Molly Schumer
@mollyschumer.bsky.social
Genetics & Evolution, Faculty at Stanford & Freeman Hrabowski Scholar at HHMI. My views do not reflect those of my employer.
schumerlab.com
schumerlab.com
Reposted by Molly Schumer
How does the piRNA pathway solve the self vs. non-self problem? 🧬
Since piRNAs come from single-stranded RNA, how does the cell choose the right ones? For years, "piRNA clusters" were seen as THE privileged source. But are they really special and earmarked for biogenesis? (1/19)
Since piRNAs come from single-stranded RNA, how does the cell choose the right ones? For years, "piRNA clusters" were seen as THE privileged source. But are they really special and earmarked for biogenesis? (1/19)
A Naïve RNA Sampling Core Enables Adaptive piRNA Specificity Against Transposable Elements https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.02.07.704324v1
February 13, 2026 at 3:11 PM
How does the piRNA pathway solve the self vs. non-self problem? 🧬
Since piRNAs come from single-stranded RNA, how does the cell choose the right ones? For years, "piRNA clusters" were seen as THE privileged source. But are they really special and earmarked for biogenesis? (1/19)
Since piRNAs come from single-stranded RNA, how does the cell choose the right ones? For years, "piRNA clusters" were seen as THE privileged source. But are they really special and earmarked for biogenesis? (1/19)
Reposted by Molly Schumer
This is a genuinely huge, sweeping victory today for the University of California—or rather, for us, its faculty, acting through our faculty associations, while the UC itself maintained a strict policy of deer-in-headlights silence.
The Trump admin has given up its appeal of a powerful injunction:
The Trump admin has given up its appeal of a powerful injunction:
Trump administration drops appeal of court order blocking $1.2-billion UCLA settlement
The Trump administration dropped its appeal of a major higher education case in which a federal judge blocked its $1.2-billion settlement proposal to UCLA over alleged civil rights violations. It will...
www.latimes.com
February 14, 2026 at 4:57 AM
This is a genuinely huge, sweeping victory today for the University of California—or rather, for us, its faculty, acting through our faculty associations, while the UC itself maintained a strict policy of deer-in-headlights silence.
The Trump admin has given up its appeal of a powerful injunction:
The Trump admin has given up its appeal of a powerful injunction:
Reposted by Molly Schumer
Biological Sciences
2/11
2/11
February 13, 2026 at 9:22 PM
Biological Sciences
2/11
2/11
Lab celebrated Darwin day in style
February 13, 2026 at 4:59 AM
Lab celebrated Darwin day in style
Reposted by Molly Schumer
Moderna has 2 trials for EBV vaccines in Phase 1/2 and Phase 2. EBV is now widely believed to be a causative agent for Multiple Sclerosis. Just under 3 million people in the world, about 1 million in the US have MS.
trials.modernatx.com/study/?id=mR...
trials.modernatx.com/study/?id=mR...
trials.modernatx.com/study/?id=mR...
trials.modernatx.com/study/?id=mR...
February 13, 2026 at 1:41 AM
Moderna has 2 trials for EBV vaccines in Phase 1/2 and Phase 2. EBV is now widely believed to be a causative agent for Multiple Sclerosis. Just under 3 million people in the world, about 1 million in the US have MS.
trials.modernatx.com/study/?id=mR...
trials.modernatx.com/study/?id=mR...
trials.modernatx.com/study/?id=mR...
trials.modernatx.com/study/?id=mR...
Reposted by Molly Schumer
We have posted a Research Assistant (LSRP1) position to work on aging and 'rejuvenation' using mouse models!! 🐭
careersearch.stanford.edu/jobs/life-sc...
Apply and join our awesome lab!! (please share) 😎
careersearch.stanford.edu/jobs/life-sc...
Apply and join our awesome lab!! (please share) 😎
February 13, 2026 at 1:55 AM
We have posted a Research Assistant (LSRP1) position to work on aging and 'rejuvenation' using mouse models!! 🐭
careersearch.stanford.edu/jobs/life-sc...
Apply and join our awesome lab!! (please share) 😎
careersearch.stanford.edu/jobs/life-sc...
Apply and join our awesome lab!! (please share) 😎
Reposted by Molly Schumer
We should talk more about the graduate admissions crisis that's taking shape in the US.
Talking to colleagues across universities, many graduate programs are slashing admission numbers and reducing class sizes substantially for the upcoming academic year.
This is shortsighted
Talking to colleagues across universities, many graduate programs are slashing admission numbers and reducing class sizes substantially for the upcoming academic year.
This is shortsighted
February 12, 2026 at 6:54 PM
We should talk more about the graduate admissions crisis that's taking shape in the US.
Talking to colleagues across universities, many graduate programs are slashing admission numbers and reducing class sizes substantially for the upcoming academic year.
This is shortsighted
Talking to colleagues across universities, many graduate programs are slashing admission numbers and reducing class sizes substantially for the upcoming academic year.
This is shortsighted
Reposted by Molly Schumer
NEW: Another NIH institute director hasn't been renewed — the director of NIAMS (arthritis, musculoskeletal and skin diseases institute).
That leaves a whopping 15 of 27 institutes and centers without a permanent director.
That leaves a whopping 15 of 27 institutes and centers without a permanent director.
February 12, 2026 at 5:16 PM
NEW: Another NIH institute director hasn't been renewed — the director of NIAMS (arthritis, musculoskeletal and skin diseases institute).
That leaves a whopping 15 of 27 institutes and centers without a permanent director.
That leaves a whopping 15 of 27 institutes and centers without a permanent director.
Reposted by Molly Schumer
This isn't shortread data, but alignments of genome assemblies with N50 > 100Mb. The plot is the # of bp per 100Kb window that are dropped because of missing data -- because those bp physically are not there in one of the other 25 genomes. This is what normal plant genomes look like, folks.
February 12, 2026 at 3:29 PM
This isn't shortread data, but alignments of genome assemblies with N50 > 100Mb. The plot is the # of bp per 100Kb window that are dropped because of missing data -- because those bp physically are not there in one of the other 25 genomes. This is what normal plant genomes look like, folks.
Reposted by Molly Schumer
A position with prospects! We offer excellent researchers again the possibility to apply for a position as a Leader of a Lise Meitner Research Group in all areas of #science. Applications are possible between February 11th and April 15th, 2026. www.mpg.de/lise-meitner... #lisemeitnergroups
February 11, 2026 at 8:31 AM
A position with prospects! We offer excellent researchers again the possibility to apply for a position as a Leader of a Lise Meitner Research Group in all areas of #science. Applications are possible between February 11th and April 15th, 2026. www.mpg.de/lise-meitner... #lisemeitnergroups
Reposted by Molly Schumer
“Success in US science has come from sustained funding and welcoming the best talent from around the world, yet both of these advantages are in decline”
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
China turns the tables in biotech
For at least a century, major scientific research initiatives have reliably occurred in the United States, usually in response to geopolitical competition. This helped establish the country’s status a...
www.science.org
February 11, 2026 at 12:03 PM
“Success in US science has come from sustained funding and welcoming the best talent from around the world, yet both of these advantages are in decline”
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Molly Schumer
Research suggests that the observed cytotoxicity in certain experiments may be due to ivermectin precipitates, not the dissolved drug itself. At the concentrations required to kill cancer cells in lab settings, ivermectin may become toxic. Uh... what? Why are we continuing to study this?
Ivermectin-induced cell death of cervical cancer cells in vitro a consequence of precipitate formation in culture media - PubMed
The anthelmintic ivermectin has been reported to possess anticancer and antiviral efficacy. However, the effective concentrations reported in vitro are near the predicted aqueous solubility limit for this hydrophobic drug. We observed that ivermectin-induced cell death in two cervical cancer cell li …
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
February 11, 2026 at 1:50 AM
Research suggests that the observed cytotoxicity in certain experiments may be due to ivermectin precipitates, not the dissolved drug itself. At the concentrations required to kill cancer cells in lab settings, ivermectin may become toxic. Uh... what? Why are we continuing to study this?
Reposted by Molly Schumer
NEW: The FDA just shot down Moderna's new flu shot. From me:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
FDA declines to review Moderna application for new flu vaccine
Moderna requests meeting to discuss refusal as decision could have implications for all new and updated vaccines
www.theguardian.com
February 10, 2026 at 11:52 PM
NEW: The FDA just shot down Moderna's new flu shot. From me:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Reposted by Molly Schumer
Holy shit—a terrible waste of $$
Bhattacharya is so kooky
“If lots of people believe it & it’s moving public health, we as NIH have an obligation, again, to treat it seriously,” Bhattacharya said at a MAHA event
Great reporting by @rachanadpradhan.bsky.social
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Bhattacharya is so kooky
“If lots of people believe it & it’s moving public health, we as NIH have an obligation, again, to treat it seriously,” Bhattacharya said at a MAHA event
Great reporting by @rachanadpradhan.bsky.social
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
US Cancer Institute Studying Ivermectin’s ‘Ability To Kill Cancer Cells’ - KFF Health News
At a January event organized by allies of health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., National Cancer Institute Director Anthony Letai said results may be released “in a few months.” Ivermectin, used to d...
kffhealthnews.org
February 10, 2026 at 2:05 PM
Holy shit—a terrible waste of $$
Bhattacharya is so kooky
“If lots of people believe it & it’s moving public health, we as NIH have an obligation, again, to treat it seriously,” Bhattacharya said at a MAHA event
Great reporting by @rachanadpradhan.bsky.social
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Bhattacharya is so kooky
“If lots of people believe it & it’s moving public health, we as NIH have an obligation, again, to treat it seriously,” Bhattacharya said at a MAHA event
Great reporting by @rachanadpradhan.bsky.social
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Reposted by Molly Schumer
ICE has now spent over half a BILLION dollars just on purchasing warehouses around the country to convert into detention camps.
If these mega-camps are utilized to the full capacity ICE intends, they'll be the largest prisons in the country, with little real oversight. www.ajc.com/politics/202...
If these mega-camps are utilized to the full capacity ICE intends, they'll be the largest prisons in the country, with little real oversight. www.ajc.com/politics/202...
ICE to begin detaining immigrants inside Social Circle warehouse in April
Homeland Security plans to build warehouse detention facilities in other cities being met with opposition.
www.ajc.com
February 9, 2026 at 5:56 PM
ICE has now spent over half a BILLION dollars just on purchasing warehouses around the country to convert into detention camps.
If these mega-camps are utilized to the full capacity ICE intends, they'll be the largest prisons in the country, with little real oversight. www.ajc.com/politics/202...
If these mega-camps are utilized to the full capacity ICE intends, they'll be the largest prisons in the country, with little real oversight. www.ajc.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Molly Schumer
Fun news! @gcbias.bsky.social and I are teaching a 2-week online population genetics workshop this summer to raise money for the Center for Population Biology at UC Davis. We're trying to gauge interest -- please fill this out if you might be interested! And please share broadly!
Davis Summer Population Genomics Program
Want to learn population genetics? Please fill out this form to indicate your potential interest in a 2-week intensive online summer population genetics course taught by Jeffrey Ross-Ibarra and Graham...
docs.google.com
February 9, 2026 at 6:24 PM
Fun news! @gcbias.bsky.social and I are teaching a 2-week online population genetics workshop this summer to raise money for the Center for Population Biology at UC Davis. We're trying to gauge interest -- please fill this out if you might be interested! And please share broadly!
Reposted by Molly Schumer
We're excited to be recruiting an NSF funded postdoc to work in the Villanea lab at CU Boulder. We're specifically interested in candidates who want to work at the intersection of population genetics, ancient DNA, and computer modeling. Please RT
jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDeta...
jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDeta...
PostDoctoral Associate
jobs.colorado.edu
February 9, 2026 at 3:12 PM
We're excited to be recruiting an NSF funded postdoc to work in the Villanea lab at CU Boulder. We're specifically interested in candidates who want to work at the intersection of population genetics, ancient DNA, and computer modeling. Please RT
jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDeta...
jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDeta...
Reposted by Molly Schumer
1/ ProPublica collected handwritten letters in mid-January from children held at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center, the same facility where 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos was taken.
Hundreds of kids are still detained.
We’ll let the children’s words speak for themselves. 🧵
Hundreds of kids are still detained.
We’ll let the children’s words speak for themselves. 🧵
February 9, 2026 at 12:25 PM
1/ ProPublica collected handwritten letters in mid-January from children held at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center, the same facility where 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos was taken.
Hundreds of kids are still detained.
We’ll let the children’s words speak for themselves. 🧵
Hundreds of kids are still detained.
We’ll let the children’s words speak for themselves. 🧵
Reposted by Molly Schumer
This is a powerful message from Freeman Hrabowski.
🧵
1/12
🧵
1/12
February 9, 2026 at 1:52 PM
This is a powerful message from Freeman Hrabowski.
🧵
1/12
🧵
1/12
@rbirger.bsky.social just reminded me that I defended my PhD 10 years ago today! Can’t decide if it feels that long ago or not — Princeton EEB was such a wonderful grad community
February 8, 2026 at 10:50 PM
@rbirger.bsky.social just reminded me that I defended my PhD 10 years ago today! Can’t decide if it feels that long ago or not — Princeton EEB was such a wonderful grad community
Reposted by Molly Schumer
I think we have to be very careful here. The appropriations bills are one thing, but as you all know, this administration has a bag of dirty tricks they have and will continue to use to undermine research and frankly, methodically chip away at it until it is a shell of its former self. 1/
February 8, 2026 at 1:23 PM
I think we have to be very careful here. The appropriations bills are one thing, but as you all know, this administration has a bag of dirty tricks they have and will continue to use to undermine research and frankly, methodically chip away at it until it is a shell of its former self. 1/
Reposted by Molly Schumer
If you are upset about the WP layoffs and the billionaire takeover of the press, consider cancelling your Amazon Prime membership and stop giving them so much business. It took us a while to adjust from the convenience of it when we quit but it was worth it.
Former Washington Post journalists have launched a GoFundMe to help repatriate fired staff members who are effectively stranded in foreign countries.
One of the richest men in the world fired them from the paper and didn’t even pay to ensure they got home.
Abolish the billionaire class:
One of the richest men in the world fired them from the paper and didn’t even pay to ensure they got home.
Abolish the billionaire class:
Donate to Support for Washington Post international employees, organized by Michelle Lee
Among the hundreds of journalists laid off by The Washington Post on … Michelle Lee needs your support for Support for Washington Post international employees
www.gofundme.com
February 8, 2026 at 1:28 PM
If you are upset about the WP layoffs and the billionaire takeover of the press, consider cancelling your Amazon Prime membership and stop giving them so much business. It took us a while to adjust from the convenience of it when we quit but it was worth it.
Reposted by Molly Schumer
Abstract submission and registration for the *10th Euro Evo Devo Meeting 2026* at University of Glasgow (June 8-12, 2026) is open. Early bird deadline: March 5, 2026. More info: https://www.evodevoconference26.com/ #conference
February 7, 2026 at 11:11 PM
Abstract submission and registration for the *10th Euro Evo Devo Meeting 2026* at University of Glasgow (June 8-12, 2026) is open. Early bird deadline: March 5, 2026. More info: https://www.evodevoconference26.com/ #conference
Reposted by Molly Schumer
The Church Evolution Lab (CEL@NYU) is hiring a postdoc! We have several new projects to study the genomic basis of biodiversity in model clades – especially Hawaiian Drosophila. apply.interfolio.com/179354
Come join our new group, you can study bugs and live in NYC! Feel free to share widely!
Come join our new group, you can study bugs and live in NYC! Feel free to share widely!
December 22, 2025 at 2:30 PM
The Church Evolution Lab (CEL@NYU) is hiring a postdoc! We have several new projects to study the genomic basis of biodiversity in model clades – especially Hawaiian Drosophila. apply.interfolio.com/179354
Come join our new group, you can study bugs and live in NYC! Feel free to share widely!
Come join our new group, you can study bugs and live in NYC! Feel free to share widely!
Reposted by Molly Schumer
Reporting on GRFP applications returned without review.
Students applying for NSF funding are having their applications “returned without review” for being “ineligible,” despite their proposed research falling squarely within the application guidelines. eos.org/research-and...
Graduate Students’ NSF Fellowship Applications Are Being “Returned Without Review” - Eos
Graduate students applying for NSF funding have had their applications returned without review—even though their proposed research appears to fall squarely within the fields of study outlined in the p...
eos.org
February 7, 2026 at 8:12 PM
Reporting on GRFP applications returned without review.