Finally, I want to say: If you are neurodivergent in biology, you are not alone. You are not "a problem," "less of a scientist," or a "burden" because you are neurodivergent. You just operate differently and may need support, and that is ok.
Elysse
@elyssegs.bsky.social
Postdoc studying pathogenesis and evolution of RNA viruses ORCID iD: 0000-0002-2719-1973 STEM outreach nonprofit: STEMOutreachCollective.org (They/them or none)
I am beyond excited to share that our paper, "Neurodivergent Perceptions, Experiences, and Perspectives in Academic Biological Sciences Spaces" has been published! A 🧵incoming because this paper is so special to me and the co-authors. doi.org/10.1093/icb/...
Neurodivergent Perceptions, Experiences, and Perspectives in Academic Biological Sciences Spaces
Abstract. Neurodiversity has received considerable attention recently from the general population and academic researchers, coinciding with an increase in
doi.org
“Young people need to see a future in science” - Richard Kuhn on the Presidential Panel at #ASV2026. Outreach is CRITICAL. Want to talk about how to get involved? Send me a message. I have a nonprofit organization that has been engaging middle & high school students across the US for 11+ years.
Hi, I spent 5+ years of my life on this work and it’s finally out (and under review), so I’d appreciate it if you’d feign excitement or at least pretend to read it. Thanks! #RNAsky #COVID #AcademiaSky 🧪 🦠 ⭕️
bioRxivpreprint@biorxivpreprint.bsky.social · 3mo agoDistinct virus-derived circular RNA molecule influences host response during SARS-CoV-2 infection https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.04.28.721328v1
That feeling when you get the go-ahead to finally send the manuscript of your PhD work to your co-authors
a bob 's burgers cartoon shows a family sitting around a table
Alt: an animated image from the tv show bob's burgers, which shows the Belcher family sitting around a table as Tina, the eldest child, drops to the floor and states “if you need me I’ll be down here on the floor, dying.”
media.tenor.com
The danger to my job from AI isn't that AI can do my job, it's that my job is made even more precarious by the way AI is shaping ideas of the value of work. It can't do my job, but it can be part of convincing people (incorrectly) that my job isn't necessary.
Come work with us (or tell your graduating undergrads to do so)! 🧪🦠 #virology
Patrick Dolan@ptdolan.bsky.social · 5mo agoPostbac positions available in experimental and computational biology working on #virusevolution, tick-borne viruses and computational drug discovery! Reach out if you’d like to discuss projects in the #QVEU at NIH-NIAID. Please share with any talented undergrads or MS students you know!
Which means it’s extra important for those of us with knowledge in applicable fields to be out in the community having conversations and giving people the information they need to advocate for themselves and the health of their communities. “Optional” does not mean banned.
Princess Vimentin PhD | Cancer Biologist@princess-vimentin.bsky.social · 6mo agoA sparkling example of "experts" cherry picked by RFK Jr. to fit his agenda. Milhoan, a pediatric cardiologist (not a vaccine expert) has "concerns" that children might die of measles or afflicted w/ polio, but also "saddened when people die of alcoholic diseases". Measles cases are rising. WHAT?🧪
a group of people playing instruments on a stage with marshall amps in the background
Alt: a gif from the movie/mockumentary Spinal Tap in a scene with the band performing on a stage as a comically small, faux Stonehenge is lowered onto the stage
media.tenor.com
Aman Batheja@amanbatheja.bsky.social · 10mo agoTrump says he plans to build a large arch like the the Arc de Triomphe in Paris across from the Lincoln Memorial to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence time.com/7326081/trum...
Welcome to Day 3 of Black In Micro Week! 🎉 Don't miss today's free events - simply click the linktr.ee/BlackInMicro to 1) Register and 2) Login. Everyone is welcome to join! Show your support by donating at tinyurl.com/GiveBiM (all links in bio). #BlackInMicro #BiM2025
Since they just announced their annual international scientific meeting will be held in Florida in 2026, here’s hoping the @globalvirusnews.bsky.social incorporates some free outreach programs for the public. Hold some accessible talks at a library or school. Encourage conversations Anything! 🦠🧪
This is absolute perfection. Thank you John Darnielle for finding the words and stringing them together so beautifully.
Pitchfork@pitchfork.com · last yr.The voice of Ozzy Osbourne was unlike anything before it. John Darnielle of @themountaingoats.bsky.social reflects on the loss of the singular frontman
Thinking about the FDA approval of Lenacapavir today, during #pride month. I wonder what pride month, & our society as a whole, would look like today if the millions that have died were still alive today? 🦠🧪🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ www.gilead.com/news/news-de...
Yeztugo Lenacapavir Is Now the First and Only FDA Approved HIV Prevention Option Offering 6 Months of Protection
Yeztugo Lenacapavir Is Now the First and Only FDA Approved HIV Prevention Option Offering 6 Months of Protection
gilead.com
23 years ago, I dropped out of high school after sophomore year because I was bullied for being queer, & was suicidal. Yesterday, I served as the 2025 PhD speaker for the Stanford School of Medicine graduation. This was not my dream, because I had no dreams. Now I’m almost 40 & full of hope. 🎓 🦠🧪🔬🧬
This is exactly why I made a campy horror inspired movie trailer/preview short film about my thesis and sent it out to my entire department before my defense last week. It’s so stupid and fun. More silliness in #science and #academia, please!
KP Upadhyayula@kp11studios.bsky.social · last yr.One other thing I want to say is: Don’t feel guilty for putting out your joy in the world, especially now. Acknowledge the pain & what’s happening if you can, but don’t stop creating. Don’t stop silly things Don’t stop your arts Don’t stop your viral dances Don’t stop making Just…Don’t stop
Another thing: take pronoun usage in reference letters from mentors with a grain of salt. Always default to what the applicant says. If a mentor misgenders them in a letter, it could be a mistake, or it could show that the trainee was in an unsafe environment where they felt they couldn’t be out.
Elysse@elyssegs.bsky.social · last yr.Happy pride month, #AcademiaSky! If you are interviewing a trans or nonbinary person for a position in your lab or group, don’t stop at pronouns. I had an interview recently where I was addressed correctly, but shown to the wrong bathroom. I was uncomfortable for the rest of the day. 1/n
Happy pride month, #AcademiaSky! If you are interviewing a trans or nonbinary person for a position in your lab or group, don’t stop at pronouns. I had an interview recently where I was addressed correctly, but shown to the wrong bathroom. I was uncomfortable for the rest of the day. 1/n
For someone who has dedicated their career to health equity, I’m shocked to see another shortsighted thread from @peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social. TX has also been absolutely vile to & unsafe for LGBTQ+, immigrants, abortion access, etc. So again, who is this for? Also, where is the alt text?
Prof Peter Hotez MD PhD DSc(hon)@peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social · last yr.
Is there anything more heartwarming than receiving email updates from past students? Got this today from a student who took my Intro to Biology class at a local community college while looking for a new career. The power of accessible education is truly incredible. #academicsky #academiasky
This paper deserves more attention: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
An immunologist, ecologist and clinician walk into Plato’s cave to discuss infections
If the immune system is an interconnected network, then the evolution of an archetype that is ideal for fighting one pathogen should result in tradeoffs decreasing its ability to fight others. How many archetypes are there in an immune system? We infected diverse mice with Plasmodium chabaudi, and identified five distinct archetypes of responses based on the host’s position in microbial load, immune activity, and host damage space. To better understand the nature of these archetypes, we developed a mathematical model of a generalized host-pathogen system. This model explains the number, and distribution of archetypes across a population of diverse hosts. Mice resilient to P. chabaudi exhibited poor outcomes when challenged with influenza, SARS-CoV-1, or Mycobacterium tuberculosis , and vice versa, supporting our tradeoff hypothesis. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.
biorxiv.org
The alternative to naloxone (Narcan) for a fentanyl overdose outside a healthcare facility - where almost all of them in this country occur - is death. Dead people don’t recover. Fentanyl overdose is the leading cause of death for Americans 18-44. Every single fentanyl overdose death is preventable.
Ryan Marino, MD@ryanmarino.bsky.social · last yr.There are few things as cost effective as Narcan, especially in a country where (entirely preventable) opioid overdoses have been a leading cause of death for years. For every 6 kits distributed 1 OD is prevented. The $56M in this grant trained >66K people and distributed >282,500 kits in 2024 alone
oSTEM's 2025 Scholarship Program is offering $183k in scholarships for LGBTQ+ students in STEM. 41 scholarships ($2,500-$5,000) available for community college, undergrad, and grad students. Applications open April 14, 2025 - May 18, 2025, 11:59 PM EDT. Learn more at bit.ly/oSTEM-Scholarship
I have so many thoughts about this piece by Peter Hotez regarding the choices early career scientists currently face in the current climate of dissolving scientific stability in the US. While I agree with the advice, I’m going to “yes, and…” here 🧵 🧪 1/?
Prof Peter Hotez MD PhD DSc(hon)@peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social · last yr.My latest in @plosbiology.org Look I get it, it seems really dark, but there are opportunities. My paper explores some ideas and tries to guide ways of thinking through the anticipated challenges. An emphasis on America’s “biohubs” and entrepreneurship journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
Hell yeah, this is awesome. Thank you for battling the gate keeping @jrossibarra.bsky.social and everyone who has contributed!
Jeffrey Ross-Ibarra@jrossibarra.bsky.social · last yr.Regular ask to send me successful job applications, grants, and fellowships to share with others! Thanks to @isabelott.bsky.social for sharing her GRFP (and congrats!). github.com/RILAB/statem...
The emails from Penzey’s Spices are really my only source of hope at this point.