Monique Smith

Thanks to the Nature team for digging into this. Apportionment is one of those inside-baseball issues that I hoped never to need to learn about... But here was are.

NIH Director Bhattacharya signals an end to the affirmative action program for ESI Well, this is fascinating. Director Jayanta Bhattacharya went on the Why Should I Trust You podcast in an episode dated Feb 26, 2026 [h/t]. Around 59:00 he is answering the podcast host after she p…

NIH Director Bhattacharya signals an end to the affirmative action program for ESI drugmonkey.wordpress.com/2026/02/26/n...

Blackpool doctor not struck off by panel over 'one-off' rape - BBC News Dr Aloaye Foy-Yamah has his medical licence suspended for 12 months over the attack.

Another case of prioritizing a man’s potential over the safety of women: doctor doesn’t lose license bc he supposedly only raped one woman and he had glowing reviews from colleagues

La lumière, nouvelle méthode antidouleur chez les animaux.
It was great to collaborate with Guillaume Sandoz @univcotedazur.bsky.social @cnrsbiologie.bsky.social
and other colleagues on this exciting project
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

National media should really be covering the fact thay every major school, museum, and arts institution in the Twin Cities, and hundreds of local businesses are closed tomorrow to protest federal occupation.

Nothing like this at this scale has happened anywhere in America anytime in living memory.

NIH ends support for some human fetal-tissue research – dismaying scientists The US biomedical funding agency also hints at future restrictions on research involving human embryonic stem cells.

The NIH also hints at future restrictions on research involving human embryonic stem cells

go.nature.com/3YUZfwe

Exclusive: key NIH review panels due to lose all members by the end of 2026 Thirteen of the agency’s advisory councils, which must review grant applications before funding is awarded, are on track to have no voting members.

Thirteen of the US NIH’s advisory councils, which must review grant applications before funding is awarded, are on track to have no voting members

go.nature.com/4r6TiIp

PSA on Competitive, Not Discussed NIH proposal outcomes As you know, Dear Reader, the current and following rounds of NIH study section meetings have adopted temporary* new triage/streamlining rules. Previously, approximately half of proposals are Not D…

PSA on Competitive, Not Discussed NIH proposal outcomes drugmonkey.wordpress.com/2026/01/23/p...

I bet the AC is delayed and they just haven’t updated it?

Personalized Cancer Vaccines Are Almost Here—But Federal Funding Cuts Could Derail Them Vaccines based on mRNA can be tailored to target a cancer patient’s unique tumor mutations. But crumbling support for cancer and mRNA vaccine research has endangered this promising therapy

Personalized vaccines against cancer, made with mRNA technology, are showing promising results even five years after treatment. Go deep with our recent feature on what might come next for the technique

US federal agencies were gutted in 2025, losing ~20% of their staff relative to 2024.

On a call with NIH PO this morning - I knew NOSIs were no longer a thing, but wasn't aware they now have these "Highlighted Topics". Not clear how it exactly interfaces with funding and/or how you highlight alignment, but good to keep an eye on!

grants.nih.gov/funding/find...

Important story from Max Kozlov. Loss without replacement of council members is a serious concerns which could be a huge problem in the future, but this is uncertain.

a cartoon of spongebob with the words me when my tank is close to e Alt: a cartoon of spongebob with the words me when my tank is close to empty

Is anyone else having incredible angst about whether or not their labs will continue to be able to do science? I submit-revise-resubmit grants and hope upon hope something with get funded so I can continue to have a lab, but I get waves of panic and sadness over the current state of things. 😢🧬🔬

Dr. Zoe Donaldson — Stories of WiN studies the neural circuits that govern social bonding and social loss, and how variations in these circuits shape emotional outcomes

Our latest profile is here! Dr. Zoe Donaldson (@neurozoe.bsky.social) studies the neural circuits that govern social bonding & social loss, and how variations in these circuits shape emotional outcomes.

Follow the link to listen! #StoriesOfWiN #WomenInNeuroscience

storiesofwin.org/profiles/202...

Two weeks left to apply! MIT's Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences is seeking a tenure-track Assistant Professor, working with nonhuman animals in some way. Application deadline is Dec. 1. Full posting: academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30586

It’s that time of year for me to dust this thing off and encourage you to apply to be a Leading Edge fellow, this year named in honor of Zara Weinberg

Thrilled to share my PhD work showing dopamine and serotonin form a gas-brake system for reward has won Stanford's Sammy Kuo Paper of the Year Award!

I'm at #sfn25 presenting new work that uncovers a key circuit mechanism underlying this opponency. Stop by poster AA3 Monday morning to learn more!

Perfect! I’ll be at a social at the Hilton and can dip out! My number is still the same! If you don’t still have it I’ll dm you :)

Hey you’re here!!! Let’s grab a drink or food and catch up!!

At the pre #SfN @storiesofwin.bsky.social Symposium. Inspiring, entertaining, motivating, and encouraging to hear all these honest stories from these women scientists who truly are making an impact on their environment and science in general.

The Transmitter’s Rising Stars of Neuroscience 2025 We recognize the outstanding achievements of 25 neuroscientists who stand to shape the field for years to come.

Congrats to the @thetransmitter.bsky.social Rising Stars of Neuroscience, including our own @drnancypadilla.bsky.social and @megkirch.bsky.social! 🌟

www.thetransmitter.org/early-career...

What an absolute inspiration this morning was!!!! Thankful for all these amazing women in neuroscience

8 high level positions at NIH posted including 6 institute director positions (NIMH, NIGMS, NICHD, NIDCR, NHGRI, NLM).

Only open for 2 weeks (applications due November 21).

Application materials include a) CV b) vision statement c) a photocopy of doctoral degree.

hr.nih.gov/careers/open...

Candid photo of Zara Weinberg. She has short red hair, bangs and glasses. She is laughing.

The Leading Edge Fellows gathered this week to celebrate Zara Weinberg, a beloved member of our community. Our 7th cohort of Leading Edge Fellows (2026) will be named in her honor.

The Zara Weinberg Leading Edge Cohort application is now open! Due Feb 2.

www.leadingedgesymposium.org/apply/

7 basic science discoveries that changed the world Ozempic, MRI machines and flat screen televisions all emerged out of fundamental research decades earlier — the very types of study being slashed by the US government.

Scientists point to a long list of findings that emerged out of fundamental research, the type of studies the US government is cutting, and went on to change the world. Nature lists a few of their examples. 🧪

The Leading Edge community has been a life-line as I navigate *points to everything*.

Zara was such a shining light of wisdom and warmth. She will be sorely missed, but her legacy will continue in everyone who had the utmost privilege to interact with her.

Apply, apply, apply!!!!

Truly one of the best. We worked on various initiatives/wrote a paper together, and had the best conference meet ups. She was a bold and tireless advocate for change. Last time we met, we had a great time trying new cuisine and imagining a future that’s so different for trainees than we experienced.

100% all of this 👇. So grateful to have had you in my life, Zara, and I will miss you so much.