Rachel Bernstein
@bernscience.bsky.social
Deputy news editor for careers and community @science.org
Signal: rbernstein.98 | Email: [email protected]
Signal: rbernstein.98 | Email: [email protected]
Pinned
Rachel Bernstein
@bernscience.bsky.social
· Feb 21
Scientists, we want to hear your stories. Guidelines for submitting Working Life personal essays for @science.org here: promo.aaas.org/images/caree...
Reposted by Rachel Bernstein
NSF today released instructions for the next round of applicants to its Graduate Research Fellowship Program. A key group—second-year Ph.D. students—is no longer eligible, and students who are still able to apply will face an unusually narrow timeframe. https://scim.ag/3KlQkQk
‘Completely shattered.’ Changes to NSF’s graduate student fellowship spur outcry
The announcement comes months later than usual, leaving many would-be applicants stranded
www.science.org
September 26, 2025 at 11:09 PM
NSF today released instructions for the next round of applicants to its Graduate Research Fellowship Program. A key group—second-year Ph.D. students—is no longer eligible, and students who are still able to apply will face an unusually narrow timeframe. https://scim.ag/3KlQkQk
Reposted by Rachel Bernstein
A week later and prospective applicants are still awaiting the instructions for this year's #NSFGRFP. I checked in with NSF today and was told "I don’t have anything for you at the moment." #GradSchool
"We are so very late that many students will not be able to apply this year."
My latest story—about frustration over delays for NSF's graduate research fellowship program. #NSFGRFP #GradSchool @science.org
www.science.org/content/arti...
My latest story—about frustration over delays for NSF's graduate research fellowship program. #NSFGRFP #GradSchool @science.org
www.science.org/content/arti...
Delays, uncertainty plague NSF fellowship for graduate students
After an unusual award process this year, applicants for next year are waiting for overdue guidelines
www.science.org
September 24, 2025 at 4:55 PM
A week later and prospective applicants are still awaiting the instructions for this year's #NSFGRFP. I checked in with NSF today and was told "I don’t have anything for you at the moment." #GradSchool
Reposted by Rachel Bernstein
"We are so very late that many students will not be able to apply this year."
My latest story—about frustration over delays for NSF's graduate research fellowship program. #NSFGRFP #GradSchool @science.org
www.science.org/content/arti...
My latest story—about frustration over delays for NSF's graduate research fellowship program. #NSFGRFP #GradSchool @science.org
www.science.org/content/arti...
Delays, uncertainty plague NSF fellowship for graduate students
After an unusual award process this year, applicants for next year are waiting for overdue guidelines
www.science.org
September 17, 2025 at 10:31 PM
"We are so very late that many students will not be able to apply this year."
My latest story—about frustration over delays for NSF's graduate research fellowship program. #NSFGRFP #GradSchool @science.org
www.science.org/content/arti...
My latest story—about frustration over delays for NSF's graduate research fellowship program. #NSFGRFP #GradSchool @science.org
www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Rachel Bernstein
Since the deadline update last week there's not been any change to the GRFP website. And even if it's opened tomorrow, students will have a bit over a month instead of the usual 90 days.
Delays, uncertainty plague NSF fellowship for graduate students
After an unusual award process this year, applicants for next year are waiting for overdue guidelines
www.science.org
September 17, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Since the deadline update last week there's not been any change to the GRFP website. And even if it's opened tomorrow, students will have a bit over a month instead of the usual 90 days.
Reposted by Rachel Bernstein
Exclusive: The director of the National Science Foundation announced his resignation today, 16 months before his 6-year term ends, in a letter to staff obtained by Science. scim.ag/42vc3fn
Exclusive: ‘I have done all I can’: NSF director announces he is resigning
Sethuraman Panchanathan, a Trump appointee who has led the agency since 2020, leaves amid mass firings and grant terminations
scim.ag
April 24, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Exclusive: The director of the National Science Foundation announced his resignation today, 16 months before his 6-year term ends, in a letter to staff obtained by Science. scim.ag/42vc3fn
Reposted by Rachel Bernstein
"Panch" is resigning today as NSF director; Appointed during Trump's first term, he couldn't stomach Trump 2.0 www.science.org/content/arti...
Exclusive: NSF director to resign amid grant terminations, job cuts and controversy
www.science.org
April 24, 2025 at 6:22 PM
"Panch" is resigning today as NSF director; Appointed during Trump's first term, he couldn't stomach Trump 2.0 www.science.org/content/arti...
Big news from NSF www.science.org/content/arti...
Exclusive: NSF director to resign amid grant terminations, job cuts, and controversy
“I have done all I can,” says Sethuraman Panchanathan, a Trump appointee who has led agency since 2020
www.science.org
April 24, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Big news from NSF www.science.org/content/arti...
The plan to centralize NIH's system for vetting research proposals under its Center for Scientific Review has been under consideration since last summer, but some worry about the implications of implementing it under the current administration www.science.org/content/arti...
NIH will eliminate many peer review panels and lay off some scientists overseeing them
www.science.org
March 8, 2025 at 3:16 AM
The plan to centralize NIH's system for vetting research proposals under its Center for Scientific Review has been under consideration since last summer, but some worry about the implications of implementing it under the current administration www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Rachel Bernstein
5/ I hate to be negative, but I do want to make sure that US trainees are aware of the competitive landscape. Canadian scientists should be lobbying @governmentofcanada.bsky.social for more funds to bring talented international students and post-docs into Canada at this moment of crisis.
March 4, 2025 at 3:29 PM
5/ I hate to be negative, but I do want to make sure that US trainees are aware of the competitive landscape. Canadian scientists should be lobbying @governmentofcanada.bsky.social for more funds to bring talented international students and post-docs into Canada at this moment of crisis.
NIH submitted notices for four meetings to the Federal Register today www.science.org/content/arti...
NIH announces some key grant-review meetings will restart in late March
Trump policy blocking required notices has frozen reviews of thousands of grants
www.science.org
March 3, 2025 at 6:37 PM
NIH submitted notices for four meetings to the Federal Register today www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Rachel Bernstein
A generation of scientists could be lost through the axing of various programs designed to help young people find a path into basic and applied research. www.science.org/content/arti...
NSF downsizes summer research program for undergraduates
Many participants are from groups underrepresented in science
www.science.org
February 28, 2025 at 11:18 AM
A generation of scientists could be lost through the axing of various programs designed to help young people find a path into basic and applied research. www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Rachel Bernstein
And perhaps most importantly, broader audiences need to know *why these cuts matter*:
“For students whose home institutions aren’t major research universities, a summer REU may be the only way to get the research experience needed to be admitted to a high-quality graduate program.”
“For students whose home institutions aren’t major research universities, a summer REU may be the only way to get the research experience needed to be admitted to a high-quality graduate program.”
February 27, 2025 at 7:05 PM
And perhaps most importantly, broader audiences need to know *why these cuts matter*:
“For students whose home institutions aren’t major research universities, a summer REU may be the only way to get the research experience needed to be admitted to a high-quality graduate program.”
“For students whose home institutions aren’t major research universities, a summer REU may be the only way to get the research experience needed to be admitted to a high-quality graduate program.”
Reposted by Rachel Bernstein
This helps to understand what's going on with the REUs (Research Experience for Undergraduates):
On Feb 13, NSF said: "Although we [had earlier] sent many of you emails expressing our plans to recommend for funding...We deeply regret that we are not going to be able to hold to all of those plans."
On Feb 13, NSF said: "Although we [had earlier] sent many of you emails expressing our plans to recommend for funding...We deeply regret that we are not going to be able to hold to all of those plans."
NSF downsizes summer research program for undergraduates
Many participants are from groups underrepresented in science
www.science.org
February 27, 2025 at 6:51 PM
This helps to understand what's going on with the REUs (Research Experience for Undergraduates):
On Feb 13, NSF said: "Although we [had earlier] sent many of you emails expressing our plans to recommend for funding...We deeply regret that we are not going to be able to hold to all of those plans."
On Feb 13, NSF said: "Although we [had earlier] sent many of you emails expressing our plans to recommend for funding...We deeply regret that we are not going to be able to hold to all of those plans."
On the REU cancellations: “It’s a gut punch” www.science.org/content/arti...
NSF downsizes summer research program for undergraduates
Many participants are from groups underrepresented in science
www.science.org
February 27, 2025 at 7:03 PM
On the REU cancellations: “It’s a gut punch” www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Rachel Bernstein
More hits to #NIH:
"The Trump administration has imposed a new restriction on employment that could push out thousands of NIH’s senior scientists: The agency cannot retain scientists in 1-year to 4-year positions that have long been routinely renewed." 🧪
@jocelynkaiser.bsky.social at @science.org
"The Trump administration has imposed a new restriction on employment that could push out thousands of NIH’s senior scientists: The agency cannot retain scientists in 1-year to 4-year positions that have long been routinely renewed." 🧪
@jocelynkaiser.bsky.social at @science.org
NIH ban on renewing senior scientists adds to assaults on its in-house research
Policy follows firings of tenure-track scientists and suspension of training programs
www.science.org
February 27, 2025 at 4:44 AM
More hits to #NIH:
"The Trump administration has imposed a new restriction on employment that could push out thousands of NIH’s senior scientists: The agency cannot retain scientists in 1-year to 4-year positions that have long been routinely renewed." 🧪
@jocelynkaiser.bsky.social at @science.org
"The Trump administration has imposed a new restriction on employment that could push out thousands of NIH’s senior scientists: The agency cannot retain scientists in 1-year to 4-year positions that have long been routinely renewed." 🧪
@jocelynkaiser.bsky.social at @science.org
Reposted by Rachel Bernstein
Give a group of scientists the same data and the same research question, and they should come up with similar answers—in theory. But they don’t.
www.science.org/content/arti... (by @cathleenogrady.bsky.social)
www.science.org/content/arti... (by @cathleenogrady.bsky.social)
Even faced with the same data, ecologists sometimes come to opposite conclusions
Study highlights powerful role subjective choices can play in research, though some critics urge caution about applying findings too broadly
www.science.org
February 26, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Give a group of scientists the same data and the same research question, and they should come up with similar answers—in theory. But they don’t.
www.science.org/content/arti... (by @cathleenogrady.bsky.social)
www.science.org/content/arti... (by @cathleenogrady.bsky.social)
Reposted by Rachel Bernstein
Vaccinate your children. PLEASE. What an unbearable loss for this family. It was preventable.
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
Texas child is first confirmed death in growing measles outbreak
The unvaccinated school-aged child is the first confirmed fatality in Texas’s worst measles outbreak in three decades.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 26, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Vaccinate your children. PLEASE. What an unbearable loss for this family. It was preventable.
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
Reposted by Rachel Bernstein
Already bruised by the Trump administration’s first round of firings of federal workers, employees at NIH faced more bad news. NIH’s 27 institute directors were told this week that the agency must cut staffing back to 2019 levels, or at least 10% below its 2024 tally. scim.ag/3EP8gjy
More NIH job cuts coming? Agency's scientists already reeling after week of firings
NIH is appealing loss of some lab leaders among in-house research program while bracing for the next actions from the Trump administration
scim.ag
February 21, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Already bruised by the Trump administration’s first round of firings of federal workers, employees at NIH faced more bad news. NIH’s 27 institute directors were told this week that the agency must cut staffing back to 2019 levels, or at least 10% below its 2024 tally. scim.ag/3EP8gjy
Reposted by Rachel Bernstein
"These kinds of shocks are going to lead to a mass exodus … for minorities in particular.”
For my latest @science.org story, I spoke with early career researchers who have been affected by the federal upheaval and are concerned about what it means for their future.
www.science.org/content/arti...
For my latest @science.org story, I spoke with early career researchers who have been affected by the federal upheaval and are concerned about what it means for their future.
www.science.org/content/arti...
U.S. early-career researchers struggling amid chaos
Uncertain funding, government firings, and distressed universities hit vulnerable groups especially hard
www.science.org
February 22, 2025 at 12:23 AM
"These kinds of shocks are going to lead to a mass exodus … for minorities in particular.”
For my latest @science.org story, I spoke with early career researchers who have been affected by the federal upheaval and are concerned about what it means for their future.
www.science.org/content/arti...
For my latest @science.org story, I spoke with early career researchers who have been affected by the federal upheaval and are concerned about what it means for their future.
www.science.org/content/arti...
“I am heartbroken for what is happening to biomedical research and scared at what is going to happen to public health in this country and around the world as a result”
The latest on NIH www.science.org/content/arti...
The latest on NIH www.science.org/content/arti...
More NIH job cuts coming? Agency's scientists already reeling after week of firings
NIH is appealing loss of some lab leaders among in-house research program while bracing for the next actions from the Trump administration
www.science.org
February 22, 2025 at 12:09 AM
“I am heartbroken for what is happening to biomedical research and scared at what is going to happen to public health in this country and around the world as a result”
The latest on NIH www.science.org/content/arti...
The latest on NIH www.science.org/content/arti...
Scientists, we want to hear your stories. Guidelines for submitting Working Life personal essays for @science.org here: promo.aaas.org/images/caree...
February 21, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Scientists, we want to hear your stories. Guidelines for submitting Working Life personal essays for @science.org here: promo.aaas.org/images/caree...
Thanks to @vjrp.bsky.social for sharing her experience with what is on the minds of so many researchers who rely on NIH funding www.science.org/content/arti...
I’m an NIH-funded researcher, drowning in uncertainty
“I’ll keep doing what I can to move my research forward. But I, and so many others, can’t do this indefinitely,” this assistant professor writes
www.science.org
February 21, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Thanks to @vjrp.bsky.social for sharing her experience with what is on the minds of so many researchers who rely on NIH funding www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Rachel Bernstein
In my latest article for @science.org, I reflect on the current challenges faced by early-career researchers, including delays in grant reviews, uncertainty around NIH funding freezes and changes, and the critical need for continued support and advocacy.
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
I’m an NIH-funded researcher, drowning in uncertainty
“I’ll keep doing what I can to move my research forward. But I, and so many others, can’t do this indefinitely,” this assistant professor writes
www.science.org
February 21, 2025 at 6:58 PM
In my latest article for @science.org, I reflect on the current challenges faced by early-career researchers, including delays in grant reviews, uncertainty around NIH funding freezes and changes, and the critical need for continued support and advocacy.
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
"This will decimate our ability to function" www.science.org/content/arti...
‘Wrecking ball’: RFK Jr. moves to fire thousands of health agency employees
Supervisors deliver bad news across NIH, CDC
www.science.org
February 14, 2025 at 11:09 PM
"This will decimate our ability to function" www.science.org/content/arti...