Anna J Finley, PhD

We went just over 30 minutes outside of town, the pictures didn’t do it justice 🤩

Well ok ND! Absolutely stunning show tonight, pictures don’t do the explosion of reds and pinks overhead justice!

You sure it wasn’t the bars? 😅

You better be bringing those bad boys to the office tomorrow

AI Surrogates and illusions of generalizability in cognitive science Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have generated enthusiasm for using AI simulations of human research participants to generate new know…

Can AI simulations of human research participants advance cognitive science? In @cp-trendscognsci.bsky.social, @lmesseri.bsky.social & I analyze this vision. We show how “AI Surrogates” entrench practices that limit the generalizability of cognitive science while aspiring to do the opposite. 1/

@clarsonsbrain.bsky.social underscoring the importance of context and lived experience in trauma - make that in all our research really. Presidential Address @therealspr.bsky.social

Genius

Oh great, a new way for excel to turn numbers into dates unasked

Casually dropping the job posting here, and happy to answer questions about NDSU and life in Fargo, @erinwestgate.bsky.social might say I’m an ”expert” now 😆 tinyurl.com/3sjknmxn

If you applied to North Dakota State Unjversity’s job in developmental psych, you too could eat your (delicious) way across Fargo!!!

(Downside: I’m told it gets cold here?)

Might even be cold enough turn on the heat!

🤣 we’ve got a hot tub to thaw you out in. And lots of extra blankets

Leaves are turning up here and looks like the high is projected to be in the 60s when you visit. Get ready for some Fargo fall! 🍂🎃☕️

We are HIRING! The Department of Psychology at NDSU is seeking a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Developmental Psychology (broadly defined) to begin August, 2026. Full details here: tinyurl.com/3sjknmxn
Questions can be directed to me.
Please share widely!

BREAKING: Scientists are staging a “science fair” in the lobby of a Congressional building to tell elected officials about the critical knowledge the US will lose because their research grants have been canceled.

My student's funding just got axed How the administration's attacks on science are hurting trainees

I posted this article about my student's grant cancellation this morning. A few minutes ago, I learned that another very talented student in my lab had their funding cancelled too. I'm heartbroken -- not just about my students, but the future of science.
darbysaxbe.substack.com/p/my-student...

In a little more than a week, kiddo will have the chance to pitch her novel at StokerCon! Do any of my Bluesky friends have experience or advice about how to prepare? We have some general guidelines from the editor she'll be talking to, but any insight about Qs to expect, etc. would be very welcome!

What happened when they instituted post-tenure review at Florida? The best professors left.

And sound “sciency” for the tech bros and general public who think science is good but don’t really understand it. Sigh…

Also comes with the misunderstanding of science, distorting the process of truth finding through continual skepticism and refinement of models that approximate truth/reality to bend it to skepticism of everything that doesn’t fit your narrative. Sigh…

I mean with them wanting to RTC vaccines that have already been RTC-ed, medical ethics be damned, paired with a lack of understanding of science…I think you are giving them too much credit. We all know “high quality” evidence = matches my beliefs, no matter how they try to dress it up

a man in a suit and tie is rubbing his eyes with his hands . ALT: a man in a suit and tie is rubbing his eyes with his hands .

Oh I know. And the whole bit about evaluating the balance of the evidence based on its strength, they will just argue the strengths of junk science aren’t recognized, you have to consider all the “evidence”, etc etc.

Hilarious in a if-you-aren’t-laughing-you-are-crying way that they define data fraud/fabrication, say that gov employees can’t rely on that, but we all know it won’t apply to anything from Wakefield… oh and they “forbid” cherry picking

Hilarious that they define academic misconduct and fraud and say that no employee should rely on it, but of course I’m sure that doesn’t include anything authored by Wakefield…

Trump’s NIH And NSF Cuts Estimated To Cost The U.S. Economy $10 Billion Annually Economists find public R&D drives U.S. productivity growth — and pays for itself

Bottom line: the proposed NIH & NSF cuts alone would eventually strip at least $10 billion per year from U.S. output.

www.forbes.com/sites/johndr...

Senate Democrats to hold hearings on mass terminations at HHS, decrying RFK Jr. "destructive rampage" The widespread terminations at the Department of Health and Human Services have drawn questions about the functioning of key health programs.

Testifying tomorrow at a Senate hearing showcasing damage done to HHS by (personnel) terminations 3:00-4:30 convened by Senators Welch and Baldwin.

With former leaders from CDC, SAMSHA< AHRQ, ACL (Admin. for Community Living)

www.cbsnews.com/news/rfk-jr-...

It’s shocking how well the white font trick for hidden AI instructions to add in dinosaurs or vampires or other nonsense to responses works. I’ve also had students turn in reflections that say “as an LLM, I am interested in human cognition….” 🤦🏼‍♀️