David Wickell
@wickellomics.bsky.social
630 followers 150 following 20 posts
NSF Postdoctoral Fellow @ UCONN. Polyploidy, Pteridophyte Genomics, and CAM photosynthesis. - Talks loud. Means well. I apologize in advance...
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Reposted by David Wickell
kheyduk.bsky.social
Super excited about this review/new data preprint on aquatic plant photosynthetic methods - turns out its *hard* to measure stuff underwater! Led by awesome grad in the lab @ellliieee.bsky.social with postdoc @wickellomics.bsky.social and some brilliant people at LiCor! 💧🌿
biorxiv-plants.bsky.social
Techniques and challenges in studying photosynthetic diversity in freshwater aquatic vascular plants https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.09.24.677520v1
wickellomics.bsky.social
As we all eagerly (anxiously?) await NSF's release of the 2026 GRFP solicitation, please consider signing up as a mentor for BSA's GRFP workshop. We especially need more senior mentors (PIs, postdocs, and research scientists)!
botsocamerica.bsky.social
Mentors needed for BSA’s GRFP Workshop! 🌱

The Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) Workshop for Plant Researchers is returning in 2025. With NSF’s 2026 GRFP deadline set for Oct 27, we’re looking for mentors to guide student applicants.

Learn how you can help!
mailchi.mp/botany.org/b...
Flyer with a green leafy background announcing the Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) Workshop for Plant Researchers. Large bold text at the top reads: “We need your help!” The flyer asks graduate students who have received a GRFP award, as well as postdocs, research scientists, and faculty PIs, to sign up as mentors for the Botanical Society of America’s GRFP Workshop.
Section titled What does mentoring require? lists two points:
Read statements from 4–6 students applying for the GRFP.
Provide feedback and facilitate two 1.5-hour meetings for your group.
On the right, a QR code and link direct potential mentors to register. Logos at the bottom include NSF GRFP and the Botanical Society of America.
Reposted by David Wickell
maddyjalbert.bsky.social
I got an email yesterday afternoon that my NSF SPRF Postdoctoral Fellowship was terminated. My grant focused on testing interventions to address online misinformation and I was 8 months into a two year appointment.
prowag.bsky.social
Friday Night Massacre of accurate information.

A devastating day for the USA as tens of millions of dollars of grants seeking to combat the spread of false information were terminated. We have a federal govenrment that does not consider the verifiable truth a priority. www.nsf.gov/updates-on-p...
Updates on NSF Priorities
www.nsf.gov
wickellomics.bsky.social
The first step in generating public support for science is telling people what the heck we're doing and why it matters! If you are a researcher who benefits from federal funding, please consider writing a letter to your local paper: blogs.cornell.edu/asap/events-...
Reposted by David Wickell
peterwschafran.com
The reviews are in, this was the best Quillwort Conference ever! Thanks so much to our speakers:
Gemma Milly
Lisa George
David Wickell @wickellomics.bsky.social
Megan Nibbelink @megantheebotanist.bsky.social
Jacob Suissa
John Evans
Reposted by David Wickell
ljrissler.bsky.social
The National Science Foundation benefits communities in every state.
NSF fact sheet
Reposted by David Wickell
Reposted by David Wickell
ljrissler.bsky.social
Firings happening right now at the NSF.
wickellomics.bsky.social
I absolutely love my new 'Isoetes nerd' mug courtesy of the multi-talented, and incredibly thoughtful @ellliieee.bsky.social.
Reposted by David Wickell
kheyduk.bsky.social
This was my experience on a recent panel. No change to how proposals were evaluated.
jbyoder.org
This is, I think, pretty big given what we know about the statutory basis for Broader Impacts:

“NSF continues to apply the statutorily required Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts review criteria, as well as any solicitation-specific review criteria.”
rddenton.bsky.social
Sharing because I haven't seen it yet: NSF updated communication on 2/15 www.nsf.gov/executive-or...

Mostly logistical stuff, but interesting to see that merit criteria staying put and panels are ongoing.
Reposted by David Wickell
annbot.bsky.social
📣Now Free Access: Low internal air space in plants with crassulacean acid metabolism may be an anatomical spandrel
Get the Paper:
doi.org
Reposted by David Wickell
couchmicroscopy.bsky.social
To update people on the NSF PRFB situation: despite the court challenge and rescinding the original memo, the NSF has continued to comply with the executive order. They have not communicated with us at all and our paychecks are still canceled indefinitely. I know people who cannot pay their rent.
wickellomics.bsky.social
This is shameful and completely unnecessary.
stairwaytokevin.bsky.social
Official NSF confirmation of complete cancellation of all fund requests from Tuesday
Our top priority is resuming our funding actions and services to the research community and our stakeholders. We are working expeditiously to conduct a comprehensive review of our projects, programs and activities to be compliant with the existing executive orders.

Please note that all ACM$ transactions that were submitted on Tuesday 01/28/2025 have been cancelled. Please remember that award recipients must comply with agency policies regarding the timing of payments and are encouraged to review PAPPG 24-1 Ch. 8.C.2.a for additional guidance before preparing any resubmissions once ACM$ is back online.

For certain programs, such as SBIR/STTR, there may also be program specific guidance you may need to refer to.  NSF has created an Executive Order Implementation webpage to ensure the widest dissemination of information and updates. We will continue to communicate through this site as we receive additional guidance.
Reposted by David Wickell
joely-desimone.bsky.social
NSF PRFB fellows: talk to your POs and transfer the remaining year’s balance of salary and research funds by 5pm today!! Dm me if you want to join the prfb slack where fellows are sharing info with each other #nsf #nsfprfb
Reposted by David Wickell
kheyduk.bsky.social
For the record this doesn't appear to be a blanket cancel of all panels (yet).
caraocobock.bsky.social
All NSF panels have been cancelled until further notice.
Reposted by David Wickell
waynemaddison.bsky.social
We are working on a major update to Mesquite, version 4! We welcome any suggestions for features or fixes. A major emphasis will be phylogenomic data. We may not have time for more big features, but please suggest small features for data maintenance or editing that could make your lives easier.
An image of the icon for Mesquite, a modular system for evolutionary analysis (http://www.mesquiteproject.org)
wickellomics.bsky.social
Lots of incredible SEM images of Isoetes megaspores in this preprint by Larsén et al. mapping spore ornamentation and surface structure onto the quillwort phylogeny (not my work, but I'm glad someone's doing it!): www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
SEM images of Isoetes megaspores (Larsén et al. 2025)
Reposted by David Wickell
jotlovell.bsky.social
Last week we published a peanut genome that was much more complex than it originally appeared.

A 🧵 about 🥜 genomes and what we found ...

Find the article as a ‘featured’ genome report in G3: academic.oup.com/g3journal/ar....
Relics of interspecific hybridization retained in the genome of a drought-adapted peanut cultivar
The genome sequence for the drought tolerant peanut variety
academic.oup.com
Reposted by David Wickell
kordinglab.bsky.social
NSF makes you say who you got conflicts (coauthored) with. We (really just Jordan Matelsky) just built you a tool for that. Literally one click: bib.experiments.kordinglab.com/nsf-coa
NSF COA | Jordan Matelsky
bib.experiments.kordinglab.com
Reposted by David Wickell
bjenquist.bsky.social
A nice starter pack for society journals in ecology and evolution go.bsky.app/VGQ2eYJ
Reposted by David Wickell
minyaaa.bsky.social
Shoot apical meristem of my "pin"📌 Mimulus mutant, with plasma membranes of cells fluorescently labeled. #MicroscopyMonday #MeristemMonday #MimulusPropaganda
A shoot apical meristem with all cell outlines clearly visible, and a lot of hair cells surrounding the tip
Reposted by David Wickell