@usymmons.bsky.social
Programme manager for #health and #biotech at the EU Innovation Council (#EIC), based in Brussels. Previously research in genomics, single-cell bio, rare diseases & animal models. Talks a lot about science #funding, #mentorship & #equity. Opinions my own
It's come to this: The Ig Nobel Awards, presented at Harvard or MIT since the 1990s, is moving to Zurich because the US is not safe for foreign visitors
www.swissinfo.ch/eng/research...
Question to the bsky crowd: does a weekly (i.e. 6-7day) biological cycle exist in people? Thinking specifically about hormonal and/or drug-response related...
EMA is organising a virtual webinar to explore the evolving role of platform technologies, bringing together regulators and medical developers to discuss how they can be used beyond quality and manufacturing.
Mark your calendars and tune into the live broadcast 👇 www.ema.europa.eu/en/events/we...
Undergrads seeking summer research experience in gene or cell therapy: there's a *paid opportunity* from @bsgct.bsky.social! Please apply before 27th Feb. Please see bsgct.org/undergraduate/ for details.
Please repost to help spread the word - thanks!
You had one job 😅
China bans all retractable car door handles, starting next year arstechnica.com/cars/2026/02...
Thanks to the White House about half the internet learnt that there are actually no penguins in Greenland. Yay #scicomm!
BUT there *is* one 🐧living in the northern hemisphere: the Galapagos penguin, the only species found (just) north of the equator. No, the "penguin" on the WH tweet is not it.
🧪🪶
Thanks to the Brussels Liszt Institue and the Belgian Club of Hungarian Scientists for organising!
Last week I joined a presentation by the mathematician István Lénárt on spherical (vs Euclidean) geometry using oranges, markers and bottle caps. It was a ton of fun, very inspiring and really reminded me how learning new stuff can take the mind of things, such as current affairs...
🌟 Are you a Young Professional shaping the future of European #Standardization? CEN and CENELEC want to hear your story! 💬 We’re looking for passionate young experts who are making a difference through standards.
📩 Reach out to schedule an interview and share your experience!
Powerful piece in STAT this morning from some NIH staff members who have resigned
www.statnews.com/2026/01/10/n...
1/3
Yes, absolutely. And I love how this paper also looks at how the lottery scheme was received. I feel that attitudes have already changed a lot on the last 10years, but it will be critical that the community is on board for a large-scale rollout, so documenting perception is critical.
Really fascinating data. If I remember correctly, the Volkswagen Stiftung had similarly reported on increase in diversity during interim evaluations of their lottery scheme.
#LivingArchitectures
We put cells and cytoskeleton filaments on the architecture of the musée d'Orsay.
www.musee-orsay.fr/fr/agenda/ev...
Scientists of the #CytoMorphoLab adapted their protocols to illustrate the questions that keep them awake at night.
-> Two shows on the 24th and 25th of January.
Normally, every year I make a special advent 🗓️ for my family. They have included treasure hunts across town, quizzes and a day-by-day story. But this year, my 7y.o. and husband went all out to surprise me with a calendar they made for me! ❤️🤶🏻🎄🎄🤶🏻❤️
Can't wait to see what each day has in store!
Almost 20 years after it was published I finally read World War Z and I'm crazy shocked by
a) how underrepresented women are in the book, and
b) how little this seems to be discussed in most analyses of the book.
#howManyWomen #weekendreading
If you're interested to apply, John our online info days:
1. 🎦General Info Day, Nov 13: eic.ec.europa.eu/events/onlin...
2. 🎦Info Day Accelerator Challenges, Nov 14: eic.ec.europa.eu/events/onlin...
3. 🎦 Info Day Advanced Innovation Challenges, Nov 17: eic.ec.europa.eu/events/onlin...
The #EIC work programme 2026 is out!
It includes 2 health-related challenges:
- ⌛Pathfinder Challenge: #Biotechnology for Healthy #Ageing
- 🧫 Advanced Innovation Challenge: Translating Disruptive New Approach Methodologies #NAMs into Practice
📑 Check it out: www.linkedin.com/safety/go?ur...
Ghost train in Vienna...
Almost 10yrs ago🫣 I contributed to a @nature.com Careers story on Individual Dev Plans (IDPs).
This summer I got to follow up,discuss my career&IDPs some more.
🎧The podcast is now out! It's part of a series on career strategies/tools, all of which is worth a listen👂🏻
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Really enjoying this story about Fred Ramsdell not knowing about his Nobel prize in Medicine, because he's offline, hiking in Idaho.
There seems to be such pressure to be reachable all the time nowadays, that is nice to see! 😅
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
Husband recently got a @newyorker.com print subscription, and I've really enjoyed some of their #science and #technology pieces.
For example, this one on the search for interventions for healthy #ageing was a really fun read: www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
Only in Belgium...? 😂
#beernation #DrinksForDogs
🚨🚨🚨🧪 H1B scientists who are traveling outside the USA. Please be aware that current advice is to return to the USA IMMEDIATELY
NEW: Don't ask too many questions, but...
NIH may not re-terminate the 900ish grants at issue in the main NIH lawsuits after all.
To the PIs of reinstated grants, SPEND NOW!
🧵 Here's what NIH is probably thinking. Bear with me:
Director at Max Planck - a unique position! The Open Call for Expressions of Interest in Max Planck Directorships is open now and can be submitted by the 31st of October 2025. ➡️ mpg.de/directors - Please share the Open Call among potential candidates.
And with these 1500 pieces our summer staycation has officially begun... 🧩🧩🧩
Congratulations!
Sometimes I can't help but wonder what triggered inclusion of certain points in the user manual...
Case in point: the crutch 🩼 that "does not respond to verbal or telepathic command" 😅
At a conference, and just noticed someone who is "taking notes" by having his computer microphone open, which is auto-transcribing the talks and from time-to-time trading pictures of key slides.
Is this the future?