Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Dr. Amy Burgin

José Cerca @naturalselection.bsky.social · Aug 19

The 2025-26 Eco-Evo job list is out. Good luck to those applying!

docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

ecoevojobs.net 2025-26

docs.google.com

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Dr. Amy Burgin @burginam.bsky.social · Jul 21

I'm recruiting via ISU's new EPSCOR Grad Training Program! If you want to write an NSF GRFP this Fall and come to ISU, let's connect. Students who get an Honorable Mention this year (or did in the last 3 years) are eligible. Program funding rates are same as GRFP!
Apply: etap.nsf.gov/award/8257/o...

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Dr. Amy Burgin @burginam.bsky.social · Jul 17

Thanks for attending!

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Reposted by Dr. Amy Burgin

Eleanor 🌎🛰️🗺️🌲🌊 @ella0nearth.bsky.social · Jul 17

We love the Women Advancing River Research webinar series! Today, we’re learning about interdisciplinary collaboration to understand non-perennial streams with @margaretzimmer.bsky.social and @burginam.bsky.social.

There are even some beautiful maps for #gischat!

👩🏻‍🔬🌊🧪

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Dr. Amy Burgin @burginam.bsky.social · Jul 16

Looking forward to talking non-perennial streams with MZ tomorrow! She'll do an overview of all of the great synthesis work in the NPS literature in the last ~5 years, and I'll do a deep dive on the organization of the Aquatic Intermittency effects on Microbiomes in Streams (AIMS) project! Join us!

Li Li 李黎 @lireactivewater.bsky.social · Jul 8

Streams have become drier in a warming climate.

7/17, #WARR talks on
intermittent streams + collaborative science teams,
Dr. Margaret Zimmer @margaretzimmer.bsky.social
Dr. Amy Burgin @burginam.bsky.social

Register: psu.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

@waterbarnes.bsky.social @devonkerins.bsky.social

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Dr. Amy Burgin @burginam.bsky.social · Jul 14

Congrats to Matt & Co on being awarded an NSF EGFP Grant!

The program titled, "Training the next Generation of Biologists to Drive Basic Discovery and Build the Bioeconomy" will run at ISU for 3 years and can accept 10 students per year. If you got an Honorable Mention NSF GRFP, you're eligible!

Matt Hufford @mbhufford.bsky.social · Jul 14

Exciting news from NSF today! Our proposal to host an EPSCoR Graduate Training Program at ISU in the biological sciences has been funded. Students receiving an honorable mention in the GRFP competition are eligible. We have a diverse set of faculty participating across the breadth of biology.

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Reposted by Dr. Amy Burgin

Li Li 李黎 @lireactivewater.bsky.social · Jul 8

Streams have become drier in a warming climate.

7/17, #WARR talks on
intermittent streams + collaborative science teams,
Dr. Margaret Zimmer @margaretzimmer.bsky.social
Dr. Amy Burgin @burginam.bsky.social

Register: psu.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

@waterbarnes.bsky.social @devonkerins.bsky.social

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Reposted by Dr. Amy Burgin

Anita Devineni @anitadevineni.bsky.social · May 24

The new leadership cancelled planned events for NSF’s 75th anniversary and tried to prevent staff from even taking a group photo to celebrate the landmark. These are the faces of the hardworking employees they’ve been treating as disposable.

NSF, we appreciate you even if your own leaders don’t ❤️

Science Magazine @science.org · May 23

Hundreds of National Science Foundation staffers turned out for a group photograph to celebrate the besieged agency’s 75th anniversary—despite efforts by NSF officials to prevent the picture from being taken. scim.ag/4jcGpIt

Is a photo subversive? NSF staff overcome obstacles to 75th anniversary portrait

Management tried to quash outpouring of support for beleaguered agency

scim.ag

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Kelly Zamudio @kzutaustin.bsky.social · May 24

Hey folks going to #evol2025 in Athens. The SSE #DEI committee is sponsoring a workshop on how to avoid bias in writing T&P letters. Registration is required and the workshop is open to all career stages! Please share and help spread the word @sse-evolution.bsky.social @evolmtg.bsky.social

announcement for the SSE Sponsored Workshop "Avoiding Bias When Writing Tenure and Promotion Leters"

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Reposted by Dr. Amy Burgin

Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · May 22

Trump Has Cut Science Funding to Its Lowest Level in Decades www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

Trump Has Cut Science Funding to Its Lowest Level in Decades

The lag in funding extends far beyond D.E.I. initiatives, affecting almost every area of science: chemistry, computing, engineering, materials and more.

www.nytimes.com

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Dr. Amy Burgin @burginam.bsky.social · May 18

Partying like Rock Stars with Stink Floyd—the Corpse Flower that only blooms every 5-7 years! Huge line to smell the stench at Reiman Gardens. Can confirm, it smells…like a dumpster, maybe? You can check it out tomorrow (Sunday) but after that it’ll be a few years.

Sign explaining Stink Floyd the Corpse Flower.

Line to smell the stench at Reiman Gardens

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Reposted by Dr. Amy Burgin

Trevor A. Branch @trevorabranch.bsky.social · May 13

Racist and sexist roots in the cancellation of NSF grants under Trump:

Grants with female PIs canceled 2x more than men
Grants with Black PIs canceled 4x over White PIs
Grants with Hispanic PIs canceled 2x over White PIs
Grants with PIs with disabilities canceled 2x more than without

David Malakoff @davidmalakoff.bsky.social · May 13

Another scoop from Jeff Mervis (@policyhound.bsky.social): NSF's ~1400 grant terminations have disproportionately affected PIs from groups underrepresented in science: women, racial & ethnic minorities, & those with disabilities. 1/3
www.science.org/content/arti...

Trump officials take steps toward a radically different NSF

Efforts to shrink staff, budget, and focus have alarmed members of Congress

www.science.org

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Laura Helmuth @laurahelmuth.bsky.social · May 13

Great article with lots of perspectives from scientists who are scared to speak out — and other scientists who are scared of what will happen if they don't. Trump & Musk & Kennedy are devastating U.S. research and setting progress back decades
www.science.org/content/arti... on @science.org

Trump’s ‘fear factor’: Scientists go silent as funding cuts escalate

Many worry about retribution. But for others, speaking out is worth the risk

www.science.org

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Dr. Amy Burgin @burginam.bsky.social · May 9

This week’s bright spot was the lovely native plant sale fundraiser by the ISU EEOB Grad Students. I got a great assortment to give my Mom for Mother’s Day, including a prairie seed packet!

ISU EEOB Grad Student organization prairie seed mix packet and plants.

ISU EEOB Grad Student Native Plant fundraiser.

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Reposted by Dr. Amy Burgin

Matthew L Reznicek @drreznicek.bsky.social · May 9

The U of MN reports it has lost 70 federal grants, totalling more than $22,000,000 grants that are primarily located in the biomedical, environmental, and energy and natural resources work.

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Reposted by Dr. Amy Burgin

Dr. Amy Burgin @burginam.bsky.social · Jan 28

The National Science Foundation benefits the State of Iowa through funding over $74M (FY'23) in research, education, and investment in business partnerships. This equates to jobs, degrees, new knowledge, and a skilled workforce for STEM careers. Fact sheets by state: new.nsf.gov/about/fact-s...

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Reposted by Dr. Amy Burgin

Science Magazine @science.org · May 8

Exclusive: National Science Foundation staff were told today that the agency’s 37 divisions—across all eight directorates—are being abolished and the number of programs within those divisions will be drastically reduced.

Exclusive: NSF faces radical shake-up as officials abolish its 37 divisions

Changes seen as a response to presidential directives on what research to fund

scim.ag

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Dr. David Miller 🏳️‍🌈 @davidimiller.bsky.social · May 4

🧪 Though a doubling of NSF's budget might seem far-fetched, that's exactly what Congress said what's needed to maintain national competitiveness in science & tech.

From the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act of 2022:

CHIPS and Science authorization for FY26 = $17.8B

White House skinny budget = $3.9B

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Reposted by Dr. Amy Burgin

Kevin R. McClure @drkevinrmcclure.com · May 2

FYI “Spencer Foundation, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, William T. Grant Foundation and Kapor Foundation are providing quick turnaround grants of up to $25k for education scholars impacted by the abrupt NSF grant cancellations.” www.spencer.org/news/meeting...

Meeting the Moment Together

We are returning from the AERA Annual Meeting in Denver reinvigorated and with a deep appreciation for all that scholars and higher education leaders are holding in this moment. Rapid shifts in fed...

www.spencer.org

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Reposted by Dr. Amy Burgin

Leslie Rissler @ljrissler.bsky.social · May 3

SaveNSF is a coalition of concerned scientists and allies who are working to save funding for scientific grants through the NSF.

The mission is to support and advocate for the continuation of vital research and innovation.

Join: www.savensf.com

Home | Savensf

www.savensf.com

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Carl Zimmer @carlzimmer.com · May 1

The Washington Post offers its own survey of the damage being done to the National Science Foundation. “It’s sort of cutting off the future,” said @alondra.bsky.social 3/10
wapo.st/3GBQ5Pa

Amid DOGE-induced turmoil, National Science Foundation in crisis

The $9 billion agency, which exists solely to fund researchers, projects and facilities outside its Alexandria, Virginia, headquarters, is hitting reverse on its mission.

wapo.st

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Reposted by Dr. Amy Burgin

Colin Carlson @colincarlson.bsky.social · May 1

I talked to Nature about the latest development at NSF, which is a five-alarm fire for American science. The scale of immediate impact is massive. We narrowly escaped this affecting @viralemergence.org for now, but will have to shut down in a few months if this stays.

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Exclusive: NSF stops awarding new grants and funding existing ones

US science funder also plans to screen grant applications for compliance with ‘agency priorities’.

www.nature.com

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Dan Garisto @dangaristo.bsky.social · May 1

BREAKING: NSF has frozen all grant funding, as of yesterday. It's unclear when they will resume funding awards, or why the pause has been put in place. www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Exclusive: NSF stops awarding new grants and funding existing ones

US science funder also plans to screen grant applications for compliance with ‘agency priorities’.

www.nature.com

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Reposted by Dr. Amy Burgin

Katie L. Burke @klburke.bsky.social · May 1

A timeline of science/health-relevant news over Trump's first 100 days. Good link to bookmark. 🧪
www.statnews.com/2025/04/24/t...
#science #health #medicine

Day by day, how Trump is roiling science and health

STAT is tracking, day by day, what's happened in the words of science and health during the first months of the Trump administration.

www.statnews.com

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Reposted by Dr. Amy Burgin

Scott Delaney @scott-delaney.bsky.social · Apr 28

Critically, Republicans have terminated ~800 NIH grants over 8 weeks. But that's only half the story.

*Republicans have also cancelled nearly 1,000 NSF grants in 8 *days*.

The work continues. Report your terminated NSF grant here:

airtable.com/appGKlSVeXni...

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