Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Claire Doherty, PhD

Princess Vimentin PhD | Cancer Biologist @princess-vimentin.bsky.social · 29d

RIP David Baltimore. He is famous for breakthrough work that challenged dogma that information flows from DNA to RNA. In viruses, it is the opposite. This took virology in a new direction.

This was NIH funded research.

We stand on the shoulders of giants before us.
🧪 www.salk.edu/news-release...

Salk Institute mourns the loss of Nobel laureate David Baltimore - Salk Institute for Biological Studies

LA JOLLA—The Salk Institute mourns the loss of molecular biologist and Nobel laureate David Baltimore, a former research associate and longtime nonresident fellow at the Institute. Baltimore died on S...

www.salk.edu

2 83 230

Claire Doherty, PhD @claire-doherty.bsky.social · May 21

This aged poorly

Reposted by Claire Doherty, PhD

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

12 390 530

Claire Doherty, PhD @claire-doherty.bsky.social · May 17

Can you share more information about fellowship opportunities with Organism? So many young scientists are losing hope here.

2

Claire Doherty, PhD @claire-doherty.bsky.social · May 17

I completely understand. Wishing you all the best with your future lab and your research — we need scientists with convictions and values more than ever. Thanks for your insight!

1

Claire Doherty, PhD @claire-doherty.bsky.social · May 17

I can certainly appreciate and applaud HHMI for taking care of their own at this time. However, I don’t think it is unfair to set forth the expectation for them to lead with courage and vision during this crisis. Sacrificing one generation of scientists for another doesn’t resonate with that goal.

3

Claire Doherty, PhD @claire-doherty.bsky.social · May 17

There was a lot of chatter after IE3 cancellations about HHMI being performative in its response to the funding crisis, but it was centered on university systems. Cancelling trainee support, especially impacting minority trainees, is telling of HHMI’s lackluster commitment to people

1

Claire Doherty, PhD @claire-doherty.bsky.social · May 17

They present the argument that they are canceling all future competitions to protect the scholars already served by HHMI. It is my understanding that no currently funded trainee awards have been canceled. HHMI gutted major initiatives earlier this year (IE3) which has devastated diversity programs

1 1

Claire Doherty, PhD @claire-doherty.bsky.social · May 17

I’m 7 months into my postdoc and have applied to many of the private foundation awards. I wish I had better insight into their strategic decisions, but I’m happy to answer any questions that I am able to regarding what they’ve shared.

1 1

Claire Doherty, PhD @claire-doherty.bsky.social · May 17

Maybe not new info, but I do want to shout out foundations that are showing their convictions with their funding power. @cancerresearchinst.bsky.social has actually increased their fellowship numbers this year!

1

Claire Doherty, PhD @claire-doherty.bsky.social · May 17

Thank you for your response! Let’s hope we all weather this storm.

1 1

Claire Doherty, PhD @claire-doherty.bsky.social · May 17

Do you have any suggestions on how to move forward an appeal on this decision? The research community feels so betrayed by HHMI now.

1 1

Claire Doherty, PhD @claire-doherty.bsky.social · May 16

They said WHAT now?

Claire Doherty, PhD @claire-doherty.bsky.social · May 16

It’s giving performative advocacy 🙄

2

Reposted by Claire Doherty, PhD

Ya'el Courtney, PhD @scienceyael.bsky.social · May 16

As a former @hhmi.org Gilliam fellow, I’m deeply disappointed to see HHMI cancel the Hanna Gray this year and pause all competitions.

@leslievosshall.bsky.social, Erin O’Shea — this was a moment to lead with vision, not retreat.

6 47 150

Claire Doherty, PhD @claire-doherty.bsky.social · May 16

Congratulations on your application! So disappointed in this group — I received the same email today.

1 2

Claire Doherty, PhD @claire-doherty.bsky.social · May 16

So disappointed in this news. I’ve always seen HHMI as the best of the future, but this is disappointing.

4

Claire Doherty, PhD @claire-doherty.bsky.social · May 16

These private grant orgs really said, “We hear that you need more support right now with the funding crisis. We’re actually going to suspend our fellowships until things settle down.”

So disappointed in the groups that were supposed to be leaders in the future of science.

#postdoc #hhmi

16 86

Claire Doherty, PhD @claire-doherty.bsky.social · Apr 18

20,000 strong in Salt Lake City! Grateful for leaders who focus on unity 💙

@aoc.bsky.social @sanders.senate.gov

2

Reposted by Claire Doherty, PhD

Eric McDaniel @ericm.cd · Apr 17

I look at close to 100 stories a week and even more outside of work. I’ve done this ten years.

This is among the most horrific things I’ve ever read — testimony from dying children whose access to medicine has been cut off by the Trump administration.

www.npr.org/sections/goa...

Haunted by hopelessness: 12 Zambians share their stories as HIV drugs run out

Mothers and children, husbands and wives, doctors, truck drivers and religious leaders are all grappling with the fallout from the sudden U.S. cuts in aid.

www.npr.org

10 2K 3.6K

Reposted by Claire Doherty, PhD

Bodega Cats @bodegacats.bsky.social · Apr 15

210 600 9.8K

Reposted by Claire Doherty, PhD

Maya Voichek @mayavoichek.bsky.social · Mar 17

1/ Transposable elements are often called "jumping genes" because they mobilize within genomes. 🧬
But did you know they can also jump 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 cells? 🤯
Our new study reveals how retrotransposons invade the germline directly from somatic cells.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
A short thread 🧵👇

Drosophila follicle showing retrotransposons (pink & yellow) expressed in somatic cells infecting the oocyte

11 260 540

Reposted by Claire Doherty, PhD

Scott Delaney @scott-delaney.bsky.social · Mar 18

Substantial updates to the list of cancelled grants👇

- THANK YOU to all who have contributed. Crowdsourcing restores faith in humanity.

- It's still a work in progress. You'll see more updates shortly.

- There are multiple teams & efforts engaged in tracking & advocacy. More to come soon!

Rescinded NIH & NSF Grants

docs.google.com

14 160 260

Claire Doherty, PhD @claire-doherty.bsky.social · Mar 19

It should work, but you might need to up the dose a good amount. Keep us updated if you think of it— I’m curious!

1

Claire Doherty, PhD @claire-doherty.bsky.social · Mar 7

The people of the United States deserve the good science brings. #standupforscience #standupforscienceslc

4