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Michael W. Beck, PhD @beckchemistry.bsky.social · Jul 15

This work was carried out by 6
@weareeiu.bsky.social students including @emmanuel-adusah.bsky.social #PUI #proudPI

Michael W. Beck, PhD @beckchemistry.bsky.social · Jul 15

Our work serves as a crucial reminder to always thoroughly validate your #chemicaltools within each specific experimental context. Assuming specificity, as often happens with FDA for CES2 can lead to misinterpretations. Read the paper at: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

www.sciencedirect.com

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Michael W. Beck, PhD @beckchemistry.bsky.social · Jul 15

We also demonstrate that FDA may be suitable for studying CES2 when CES2 is the primary hydrolase, such as overexpression models.

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Michael W. Beck, PhD @beckchemistry.bsky.social · Jul 15

Many researchers currently use FDA to study CES2, without the necessary validation. Our work shows that while FDA prefers CES2 over CES1 in vitro, it doesn't specifically report on CES2 in complex biological systems like HepG2 cells, where other #hydrolases can interfere.

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Michael W. Beck, PhD @beckchemistry.bsky.social · Jul 15

Thrilled to share our new research in a special issue of Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters honoring
@chembiobryan.bsky.social's 2025 Tetrahedron Young Investigator Award! We focused on fluorescein diacetate (FDA) and its use for studying human carboxylesterase 2 (#CES2).

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Reposted by Michael W. Beck, PhD

Wing Ho So @whs657257.bsky.social · Jul 11

Check out our interview with winner of 2025 Tetrahedron Young Investigator Award for Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry, Professor Bryan Dickinson (@chembiobryan.bsky.social)

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Interview with the 2025 Tetrahedron Young Investigator Award for Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry

www.sciencedirect.com

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Michael W. Beck, PhD @beckchemistry.bsky.social · May 11

Congrats Beck Research Group @EIU graduates! Yesterday our group graduated 1 MS student and 4 undergraduates. Proud of all of their hard work in the lab and in their courses.

Michael W. Beck, PhD @beckchemistry.bsky.social · Apr 21

I am happy to announce that @weareeiu.bsky.social 's Board of Trustees voted to approve my tenure and promotion to associate professor. Weird to think that I am no longer a #NewPI. Thank you to everyone who offered advice and helped in various ways! www.eiu.edu/media/viewst...

EIU Board of Trustees meeting results: April 17, 2025 - Eastern Illinois University :: Media Relations

www.eiu.edu

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Michael W. Beck, PhD @beckchemistry.bsky.social · Apr 15

Check out our four posters today as we wrap up #ASBMB25 !

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Michael W. Beck, PhD @beckchemistry.bsky.social · Apr 14

Check out three posters today on our #NIH R15-funded work on carboxylesterases in drug metabolism at #ASBMB25

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Michael W. Beck, PhD @beckchemistry.bsky.social · Apr 13

Check out our first three poster presentations today at #ASBMB25 !

Michael W. Beck, PhD @beckchemistry.bsky.social · Apr 11

The Beck Group has arrived in Chicago for #ASBMB25 and kicking off the trip with our tradition of my State of The Lab address.

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Michael W. Beck, PhD @beckchemistry.bsky.social · Apr 9

My Department is hiring a visiting assistant professor to primarily teach general and organic chemistry. Please see www.eiu.edu/eiuchem/docs... for more information! #Chemistryjobs

www.eiu.edu

Michael W. Beck, PhD @beckchemistry.bsky.social · Apr 5

The Beck Research Group will be at #ASBMB25 in Chicago next week! Come check out our posters!

List of presentations by Beck Research Group

Reposted by Michael W. Beck, PhD

ChemKritzer @chemkritzer.bsky.social · Feb 19

🚨 Chemical Biology & Probes study section (formerly SBCB, one of two NIH panels that reviews chemistry #chemsky 🧪) was abruptly POSTPONED w/no specific plans for rescheduling, less than 24h before start.

If this affects you call your reps & senators, talk to local news, make your voice heard 📢 👩‍🔬

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Michael W. Beck, PhD @beckchemistry.bsky.social · Feb 17

NSF addresses this in the broader impacts evaluation of grant applications. Adapting the proposed work/a portion of the work to an outreach project is a common approach to demonstrate broader impacts and can have a portion of the budget associated with it.

Reposted by Michael W. Beck, PhD

Dr. Kate Ringland @kateringland.bsky.social · Feb 8

Spending my Friday night writing up explainers for how research grants work is becoming normal now, I guess.

My attempt at explaining indirect research costs and why it should matter to EVERYONE that our federal research funds are being decimated.

www.kateringland.com/the-hidden-b...

The Hidden Backbone of Research: How a 15% Cap on Indirect Costs Will Devastate Universities

So, if we’re serious about keeping research alive, it’s time to push back. Because 15% isn’t just a cut—it’s a death sentence for academic institutions as we know them.

www.kateringland.com

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Michael W. Beck, PhD @beckchemistry.bsky.social · Feb 8

A good overview of what indirect costs are and why they are important. www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxTD...

Facilities and Administrative (F&A) Costs Explainer

YouTube video by Association of American Universities

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by Michael W. Beck, PhD

Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · Feb 8

A Primer on Indirect Cost Rates

a cartoon says hey everybody an old man 's talking while bart simpson looks on

ALT: a cartoon says hey everybody an old man 's talking while bart simpson looks on

media.tenor.com

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Michael W. Beck, PhD @beckchemistry.bsky.social · Feb 3

Just got the same error when using Login.gov to log in

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Reposted by Michael W. Beck, PhD

Katie Mack @astrokatie.com · Jan 28

I think some people hear “grants” and think that without them, scientists and government workers just have less stuff to play with at work. But grants fund salaries for students, academics, researchers, and people who work in all areas of public service.

“Pausing” grants means people don’t eat.

White House pauses all federal grants, sparking confusion

The Trump administration has put a hold on all federal financial grants and loans, affecting tens of billions of dollars in payments.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Reposted by Michael W. Beck, PhD

Tori Barber @vbarber.bsky.social · Jan 28

**screams in early career scientist**

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Michael W. Beck, PhD @beckchemistry.bsky.social · Jan 28

I may have some interested students

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Michael W. Beck, PhD @beckchemistry.bsky.social · Jan 10

Application for Tenure and Promotion submitted! A full week before the deadline too.

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Michael W. Beck, PhD @beckchemistry.bsky.social · Nov 6

Congrats to Sam Knebel (MS '23) and undergraduate Makenzie Walk! Sam received the 2024 EIU College Thesis Award of Excellence for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences while Makenzie received an outstanding poster presentation award at the ECI ACS Undergraduate Research Conference. #ProudPI #PUI

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