Rebecca Pollet

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)

NSF GRFP solicitation out.
App deadlines now in November.
As others noted, eligibility rules for current graduate students now exclude 2nd year grad students. See the solicitation - they’ve emphasized “first year” and “less than one academic year” in grad program.

www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...

Looking down a long, slightly curved hallway. On the left are large windows with many tables and chairs in front of the windows. On the right is an accent wall with wooden slates. You see a glimpse of the second floor hallway at the top of the frame.

Two students cross in front of Raymond House, a large bridge building with many small white windows. The leaves on the tree in front of the building are beginning to turn orange.

It's almost fall in Poughkeepsie and you could be here next year! My department is hiring a lecturer in Organic Chemistry. The role is great for someone with an interest in pedagogy! vassar.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Vassar...

Decolonize scientific institutions, don’t just diversify them Indigenous scholars set out eight steps to stop marginalization in academia and to enable a shared Indigenous agenda in science.

Eight steps to stop marginalization in academia from some fantastic Indigenous scientists

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

So great to learn more about @theoreticalfun.bsky.social!

Bryn Mawr College is looking for an analytical chemist! #chemsky www.brynmawr.edu/inside/acade...

Diversify Microbiology This is a self-nomination form, entries submitted on behalf of someone else will be deleted. This list is intended for individuals who have completed a PhD or otherwise are employed in a professional ...

We just launched an updated version of DiversifyMicrobiology! Please update your entry at docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

I should say, I got almost all (maybe all?) of these from Bryan Thurtle-Schmidt at Davidson College! And I am happy to share my reaching questions if you decide to use any of them!

5. Noji et al, Direct observation of the rotation of F1-ATPase, from lab of Kazuhiko Kinosita. This one is really difficult for students but makes them really understand ATP synthase

I've also looked at the newer Fiedorczuk and Chen, Mechanism of CFTR correction by type I folding correctors. I haven't taught it yet but I like using these CFTR papers to talk about drug discovery

3. Zaug and Cech, The Intervening Sequence RNA of Tetrahymenta Is an Enzyme, a little weird because it is a ribozyme but really nice classic enzyme characterization
4. Liu et al, Structural identification of a hotspot on CFTR for potentiation, from Jue Chen's lab - nice structure and transport data

Super interested in others thoughts but here are some I use:
1. Watson and Crick's Molecular Structure of Nucleic Acids (with lots of context)
2. Steitz and Steitz, A general two-metal-ion mechanism for catalytic RNA, to get them comfortable with mechanisms

Assistant Professor of Biology, Tenure Track Department Biology Vassar College is dedicated to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees and welcomes applications from individuals of all backgrounds. Decisions conc...

Vassar College is seeking a biologist with a focus on Developmental Neurobiology on the tenure-track. Please spread widely!

vassar.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Vassar...

NSURP is looking for mentors for this summer! We had over 200 applications for about 10 spots. Please sign up if you are interested in being a mentor this year or in the future as it is helpful to show interest. Please share this! uarizona.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

Hello #NativesBlueSky… my students are asking for a list of your favorite Indigenous STEM books… so I’m trying to crowd source to add to my own list. I am not sure how many are out here, but I thought I’d ask! I’ll compile the list and share when done!

Especially in this time of funding cuts and wondering if programs to support students are going to survive, this community provided hope that we can continue to support each other because in fact we have been doing this for millenia. 5/5

Given my beginnings inviting just one Native person to a symposium, I am so thankful to @willowcoyote.bsky.social for his vision and the entire organizing team for making this happen. Being able to talk deeply about science while bringing our full selves was the refocusing I needed. 4/5

Since then I have kept a running list of Native scientists I would like to meet. I have been fortunate enough to connect with many amazing Native and Indigenous biochemists and microbiologists but this symposium was by far the largest number of Native scientists I have ever been in a room with. 3/5

This experience was so fulfilling because I have spent so much of my career looking for and thinking about this exact community. When I was a graduate student, I invited a Native scientist to speak at a campus symposium because I had never met an established Native researcher. 2/5

Wrapping up my time at the Full Circle of Native and Indigenous Scientists in Biology Symposium and I want to reflect on some thoughts mentioned today qbi.ucsf.edu/full-circle-... 1/5

Fresh Banana Leaves by Jessica Hernandez, Ph.D.: 9781623176051 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books A 2022 Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist in Science & Technology An Indigenous environmental scientist breaks down why western conservationism isn't working--and offers Indigenous models informed...

Fresh Banana Leaves by Jessica Hernandez! www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/675699...

The rhetorical victory is this: the proposal that we can and will outlast them.

I've heard from people at several PUIs that they've had very small applicant pools. Our applicant pools have been okay in size but my colleagues said they are much smaller than they were pre-pandemic.

Just a little over a week out! The symposium is coming together wonderfully. Please join us either in person at UCSF or virtually in a webinar!
Register here :)
qbi.ucsf.edu/full-circle-...

The MacInFac was such a core part of my experience at UNC - it's a great role for anyone passionate about biochem and biophysical techniques.

One thing I really miss while being on an only undergrad campus is attending PhD thesis defenses. It's great science but also the deep respect shown for other scientists and the absolute joy is unmatched.

NIH cuts are hitting young scientists the hardest. By David Baker. timmermanreport.com/2025/03/davi...

‘The Interview’: Ed Yong Wants to Show You the Hidden Reality of the World (Gift Article) The Pulitzer Prize-winning science writer talks about burnout from covering the pandemic and how bird-watching gave him a new sense of hope.

Sharing this article about @edyong209.bsky.social in the NY Times "Ed Yong Wants to Show You the Hidden Reality of the World"

Ed Yong in my opinion is the best science journalist of our times - and there are many great ones

www.nytimes.com/2025/02/22/m...

(on left of image) WHAT TO SAY WHEN... everything is on fire. (on right of image, a poem by Nikita Gil. "Everything is on fire, but everyone I love is doing beautiful things / and trying to make life worth living, / and I know I don’t have to believe in everything, / but I believe in that."

Caring about or working in science right now is all about answering questions: can we keep going? How do we keep going?

Sometimes our answers need to take the form of speeches.

Instead of certainty and details, we are being asked for direction. For comfort. For courage. For hope.