Zandrea Ambrose, Ph.D.
@zandrea.bsky.social
Virologist & Professor, Pitt Dept. of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics and former Director of @Pitt-PMI.bsky.social
Seattle native living in Pittsburgh.
Website: http://ambrose-lab.com
Seattle native living in Pittsburgh.
Website: http://ambrose-lab.com
Pinned
This is why research funding is important to me.
Reposted by Zandrea Ambrose, Ph.D.
Google defaulting all Gmail users to a setting that enables Google to harvest all your emails into chatbot training is straight-up evil and invasive.
www.huffpost.com/entry/opt-ou...
www.huffpost.com/entry/opt-ou...
If You Use Gmail, You're Going To Want To Turn Off This 1 Automatic Setting ASAP
Plus: a quick guide to the two-step process for opting out.
www.huffpost.com
November 22, 2025 at 5:16 AM
Google defaulting all Gmail users to a setting that enables Google to harvest all your emails into chatbot training is straight-up evil and invasive.
www.huffpost.com/entry/opt-ou...
www.huffpost.com/entry/opt-ou...
Reposted by Zandrea Ambrose, Ph.D.
This is bonkers.
Awards will now be made independent of peer review decisions?
Determinations will be made by who precisely? A political commissar (politruk)?
Awards will now be made independent of peer review decisions?
Determinations will be made by who precisely? A political commissar (politruk)?
November 21, 2025 at 8:44 PM
This is bonkers.
Awards will now be made independent of peer review decisions?
Determinations will be made by who precisely? A political commissar (politruk)?
Awards will now be made independent of peer review decisions?
Determinations will be made by who precisely? A political commissar (politruk)?
Reposted by Zandrea Ambrose, Ph.D.
The NIH director told attendees the NIH doesn't do enough innovative research.
“What puts lives at risk is doing research that’s incremental,” Bhattacharya said. “All it does is advance the careers of the researchers that do it. It results in publications that don’t get used and aren’t replicable.”
“What puts lives at risk is doing research that’s incremental,” Bhattacharya said. “All it does is advance the careers of the researchers that do it. It results in publications that don’t get used and aren’t replicable.”
November 21, 2025 at 5:01 PM
The NIH director told attendees the NIH doesn't do enough innovative research.
“What puts lives at risk is doing research that’s incremental,” Bhattacharya said. “All it does is advance the careers of the researchers that do it. It results in publications that don’t get used and aren’t replicable.”
“What puts lives at risk is doing research that’s incremental,” Bhattacharya said. “All it does is advance the careers of the researchers that do it. It results in publications that don’t get used and aren’t replicable.”
Reposted by Zandrea Ambrose, Ph.D.
About that exclusive, "closed-to-press" MAHA summit last week with RFK and JD Vance: I got in.
Here's what I saw. 🧵 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Here's what I saw. 🧵 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
November 21, 2025 at 5:01 PM
About that exclusive, "closed-to-press" MAHA summit last week with RFK and JD Vance: I got in.
Here's what I saw. 🧵 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Here's what I saw. 🧵 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
The Director of the Division of AIDS at NIH was removed. 😠
November 21, 2025 at 4:54 PM
The Director of the Division of AIDS at NIH was removed. 😠
Excited to host my friend and colleague, Dr. Amanda Dudek from the University of Iowa, for a seminar today at noon. She is an expert at AAV gene editing, which she has recently been using to understand HIV infection.
November 12, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Excited to host my friend and colleague, Dr. Amanda Dudek from the University of Iowa, for a seminar today at noon. She is an expert at AAV gene editing, which she has recently been using to understand HIV infection.
Yet another mechanism to hurt scientific research progress in the U.S.
The eds-and-meds economy that reshaped Pittsburgh after the collapse of steelmaking relies on skilled H-1B visa holders.
The administration’s disruption of these visas pose challenges for Pitt, the area’s largest employer of H-1B workers, and many others
www.publicsource.org/h1b-visa-app...
The administration’s disruption of these visas pose challenges for Pitt, the area’s largest employer of H-1B workers, and many others
www.publicsource.org/h1b-visa-app...
Trump change in visa fee could curb hiring by Pitt, BNY, UPMC and others
A new $100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications may deter hires of international talent, and could discourage skilled foreign workers from staying here.
www.publicsource.org
November 12, 2025 at 2:08 AM
Yet another mechanism to hurt scientific research progress in the U.S.
It’s cheaper to buy a house in Pittsburgh than most U.S. cities.
How this major city became one of America’s most affordable for home buyers
While there are many yardsticks for calculating housing affordability, the western Pennsylvania city stands out as uniquely livable.
wapo.st
November 12, 2025 at 1:45 AM
It’s cheaper to buy a house in Pittsburgh than most U.S. cities.
Reposted by Zandrea Ambrose, Ph.D.
Applications are open for the NIH-sponsored undergraduate Research Opportunities HIV RNA (ROHR) program for Summer 2026. Successful applicants will get to carry out a research project at a major university and attend a conference at the NIH. Please spread the word!
sites.google.com/a/umich.edu/...
sites.google.com/a/umich.edu/...
November 10, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Applications are open for the NIH-sponsored undergraduate Research Opportunities HIV RNA (ROHR) program for Summer 2026. Successful applicants will get to carry out a research project at a major university and attend a conference at the NIH. Please spread the word!
sites.google.com/a/umich.edu/...
sites.google.com/a/umich.edu/...
I appreciate this @npr.org piece that doesn't sugarcoat Watson's racism and misogyny. "But Watson was never one to give into critics and doubters, which may have made it hard for him to see when he was wrong. Holding on to his convictions, come what may, seemed to be part of his own DNA."
James Watson, who co-discovered the structure of DNA, has died at age 97
James Watson, who co-discovered the structure of DNA has died at age 97. He was a scientific superstar until he made racist remarks that made him an outcast.
www.npr.org
November 8, 2025 at 3:38 PM
I appreciate this @npr.org piece that doesn't sugarcoat Watson's racism and misogyny. "But Watson was never one to give into critics and doubters, which may have made it hard for him to see when he was wrong. Holding on to his convictions, come what may, seemed to be part of his own DNA."
Reposted by Zandrea Ambrose, Ph.D.
I guess not being allowed to sexually harass people at work really killed the vibe.
November 8, 2025 at 3:26 PM
I guess not being allowed to sexually harass people at work really killed the vibe.
Reposted by Zandrea Ambrose, Ph.D.
Mamdani: Whether you are an immigrant, a member of the trans community, one of the many black women that Donald Trump has fired from a federal job, a single mom still waiting for the cost of groceries to go down, or anyone else with their back against the wall—your struggle is ours too
November 5, 2025 at 4:35 AM
Mamdani: Whether you are an immigrant, a member of the trans community, one of the many black women that Donald Trump has fired from a federal job, a single mom still waiting for the cost of groceries to go down, or anyone else with their back against the wall—your struggle is ours too
😂
November 5, 2025 at 3:44 AM
😂
These seem like boring votes, but this is a huge deal for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. 🙌🏼
All three justices up for a 10-year retention vote easily won in what became a high-stakes and expensive battle for the future of the court.
“I’m very grateful to the voters of Pennsylvania for their confidence in my work,” Wecht said.
triblive.com/news/pennsyl...
“I’m very grateful to the voters of Pennsylvania for their confidence in my work,” Wecht said.
triblive.com/news/pennsyl...
Pa. Supreme Court retention race called in favor of 3 Democratic justices
Voters overwhelmingly chose to retain three Democratic justices on Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court on Tuesday, according to results posted just an hour after polls closed. Both the Democratic Natio...
triblive.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:19 AM
These seem like boring votes, but this is a huge deal for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. 🙌🏼
Reposted by Zandrea Ambrose, Ph.D.
With SNAP/EBT cuts looming I highly recommend downloading this app! Basically restaurants and other food businesses will have available bags of random food they don’t wanna waste for ppl to buy for hella cheap! This has saved me sooooo many times when I only have $5 and need some food.
October 28, 2025 at 9:31 PM
With SNAP/EBT cuts looming I highly recommend downloading this app! Basically restaurants and other food businesses will have available bags of random food they don’t wanna waste for ppl to buy for hella cheap! This has saved me sooooo many times when I only have $5 and need some food.
For #WorldPolioDay, @asm.org named the University of Pittsburgh a Milestones in Microbiology site to honor Dr. Jonas Salk for developing the world’s first polio vaccine. After use in the early 1950s, it reduced paralytic polio in the U.S. by 96% in only a few years.
October 25, 2025 at 12:20 AM
For #WorldPolioDay, @asm.org named the University of Pittsburgh a Milestones in Microbiology site to honor Dr. Jonas Salk for developing the world’s first polio vaccine. After use in the early 1950s, it reduced paralytic polio in the U.S. by 96% in only a few years.
Reposted by Zandrea Ambrose, Ph.D.
No Kings today in Pittsburgh, PA!!!
October 18, 2025 at 7:11 PM
No Kings today in Pittsburgh, PA!!!
This is what democracy looks like! No Kings Pittsburgh protest #2 today!
October 18, 2025 at 7:49 PM
This is what democracy looks like! No Kings Pittsburgh protest #2 today!
October 18, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Reposted by Zandrea Ambrose, Ph.D.
My quote of the day
He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
October 18, 2025 at 12:00 PM
My quote of the day
He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Reposted by Zandrea Ambrose, Ph.D.
Congratulations to Morgan Jackson-Strong from the @gottschalklab.bsky.social who will defend her thesis in a few weeks! 👏
October 14, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Congratulations to Morgan Jackson-Strong from the @gottschalklab.bsky.social who will defend her thesis in a few weeks! 👏
🔱🔱
Recap: Julio Rodríguez and Jorge Polanco hit three-run homers, Josh Naylor added a two-run drive and the #Mariners took a 2-0 ALCS lead by routing the Blue Jays 10-3.
sports.mynorthwest.com/mlb/seattle-...
sports.mynorthwest.com/mlb/seattle-...
Seattle Mariners hit 3 HRs to beat Blue Jays 10-3, take 2-0 ALCS lead
Julio Rodríguez, Jorge Polanco and Josh Naylor all homered as the Seattle Mariners took a 2-0 ALCS lead by routing the Toronto Blue Jays 10-3.
sports.mynorthwest.com
October 14, 2025 at 1:33 AM
🔱🔱
🔱 Only 3 more to go before the WS! #SeizeTheMoment
October 13, 2025 at 4:07 AM
🔱 Only 3 more to go before the WS! #SeizeTheMoment
Disgraceful
HHS confirms to @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social that it will be impacted by the RIFS promised earlier today by Russel Vought
If you or your colleagues have been impacted, please reach out
www.statnews.com/2025/10/10/h...
If you or your colleagues have been impacted, please reach out
www.statnews.com/2025/10/10/h...
HHS employees to be fired as White House enacts mass terminations it blames on shutdown
Federal health employees are being fired as the White House makes good on a promise to terminate federal employees en masse because of the shutdown.
www.statnews.com
October 10, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Disgraceful
Any junior PIs out there? Take a look at this. Deadline is 27 November!
We're now recruiting early career group leaders at the Crick to lead ambitious research programmes and explore bold scientific questions.
Hear our Director, Edith Heard, explain why the Crick is a unique place for curiosity-driven research.
Apply now ➡️ www.crick.ac.uk/careers-stud...
Hear our Director, Edith Heard, explain why the Crick is a unique place for curiosity-driven research.
Apply now ➡️ www.crick.ac.uk/careers-stud...
October 10, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Any junior PIs out there? Take a look at this. Deadline is 27 November!