SF Karel
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karelsf.bsky.social
SF Karel
@karelsf.bsky.social
92 followers 190 following 39 posts
biochemical engineer, scientist, IT guru, university admin, soccer referee, dog walker. Currently Vice Provost for Research at Brandeis University. Opinions expressed on this account are my own, not those of my employer.
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Reposted by SF Karel
xkcd.com
Trade

xkcd.com/3290/
Comic. [Person standing holding hammer above raised knee.] PERSON: Listen up, leg. I’ve been sending you rich, oxygenated blood for years, while you send me worthless used-up blood with no oxygen. Time to teach you a lesson about not ripping me off! [caption] Tariffs
September 2, 2026 at 5:52 PM
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lurieinstitute.bsky.social
An Update on the Future of the National Research Center for Parents with Disabilities
August 27, 2026

Read statement here: heller.brandeis.edu/parents-with...
National Research Center for Parents with Disabilities Funding 2026 - National Research Center for Parents with Disabilities
heller.brandeis.edu
August 27, 2026 at 2:36 PM
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jenna-m-norton.bsky.social
Insights from inside NIH on the proposal to hide scores and instead bin applications into broad score categories.

Please read and comment on the RFI.

27unihted.substack.com/p/nih-wants-...

Link to RFI: rfi.grants.nih.gov?s=6a2b1c22c3...
NIH wants to shroud peer review scores. Here’s what you can do about it.
Authored by anonymous current and former NIH workers with experience in peer review
27unihted.substack.com
August 26, 2026 at 8:21 PM
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lurieinstitute.bsky.social
From The New York Times: "Federal Funding for Research on Parents With Disabilities Vanishes"
The government gave no explanation for terminating the funding, which for decades has supported the only national center focused on the issue.

Read the article: www.nytimes.com/2026/08/26/w...
Federal Funding for Research on Parents With Disabilities Vanishes
The government gave no explanation for terminating the funding, which for decades has supported the only national center focused on the issue.
www.nytimes.com
August 26, 2026 at 9:21 PM
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harmitmalik.bsky.social
@hhmi-science.bsky.social has several upcoming competitions for scientists at various career stages. Here is a list (pl share whatever you feel will be useful):

1) Rising college juniors & seniors in summer 2027 can apply to the Cech Fellows program (www.hhmi.org/programs/cec...) Deadline: Nov 10
Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (REU) | Cech Fellows | HHMI
The Cech Fellows Program is a paid, nine-week summer research experience empowering the next generation of scientific leaders.
www.hhmi.org
August 21, 2026 at 5:41 AM
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science.org
More evidence is emerging that the U.S. National Institutes of Health has launched a new wave of grant terminations, as Director Jay Bhattacharya ends two more grants—both for health disparities research at the University of Pittsburgh. https://scim.ag/4gfsD9J
NIH Director Bhattacharya kills more health disparities grants
Letter says agency is “adjusting its extramural research portfolio, which includes terminating grant awards”
scim.ag
August 6, 2026 at 4:36 PM
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cgrienberger.bsky.social
🎉 this paper is now out - we show how subicular plateaus are linked to reward locations. Congratulations to the whole team! www.cell.com/cell-reports...
August 5, 2026 at 10:51 PM
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kaushikr.bsky.social
Our new study shows a CHD-family remodeler can nucleate and spread H3K9 methylation de novo, inverting the canonical hierarchy between writers and remodelers. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Nucleosome remodeling by a CHD enzyme promotes H3K9 methylation establishment and spreading via remodeler-writer feedback
In Schizosaccharomyces pombe , the conserved CHD remodeler Mit1 function within the SHREC remodeler-deacetylase complex (a homolog of the metazoan Mi-2/NuRD complex), which is essential for H3K9 methy...
www.biorxiv.org
August 3, 2026 at 12:05 PM
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tonyromm.bsky.social
NEW: In a stunning admission, the Trump administration admitted in court documents that it canceled billions in energy grants to states "based solely" on politics -- and whether that state was represented by Democrats and backed Harris in 2024.

www.nytimes.com/2026/07/24/b...
Trump Administration Admits Canceling Grants to States That Did Not Vote for Him
Federal officials said in court documents that they halted billions of dollars in funding for energy projects to states “based solely” on whether they backed President Trump in the 2024 election.
www.nytimes.com
July 24, 2026 at 6:10 PM
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turrigiano.bsky.social
If you like ethological learning, structural plasticity, and the idea that homeostatic setpoints are malleable, this paper is for you! Congrats to Diane and the whole team on the culmination of a long and fascinating journey #dianebissen.bsky.social, #neuroskyance
dianebissen.bsky.social dianebissen.bsky.social @dianebissen.bsky.social · Jul 20
Back to Bluesky to share the most exciting news: my postdoctoral research is now published in Neuron!

We used cricket hunting to show how ethological learning persistently rewires juvenile (but not adult!) visual circuits by co-opting homeostatic plasticity.

Full story www.cell.com/neuron/fullt...
Ethological learning during the critical period resets synaptic setpoints in mouse binocular visual cortex
Bissen et al. show that prey capture learning profoundly reshapes visual cortical circuitry and function during developmental critical periods, but not in adulthood. These learning-induced structural ...
cell.com
July 21, 2026 at 9:51 AM
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compoundchem.com
Spain are the winners of the 2026 World Cup 🏆 Here's a look at how the materials that make up the shirts help them stand up to all the shirt-pulling and rough-housing in a typical Argentina match ⚽

#ChemSky 🧪
Infographic titled "The chemistry of football shirt materials" by Compound Interest features two jerseys alongside polymer structures. Polyester (Polyethylene terephthalate) forms durable, lightweight, water-wicking shirt fabric absorbing just 0.4% water. Elastane (spandex or lycra) adds elasticity and strength, enduring 600% elongation before rupturing, though it is less breathable. Polyurethane is thermally bonded to print player names, numbers, and sponsor logos onto the shirts.
July 20, 2026 at 9:06 PM
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lurieinstitute.bsky.social
Our research center for #ParentsWithDisabilities faces closure after federal funding opportunity withdrawn

Learn more: TinyUrl.com/ParentingCenterFunding
Press release: tinyurl.com/PressReleaseFunding
Toolkit: tinyurl.com/AdvocacyToolkitFolder
Flyer from the National Center for Parents with Disabilities with the organization's green spiral logo at the top left. The headline reads: "National Center for Parents with Disabilities Loses Critical Funding Opportunity." Below the headline is the statement: "If action is not taken within the next 6 weeks to reinstate this grant opportunity, the nation's only research center for parents with disabilities will disappear." The final clause is emphasized in red. The flyer is divided into two sections. On the left is a section titled "What's happening," illustrated with a vertical timeline made up of four connected green icons: a calendar, a clock, an X, and a warning symbol. The timeline reads: "Every 5 years, organizations compete for federal grants that fund their work.", "This year, funding has been delayed. The Center has successfully received this grant for 10 years.", "The grant that typically funds our Center was removed entirely from grant.gov last week.", and "Without new funding by August 31, our Center's work will end." The phrase "our Center's work will end" is highlighted in green. On the right is a section titled "Why this matters," featuring three illustrated icons separated by horizontal lines. A house with a family icon accompanies the text, "Disabled parents deserve equal opportunity to have kids and build families." A document with a magnifying glass icon accompanies the text, "The Center drives research and national expertise on disability, parenting, and family support." Hands supporting a family icon accompanies the text, "Strong families strengthen communities. The work we do supports inclusion, independence, and community living."
July 15, 2026 at 5:51 PM
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xkcd.com
Time Change

xkcd.com/3272/
3-panel comic. (1) PERSON 1 behind podium on stage: We all hate springing forward. But we love falling back. (2) [Audience pictured listening] PERSON 1: Therefore, we are abolishing the *spring* time change *only*. We’ll gain an hour every year, but never lose one. (3) PERSON OFF-PANEL: Won’t that cause the clocks to spiral out of sync with the sun? PERSON 1 holding up a fist: *Then we will meet the chaos clear-eyed and well-rested!*
July 16, 2026 at 6:54 PM
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senguptalab.bsky.social
🎉 New/updated preprint! From 🌟 GS Kirsten Judge +

Most neuronal cilia form during development. Can adult neurons rebuild damaged cilia? Are functions restored? Does regrowth use different pathways from ciliogenesis?

Answers (in C. elegans): Yes, yes, and partly. 1/6
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Neuron-intrinsic and glial pathways regulate sensory cilia regeneration in adult C. elegans
Primary cilia are microtubule-based organelles that mediate cellular responses to environmental cues. Although cilia disassemble and reassemble upon cell cycle entry and exit, respectively, in dividin...
www.biorxiv.org
July 11, 2026 at 4:35 PM
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thetransmitter.bsky.social
Explore @thetransmitter.bsky.social 's newest tool, Neuro Funding Finder. Discover grants, fellowships and funding opportunities for neuroscience research at all career stages, powered by @scientifyresearch.org. #neuroskyence

thetransmitter.org/neuroscience...
Neuroscience Grants Funding Finder
Discover grants, fellowships and funding opportunities for neuroscience research at all career stages.
thetransmitter.org
July 8, 2026 at 8:37 PM
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margielachman.bsky.social
Happy to announce that my book will be published June 9
Primetime: A New Vision for Midlife

www.simonandschuster.com/books/Primet...
Primetime
Leading lifespan psychologist Margie Lachman creates an inspiring new framework for midlife, based on her landmark thirty years of research and wor...
www.simonandschuster.com
June 3, 2026 at 11:03 AM
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turrigiano.bsky.social
new kick in the teeth for US science. These are PROPOSED new rules that just dropped in the federal register. TLDR: would effectively allow political appointees to direct the $ where ever they want. Comments open until July 13.
May 29, 2026 at 9:09 AM
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senguptalab.bsky.social
Are you fascinated by microscopy? Love beautiful images? Enjoy image analyses and quantification? Like working with a great group of people? Then please apply for the position of Manager of our fantastic Light Microscopy Facility.
brandeis.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Jobs/j...
Light Microscopy Facility Manager
The main purpose of this job is to bring cutting-edge light microscopy research approaches to Brandeis researchers and oversee the day-to-day operations of the Brandeis light microscopy facility. The ...
brandeis.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com
May 26, 2026 at 7:46 PM
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aetoumos.bsky.social
Mark the date - the 10th New England Glycochemistry meeting @ Brandeis is happening June 13! Register at negcmu.sites.northeastern.edu
# glycotime #chemsky #chemchat
April 10, 2026 at 6:04 PM
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shihcheng.bsky.social
Breakthrough in solar energy: Dewar pyrimidone stores sunlight as thermal energy at 1.6 MJ/kg, activated at 300 nm. A nod to DNA design! PMID:41678586, Science 2026, @ScienceMagazine https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aec6413 #Medsky #Pharmsky #RNA #ASHG #ESHG 🧪
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aec6413
No description available
doi.org
February 22, 2026 at 1:10 AM
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scott-delaney.bsky.social
Some science cuts in Trump's proposed FY27 budget

❌ NIH: -$5B, including all of NIEHS, NIMHD, FIC & NCCIH.
❌ EPA: -4.6B
❌ NSF: -3.8B
❌ NASA Science: -3.4 Billion
❌ NOAA: -1.8B, including the entire Oceanic and Atmospheric Research budget ($605M)
❌ AHRQ: All of it. -$296M, 100%

And there's more.
April 3, 2026 at 4:26 PM
karelsf.bsky.social
Let your representatives know what you think about proposed cuts to science (54% cut to NSF!) in the presidential budget request. Science makes America great.
April 3, 2026 at 5:46 PM
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xkcd.com
Home Solar

xkcd.com/3226/
4-panel comic. (1) [Two people standing next to house with solar panels on roof. Person 2 has a black hat.] PERSON 1: Wait, you got solar panels? I thought you were against renewables. (2) PERSON 2: Oh, definitely. I hate the environment and want to harm it as much as possible. I’d *love* to have an oil furnace. (3) PERSON 2: But the technology just isn’t there and the cost is too high. I despise solar, but it makes more financial sense in my situation. (4) PERSON 2: But with the money I’m saving, I can buy and burn industrial waste in my yard to try to make up for it. PERSON 1: Ah, yeah, carbon onsets.
April 2, 2026 at 7:13 PM
karelsf.bsky.social
Ribbon cutting for our new imaging facility equipment funded by @malifesciences.bsky.social with special guests Mayor Jeannette McCarthy and Rep Thomas Stanley www.brandeis.edu/stories/2026...
Brandeis light microscopy facility marks a new era with ribbon-cutting ceremony
www.brandeis.edu
March 29, 2026 at 5:44 PM
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lizneeley.bsky.social
The @nationalacademies.org Awards for Excellence in #scicomm have honored some of the best thinkers & creatives I know, like @chanda.blacksky.app @neillewisjr.bsky.social @cbo.bsky.social

Top award: $40,000.
Deadline: April 3.
Explore & apply
www.nationalacademies.org/programs/NAE...
National Academies Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications
The National Academies are accepting submissions to an annual award program that aims to recognize and develop excellence in science communication by research scientists, science journalists, and scie...
www.nationalacademies.org
March 22, 2026 at 1:18 PM