Jeff Lewis
@lewislab.bsky.social
810 followers 420 following 260 posts
Interested in understanding how organisms sense and respond to stressful environments, and why some individuals are more sensitive or more resilient. he/his
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lewislab.bsky.social
It's become sadly clear that our liberal democracy relies on the Honor system.
Reposted by Jeff Lewis
jeremymberg.bsky.social
I just emailed my "Silence" essay to the Presidents/Chancellors and Provosts of the 9 Compact universities as well as those from the 4 orgs with which I have been formally affiliated.

The essay can be found here:

jeremymberg.github.io/jeremyberg.g...

and here:

www.linkedin.com/posts/jeremy...
lewislab.bsky.social
💯 I also fear that the success in avoiding the worst-case scenarios will lead many in power at institutions to gaslight themselves (and us) into thinking there was not an impending crisis. The NIH version of the hole in the ozone layer.
Reposted by Jeff Lewis
needhibhalla.bsky.social
"rather than articulating and defending these goals and processes, many parts of the scientific establishment seemed to be rushing to violate one of the first tenets of historian Timothy Snyder’s important book On Tyranny: Do not obey in advance." 🧪
jeremymberg.bsky.social
I have been trying to get this published as an op-ed, but I am going to post it here since I think it is timely in light of the "consent" extortion events.

Deafening Quiet from the Scientific Establishment

jeremymberg.github.io/jeremyberg.g...

1/14
jeremymberg.github.io
lewislab.bsky.social
"Why did I drink all that crab juice?"

Every single time that I have to pee at an inopportune moment.
Reposted by Jeff Lewis
omearabrian.bsky.social
Webpage on the hidden curriculum of applying to ecology and evolution grad programs in the US (a lot of the info applies to other fields too, but perhaps less well): applyingtoeeb.info

#AcademicSky 🧪
Applying to US Graduate School in Ecology, Evolution, and Related Fields
applyingtoeeb.info
lewislab.bsky.social
If the MYF mandate is rescinded for FY26 (as per the Senate budget proposal), presumably more funds would be available for new awards than were available this year. Could any FY25 grants that were passed over get picked up? Or would this just result in a short-term bump in awards in FY26?
Reposted by Jeff Lewis
jeremymberg.bsky.social
Here is NIGMS.

This reflects Jon Lorsch's push away from R01s and toward MIRA awards (R35s). While there are some advantages to the R35 mechanism, there are downsides to "putting all of your eggs in one basket" as some discovered this year.

8/n
Reposted by Jeff Lewis
needhibhalla.bsky.social
"For scientists, shutdowns can cause significant delays in research outcomes, can cause financial uncertainty for more than just those directly involved, and increase the loss of institutional knowledge from employees that leave...a huge impact on how competitive the U.S. R&D enterprise can be."
Research on R&D Funding: Impacts of Federal Shutdowns | American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
www.aaas.org
Reposted by Jeff Lewis
jeremymberg.bsky.social
A true hero... She changed how we think about so many things...
yasharali.bsky.social
BREAKING

Dr. Jane Goodall has died. She was 91.

It is impossible to sum up the impact she has had on our world and on science in a social media post.

She lived a long and incredible life but I am devastated.

Full Story: bit.ly/4pPcNFH
Reposted by Jeff Lewis
drugmonkey.bsky.social
Due to the relative proportion of applications with Black and white PIs, fixing the Ginther gap would have a trivial effect on success rates for majoritarians. An early 'splainer on that is here

More thoughts on the dismal NIH response to Ginther drugmonkey.wordpress.com/2014/01/15/m...
More thoughts on the dismal NIH response to Ginther
Jeremy Berg made a comment If you look at the data in the Ginther report, the biggest difference for African-American applicants is the percentage of “not discussed” applications. For A…
drugmonkey.wordpress.com
Reposted by Jeff Lewis
drugmonkey.bsky.social
I never imagined there would be such a purge of NIH-dom's web pages and blogs. I really should have been less slipshod about documenting. Still, for those wondering what I am ranting about...

Additional Analysis of Demographic-Specific NIH Funding Rates drugmonkey.wordpress.com/2023/07/26/a...
Additional Analysis of Demographic-Specific NIH Funding Rates
For some reason a twitter account of the NIH linked a March blog post by Mike Lauer and Marie Bernard over at Open Mike today. Lauer is the head of the NIH’s Office of Extramural Research and…
drugmonkey.wordpress.com
lewislab.bsky.social
I realize this is a side point, but it is rather pernicious that history is being erased. I have had some success with the wayback machine for finding old blog posts, but I have to remember what to look for. Another reminder that this isn’t the same NIH.
Reposted by Jeff Lewis
triggerloop.bsky.social
I think the R01 is basically a non-starter at NIGMS now. Data from NIH Reporter for new and competing awards, comparing number of R01s issued relative to R35s (MIRA). This has major ramifications for basic science and basic science investigators that are not yet in the MIRA pool
Graph showing total R35+R01 awards issued by NIGMS from 2020 to 2025. R01 in black showing a steep decline. R35 showing an increase. Total awards in 2025 slightly up from 2024 but these years are lower than 2020-2023
lewislab.bsky.social
Yup. I originally thought NIGMS R01s had tanked due to MYF, but that’s not the case now that Sept awards are in. The barrier to breaking (back) into NIGMS is not good.
lewislab.bsky.social
Utterly demoralizing. Question for NIH peeps more in the know: if MYF returns to normal FY24 levels for FY26, can NIH fund grants from FY25? Or would only success rates for FY26 grants be affected?
maxkozlov.bsky.social
Thousands fewer projects will be funded so success rates for grant applications hit all-time lows.

“That is extremely demoralizing,” says ex-extramural chief Mike Lauer. “We want people to be excited about being in science. This will do even more to chase people away from doing science in the US.”
Reposted by Jeff Lewis
danielbolnick.bsky.social
We've got hundreds of signatures in five hours... but if we can cross 1000 by morning when I send this to NSF that'd be great. The stories from past, current, and future applicants in the comments section are hearbreaking. Keep up the pressure, and please please sign!!!
danielbolnick.bsky.social
NSF unexpectedly changed (at the last minute) who is eligible to apply for the Grad Research Fellowship, dropping 2nd year students. We started a petition to reverse this unfair change, Sign here:
laurenkuehne.github.io/grfpChanges/
and please spread the word!!!!
Petition to NSF to Restore Eligibility for the 2026 Graduate Research Fellowship Program Competition
laurenkuehne.github.io
lewislab.bsky.social
"I would argue that this [research service] is no less so, and no less important, than when our country requests some of our young people to join the military."

I really like this framing of how to think about research fellowships and their purpose.
lewislab.bsky.social
Yup, especially considering that NSF considers the proposal itself to be a ‘writing sample’ and not an obligation. They should have the deadline be in the spring, and encourage UG juniors to apply, if it’s indeed a stated goal to help on the admissions end.

bsky.app/profile/lewi...
lewislab.bsky.social
A cont.: The research statement in your application is not considered to be a proposal that you are obliged to carry out; it is used to evaluate the evidence of your potential. You are not obligated to attend the proposed institution listed in your application.

4/