CoreyWelch_STEM

We have to absolutely hammer this home: Science suffers without the values embedded in DEI 🧪

(ie, not eg), but who really cares. #Me

Kaniehtiio Horn Delivers Cat-astrophe and Revenge in Her Feature Directorial Debut, SEEDS Horn’s feature directorial debut, SEEDS, is a hilariously dark home-invasion thriller that pays homage to the indigenuity of Native women while also giving Rez cats the recognition and respect they de...

THIS IS NOT A DRILL, PEOPLE! SEEDS is now available to rent on streaming services! Kaniehtiio's directorial debut is a must-see. If you thought she was fierce as Deer Woman in Reservation Dogs, Tanis in Letterkenny, and now Samantha in The Lowdown, watch SEEDS!

redpopnews.com/kaniehtiio-h...

YouTube video by Malcolm Gladwell The RFK Jr. Problem | Malcolm Gladwell's Revisionist History Podcast

I’m hesitant to promote much of gladwell, but this podcast helped me understand RFK Jr. beliefs. (Eg doesn’t believe in germ theory).

youtu.be/EErAC4HBgyg?...

Google Scholar tool gives extra credit to first and last authors Researchers welcome the initiative, but say it doesn’t go far enough to capture the nuance of researcher productivity and impact.

My first thought was that Google took a page directly from the @drugmonkey.bsky.social blog post from awhile back on the h-index gamification.

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

This is similar to the tech bros who have moved into the healthcare space only to leave with their tails between their legs when they discover that human biology and medicine are complicated and imprecise and electronic health records SUCK as data sources.

@joann-trejo.bsky.social, @marymunson4.bsky.social and I have a commentary in @natcellbio.nature.com on recent attacks on DEI in biomedical research: "If scientific research, especially biomedical research, is meant to serve everyone, then it requires that everyone has an opportunity to participate"

Monty Python understood p-hacking

SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines sensitize tumours to immune checkpoint blockade - Nature mRNA vaccines targeting SARS-CoV-2 also sensitize tumours to immune checkpoint inhibitors.

'SARSCoV2 mRNA vaccines sensitize tumours to immune checkpoint blockade.
Data could pave way for other universal mRNA therapeutics specifically designed to reset patient immune systems for enhanced response to immunotherapy.' Adam Grippin et al @mdanderson.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

People with some cancers live longer after a COVID vaccine mRNA vaccines seem to boost the effectiveness of an immune therapy for skin and lung cancer ― in an unexpected way.

'mRNA vaccines seem to boost the effectiveness of an immune therapy for skin and lung cancer.' @maxkozlov.bsky.social @nature.com
'COVID-19 mRNA vaccine acts like a siren and activates the immune system throughout the body - programming a response to kill the cancer.'
www.nature.com/articles/d41...

"Anti-DEI Legislation and Anticipatory Compliance in Faculty Hiring at Public Colleges and Universities"

osf.io/preprints/so...

Look at the changes in faculty hiring around anti-DEI legislation's passage!

Anti-DEI legislation appears to be increasing the hiring of white male faculty the most at universities that are highly dependent on state funding and at teaching-oriented schools.

In response to anti-DEI legislation in the states, universities have started to hire more white male faculty.

This increase starts before bills are signed into law.

Universities appear to be anticipating anti-DEI legislation and preemptively hiring more white men.

US PhD admissions shrink as fears over Trump’s cuts take hold Some doctoral programmes are admitting no students at all amid uncertainty about federal science funding.

If you normally have an incoming class of 15 students (like in my PhD program), what's the point of admitting just one or two students? How are you going to teach classes or have any sense of camaraderie?

No touching. No touching. #ItIsNotThatHard

US PhD admissions shrink as fears over Trump’s cuts take hold Some doctoral programmes are admitting no students at all amid uncertainty about federal science funding.

Fewer grad students means less science, but many STEM PhD programs in the US are cutting back on admissions this year due to federal funding uncertainties. Words by me for @nature.com:

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

@emsque.bsky.social @ucsdcooperlab.bsky.social @julieposselt.bsky.social 🧪

Salmon Are Surging Far Beyond Expectations After Klamath River Dam Removal Just months after the historic removal of four major dams on the Klamath River, scientists and tribal leaders are stunned by what they’re seeing—salmon are returning in far greater numbers, and much f...

#Oregon: Just months after the historic removal of four major dams on the Klamath River, scientists and tribal leaders are stunned by what they’re seeing—salmon are returning in far greater numbers, and much faster, than anyone expected. www.activenorcal.com/salmon-are-s...

Piling on is a bad look my friend.

Once again, EVERY R1 research university depends on federal funding for ~15-25% of its budget. You simply can't unplug the largest or 2nd-largest source of $$ of every R1 university & expect it not to have devastating consequences for graduate education, which will spill over to undergrad education.

This is very bleak for institutional science, but as someone on the job market this cycle, I think it is kind of a blessing in disguise for people who were considering applying to PhD programs next cycle... The academic jobs just don't really exist anymore

Harvard is the 'best case scenario' for US research pedagogy (at least, financially). They have a $57bn endowment. I think the takeaway here is that the days of most PhD programs in the US are numbered

Wow. Harvard nuking its PhD programs

- Science PhD admissions reduced by more than 75%
- Arts & Humanities reduced by about 60%
- Social Sciences by 50–70%
- History by 60%
- Biology by 75%
- The German department will lose all PhD seats
- Sociology from six PhD students to zero

I've been saying for a couple years now that the AI-will-fundamentally-reshape-the-academy craze has all the elements of the mid-2010s MOOCs-will-fundamentally-reshape-the-academy craze.

A new user influx - welcome! A great nudge to pass this around. (Psst: Scientist authors tend to have fascinating Bsky feeds).

go.bsky.app/2LmKSDN

Stable isotope data indicate origins of mislabelled historical bird specimens Natural history specimens provide valuable insights across diverse research fields, but those needing more accurate metadata have limited scientific value. We applied stable isotope analysis to inves...

Our new paper led by Rafael Lima used carbon, nitrogen and sulphur isotope analyses to interrogate the origin of some biogeographically controversial Brazilian bird specimens - an #ornithology 🧵 1/10
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

My lab is hiring a 2-yr hummingbird evolution and genomics postdoc and a 1-yr salaried research and lab tech. Both with full U. Wyoming benefits. Please spread the word! Info below. Best consideration date Nov 1, start dates early Spring 2026.