banner
bollinger.bsky.social
Justin Bollinger
@bollinger.bsky.social
1.3K followers 330 following 5 posts
Neuroscientist | Sex as a biological variable | Psychological stress | Glia | He/Him
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
Reposted by Justin Bollinger
mb1106.bsky.social
Matthias Böddener @mb1106.bsky.social · Jul 25
Indirect immunostaining of astrocytes surrounding a blood vessel in the mouse brain with GFAP 🟠. Nuclei have been visualized by DAPI staining 🔵.
#bloodbrainbarrier
#FluorescenceFriday
1 8 47
Reposted by Justin Bollinger
avaskham.bsky.social
Angie Voyles Askham @avaskham.bsky.social · Mar 25
Three researchers who served as scientific advisers to NIMH and one to NIDA were removed from their positions this week with no explanation. @callimcflurry.bsky.social and I reported for @thetransmitter.bsky.social:

#neuroskyence 🧪

www.thetransmitter.org/science-and-...
Acting NIH director dismisses four neuroscientists from advisory boards
The letters they received this week did not include a reason for their termination.
www.thetransmitter.org
3 21 25
bollinger.bsky.social
Justin Bollinger @bollinger.bsky.social · Mar 4
While I was on the extramural side prior to being let go - I was directing a program focused on environmental contributions in chronic systems (neurodevelopmental conditions). Likewise, my background is in stress biology… which, you know, would seem to align with their agenda, nonsense all around 😂
Reposted by Justin Bollinger
dpmoriarity.bsky.social
Daniel P. Moriarity @dpmoriarity.bsky.social · Feb 27
The Precision Psychopathology + Dynamic Immunopsychiatry Lab at UPenn will be hiring 1-2 post-bacc RAs and potentially a postdoc this year

Immune/phlebotomy/blood preprocessing exp will be a plus. Formal posting will follow in a few weeks

Excited to recruit the founding members of this team :)
1 32 67
Reposted by Justin Bollinger
jeremymberg.bsky.social
Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · Feb 26
ATTENTION

The Washington Post is collecting data about funding issues. Please consider contributing.

thewashingtonpost.formstack.com/forms/scient...
Are you a scientist who has lost funding or grants in recent weeks? - Formstack
thewashingtonpost.formstack.com
74 150 180
Reposted by Justin Bollinger
jared-boyce.bsky.social
Jared Boyce @jared-boyce.bsky.social · Feb 25
Using both male and female mice is critical for understanding the full pathogenesis of diseases. I will continue to use both male and female mice in my research. I hope other scientists will too. Again, I ask where is NIH leadership? Anticipatory obedience will kill the NIH. #science
thetransmitter.bsky.social
The Transmitter @thetransmitter.bsky.social · Feb 24
Exclusive: NIH appears to archive policy requiring female animals in studies www.thetransmitter.org/policy/exclu...
Exclusive: NIH appears to archive policy requiring female animals in studies
Such a shift would “put us back in the dark ages in terms of our science,” says neuroscientist Anne Murphy, who helped to formulate the original policy.
www.thetransmitter.org
2 52 130
Reposted by Justin Bollinger
iwashyna.bsky.social
Jack Iwashyna @iwashyna.bsky.social · Feb 20
Over on LinkedIn, the head of the Executive Secretariat of the NIH -- a central part of NIH leadership 🧪🩺-- resigned with a lettter worth reading

www.linkedin.com/posts/nathan...
February 18, 2024 TO: Dr. Matthew Memoli, Acting Director, NIH CC: John Burklow, Chief of Staff, NIH Julie Berko, Director, OHR, NIH FROM: Nathaniel James Brought, Director, ES, NIH SUBJECT: Resignation Dear Dr. Memoli, On July 3, 2001, I stepped off a bus on Marine Corps Recruit Training Depot Perris Island. Scared out of my mind, I stood on a pair of freshly painted yellow footprints, raised my right hand, and recited the oath of enlistment: I, Nathaniel James Brought, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God. For the last 23 years, 7 months, and 15 days, I like to believe I have faithfully carried out the duties of each office to which I've been appointed in my military and civilian service to this nation. That Service has taken me from the Marine Corps to 3 different federal departments, spanned 3 continents, included service in one war zone, and has included: • For the Marine Corps and the National Security Agency, I worked on intelligence operations at the highest classification levels using bleeding edge intelligence tools to ensure America's special operators put boots-to-asses on America's enemies overseas (including commendations crediting my work for the kill or capture of dozens of terrorists), ensuring America's policy makers were able to track the movement of dangerous dual nuclear technology across international borders, and monitored the flow of terrorist financing across the international banking system. • Utilized information from all-source intelligence to ensure the continued security of America's homeland from international and domestic threats. • Worked with some of the finest lawyers in the world to ensure America's security operations were effective, while upholding the rights of all those who interacted with them. • Ensuring that America's rural communities had access to programs like rural development loans, farm aid, and that America's children wouldn't be hungry as they sat in their classrooms and tried to learn. • Most recently, and frankly most dear to my heart, working with each of you here at the National Institutes of Health to advance the future of science and medicine. Not for Americans. Not for any one group of people. But for ALL of humanity. I am unbelievably proud to be able to say that there are Americans who are alive, and terrorists who are not, because of the work I've done to serve this nation. I am proud to say that my service to this country has allowed me to ensure that my children have never faced the struggles of poverty that I grew up with. That service didn't begin because of some great altruistic impulse or drive. I didn't grow up saying "I want to do the great work that needs to be done to weave the fabric of America and ensure her people are not only safe, but healthy." Frankly, that service began because I was poor, and I was inspired. I grew up as a free lunch kid who lived in project housing. It was my fellow Americans who made sure I wasn't hungry in class and that I had enough food to excel academically the way I did. It was Americans who had more than we did that made sure I had good schools to attend where I could learn things that expanded my mind. As I approached the end of high school, I dreamed of going to college and figuring out how to make a living that would allow me to do more tha… to go to college. I knew my grades weren't good enough to compete for scholarships with kids who were as smart as me but also had private tutors and didn't have to work after class to be able to drive their brand-new cars to our school each day. So, I gave up. I nearly failed my senior year of high school with an attendance failure, even though I only needed two classes to graduate. I didn't see the point. What was the point of learning calculus? So it would be that much harder when my dream of being a brain surgeon died not because I was incapable, but because I didn't have the means to make it come true? I resigned myself to being one of the working poor. I resigned myself to needing a spinal fusion before I was 50, like my father, because he literally broke his back trying to make his dreams come true. The example of my father didn't inspire me at that time. It reminded me of the futility of trying to escape the rung of the social ladder I had been born onto. No matter how smart or "gifted and talented" I may have been, I saw no path that led me to a place where I could realize my potential. So, instead I accepted that it would be wasted. Ultimately, the reason I find myself here today, rather than in the place I saw as my only end, is because of another young man who committed to serving his country. Shamefully, I do not remember his name, but there was a young corporal from the United States Marine Corps who had been assigned as a recruiter in Reading, Pennsylvania at that time. This man spoke to me about my plans for my future during lunch one day at school. I told him I planned to do what my father had done. Work hard jobs until my body broke down, maybe start a struggling business, and try to do what I could to stay above the poverty line and off welfare. I told him I hoped to be successful enough that my kids never had to watch me use food stamps at the grocery store. It had been hard to watch my mom go through that. How sad is that? I was a smart young 18-…
46 650 1.3K
Reposted by Justin Bollinger
matthewherron.bsky.social
Matthew Herron @matthewherron.bsky.social · Feb 19
I lost my job at the National Science Foundation yesterday, along with 167 of my colleagues, including some dear friends. This was the best job I've ever had, and I thought it would be my last. The PI community has been sympathetic and supportive, without exception. I will miss working for you.
590 2.1K 13K
Reposted by Justin Bollinger
jacquelyngill.bsky.social
Jacquelyn Gill @jacquelyngill.bsky.social · Feb 18
Firings are happening right now at the National Science Foundation. Essential staff are being cut.

This isn’t about the budget. If it was, they’d be going after the military (17%) or state appropriations (38%). NSF is 0.7% of the federal budget. All federal employees make up only 4% of the budget.
96 1.6K 4.2K
Reposted by Justin Bollinger
luckytran.com
Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · Feb 18
TOMORROW (WED): Rallies are being held across the country to protest the funding cuts to science and the illegal firing of federal workers.

Please join if you can. We need to show that many people oppose these destructive attacks on science and healthcare.

Details: labor4highered.org
HANDS OFF! OUR HEALTHCARE, RESEARCH, JOBS National Day of Action February 19 labor4highered.org Atlanta, GA - Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center, 12 pm Austin, TX - UT Austin Boston, MA - JFK Federal Building, 3 pm Chicago, IL - 828 S Wolcott Av, 10 am Los Angeles, CA Newark, NJ - Smith Library, Rutgers Medical School, 11 am New Brunswick, NJ - Life Science Building Atrium, Busch Campus, 12 pm New Haven, CT - New Haven Green, 5:15 pm New York, NY - Washington Square Park, 4 pm Twin Cities, MN - Metropolitan State University in St. Paul, 11 am Philadelphia, PA - Center City, 12 pm Seattle, WA - University of Washington Main Campus Time: 12 p.m. State College, PA - Senator McCormick’s Penn State Office, 12 pm St. Louis, MO - Both WashU campuses, 3 pm Washington, DC - HHS Building, 3pm
6 440 720
Reposted by Justin Bollinger
standupforscience.bsky.social
Stand Up for Science! @standupforscience.bsky.social · Feb 18
So heartbreaking to hear all of the stories of fantastic scientists at the NIH who were unexpectedly terminated.

To all federal scientists—we’re fighting for you and the crucial work you do.

Want to help? Join us at #standupforscience2025 on March 7th, in DC & Nationwide.
jaymemcreynolds.bsky.social
Jayme McReynolds @jaymemcreynolds.bsky.social · Feb 16
So a former postdoc from our department had just started as a PO at NIH and was terminated in the wave of terminations last week. He is in the research triangle and a phenomenal scientist with expertise in stress and glia. If anyone in the RTI is hiring asap please let me know! #neuroskyence
17 51
bollinger.bsky.social
Justin Bollinger @bollinger.bsky.social · Feb 18
Not to add more flames to the fire - but you'll also want to keep an eye on council meetings. Many of these were pushed due to the communications ban, and will face similar difficulties in being scheduled. Grants with stellar scores will likely be stalled at council review.
1 1
bollinger.bsky.social
Justin Bollinger @bollinger.bsky.social · Feb 16
No kidding, it does read like a solid fortune cookie, ha! I read it with the best intentions in mind :-)
5
Reposted by Justin Bollinger
whysharksmatter.bsky.social
David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈 @whysharksmatter.bsky.social · Feb 16
To probationary federal employees who have been terminated:

Democracy Forward has filed a first-of-its-kind class-wide complaint with the Office of Special Counsel. If civil servants want to join in the complaint, you can email [email protected]
Civil Service Strong: Resources for Civil Servants
Effective. Impartial. Resilient. The civil service comprises dedicated, nonpartisan federal employees who work tirelessly across the country and around the world to ensure the effective delivery of go...
www.civilservicestrong.org
29 1.3K 2.4K
bollinger.bsky.social
Justin Bollinger @bollinger.bsky.social · Feb 16
I am actively looking for a research scientist position or research administration role within the Raleigh-Durham (RDU) area! Please reach out if my background and skillset might fit your labs needs :-) Lots of experience with preclinical models, translational neuroscience, and behavioral analyses!
4 84 120
bollinger.bsky.social
Justin Bollinger @bollinger.bsky.social · Feb 16
I was hoping that my first bsky post would be more cheerful. I recently joined NIH (NIEHS) as a PO. I fought hard for this position and was so excited to support health science from a new vantage point… I picked up my life and moved to NC. Unfortunately, my time at NIEHS was short lived.
28 120 610
Reposted by Justin Bollinger
klangin.bsky.social
Katie Langin @klangin.bsky.social · Feb 14
Dear federal scientists: If you have been affected by the probationary firings and would be willing to speak with Science, please reach out to me by email ([email protected]) or on Signal. We can guarantee annonymity.
24 1.3K 2.5K
Reposted by Justin Bollinger
murphyroyallab.org
Ciarán Murphy-Royal @murphyroyallab.org · Dec 9
Delighted to share an update to our preprint, reviewed at @elife.bsky.social, and now sent back for re-review.
Colossal work by the team and driven home by @mathiasgua.bsky.social
Quick 🧵 of what's new -
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Early-life stress induces persistent astrocyte dysfunction associated with fear generalisation
Early-life stress can have lifelong consequences, enhancing stress susceptibility and resulting in behavioural and cognitive deficits. While the effects of early-life stress on neuronal function have ...
www.biorxiv.org
2 32 85