If you're funded by NIH or NSF, the new White House science report and its budget annex are worth your time. They set the direction for the next few years and the annex has a lot of specifics. I read both, plus the hearing. Here's what I made of it open.substack.com/pub/lettheda...

Thoughts on "Science: A New Golden Age"

What the report says, what the annex does, and where they don't match.

open.substack.com

HHMI released the official 2027 Gilliam Fellowship details, and a lot changed. Deadline's earlier this cycle: Oct 27. Int'l & MD-PhD students now eligible. Stipend up to 50K. New postdoc pathway adds up to 7 yrs of support. No Journal names!!!! www.yaelcourtney.com/resources-an...

2027 HHMI Gilliam Fellowship: New Deadline, Eligibility, and Award Changes — Ya'el Courtney

HHMI's 2027 Gilliam Fellowship guide is out. What changed: an earlier October 27 deadline, expanded eligibility, a higher stipend, and a new postdoc pathway.

yaelcourtney.com

“If you’re at an institution, ask your sponsored-programs office to file too.” 🧪

Ya’el Courtney, PhD@scienceyael.bsky.social · 3mo ago

New OMB rule would move science funding from experts to political appointees, and let agencies cancel grants mid-project. Wrote up the plain version + how to comment before July 13. open.substack.com/pub/lettheda...

New OMB rule would move science funding from experts to political appointees, and let agencies cancel grants mid-project. Wrote up the plain version + how to comment before July 13. open.substack.com/pub/lettheda...

From Objective to Opinion

A rule proposed by OMB would let political appointees decide what research gets funded, and cancel grants already underway. Open for public comment until July 13.

open.substack.com

Cutting-edge immunology research 🤝 title that would make TSwift jealous Awesome science communication outreach from JCC Fellow Dr. Ya’el Courtney! @scienceyael.bsky.social @pintofscience.us

Predator: Arnold Schwarzenegger's Handshake Of The Gods

ALT: Predator: Arnold Schwarzenegger's Handshake Of The Gods

static.klipy.com

Ya’el Courtney, PhD@scienceyael.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Gave a @pintofscience.us talk last night: “You Got Over Mono. Your Body Didn’t.” 15 min on EBV. 95% of us carry it for life. Major cancer cause, required trigger for MS, increasingly implicated across autoimmune and post-viral disease. 🦠

Gave a @pintofscience.us talk last night: “You Got Over Mono. Your Body Didn’t.” 15 min on EBV. 95% of us carry it for life. Major cancer cause, required trigger for MS, increasingly implicated across autoimmune and post-viral disease. 🦠

Save science, save lives! #SB895 savesciencesavelives.com

Researchers from Stanford, UCSF, and Berkeley are rallying in Sacramento on May 4 for SB 895 — a $23B investment in California science. Free bus available. Not affiliated? Join as a community member. form.laborbase.org/260746265337... Science needs visible advocates. Come be one.

Just updated my HHMI Gilliam Fellowship application guide for the 2026 cycle. Big changes this year: international PhD students and MD-PhDs can now apply, and there's a new postdoc pathway extending HHMI support up to 7 years total. www.yaelcourtney.com/resources-an...

HHMI Gilliam Fellowship Application Guide (From a Gilliam Fellow) | Ya'el Courtney — Ya'el Courtney

A detailed walkthrough of every component of the HHMI Gilliam Fellowship application — from the equity and inclusion statement to the community engagement plan — written by a three-year Gilliam Fellow with advice from successful applicants and HHMI leadership.

yaelcourtney.com

Wrote up what biomedical PhD programs are actually looking for in applicants, ranked roughly by importance. Research experience, letters, statement of purpose, grades, fit, and the stuff you can stop worrying about. www.yaelcourtney.com/resources-an...

What PhD Programs Look for in Applicants: What Actually Matters | Ya'el Courtney — Ya'el Courtney

What biomedical PhD programs actually look for in applicants, ranked by what matters most. Research experience, recommendation letters, your statement of purpose, grades, fit, and what you can stop wo...

yaelcourtney.com

I did 40 one-on-one faculty interviews during my PhD application season. Before the first one I remember thinking about how much was on the line and not knowing what to expect. By the end I looked forward to them. Wrote up everything I figured out along the way. www.yaelcourtney.com/resources-an...

PhD Interview Tips That Actually Help — Ya'el Courtney

Practical PhD interview advice from someone who did 40 one-on-one faculty interviews and now coaches applicants through interview prep — what to expect, how to prepare, and the mindset shift that chan...

yaelcourtney.com

When I was choosing between PhD programs, I had a hard time gauging what mattered most. Everyone I asked valued something different, which made it even harder to figure out what I should be weighing. Wrote up the framework I wish I'd had: www.yaelcourtney.com/resources-an...

How to Choose a PhD Program — Ya'el Courtney

Deciding between PhD program offers? A framework for evaluating funding, culture, advisors, and fit — from a coach who chose between Harvard and Stanford and now helps students make this decision ever...

yaelcourtney.com

Wrote up a plain-language guide to the NSF GRFP — eligibility, what it pays, what changed in FY2026, and how the application actually works. Will update when the FY2027 solicitation drops. If you're considering applying this fall, start here: www.yaelcourtney.com/resources-an...

The NSF GRFP, Explained: What It Is, Who Qualifies, and What Changed in 2026 — Ya'el Courtney

A complete guide to the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship from a coach who's supported 25+ GRFP applicants. Covers eligibility, the application, review criteria, and the major FY2026 changes — includin...

yaelcourtney.com

California scientists, researchers, clinicians — sign the open letter supporting the CA Science & Health Research Bond Act (SB 895). $23B bond on the 2026 ballot to fund research across the state. Takes <1 min. fundcascience.org #FundCAScience #SB895

On International Day of Women and Girls in Science, I’m thankful to women who gave me early opportunities (Dr. Gemma Casadesus, @bethstevenslab.bsky.social ) & later mentorship! @lehtinenlab.bsky.social, @sciencedame.bsky.social, Dr. Alex Hochstetler I will similarly support women in science!

I offer 30 min mock interviews for PhD programs for $75 - this includes pre-review of your application essays, the mock interview, and a recap sent to you with advice!

Ya’el Courtney, PhD@scienceyael.bsky.social · 8mo ago

I’ve been mentoring admissions + fellowship applications for ~6 years (through Científico Latino, Project SHORT, TechDev Academy, and as an NSF mentor via Harvard GSAS), and I finally formalized it into a clear coaching structure with options + pricing. www.yaelcourtney.com/coaching

I’ve been mentoring admissions + fellowship applications for ~6 years (through Científico Latino, Project SHORT, TechDev Academy, and as an NSF mentor via Harvard GSAS), and I finally formalized it into a clear coaching structure with options + pricing. www.yaelcourtney.com/coaching

I read 150 books in 2025, here were my favorites 📚 Did you read and love (or hate) any of these? See next post to take a closer look. Also, always looking for recs! What books moved you this year? What book could you not stop thinking about? Any genre!

I read 150 books in 2025, here were my favorites 📚 Did you read and love (or hate) any of these? See next post to take a closer look. Also, always looking for recs! What books moved you this year? What book could you not stop thinking about? Any genre!

After months of work in DC, @rephaleystevens.bsky.social has, with the support of @standupforscience.bsky.social, introduced articles of impeachment against RFK Jr. But...the press thinks it can't be done. We aren't buying it. WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!! www.nytimes.com/2025/12/10/u...

House Democrat Seeks to Impeach Kennedy for Undercutting Public Health

nytimes.com

Impeach him.

The Associated Press@apnews.com · 9mo ago

BREAKING: U.S. vaccine advisers recommend ending longstanding advice that all babies get a hepatitis B shot at birth.

YOUR MOVE @hakeem-jeffries.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2025/12/10/u...

House Democrat Seeks to Impeach Kennedy for Undercutting Public Health

nytimes.com

Hakeem Jeffries@hakeem-jeffries.bsky.social · 9mo ago

RFK Jr. is a completely unqualified conspiracy theorist who is putting newborn babies at risk. The reckless decision to end a proven vaccine recommendation has no scientific basis. This guy has got to go.

“We now have the single most effective intervention against dementia [shingles vaccine]…if this was a drug this would be a blockbuster…but since it’s a vaccine I think the public isn’t getting the magnitude” awesome @stanfordmedicine.bsky.social Grand Rounds by @erictopol.bsky.social today.

What causes long covid? Check out this week's video to see how one scientist is trying to unravel this mystery: www.youtube.com/shorts/b3OAG...

Long covid

YouTube video by Everyday Scientists

youtube.com

Some engagement posts taken with self timer by my talented partner @kylemurphyphoto.bsky.social

This is what the audience for a Long COVID conference looked like today. Notice anything? 😷

every time sama posts about “you could have phd level intelligence i. your pocket” i simply remember that i can text actual phd @scienceyael.bsky.social whenever i want and not burn down a meadow to do it

Excited to see a new cohort of @hhmi.org Gilliam Fellows. I have seen the impact this program has had and am glad its continuing. Special congrats to UNC's Celeste Robles and her advisor Helen Lazear, continuing a long tradition of amazing Gilliam Fellows here

Ya’el Courtney, PhD@scienceyael.bsky.social · last yr.

www.hhmi.org/programs/gil... The 2025 Gilliam Fellows | HHMI

No one should ever have the power to autonomously cancel hundreds of millions of dollars for scientific research based on some lies they saw on YouTube.

mRNA vaccines are one of the most important tools we have for preventing future catastrophic pandemics because we can update them more quickly than any other vaccine technology in response to new emerging viruses & variants. RFK Jr cancelling millions in mRNA research makes the world far less safe.