Patrick Kerstein
@patrickkerstein.bsky.social
vision scientist, developmental neurobiologist, assistant prof at purdue, he/him
https://hhs.purdue.edu/kersteinlab/
https://hhs.purdue.edu/kersteinlab/
Reposted by Patrick Kerstein
Our Biochemistry department at Purdue has an open tenure-track position as part of a cluster hire in advanced chemistry including drug discovery and biosynthetic pathways: careers.purdue.edu/job/Assistan...
October 28, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Our Biochemistry department at Purdue has an open tenure-track position as part of a cluster hire in advanced chemistry including drug discovery and biosynthetic pathways: careers.purdue.edu/job/Assistan...
Reposted by Patrick Kerstein
"Humans aren’t very efficient movers—until you put us on a bicycle, when we become some of the most energy-efficient land travelers in the animal kingdom."
www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-hu...
www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-hu...
October 14, 2025 at 11:22 PM
"Humans aren’t very efficient movers—until you put us on a bicycle, when we become some of the most energy-efficient land travelers in the animal kingdom."
www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-hu...
www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-hu...
Reposted by Patrick Kerstein
Dear funding agencies,
I know we all want to discover the wonder drug that will cure the horrible diseases, but to do that, we need to invest in basic, unsexy, foundational research on how the systems work. Funding can’t all be drug development.
Sincerely,
Looking for basic research grants.
I know we all want to discover the wonder drug that will cure the horrible diseases, but to do that, we need to invest in basic, unsexy, foundational research on how the systems work. Funding can’t all be drug development.
Sincerely,
Looking for basic research grants.
October 14, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Dear funding agencies,
I know we all want to discover the wonder drug that will cure the horrible diseases, but to do that, we need to invest in basic, unsexy, foundational research on how the systems work. Funding can’t all be drug development.
Sincerely,
Looking for basic research grants.
I know we all want to discover the wonder drug that will cure the horrible diseases, but to do that, we need to invest in basic, unsexy, foundational research on how the systems work. Funding can’t all be drug development.
Sincerely,
Looking for basic research grants.
Reposted by Patrick Kerstein
Our paper is out today! In @tiffmschmidt.bsky.social lab, we identified a single transcription factor, BRN3B, that shapes multiple, key features that define diverse ipRGC subtypes🧬👁️🐭
Genetic tuning of retinal ganglion cell subtype identity to drive visual behavior
Nature Communications - This study reveals that graded expression of the transcription factor BRN3B fine-tunes the identity and function of melanopsin-expressing ipRGC subtypes in the retina....
urldefense.com
September 30, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Our paper is out today! In @tiffmschmidt.bsky.social lab, we identified a single transcription factor, BRN3B, that shapes multiple, key features that define diverse ipRGC subtypes🧬👁️🐭
Reposted by Patrick Kerstein
That view is exceptionally naive.
As @narosenblum.bsky.social and I wrote last fall, “basic scientific research [is] a long-term investment, one that only governments have the time horizon to make, and it brings enormous payoffs.”
It can’t just be moonshots and looking for unicorn behemoths.
As @narosenblum.bsky.social and I wrote last fall, “basic scientific research [is] a long-term investment, one that only governments have the time horizon to make, and it brings enormous payoffs.”
It can’t just be moonshots and looking for unicorn behemoths.
Basic Science Is The Foundation Of Future Cures
Injecting partisan politics into American basic science would be terrible for the US: for the economy, and for development of future treatments for diseases like schizophrenia and Alzheimer's.
www.infotimes.us
September 14, 2025 at 1:53 PM
That view is exceptionally naive.
As @narosenblum.bsky.social and I wrote last fall, “basic scientific research [is] a long-term investment, one that only governments have the time horizon to make, and it brings enormous payoffs.”
It can’t just be moonshots and looking for unicorn behemoths.
As @narosenblum.bsky.social and I wrote last fall, “basic scientific research [is] a long-term investment, one that only governments have the time horizon to make, and it brings enormous payoffs.”
It can’t just be moonshots and looking for unicorn behemoths.
Reposted by Patrick Kerstein
Come be my colleague! We are hiring for two tenure-track positions. www.reed.edu/dean_of_facu...
Tenure-Track Positions in Functional Genomics/Genetics and Systems Biology - Office of the Dean of the Faculty - Reed College
www.reed.edu
August 27, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Come be my colleague! We are hiring for two tenure-track positions. www.reed.edu/dean_of_facu...
Paper submitted! Preprint to come.
August 14, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Paper submitted! Preprint to come.
Reposted by Patrick Kerstein
Go, a college student, has a dependent visa (her mother, an Episcopal minister, is here on a religious worker visa), which doesn't expire until Dec. But when she tried to renew it early, ICE nabbed her and sent her halfway across the US to a detention center.
www.wthr.com/article/news...
www.wthr.com/article/news...
Purdue student detained by ICE and taken to troubled Louisiana holding facility
Yeonsoo Go, 20, was detained after her immigration hearing in Manhattan and taken away by ICE agents.
www.wthr.com
August 4, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Go, a college student, has a dependent visa (her mother, an Episcopal minister, is here on a religious worker visa), which doesn't expire until Dec. But when she tried to renew it early, ICE nabbed her and sent her halfway across the US to a detention center.
www.wthr.com/article/news...
www.wthr.com/article/news...
Reposted by Patrick Kerstein
Miami is hiring a neurobiologist! I am excited to welcome a new colleague to our Neuroscience community! Please share!
miamioh.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/miamio...
miamioh.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/miamio...
Assistant Professor
Job Title Assistant Professor Department Biology Department Worker Type Regular Pay Type Salary Salary will be commensurate with the level of the position, education, and experience. Benefit Eligible ...
miamioh.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com
August 1, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Miami is hiring a neurobiologist! I am excited to welcome a new colleague to our Neuroscience community! Please share!
miamioh.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/miamio...
miamioh.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/miamio...
Reposted by Patrick Kerstein
Reminder! Tenure track position in Genetics at Trinity College Dublin! Come join us, we're nice... 😊 Please repost! 🙏
Very pleased to say we have an Assistant Professor job opening (tenure track) in the Department of Genetics at Trinity College Dublin! 😀
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DOA399/a... - deadline is August 19th! Please repost!
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DOA399/a... - deadline is August 19th! Please repost!
July 29, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Reminder! Tenure track position in Genetics at Trinity College Dublin! Come join us, we're nice... 😊 Please repost! 🙏
Reposted by Patrick Kerstein
Mount Holyoke College in lovely western Massachusetts is hiring a tenure-track neuroscientist. Amazing students and fantastic faculty support - please share!
mtholyoke.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Extern...
mtholyoke.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Extern...
Assistant Professor of Neuroscience and Behavior
Job no: R-0000002388 Position Title: Assistant Professor of Neuroscience and Behavior Work Type: Faculty Full time In-Person Start Date: 07/01/2026 Job Description: The Department of Neuroscience and ...
mtholyoke.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com
July 28, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Mount Holyoke College in lovely western Massachusetts is hiring a tenure-track neuroscientist. Amazing students and fantastic faculty support - please share!
mtholyoke.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Extern...
mtholyoke.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Extern...
Reposted by Patrick Kerstein
Hi all, we got a grant for a cool project that will follow up of our paper published a few months ago (see below). We will explore how light acts as a morphogen to instruct PCP. If you are looking for a postdoc position and interested in this topic, please reach out!
ICYMI our latest paper is now out officially in print (is there still such thing?). And since Dev Cell @cellpress.bsky.social did not select our submission for cover, I post it here. A really cool illustration from my son Zack. www.cell.com/developmenta...
July 25, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Hi all, we got a grant for a cool project that will follow up of our paper published a few months ago (see below). We will explore how light acts as a morphogen to instruct PCP. If you are looking for a postdoc position and interested in this topic, please reach out!
Reposted by Patrick Kerstein
Quality of scientific papers questioned as academics ‘overwhelmed’ by the millions published
Widespread mockery of AI-generated rat with giant penis in one paper brings problem to public attention
@iansample.bsky.social writes @theguardian.com
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
Widespread mockery of AI-generated rat with giant penis in one paper brings problem to public attention
@iansample.bsky.social writes @theguardian.com
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
Quality of scientific papers questioned as academics ‘overwhelmed’ by the millions published
Widespread mockery of AI-generated rat with giant penis in one paper brings problem to public attention
www.theguardian.com
July 14, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Quality of scientific papers questioned as academics ‘overwhelmed’ by the millions published
Widespread mockery of AI-generated rat with giant penis in one paper brings problem to public attention
@iansample.bsky.social writes @theguardian.com
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
Widespread mockery of AI-generated rat with giant penis in one paper brings problem to public attention
@iansample.bsky.social writes @theguardian.com
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
Reposted by Patrick Kerstein
Got stunning fluorescence microscopy images? 🌈🔬 SDB wants to feature YOUR work for #FluorescenceFriday! We highlight images from SDB members with a short description and the image creators 📸. Fill out the form to be featured: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
July 11, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Got stunning fluorescence microscopy images? 🌈🔬 SDB wants to feature YOUR work for #FluorescenceFriday! We highlight images from SDB members with a short description and the image creators 📸. Fill out the form to be featured: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Reposted by Patrick Kerstein
I just submitted my feedback. It was quick and easy. I encourage others to please, please do the same.
🧪 After the workshop on 7/7, the FDA and NIH are asking for public comments on implementing novel methodologies and other strategies to reduce the use of animal testing by 7/14:
www.fda.gov/news-events/...
www.fda.gov/news-events/...
FDA-NIH Workshop: Reducing Animal Testing
The FDA is hosting a workshop on reducing animal testing. The workshop is open to current FDA and NIH employees.
www.fda.gov
July 11, 2025 at 12:49 AM
I just submitted my feedback. It was quick and easy. I encourage others to please, please do the same.
Reposted by Patrick Kerstein
I think a lot of people don’t realize how hard it is to get approval to work on animals in the first place. You have to have a clear & well-researched justification for every experiment. You have to fully explain why there is no other way to address the question without animals 1/
I’m all for more NAMS, but it has its limits. There are no LLMs or organs-on-a-chip that can model viral pathogenesis, vaccine efficacy, or candidate drugs. We only use animals when there is no other choice.
This will only stop more lifesaving research.
www.drugdiscoverytrends.com/nih-announce...
This will only stop more lifesaving research.
www.drugdiscoverytrends.com/nih-announce...
NIH announces end to funding for animal-only studies - Drug Discovery and Development
Drug Discovery and Development covers strategies and technologies related to pharmaceutical research and development and drug formulation.
www.drugdiscoverytrends.com
July 8, 2025 at 1:55 PM
I think a lot of people don’t realize how hard it is to get approval to work on animals in the first place. You have to have a clear & well-researched justification for every experiment. You have to fully explain why there is no other way to address the question without animals 1/
Reposted by Patrick Kerstein
My latest for American Scientist Magazine helps give scientists the tools to fight back against politicized charges that our research is silly or pointless- tools that will work whether you’re asked “why are we funding this” from your asshole uncle at Thanksgiving or an asshole US Senator.
🧪🌎
🧪🌎
“Why Are We Funding This?”
Long-standing myths about “silly science” have contributed to the reckless slashing of government-supported research.
www.americanscientist.org
June 17, 2025 at 9:47 PM
My latest for American Scientist Magazine helps give scientists the tools to fight back against politicized charges that our research is silly or pointless- tools that will work whether you’re asked “why are we funding this” from your asshole uncle at Thanksgiving or an asshole US Senator.
🧪🌎
🧪🌎
Reposted by Patrick Kerstein
Given the SCOTUS ruling yesterday, it's seems possible....even highly likely....that the NIH IDC ruling will now only apply to the states that filed. If you're in a red state, that means 15% IDCs might be a reality soon.
June 28, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Given the SCOTUS ruling yesterday, it's seems possible....even highly likely....that the NIH IDC ruling will now only apply to the states that filed. If you're in a red state, that means 15% IDCs might be a reality soon.
Reposted by Patrick Kerstein
“I personally was pretty surprised, actually, at how efficient the government was,” Sahil Lavingia told NPR's Juana Summers.
Former DOGE engineer says federal waste and fraud were 'relatively nonexistent'
NPR's Juana Summers talks with Sahil Lavingia, who worked for the Department of Government Efficiency as a software engineer assigned to the Department of Veterans Affairs, about his experience.
www.npr.org
June 25, 2025 at 10:22 PM
“I personally was pretty surprised, actually, at how efficient the government was,” Sahil Lavingia told NPR's Juana Summers.
Reposted by Patrick Kerstein
This is worse than many appreciate because it is not merely a delay. Many institutions such as mine are TERMINATING these otherwise active grants if the NoA is delayed by more than a month because they cannot afford to keep the grant supported personnel on payroll
If you weren't angry enough already, here are the rates of non-competitive renewals through May.
4008 Non-competitive renewals were due to be funded in May.
The total funded was 99!
Some is due to terminations, but most is due to slow grant making due to DOGE review and other impediments.
1/2
4008 Non-competitive renewals were due to be funded in May.
The total funded was 99!
Some is due to terminations, but most is due to slow grant making due to DOGE review and other impediments.
1/2
June 10, 2025 at 8:44 PM
This is worse than many appreciate because it is not merely a delay. Many institutions such as mine are TERMINATING these otherwise active grants if the NoA is delayed by more than a month because they cannot afford to keep the grant supported personnel on payroll
Reposted by Patrick Kerstein
A study finds, US based academic research institutes account for 50% of new medical drugs in the last 4 years. 🧪
www.statnews.com/2025/06/06/u...
#science #savescience #stat
www.statnews.com/2025/06/06/u...
#science #savescience #stat
We set out to quantify U.S. academic contributions to medicines. The results stunned even us
From 2020 to 2024, universities contributed patents underpinning 50% of FDA-approved drugs. 87% of those academic breakthroughs came from American institutions.
www.statnews.com
June 7, 2025 at 2:00 PM
A study finds, US based academic research institutes account for 50% of new medical drugs in the last 4 years. 🧪
www.statnews.com/2025/06/06/u...
#science #savescience #stat
www.statnews.com/2025/06/06/u...
#science #savescience #stat
Reposted by Patrick Kerstein
Reposted by Patrick Kerstein
must be incredibly frustrating and disheartening to have federal funding that was promised to you for important work suddenly and arbitrarily ripped away
“In light of the President's statement about cancellation of my government contracts, @SpaceX will begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately”
June 5, 2025 at 8:15 PM
must be incredibly frustrating and disheartening to have federal funding that was promised to you for important work suddenly and arbitrarily ripped away
Reposted by Patrick Kerstein
Senate hearing on the FY26 NIH budget with Jay Bhattacharya
June 10, 10am ET
www.appropriations.senate.gov/hearings/a-r...
June 10, 10am ET
www.appropriations.senate.gov/hearings/a-r...
A Review of the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request for the National Institutes of Health | United States Senate Committee on Appropriations
United States Senate Committee on Appropriations
www.appropriations.senate.gov
June 5, 2025 at 1:37 AM
Senate hearing on the FY26 NIH budget with Jay Bhattacharya
June 10, 10am ET
www.appropriations.senate.gov/hearings/a-r...
June 10, 10am ET
www.appropriations.senate.gov/hearings/a-r...
Reposted by Patrick Kerstein
There are 2 previous historical cases of countries destroying their science and universities, crippling them for decades: Lysenkoism in the USSR and Nazi Germany. The Trump administration will be the 3rd.
It's not just budgets but research, institutions, expertise, and training the next generation.
It's not just budgets but research, institutions, expertise, and training the next generation.
May 31, 2025 at 4:43 AM
There are 2 previous historical cases of countries destroying their science and universities, crippling them for decades: Lysenkoism in the USSR and Nazi Germany. The Trump administration will be the 3rd.
It's not just budgets but research, institutions, expertise, and training the next generation.
It's not just budgets but research, institutions, expertise, and training the next generation.