Lauren Smith
@laursmith.bsky.social
PhD student researching evolutionary biology at the Institute of Nature Conservation PAS 🇵🇱 Kraków
Bird mom of 2 🦜🦜
She/Her
Bird mom of 2 🦜🦜
She/Her
Reposted by Lauren Smith
Y'all, I just got out of the NSF-BIO webinar where they explained changes to peer review. It's not good. 🧪 scienceforeveryone.science/changes-to-n...
Changes to NSF peer review
They're not good. At all.
scienceforeveryone.science
December 18, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Y'all, I just got out of the NSF-BIO webinar where they explained changes to peer review. It's not good. 🧪 scienceforeveryone.science/changes-to-n...
Saw Avatar: Fire and Ash in IMAX 3D yesterday! Personally, I liked it better than the 2nd movie.
Ft: my giant popcorn carrier 😄
Ft: my giant popcorn carrier 😄
December 23, 2025 at 7:32 AM
Saw Avatar: Fire and Ash in IMAX 3D yesterday! Personally, I liked it better than the 2nd movie.
Ft: my giant popcorn carrier 😄
Ft: my giant popcorn carrier 😄
Good morning from Sherbet and Toon-Toon 🦜🦜
December 23, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Good morning from Sherbet and Toon-Toon 🦜🦜
Reposted by Lauren Smith
We're open for abstract submission, and look forward to welcoming you all to Bristol in March!
asab-spring-conference2026.github.io
@asab-meetings.bsky.social #ASABSpring2026
asab-spring-conference2026.github.io
@asab-meetings.bsky.social #ASABSpring2026
December 22, 2025 at 10:31 AM
We're open for abstract submission, and look forward to welcoming you all to Bristol in March!
asab-spring-conference2026.github.io
@asab-meetings.bsky.social #ASABSpring2026
asab-spring-conference2026.github.io
@asab-meetings.bsky.social #ASABSpring2026
My man is back with his dad and they brought the good stuff 🤤
Having the future in-laws over this Christmas in Kraków! 😄🇵🇱
Having the future in-laws over this Christmas in Kraków! 😄🇵🇱
December 20, 2025 at 8:28 PM
My man is back with his dad and they brought the good stuff 🤤
Having the future in-laws over this Christmas in Kraków! 😄🇵🇱
Having the future in-laws over this Christmas in Kraków! 😄🇵🇱
The fog is so low and dense that when I blink, water droplets fall from my eyelashes. 😶🌫️
December 16, 2025 at 6:01 AM
The fog is so low and dense that when I blink, water droplets fall from my eyelashes. 😶🌫️
It's been a busy time and I haven't posted much, but I'm back! My first semester of my PhD is done!
December 15, 2025 at 7:06 PM
It's been a busy time and I haven't posted much, but I'm back! My first semester of my PhD is done!
Reposted by Lauren Smith
NSF
- Forced reorg
- POs down ~ 40% (DRP, most rotators not renewed, retirements)
- Forced move (and we have to pack and clean) to a building with no furniture, little to no conference space for panels, inadequate 🛜, …)
I personally love the boxes they gave us for packing.
“Details matter” 🙃
- Forced reorg
- POs down ~ 40% (DRP, most rotators not renewed, retirements)
- Forced move (and we have to pack and clean) to a building with no furniture, little to no conference space for panels, inadequate 🛜, …)
I personally love the boxes they gave us for packing.
“Details matter” 🙃
December 11, 2025 at 11:16 AM
NSF
- Forced reorg
- POs down ~ 40% (DRP, most rotators not renewed, retirements)
- Forced move (and we have to pack and clean) to a building with no furniture, little to no conference space for panels, inadequate 🛜, …)
I personally love the boxes they gave us for packing.
“Details matter” 🙃
- Forced reorg
- POs down ~ 40% (DRP, most rotators not renewed, retirements)
- Forced move (and we have to pack and clean) to a building with no furniture, little to no conference space for panels, inadequate 🛜, …)
I personally love the boxes they gave us for packing.
“Details matter” 🙃
part 1 of 3 complete!
Made the 7 hr car ride from Buffalo to NYC with our birds!
next part: flying from JFK to Warsaw tomorrow!
#migrating
Made the 7 hr car ride from Buffalo to NYC with our birds!
next part: flying from JFK to Warsaw tomorrow!
#migrating
November 10, 2025 at 12:04 AM
part 1 of 3 complete!
Made the 7 hr car ride from Buffalo to NYC with our birds!
next part: flying from JFK to Warsaw tomorrow!
#migrating
Made the 7 hr car ride from Buffalo to NYC with our birds!
next part: flying from JFK to Warsaw tomorrow!
#migrating
Reposted by Lauren Smith
Ooh! A new paper on woodpecker anatomy states that the birds coordinate muscle contraction and airflow to be more efficient at pecking.
🧪
Imagining these little guys grunting to flex is sending me
doi.org/10.1242/jeb....
🧪
Imagining these little guys grunting to flex is sending me
doi.org/10.1242/jeb....
Neuromuscular coordination of movement and breathing forges a hammer-like mechanism for woodpecker drilling
Highlighted Article: Woodpeckers engage a broad suite of muscular recruitment in coordination with respiration to forge a hammer-like mechanism when performing their iconic drilling and tapping behavi...
doi.org
November 8, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Ooh! A new paper on woodpecker anatomy states that the birds coordinate muscle contraction and airflow to be more efficient at pecking.
🧪
Imagining these little guys grunting to flex is sending me
doi.org/10.1242/jeb....
🧪
Imagining these little guys grunting to flex is sending me
doi.org/10.1242/jeb....
Permits and everything are all set for bringing my birds to Poland!
Time to migrate back with my flock in a week 🇵🇱
Time to migrate back with my flock in a week 🇵🇱
November 4, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Permits and everything are all set for bringing my birds to Poland!
Time to migrate back with my flock in a week 🇵🇱
Time to migrate back with my flock in a week 🇵🇱
I have been in Poland for a few weeks now and I am very content! I can't wait to share my PhD experiences with you all! 😄
October 20, 2025 at 9:51 AM
I have been in Poland for a few weeks now and I am very content! I can't wait to share my PhD experiences with you all! 😄
Let me tell you about my lord and savior: the apfelschorle
On my way to begin my PhD! 🇵🇱 one more flight!
On my way to begin my PhD! 🇵🇱 one more flight!
October 2, 2025 at 7:19 AM
Let me tell you about my lord and savior: the apfelschorle
On my way to begin my PhD! 🇵🇱 one more flight!
On my way to begin my PhD! 🇵🇱 one more flight!
Reposted by Lauren Smith
I am beyond excited to announce that ggplot2 4.0.0 has just landed on CRAN.
It's not every day we have a new major #ggplot2 release but it is a fitting 18 year birthday present for the package.
Get an overview of the release in this blog post and be on the lookout for more in-depth posts #rstats
It's not every day we have a new major #ggplot2 release but it is a fitting 18 year birthday present for the package.
Get an overview of the release in this blog post and be on the lookout for more in-depth posts #rstats
ggplot2 4.0.0
A new major version of ggplot2 has been released on CRAN. Find out what is new here.
www.tidyverse.org
September 11, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Reposted by Lauren Smith
The sheer amount of time, money, and resources this government has spent to torture one random guy is astounding.
JUST IN: On X, DHS says that Kilmar Abrego Garcia “will be processed for removal to Uganda.”
August 25, 2025 at 1:42 PM
The sheer amount of time, money, and resources this government has spent to torture one random guy is astounding.
Reposted by Lauren Smith
What are you even doing if your syllabus in not in Times New Roman 12
August 25, 2025 at 12:39 PM
What are you even doing if your syllabus in not in Times New Roman 12
Final trip for my visa appointment! Time to drive back home again 😴 🇵🇱
Moving in 20 days!
Moving in 20 days!
August 14, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Final trip for my visa appointment! Time to drive back home again 😴 🇵🇱
Moving in 20 days!
Moving in 20 days!
hot take: transporting birds internationally is crazier than transporting kids I swear 😵💫
August 9, 2025 at 5:25 PM
hot take: transporting birds internationally is crazier than transporting kids I swear 😵💫
Reposted by Lauren Smith
🚨 Nature’s rights & international law: The Inter-American Court of Human Rights recognizes rights for nature.
In a historic opinion, the Court cited @ipbes.net Global and Americas Assessments as key evidence 🌿📚🧪
Biodiversity conservation ensures human well-being. 🌏
📰http://bit.ly/4omU9V4
In a historic opinion, the Court cited @ipbes.net Global and Americas Assessments as key evidence 🌿📚🧪
Biodiversity conservation ensures human well-being. 🌏
📰http://bit.ly/4omU9V4
August 6, 2025 at 9:30 AM
🚨 Nature’s rights & international law: The Inter-American Court of Human Rights recognizes rights for nature.
In a historic opinion, the Court cited @ipbes.net Global and Americas Assessments as key evidence 🌿📚🧪
Biodiversity conservation ensures human well-being. 🌏
📰http://bit.ly/4omU9V4
In a historic opinion, the Court cited @ipbes.net Global and Americas Assessments as key evidence 🌿📚🧪
Biodiversity conservation ensures human well-being. 🌏
📰http://bit.ly/4omU9V4
I’m wild for a 27 year old, wild as in oatmeal baths at night to help with my dry summer skin from working outdoors 👍 🫧
July 30, 2025 at 1:35 AM
I’m wild for a 27 year old, wild as in oatmeal baths at night to help with my dry summer skin from working outdoors 👍 🫧
Reposted by Lauren Smith
Fox just panicked and put on the 2024 rerun mix tape to avoid covering the news tonight.
July 18, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Fox just panicked and put on the 2024 rerun mix tape to avoid covering the news tonight.
Reposted by Lauren Smith
String manipulation is a critical daily task for bioinformaticians.
Here is a cheatsheet using stringr: rstudio.github.io/cheatsheets...
I probably use stringr::str_replace() once every other day...
to clean up metadata (of course!) #rstats
Here is a cheatsheet using stringr: rstudio.github.io/cheatsheets...
I probably use stringr::str_replace() once every other day...
to clean up metadata (of course!) #rstats
July 14, 2025 at 1:45 PM
String manipulation is a critical daily task for bioinformaticians.
Here is a cheatsheet using stringr: rstudio.github.io/cheatsheets...
I probably use stringr::str_replace() once every other day...
to clean up metadata (of course!) #rstats
Here is a cheatsheet using stringr: rstudio.github.io/cheatsheets...
I probably use stringr::str_replace() once every other day...
to clean up metadata (of course!) #rstats
Reposted by Lauren Smith
NEW: In an unprecedented move, the NIH will soon disinvite dozens of scientists about to take positions on advisory councils that make final decisions on grant funding.
NIH staff were told to select others aligned with the Trump administration and told to expect placements by political appointees.
NIH staff were told to select others aligned with the Trump administration and told to expect placements by political appointees.
Exclusive: NIH to dismiss dozens of grant reviewers to align with Trump priorities
The move would undo years of work, leaving advisory councils understaffed, and without the full expertise needed for reviews.
www.nature.com
July 14, 2025 at 11:25 PM
NEW: In an unprecedented move, the NIH will soon disinvite dozens of scientists about to take positions on advisory councils that make final decisions on grant funding.
NIH staff were told to select others aligned with the Trump administration and told to expect placements by political appointees.
NIH staff were told to select others aligned with the Trump administration and told to expect placements by political appointees.
Little trip to Niagara falls region today 😄
July 13, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Little trip to Niagara falls region today 😄
You know what drysuit time means?
going into the canal!
Part of the project I’m in for this summer involves putting up in-water fencing to keep out common herbivores while planting native species to help restore a portion of the nature preserve 🌱
#nativeplants #restoration #outdoor
going into the canal!
Part of the project I’m in for this summer involves putting up in-water fencing to keep out common herbivores while planting native species to help restore a portion of the nature preserve 🌱
#nativeplants #restoration #outdoor
July 12, 2025 at 12:45 PM
You know what drysuit time means?
going into the canal!
Part of the project I’m in for this summer involves putting up in-water fencing to keep out common herbivores while planting native species to help restore a portion of the nature preserve 🌱
#nativeplants #restoration #outdoor
going into the canal!
Part of the project I’m in for this summer involves putting up in-water fencing to keep out common herbivores while planting native species to help restore a portion of the nature preserve 🌱
#nativeplants #restoration #outdoor