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Dinah Davison

@dinahdavison.bsky.social

170 followers 150 following 4 posts

NSF Postdoctoral Fellow at Kansas State University. My research examines how gene-environment interactions shaped the evolution of differentiated multicellularity. dinahdavison.net

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Dinah Davison @dinahdavison.bsky.social · Mar 21

My new paper examining how plasticity may have shaped the evolution of cellular differentiation is out! We propose that the plastic development of somatic-like cells may have been an intermediate step in the evolution of soma in the volvocine algae. #evosky #mevosky doi.org/10.1098/rspb...

Plasticity and the evolution of group-level regulation of cellular differentiation in the volvocine algae | Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

During the evolution of multicellularity, the unit of selection transitions from single cells to integrated multicellular cell groups, necessitating the evolution of group-level traits such as somatic...

doi.org

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Dinah Davison @dinahdavison.bsky.social · Feb 19

Fundamental scientific research in the US relies on the work of Matt and his colleagues at the National Science Foundation. The loss of 168 NSF employees is a huge blow to science.

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.

Reposted by Dinah Davison

Jonathan Lambert @jonlambert.bsky.social · Feb 18

NEW: NSF confirmed that they fired 168 employees today, out of their staff of ~1,500 feds.

This includes some people who'd finished their 1-year probationary periods, which were extended to 2-years last month without explanation. More to come.

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Reposted by Dinah Davison

Seema Sheth @seemasheth.bsky.social · Feb 18

My heart is breaking as I hear of more and more federal workers getting fired. I deeply respect and value the incredible contributions that my colleagues at NSF have made towards basic scientific research and broader impact activities.

Leslie Rissler @ljrissler.bsky.social · Feb 18

Colleagues, including my partner, with years of service at the agency. Some Permanent POs reclassified as Probationary. Exceptional scientists who were former professors at major institutions, and came to NSF to serve the community and ensure science thrives in the US.

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Reposted by Dinah Davison

Dr. Jennifer Wade @volcanojw.bsky.social · Feb 8

Do you want a big overview of NSF, explaining things like the fact that 24% of all federally funded academic fundamental research comes from NSF? And that 94% of its budget goes out the door in grants/awards? Here you go. nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/files/Factsh...

An “NSF BY THE NUMBERS” fact sheet screenshot with some facts about “ADVANCING SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING RESEARCH IN THE U.S. AND ABROAD”

-The U.S. National Science Foundation was created by Congress in_ 1950 to continue the U.S. science and technology enterprise began during World War II.
-NSF allocates 94% of its approximately $8.5 billion budget for grants and awards to support research projects, facilities and STEM education.
-NSF funds research in all 50 states and U.S. territories.
-NSF fosters international scientific collaboration on all 7 continents around the globe.
-About 2,000 academic and other private and public institutions across the U.S. conduct NSF-funded research.
-NSF supports 24% of all federally funded academic fundamental research at U.S. colleges and universities.
fundamental research comes from NSF.
- In 2020, NSF received approximately 43,000 research proposals from scientists and engineers and funded about 12,000.
- NSF-funded researchers have received 248 Nobel Prizes.

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Reposted by Dinah Davison

Neil Shubin @neilshubin.bsky.social · Feb 8

Gene editing technology began by people studying salt marshes. Ozempic began by folks studying the venom of Gila Monsters. Support for basic science has empowered us to understand our world. Tethering it to applications health has transformed and saved countless lives.

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Reposted by Dinah Davison

Science Magazine @science.org · Jan 30

Exclusive: NSF this week began to search through billions of dollars of grants the agency has already awarded for anything touching on topics that President Donald Trump has criticized. And NSF has blocked grantees and trainees from accessing funds while the review is underway. scim.ag/3El0NZh

EXCLUSIVE: NSF starts vetting all grants to comply with Trump’s orders

Grantee accounts remain frozen, while union accuses NSF of ignoring rules governing peer review

scim.ag

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Dinah Davison @dinahdavison.bsky.social · Jan 31

Call your representatives about this NSF funding freeze and grant review. NSF broader impacts were mandated in the America Competes Reauthorization Act and broadening participation in sciences was part of the Chips and Science Act, passed by congress in 2022
www.science.org/content/arti...

EXCLUSIVE: NSF starts vetting all grants to comply with Trump’s orders

Grantee accounts remain frozen, while union accuses NSF of ignoring rules governing peer review

www.science.org

Dinah Davison @dinahdavison.bsky.social · Jan 29

The American Institute of Biological Sciences is organizing a congressional visits day on Apr 29-30. This is a good opportunity to directly talk to your congressional reps about the importance of funding scientific research! The AIBS application deadline is 3/3 and SSE has travel funding. aibs.org 🧪

Society for the Study of Evolution @sse-evolution.bsky.social · Jan 24

Apply now for funding to attend the AIBS Congressional Visits Day in Washington, DC on April 29-30! Participants will receive communications and advocacy training before meeting with lawmakers. Learn more and apply for funding from SSE here: https://buff.ly/3Wry2QY Deadline Feb. 17!

The US Capitol building at night. Text: Society for the Study of Evolution American Institute of Biological Sciences Congressional Visits Day Grants, Applications due February 17.

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