Aaron Kaat's Avatar

Aaron Kaat

@akaat.bsky.social

Associate professor at Northwestern University. My research is in #psychometrics and/or #raredisease. But I plan to use this for things that interest me socially, not just an extension of work. Opinions are my own.

111 Followers  |  120 Following  |  49 Posts  |  Joined: 14.11.2024  |  2.1856

Latest posts by akaat.bsky.social on Bluesky

Merry Christmas and happy holidays.

26.12.2025 04:50 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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#OtD 4 Dec 1969 Chicago Black Panther leader Fred Hampton was murdered while asleep in his bed during a raid on his apartment by Chicago Police in conjunction with the FBI. Mark Clark was also killed, and other Panthers wounded. Learn more about the BPP: shop.workingclasshistory.com/collections/...

04.12.2025 18:10 β€” πŸ‘ 150    πŸ” 70    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 9
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#duolingo

03.12.2025 00:44 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
this dystopia is completely ruining my enjoyment of fictional dystopia

this dystopia is completely ruining my enjoyment of fictional dystopia

25.10.2025 15:16 β€” πŸ‘ 359    πŸ” 59    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
whew! this sucks! at least I won't have to do it again tomorrow.

whew! this sucks! at least I won't have to do it again tomorrow.

whew

18.10.2025 13:51 β€” πŸ‘ 269    πŸ” 27    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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To my friends experiencing newfound conviction about speaking up against political violence: Excellent, let's keep going. This is Rev. David Black, a Presbyterian minister, being attacked by cowards in masks while protesting political violence against immigrants in Chicago over the weekend.

23.09.2025 02:55 β€” πŸ‘ 90    πŸ” 33    πŸ’¬ 5    πŸ“Œ 2
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What to Know About Taking Tylenol During Pregnancy The Trump administration said acetaminophen could cause autism. Doctors maintain it is safe during pregnancy.

President Trump told pregnant women to stop taking Tylenol. Medical groups maintain it is safe. What the research shows about autism, pregnancy and Tylenol.

22.09.2025 21:49 β€” πŸ‘ 29    πŸ” 12    πŸ’¬ 16    πŸ“Œ 3

I watched that whole need conference live. It made me so sad.

23.09.2025 00:55 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Relaxing Tea Better Fucking Work

Relaxing Tea Better Fucking Work

Relaxing Tea Better Fucking Work https://theonion.com/relaxing-tea-better-fucking-work-1819579209/

20.09.2025 19:00 β€” πŸ‘ 4203    πŸ” 958    πŸ’¬ 39    πŸ“Œ 47
Gold standard science isn't gold standard if it's applied selectively. Part 2: Research on causes of autism In my previous blogpost , I discussed why many scientists can't take seriously the lofty ideals expressed in Trump's plans for Gold Standard...

Part 2 of blogpost on Gold Standard Science deevybee.blogspot.com/2025/08/gold...
I'd be interested to know if any readers have heard of NIH's "Autism Data Science Initiative", which made a tachistoscopic appearance in June?
#autism #research

27.08.2025 14:19 β€” πŸ‘ 12    πŸ” 9    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 0
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I want your blood for my birthday.

19.07.2025 13:15 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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🎨 Workshop Alert: Visualizing Health Research. Whether you're preparing for a conference or a grant pitch, this hands-on workshop Sept 8 & 22; Oct 8 & 15 will help you turn your research into visuals that inform and inspire. Learn more: shorturl.at/4tdY1

10.07.2025 17:23 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
so now you want to stay alive AND have your life be "happy"?
this is America, not the United States Of Alive And Happy

so now you want to stay alive AND have your life be "happy"? this is America, not the United States Of Alive And Happy

04.07.2025 23:58 β€” πŸ‘ 186    πŸ” 26    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Almost wish I was only in the assistant professor level instead of associate. But for anyone interested, KI sounds wonderful!!!

26.06.2025 02:25 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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N.I.H. Memo Pauses Cancellations of Medical Research Grants

New York Times article on the end (at least for the moment) of NIH grant terminations...

[Gift link]

www.nytimes.com/2025/06/25/s...

25.06.2025 22:15 β€” πŸ‘ 59    πŸ” 28    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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NIH froze funding for clinical trials at a major university. By fall, they’ll run out of funding | CNN Northwestern University hasn’t received any funding from the NIH since the end of March. Not only could patients potentially stop receiving treatments that trials provided, the research itself could b...

New CNN story about clinical trials damaged by the funding freeze at Northwestern.

www.cnn.com/2025/06/23/h...

1/n

23.06.2025 12:16 β€” πŸ‘ 107    πŸ” 62    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 12

Screen unseen at AMC was Jurassic World. That was fun. I wonder what it'll be in 2 weeks...

24.06.2025 02:49 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Dr. Fiona Havers, who is wearing a blue-green short-sleeved dress, is sitting in a large brown chair and looking directly at the viewer. A headline reads: "Why a Vaccine Expert Left the CDC.: 'Americans Are Going to Die.'" Photo by Melissa Golden for The New York Times

Dr. Fiona Havers, who is wearing a blue-green short-sleeved dress, is sitting in a large brown chair and looking directly at the viewer. A headline reads: "Why a Vaccine Expert Left the CDC.: 'Americans Are Going to Die.'" Photo by Melissa Golden for The New York Times

Dr. Fiona Havers resigned on Monday after 13 years at the CDC, saying she could no longer continue while the health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., dismantled the careful processes that help formulate vaccination standards. Read her first interview since resigning. nyti.ms/4k0mbCn

18.06.2025 16:22 β€” πŸ‘ 553    πŸ” 240    πŸ’¬ 16    πŸ“Œ 18
four half day workshop on design for academics and researchers. Email MSS_education@northwestern.edu to get on the list to be alerted when registration starts.

four half day workshop on design for academics and researchers. Email MSS_education@northwestern.edu to get on the list to be alerted when registration starts.

🎨 Calling all health researchers!
Tired of confusing graphs, chaotic slides, and posters no one reads? πŸ“ŠπŸ“ˆπŸ“‰

πŸ’‘Join us for β€œVisualizing Health Research” β€” a hands-on workshop that will give you a toolbox 🧰 to level up your design game. πŸ§΅πŸ‘‡

🧠 Email MSS_education@northwestern.edu to get on email list.

18.06.2025 13:07 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 3

Ouch

08.06.2025 14:31 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I shared this piece with a relative of mine after reading it this morning. I just wish they agreed.

06.06.2025 02:49 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Unfortunately, I think it's often the kids who have something to teach us

05.06.2025 03:16 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Well, more reasons to think Northwestern (and by extension, me) will be getting any new grants soon.

03.06.2025 22:30 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Cutting the NIHβ€”The $8 Trillion Health Care Catastrophe This JAMA Forum discusses the recent budget cuts to National Institutes of Health (NIH), the effects of these cuts on scientific research and health of individuals in the US, and the prospects for cha...

JAMA Forum on the proposed NIH budget…

jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

02.06.2025 00:51 β€” πŸ‘ 70    πŸ” 51    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 4

Not the point of the tweet, but it always amazes me how much the NIH budget declined during Obama and increased under Trump 1. That was after he proposed cuts, but he β€˜art of the dealed’ it up to record highs.

31.05.2025 21:23 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

We published a piece in March saying the real Trump/Vought/DOGE goal was to bring universities to their knees, and now they’re just … saying it out loud.

From our blog: altnih4science.substack.com/p/trump-is-a...

01.06.2025 00:25 β€” πŸ‘ 114    πŸ” 55    πŸ’¬ 6    πŸ“Œ 0

I've been watching the M*A*S*H seasons (on DVD, so old skool) slowly for the last few months. Tonight will be a M*A*S*H night again, in Houlihan's honor.

31.05.2025 02:54 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Optimistic Researchers Say There Still Time To Head Off Climate Change Before It Starts Killing Rich People

Optimistic Researchers Say There Still Time To Head Off Climate Change Before It Starts Killing Rich People

Optimistic Researchers Say There Still Time To Head Off Climate Change Before It Starts Killing Rich People theonion.com/optimis...

30.05.2025 22:00 β€” πŸ‘ 4813    πŸ” 844    πŸ’¬ 59    πŸ“Œ 38

Ahh, the game, yes.

24.05.2025 02:10 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Did not know this. But now I do. Another reason to get a new pair of selvedge jeans.

21.05.2025 03:23 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

@akaat is following 20 prominent accounts