@dinahdavison.bsky.social
NSF Postdoctoral Fellow at Kansas State University. My research examines how gene-environment interactions shaped the evolution of differentiated multicellularity. dinahdavison.net
My new paper examining how plasticity may have shaped the evolution of cellular differentiation is out! We propose that the plastic development of somatic-like cells may have been an intermediate step in the evolution of soma in the volvocine algae. #evosky #mevosky doi.org/10.1098/rspb...
21.03.2025 18:53 — 👍 44 🔁 17 💬 0 📌 3Fundamental scientific research in the US relies on the work of Matt and his colleagues at the National Science Foundation. The loss of 168 NSF employees is a huge blow to science.
19.02.2025 16:58 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0NEW: NSF confirmed that they fired 168 employees today, out of their staff of ~1,500 feds.
This includes some people who'd finished their 1-year probationary periods, which were extended to 2-years last month without explanation. More to come.
My heart is breaking as I hear of more and more federal workers getting fired. I deeply respect and value the incredible contributions that my colleagues at NSF have made towards basic scientific research and broader impact activities.
18.02.2025 15:39 — 👍 12 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
An “NSF BY THE NUMBERS” fact sheet screenshot with some facts about “ADVANCING SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING RESEARCH IN THE U.S. AND ABROAD” -The U.S. National Science Foundation was created by Congress in_ 1950 to continue the U.S. science and technology enterprise began during World War II. -NSF allocates 94% of its approximately $8.5 billion budget for grants and awards to support research projects, facilities and STEM education. -NSF funds research in all 50 states and U.S. territories. -NSF fosters international scientific collaboration on all 7 continents around the globe. -About 2,000 academic and other private and public institutions across the U.S. conduct NSF-funded research. -NSF supports 24% of all federally funded academic fundamental research at U.S. colleges and universities. fundamental research comes from NSF. - In 2020, NSF received approximately 43,000 research proposals from scientists and engineers and funded about 12,000. - NSF-funded researchers have received 248 Nobel Prizes.
Do you want a big overview of NSF, explaining things like the fact that 24% of all federally funded academic fundamental research comes from NSF? And that 94% of its budget goes out the door in grants/awards? Here you go. nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/files/Factsh...
08.02.2025 15:32 — 👍 148 🔁 74 💬 1 📌 2Gene editing technology began by people studying salt marshes. Ozempic began by folks studying the venom of Gila Monsters. Support for basic science has empowered us to understand our world. Tethering it to applications health has transformed and saved countless lives.
08.02.2025 13:45 — 👍 3362 🔁 731 💬 49 📌 27
Exclusive: NSF this week began to search through billions of dollars of grants the agency has already awarded for anything touching on topics that President Donald Trump has criticized. And NSF has blocked grantees and trainees from accessing funds while the review is underway. scim.ag/3El0NZh
30.01.2025 23:26 — 👍 762 🔁 587 💬 69 📌 204
Call your representatives about this NSF funding freeze and grant review. NSF broader impacts were mandated in the America Competes Reauthorization Act and broadening participation in sciences was part of the Chips and Science Act, passed by congress in 2022
www.science.org/content/arti...
The American Institute of Biological Sciences is organizing a congressional visits day on Apr 29-30. This is a good opportunity to directly talk to your congressional reps about the importance of funding scientific research! The AIBS application deadline is 3/3 and SSE has travel funding. aibs.org 🧪
29.01.2025 19:27 — 👍 4 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
