan
I am looking for a PostDoc to join my group at Genentech to drive the development of proteomics technologies to fuel target and therapeutic discovery and development. Check out the link below!
careers.gene.com/us/en/job/20...
careers.gene.com/us/en/job/20...
November 25, 2025 at 12:39 AM
I am looking for a PostDoc to join my group at Genentech to drive the development of proteomics technologies to fuel target and therapeutic discovery and development. Check out the link below!
careers.gene.com/us/en/job/20...
careers.gene.com/us/en/job/20...
Reposted by Mara Duncan
🎓 Grad School Interviews: DOs & DON’Ts
Getting ready for your graduate school interviews? Join us for a session where we break down what to say, how to prepare, and how to show up as your most authentic self.
🗓 When: December 2nd at 10am ET
🔗 Register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/grad-schoo...
Getting ready for your graduate school interviews? Join us for a session where we break down what to say, how to prepare, and how to show up as your most authentic self.
🗓 When: December 2nd at 10am ET
🔗 Register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/grad-schoo...
November 24, 2025 at 8:14 PM
🎓 Grad School Interviews: DOs & DON’Ts
Getting ready for your graduate school interviews? Join us for a session where we break down what to say, how to prepare, and how to show up as your most authentic self.
🗓 When: December 2nd at 10am ET
🔗 Register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/grad-schoo...
Getting ready for your graduate school interviews? Join us for a session where we break down what to say, how to prepare, and how to show up as your most authentic self.
🗓 When: December 2nd at 10am ET
🔗 Register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/grad-schoo...
Reposted by Mara Duncan
Open faculty position (Assistant or Associate) in UW Medical Genetics. As you might expect, faculty often end up also interacting with Genome Sciences, so we're hoping for some great prospects! Note the clinical requirements for the position. apply.interfolio.com/176466
Apply - Interfolio
{{$ctrl.$state.data.pageTitle}} - Apply - Interfolio
apply.interfolio.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Open faculty position (Assistant or Associate) in UW Medical Genetics. As you might expect, faculty often end up also interacting with Genome Sciences, so we're hoping for some great prospects! Note the clinical requirements for the position. apply.interfolio.com/176466
🧪Ok sciencers, specifically yeast biochemistry ppl. What's your go-to protease-inhibitor mix?
We're blowing the budget with protease inhibitors.
We're blowing the budget with protease inhibitors.
November 24, 2025 at 6:13 PM
🧪Ok sciencers, specifically yeast biochemistry ppl. What's your go-to protease-inhibitor mix?
We're blowing the budget with protease inhibitors.
We're blowing the budget with protease inhibitors.
Reposted by Mara Duncan
Applications are now open for the 2026 Developing Future Biologists Short Course at the University of Michigan!
Visit our website or email [email protected] to learn more and apply. #GoBlue
Visit our website or email [email protected] to learn more and apply. #GoBlue
November 24, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Applications are now open for the 2026 Developing Future Biologists Short Course at the University of Michigan!
Visit our website or email [email protected] to learn more and apply. #GoBlue
Visit our website or email [email protected] to learn more and apply. #GoBlue
Reposted by Mara Duncan
I have at least one undergraduate in class that I can tell uses a LLM to read and summarize papers for discussions. They have very little insight into any detail of the paper. Knowledge that's a mile wide but an inch deep, as they say...
Relying on ChatGPT to teach you about a topic leaves you with shallower knowledge than Googling and reading about it, according to new research that compared what more than 10,000 people knew after using one method or the other.
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
November 24, 2025 at 3:07 PM
I have at least one undergraduate in class that I can tell uses a LLM to read and summarize papers for discussions. They have very little insight into any detail of the paper. Knowledge that's a mile wide but an inch deep, as they say...
Did I spend many hours today looking up pull out shelves for under my kitchen sink? Yes. I did.
In the end, did I spend less than 15 minutes sorting through empty spray bottles, reorganizing and have a nice tidy under the sink with no need for pull out shelves? Also yes.
In the end, did I spend less than 15 minutes sorting through empty spray bottles, reorganizing and have a nice tidy under the sink with no need for pull out shelves? Also yes.
November 23, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Did I spend many hours today looking up pull out shelves for under my kitchen sink? Yes. I did.
In the end, did I spend less than 15 minutes sorting through empty spray bottles, reorganizing and have a nice tidy under the sink with no need for pull out shelves? Also yes.
In the end, did I spend less than 15 minutes sorting through empty spray bottles, reorganizing and have a nice tidy under the sink with no need for pull out shelves? Also yes.
Reposted by Mara Duncan
I’ve invented a hot tub from which you can point the finger of blame. I call it the j’accuzzi
November 22, 2025 at 9:05 PM
I’ve invented a hot tub from which you can point the finger of blame. I call it the j’accuzzi
Reposted by Mara Duncan
The uncomfortable truth about mandatory publications for PhD students
There’s a point in this debate that many people tiptoe around: mandatory publication doesn’t just create pressure, it also creates inequality.
🧵
There’s a point in this debate that many people tiptoe around: mandatory publication doesn’t just create pressure, it also creates inequality.
🧵
November 23, 2025 at 1:45 PM
The uncomfortable truth about mandatory publications for PhD students
There’s a point in this debate that many people tiptoe around: mandatory publication doesn’t just create pressure, it also creates inequality.
🧵
There’s a point in this debate that many people tiptoe around: mandatory publication doesn’t just create pressure, it also creates inequality.
🧵
Reposted by Mara Duncan
I have been looking at Black Friday sales for a week but I do not actually need anything so instead I closed all those tabs and bought a Polaroid for a foster kid in Florida who uses photography to deal with big feelings. Perhaps you would like to do the same for one of the kids at the link below?
🧵 We are, in fact, doing the thing again for @onesimplewish.bsky.social. In 2024, the kind people of this community put the money cannon on blast to help grant $75K in wishes for children in foster care. Toys, tech, a suit for job interviews. Here we go again! 👇
www.onesimplewish.org/giving/megwa...
www.onesimplewish.org/giving/megwa...
November 22, 2025 at 9:48 PM
I have been looking at Black Friday sales for a week but I do not actually need anything so instead I closed all those tabs and bought a Polaroid for a foster kid in Florida who uses photography to deal with big feelings. Perhaps you would like to do the same for one of the kids at the link below?
Reposted by Mara Duncan
I think the main takeaway is that the process is too complex to be completely beholden to a single set of numerical scores. But also needs to be transparent and the leaders carefully selected.
November 22, 2025 at 4:05 PM
I think the main takeaway is that the process is too complex to be completely beholden to a single set of numerical scores. But also needs to be transparent and the leaders carefully selected.
Now is an excellent time to donate gently used toys or electronics so that they are available before the holidays.
November 22, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Now is an excellent time to donate gently used toys or electronics so that they are available before the holidays.
Hahaha I just found an Easter egg hidden in my strain collection.
Thanks for the laugh on a Friday night, Lucas.
Yes, we are finally following up on that idea!!
This entry has been sitting unviewed since early 2021.
Thanks for the laugh on a Friday night, Lucas.
Yes, we are finally following up on that idea!!
This entry has been sitting unviewed since early 2021.
November 21, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Hahaha I just found an Easter egg hidden in my strain collection.
Thanks for the laugh on a Friday night, Lucas.
Yes, we are finally following up on that idea!!
This entry has been sitting unviewed since early 2021.
Thanks for the laugh on a Friday night, Lucas.
Yes, we are finally following up on that idea!!
This entry has been sitting unviewed since early 2021.
ASCB is a valuable part of my scientific career. I know that the annual meeting is important for the operating budget of ASCB, but I can't attend this year.
I'm donating some of what I would have spent out of pocket to attend the meeting to ASCB. I encourage others to do the same.
I'm donating some of what I would have spent out of pocket to attend the meeting to ASCB. I encourage others to do the same.
November 21, 2025 at 7:25 PM
ASCB is a valuable part of my scientific career. I know that the annual meeting is important for the operating budget of ASCB, but I can't attend this year.
I'm donating some of what I would have spent out of pocket to attend the meeting to ASCB. I encourage others to do the same.
I'm donating some of what I would have spent out of pocket to attend the meeting to ASCB. I encourage others to do the same.
Reposted by Mara Duncan
The FlyBoard is happy to announce the call for nominations for the Drosophila Community Service Award. Please submit your nomination by 01/16/2026 by email to: [email protected]. Please repost.
November 20, 2025 at 9:15 PM
The FlyBoard is happy to announce the call for nominations for the Drosophila Community Service Award. Please submit your nomination by 01/16/2026 by email to: [email protected]. Please repost.
Reposted by Mara Duncan
We just released a new major version of TrackMate (v8), the cell and organelle tracking plugin of Fiji.
It ships many new features, detailed below, but that are articulated around the following:
It ships many new features, detailed below, but that are articulated around the following:
November 20, 2025 at 11:42 AM
We just released a new major version of TrackMate (v8), the cell and organelle tracking plugin of Fiji.
It ships many new features, detailed below, but that are articulated around the following:
It ships many new features, detailed below, but that are articulated around the following:
Gaaaa--I just want to buy a stupid gene fragment, why can't you just tell me how much it will cost and if I need to break it into two fragments without talking to your sales rep to get a quote!?!
November 19, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Gaaaa--I just want to buy a stupid gene fragment, why can't you just tell me how much it will cost and if I need to break it into two fragments without talking to your sales rep to get a quote!?!
Phew! Due to the shutdown, yesterday evening I got an e-mail that made it seem like a grant had been rejected.
Thankfully, it was just an email informing me that three weeks ago, I asked my signing official to withdraw a submitted proposal due to an error, and replace it with a correct version.
Thankfully, it was just an email informing me that three weeks ago, I asked my signing official to withdraw a submitted proposal due to an error, and replace it with a correct version.
November 19, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Phew! Due to the shutdown, yesterday evening I got an e-mail that made it seem like a grant had been rejected.
Thankfully, it was just an email informing me that three weeks ago, I asked my signing official to withdraw a submitted proposal due to an error, and replace it with a correct version.
Thankfully, it was just an email informing me that three weeks ago, I asked my signing official to withdraw a submitted proposal due to an error, and replace it with a correct version.
Reposted by Mara Duncan
🤔 #AskZebrafish: "Do any of you have a protocol or a kit recommendation to do subcellular fractionation of zebrafish embryos. Ideally I'd like to separate the mitochondria and the nucleus (and as a bonus the rest of the cell parts)"
November 18, 2025 at 4:09 PM
🤔 #AskZebrafish: "Do any of you have a protocol or a kit recommendation to do subcellular fractionation of zebrafish embryos. Ideally I'd like to separate the mitochondria and the nucleus (and as a bonus the rest of the cell parts)"
Reposted by Mara Duncan
Calling all rising juniors & seniors: Interested in biological or biomedical research? Applications for our ’26 Summer Undergraduate Research Experience Program are now open! Nine weeks, hands-on research, & mentorship from some of the nation’s top scientists — learn more: bit.ly/CechFellows
Summer Undergraduate Research Experience | HHMI
The Cech Fellows Program is a paid, nine-week summer research experience empowering the next generation of scientific leaders.
bit.ly
November 18, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Calling all rising juniors & seniors: Interested in biological or biomedical research? Applications for our ’26 Summer Undergraduate Research Experience Program are now open! Nine weeks, hands-on research, & mentorship from some of the nation’s top scientists — learn more: bit.ly/CechFellows
Reposted by Mara Duncan
I just found this now. @jalview.bsky.social team needs your support for their BBSRC application. Deadline tomorrow!
discourse.jalview.org/t/write-a-le...
discourse.jalview.org/t/write-a-le...
Write a letter of support to help keep Jalview funded!
Jalview’s core funding from the Wellcome Trust ends in 2026, and we are now preparing an application to the UK’s BBSRC to support Jalview into the next decade. You can help us keep Jalview available ...
discourse.jalview.org
November 17, 2025 at 9:55 PM
I just found this now. @jalview.bsky.social team needs your support for their BBSRC application. Deadline tomorrow!
discourse.jalview.org/t/write-a-le...
discourse.jalview.org/t/write-a-le...
Reposted by Mara Duncan
Is there anywhere in the US that does dual lipidomics analysis? 🦠🔬
November 17, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Is there anywhere in the US that does dual lipidomics analysis? 🦠🔬
Reposted by Mara Duncan
New Article: "A combined biochemical and computational approach provides evidence for membrane remodelling by the structural scaffold of the endocytic TPLATE complex" rdcu.be/eP4fX
... to generate a comprehensive structure of the multisubunit endocytic TPLATE complex.
... to generate a comprehensive structure of the multisubunit endocytic TPLATE complex.
November 15, 2025 at 12:03 PM
New Article: "A combined biochemical and computational approach provides evidence for membrane remodelling by the structural scaffold of the endocytic TPLATE complex" rdcu.be/eP4fX
... to generate a comprehensive structure of the multisubunit endocytic TPLATE complex.
... to generate a comprehensive structure of the multisubunit endocytic TPLATE complex.
Reposted by Mara Duncan
Are you an early-stage graduate student (2nd or 3rd year) or early-stage postdoc based in the US or Canada, working primarily in Drosophila? Would you like to help improve the experience of all trainees working in Drosophila research? If so, read on.
(Please repost to reach a broad audience.)
(Please repost to reach a broad audience.)
November 12, 2025 at 4:49 AM
Are you an early-stage graduate student (2nd or 3rd year) or early-stage postdoc based in the US or Canada, working primarily in Drosophila? Would you like to help improve the experience of all trainees working in Drosophila research? If so, read on.
(Please repost to reach a broad audience.)
(Please repost to reach a broad audience.)