Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Tori Barber @vbarber.bsky.social · 6d

If you or someone you know are looking to do a postdoc in our areas of interest (organic oxidation chemistry in environmental chambers, spectroscopic studies of atmospheric intermediates, indoor air impacts of smoke) let's chat!

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Tori Barber @vbarber.bsky.social · 6d

I am able to sponsor postdoctoral fellows through this program!

www.chemistry.ucla.edu/bhaumik-priz...

Bhaumik Prize Postdoctoral Fellows Program – UCLA

The Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Physics and Astronomy at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) invites nominations for the Bhaumik Prize Postdoctoral Fellows Program. This newly instated program seeks to bring the brightest young scientists to UCLA to expand their scientific training, make new discoveries, and network with interdisciplinary scientists of all stages. The Bhaumik Prize Postdoctoral Fellows Program is made possible by the philanthropy of physicist and entrepreneur Dr. Mani L. Bhaumik. The program supports three fellows annually for a three-year postdoctoral position.

www.chemistry.ucla.edu

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Tori Barber @vbarber.bsky.social · 8d

Imagine thinking that having a baby that only needs 4 hours of sleep is a desirable trait lmao we live in hell

Sharon @sharonk.bsky.social · Dec 12

welcome to america's cyberpunk years

jacob sansbury telling people not to have kids so they can do genetic engineering

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Tori Barber @vbarber.bsky.social · 11d

I have a student with a full draft, who now is ineligible. What a waste. Especially challenging for students in chemistry who don't settle into labs until at least half way through their first year.

Alex Wild @alexwild.bsky.social · 11d

NSF GRFP is out, but they’ve unexpectedly made 2nd year students ineligible.

dr℮w @giantmolecular.cloud · 11d

It does seem like they have barred 2nd year graduate students from applying. This is devastating, I've been preparing my applications materials for MONTHS and now they all have to get binned...

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Reposted by Tori Barber

Jason West @profjasonwest.bsky.social · 22d

A good read on an important chapter of Earth science history, and what is at risk of being lost under Trump.

Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 22d

"Over the past 60 years, scientists have largely succeeded in building a computer model of Earth to see what the future holds. One of the most ambitious projects humankind has ever undertaken has now reached a critical moment." via @quantamagazine.bsky.social

How Climate Scientists Saw the Future Before It Arrived | Quanta Magazine

Over the past 60 years, scientists have largely succeeded in building a computer model of Earth to see what the future holds. One of the most ambitious projects humankind has ever undertaken has now r...

www.quantamagazine.org

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Reposted by Tori Barber

C&EN (Chemical & Engineering News) @cenmag.bsky.social · 27d

Joseph S. Francisco named 2025 Pauling Medal Award winner

The award will be presented Oct. 18 at Seattle University as part of a poster session and symposium. cen.acs.org/people/award... #chemsky

Joseph S. Francisco named 2025 Pauling Medal Award winner

The award will be presented Oct. 18 at Seattle University as part of a poster session and symposium

cen.acs.org

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Tori Barber @vbarber.bsky.social · Aug 21

This is Beautiful (and unknowingly I have read that JCE paper!) thank you!

Tori Barber @vbarber.bsky.social · Aug 20

Same!

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Tori Barber @vbarber.bsky.social · Aug 18

We took my 2 yo to his first baseball game today and my favorite part was when we told him it was over and the Dodgers won, and he thought for a second, then put up his hand and waved goodbye while yelling "bye bye Dodgers! Bye bye baseball guys!"

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Tori Barber @vbarber.bsky.social · Aug 13

We also just hit this milestone and oh my god. Top 5 parenting moment so far

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Tori Barber @vbarber.bsky.social · Aug 11

My kid's daycare seems to play this song like 2-6 times a day every day

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Reposted by Tori Barber

SK Winnicki, PhD 🏳️‍⚧️ @skwinnicki.bsky.social · Aug 8

Hey, uh, what the FUCK

Ars Technica @arstechnica.com · Aug 7

New executive order puts all grants under political control

All new funding on hold until Trump administration can cancel any previously funded grants.

arstechnica.com

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Tori Barber @vbarber.bsky.social · Aug 1

Our RAPID grant to study the air quality impacts of the January 2025 wildfires is suspended effective immediately. We have another NSF grant that has been in limbo for months that I assume will stay there until this is resolved.

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Tori Barber @vbarber.bsky.social · Aug 1

The vibes at UCLA today are not good.

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Tori Barber @vbarber.bsky.social · Aug 1

God what a demoralizing time to be an early career scientist in the US

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Reposted by Tori Barber

Dan Garisto @dangaristo.bsky.social · Jul 31

Breaking: NSF is suspending roughly 300 grants with UCLA, following a DOJ finding on Tuesday that the university violated Title VI by "creating a hostile educational environment for Jewish and Israeli students."

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Reposted by Tori Barber

Matthew Goss @matthewgoss.bsky.social · Jul 17

Nadia’s paper exploring technologies that can be used to minimize harmful byproducts of 222 nm germicidal light is now published!

pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...

Mitigation of Indoor Ozone and Secondary Products from 222 nm Germicidal Ultraviolet Light Using Commercial Air Cleaners

Far ultraviolet-C (UVC) light, especially germicidal UV light at 222 nm (GUV222), has received considerable attention for its potential to deactivate airborne pathogens indoors and prevent the spread ...

pubs.acs.org

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Tori Barber @vbarber.bsky.social · Jul 14

Surreal to be back in Cambridge today!

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Tori Barber @vbarber.bsky.social · Jul 7

The absolute hold that the chicken banana song has on my 2 year old

Tori Barber @vbarber.bsky.social · Jul 4

An underrated part of being a lab scientist is how much confidence it gives you for small fixes around the house.

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Reposted by Tori Barber

Neil Abrams @neilabrams.bsky.social · Jul 2

Here’s Spencer Ackerman with by far the best take I’ve read on the racist moral panic targeting Zohran Mamdami. zeteo.com/p/my-fellow-...

To put it bluntly, when you have a "feeling" that a politician from a different race, ethnicity or religion threatens you, and you are unable to articulate how that threat is supposed to plausibly manifest, and you ignore the avalanche of evidence – his words, his record, his associations – that no such threat exists, that feeling you have is called racism.

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Tori Barber @vbarber.bsky.social · May 29

Wow! Time flies

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Tori Barber @vbarber.bsky.social · May 23

coming in with the important questions

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Tori Barber @vbarber.bsky.social · May 23

Amid all of the truly terrible federal funding news, I am extremely pleased to report my group has received our first multi-year NSF support!

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Reposted by Tori Barber

Needhi Bhalla 💅🏽 @needhibhalla.bsky.social · May 13

"Women are PIs on 58% of the canceled grants, although they are PIs on only 34% of all active NSF grants.

Similarly, Blacks are PIs on 17% of the terminated grants, although they make only 4% of the total pool. Hispanic PIs and those with disabilities were twice as likely to lose a grant."

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

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