6/ Want Mullen's (2025) ScanAssist App?

Here you go!
uofi.box.com/s/b40cqxmp0p...

Let’s make sure great ideas don’t get blocked by silent filters.
#ScanAssist #Academia #ResearchTools #OpenScience #GrantWriting

Grant writers & researchers — heads up.

Some words in your proposals might quietly get you flagged or desk-rejected due to shifting federal priorities.

So I built a tool to help: ScanAssist

🧵 1/6

🧵 1/2

Exciting. Humbling.

My work has been featured in a few Boing Boing pieces recently.

This one is on ScanAssist.

boingboing.net/2025/07/01/f...

This tool created by @drseanmullen.bsky.social is meant to help you excise forbidden words and ideas from your applications. Check it out!

Mullen, Sean P. 2025. "ScanAssist: A Document Scanner for Academic Grant Proposals." Version 1.0. GitHub. github.com/etc-lab/scan...

If you write grant proposals in the US, you might want to give this a look.

boingboing.net/2025/07/01/f...

🚨🧵shared by Prof @michael-hoerger.bsky.social on the word choices researchers have to carefully balance if they want to be considered for funding via US federal sources:
threadreaderapp.com/thread/19347...

Link to the tool Mike used (tool from @drseanmullen.bsky.social): tinyurl.com/scanassist

3/4 This links to a tool & instructions for Dr. Sean Mullen's Scan Assist tool for grant writers, researchers, & science communicators.

Scan Assist – a simple, locally-run desktop app that scans your Word or PDF files for “forbidden” words and phrases.

tinyurl.com/scanassist

4/4 Dr. Sean Mullen’s Scan Assist shows frequency, location, and helps you revise before submission.

🖥️ Works on Mac & PC
🔒 Runs locally — no cloud, no AI, no data leaks
🛠️ Fully customizable (edit the word list anytime)
📁 Includes 2 test files & install guides

tinyurl.com/scanassist

At a local academic cancer research meeting, it was reported that there are >1000 words for NIH/NSF grant on the restricted list including “trans” (critical in chemistry & genetics). Tool for looking for these words for those applying for US grants/contracts: tinyurl.com/scanassist

Oh what a tangled web we wave, when first we practice to vote an angry, ignorant, vengeful conman into power.

boingboing.net/2025/07/01/f...