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Amy Orsborn

@neuroamyo.bsky.social

2.9K followers 580 following 270 posts

Associate Prof at UW. Neural interfaces, motor learning, engineering learning. Believe it or not, my last name has two R's and zero E's. She/her

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Amy Orsborn @neuroamyo.bsky.social · Nov 12

Fun to see this place coming a bit more alive! I tried my hand at a starter pack for neural engineering & computationally-leaning (systems) neuroscience. Super not exhaustive, so if you want to be added (or removed), just ping me. I'm still working on finding folks here.

go.bsky.app/Ty3ftme

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Amy Orsborn @neuroamyo.bsky.social · 28m

One of the most valuable lessons I've gotten from reviewing grants and papers is deeper empathy for the reviewers. So essential.

Oded Rechavi @odedrechavi.bsky.social · 5h

When you’re editing your draft for the 100th time and thinking “What will the reviewers think of my manuscript?”, remember that they’ll be reading it in this position.

Amy Orsborn @neuroamyo.bsky.social · 2h

Thankful that UW and Washington state continue to support vaccination and make it easy for folks to access them 🙌

Boosted against Flu and COVID 💪

Amy Orsborn @neuroamyo.bsky.social · 5d

Also, got a glimpse into how America's seen by the rest of the world. Can't say I disagree 🔥🫠😞

Art installation outside the House of World Cultures in Berlin. It depicts the statue of liberty sinking into water with the quote "you finally really did it! You maniacs! You blew it up!" behind the statue

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Amy Orsborn @neuroamyo.bsky.social · 5d

Thankful for the chance to spend time in Berlin around giving a seminar! As an American in These Times, visiting the many moving memorials right around Unity Day really hits differently. So much important history we need to remember and pay close attention to.

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Amy Orsborn @neuroamyo.bsky.social · 7d

Running's also awesome for being a tourist! 😍

Victory column statue in Tiergarten park, Berlin

3xN cube building viewed from across the river in Berlin

Amy Orsborn @neuroamyo.bsky.social · 9d

Also taking in the scenery and pastries in Frankfurt 😍

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Amy Orsborn @neuroamyo.bsky.social · 9d

Had a great first day at the Bernstein workshop on control theory uses in neuroscience! I presented some of our work on control theory behavior assays for movement, and approaches to designing BCIs.

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Amy Orsborn @neuroamyo.bsky.social · 17d

I was training for a half marathon this summer, so I've been hovering around 12-13 miles for a bit. I learned I kind of love these long runs (still shocking to me, honestly!) but am intimidated by the idea of a marathon. So my new goal is to try ~20mi (a 3/4 marathon) 😅.

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Amy Orsborn @neuroamyo.bsky.social · 18d

Seattle (and I) am lucky that all these hills lead to good views 😅. New route meant new hill challenges, but a bonus new vantage point on downtown 😍

Amy Orsborn @neuroamyo.bsky.social · 22d

A rare day when an email task sparks joy:

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Amy Orsborn @neuroamyo.bsky.social · 25d

The best advice I saw on learning to love running was to use it as a chance to experience your city like a tourist. I feel spoiled getting to do that in Seattle 😍

Skyline of buildings with the space needle in the background

A view of a marina lined with sail boats

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Amy Orsborn @neuroamyo.bsky.social · Sep 7

You sure do! He loved cheering on all the runners. He was also very interested in my post-run snacks 😂

Amy Orsborn @neuroamyo.bsky.social · Sep 6

I think I might be a runner now, not just "someone who runs". At least I am for races like this where fuel stations are stocked with cake and Nutella, and it's all about fun! My first #halfmarathon race in the books. #ibeattheblerch

Selfie of the poster after a run wearing running gear and a race bib. The banner behind her says "I beat the blerch"

The author of the post sitting on a couch with a dog, surrounded by inflatable donuts. The banner behind her and the dog says "I beat the blerch"

A food service station with donuts, gummy bears, potato chips and so on.

A zoomed out view of the food station that shows a sign describing the "burritoughnut" - a burrito filled with donuts.

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Amy Orsborn @neuroamyo.bsky.social · Aug 12

Excited to hear from my community and our representative (Jayapal) about the current state of our government's relationship to supporting academic research, and what we can do to keep the US a leader.

Kudos to the local academic unions for organizing!

A stage with a panel of people sitting on it. A projector is displaying a picture of protestors and the slogan "kill the cuts" behind the panel.

Reposted by Amy Orsborn

Elizabeth Jacobs, PhD @elizabethjacobs.bsky.social · Aug 7

We are on a bullet train to the end of US science, and possibly the country as a whole, when political appointees are reviewing every scientific grant submitted to NIH to determine if The Regime finds the science acceptable.

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Amy Orsborn @neuroamyo.bsky.social · Aug 6

Need data to help talk to your friends and family about the impacts of current US government policies on science? AIMBE @aimbe-official.bsky.social released a great survey that paints a clear picture. The Bioengineering research & training that create new therapies are coming to a grinding halt:

Pie chart of answers to the survey question "have faculty in your biomedical/biological engineering department had grant funding terminated since Jan 2025?" The data show that 71% of respondents said yes. Data from July 2025.

Pie chart of answers to the survey question "Do you plan to enroll fewer first-year graduate students in the Fall of 2025?" The data show that 45% of respondents said yes. There is an additional note saying "Decreased enrollment ranged from 10% to 50% fewer first-year graduate students." Data from July 2025.

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Amy Orsborn @neuroamyo.bsky.social · Jul 26

Yes, perfect weather for a hike! Moderately high altitude - we were on top of the highest point on that particular ridge. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kendall...

Kendall Peak - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

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Amy Orsborn @neuroamyo.bsky.social · Jul 26

New favorites in my"places I've eaten PB&J sandwiches" photo album*

#pnwlife #sorrynotsorry

*Real album of mine.

View from a mountain peak with multiple mountain peaks/ranges in the distance. Sky is bright blue with fluffy white clouds.

View from a mountain peak with multiple mountain peaks/ranges in the distance and a valley full of green grass and trees below. Sky is bright blue with fluffy white clouds.

View from a mountain peak with multiple mountain peaks/ranges in the distance. Mount Rainier covered in snow is in the middle. Sky is bright blue with fluffy white clouds.

View of a dog sitting on a mountain peak with other mountains in the distance, slightly out of focus

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Amy Orsborn @neuroamyo.bsky.social · Jul 12

It took me a while to learn that expert Seattle folks take winter vacations, not summer. This is why #pnwlife #sorrynotsorry

Bright blue glacial lake surrounded by mountains with evergreen trees on them. The sky is bright blue with small white clouds.

A dog swimming in a crystal clear lake surrounded by mountains

A dog posing on a rock in front of a bright blue glacial lake surrounded by mountains

Crystal clear glacial lake view very close to the water. There's a big sunbeam streaming through the picture.

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Amy Orsborn @neuroamyo.bsky.social · Jul 9

Looking for a good place to find a survey of the latest in neurotech to treat neural disorders? I suggest this new book chapter: link.springer.com/chapter/10.1...

Such a pleasure to collab w/ some of the best in the field on this: Elvira Pirondini, Marco Capogrosso, Rob Gaunt & Sergey D. Stavisky🤩

New Applications of Neurotechnologies for Neurological Disorders

The term “neurotechnology” refers to “gain of function” approaches aiming at using technologies that can interface with surviving neural system structures after a lesion or dis...

link.springer.com

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Amy Orsborn @neuroamyo.bsky.social · Jul 8

I've been online less recently because I'm struggling to find value in it lately. I can't unsee all the unhealthy co-adaptation we're doing w/ algorithms.

But then things like this come along to remind me the internet can generate good: kitty neuroscience via youtube 😍 www.cell.com/current-biol...

Lateralized sleeping positions in domestic cats

Isparta et al. find that two-thirds of cats prefer to sleep on their left side, indicating asymmetry at the population level. Because the right hemisphere is specialized for threat processing, this as...

www.cell.com

Reposted by Amy Orsborn

christine liu @christineliu.art · Jul 8

🧠 Join the JNeuro Early Career Advisory Board! 🧪

A great way to learn about the world of publishing and support other early career researchers by sharing your perspectives!

Apps due July 18

www.jneurosci.org/content/ecr-...

Call for Applications: ECR Advisory Board | Journal of Neuroscience

www.jneurosci.org

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Amy Orsborn @neuroamyo.bsky.social · Jun 30

Deeply compelling journalism that makes the impact of science, and the current administrations attacks on science, so tangible: www.cbsnews.com/video/saving...

I, for one, am going to do my best to make sure all my family & friends see this. Folks need to fully understand what's happening.

Saving money vs. saving lives

Scientists conducting medical research are facing an existential crisis: Layoffs and budget cuts pushed by President Trump that, they say, jeopardize finding a cure for cancer. They tell "Sunday Morni...

www.cbsnews.com

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Amy Orsborn @neuroamyo.bsky.social · Jun 29

Broke the seal on summer hiking. Ike, our dog, was beside himself with excitement when he saw the backpacks come out 😂

Warning there will probably be a lot more posts like this to come this summer #sorryNotSorry #PNWlife

Nature like this helps keep me sane. We must protect our parks!

A dog (soft coated wheaten terrier) standing in front of a lake with mountains and blue sky behind him.

A dog (soft coated wheaten terrier) posing in front of a waterfall with very green trees and mossy rocks

A glacial lake with very bright blue/aqua water and mountains covered with pine trees behind it.

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Amy Orsborn @neuroamyo.bsky.social · Jun 28

The thing I did not fully prepare for as I started running more often and longer distances: in Seattle, that means you just have to accept hills. They're unavoidable 😅🫠

At least the scenery is pretty? Drawbridges also add a surprise chance to catch your breath 🤣

Seattle downtown skyline, including the space needle, viewed from the other side of a lake. There is someone rowing across the lake.

A large boat in a small water way waiting to go under a drawbridge.

View of a drawbridge lifted up from right next to it. There are many pedestrians waiting to cross the bridge.

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