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Seth Tomchik

@sethtomchik.bsky.social

Neuroscientist studying learning & memory and genetic disorders. Some photography on the side. Views are my own.

199 Posts859 Follower531 Folgt
Seth Tomchik@sethtomchik.bsky.social · 4w ago

If you haven't yet submitted a comment on the new OMB rule re: federal funding of research and would like to, now is the time. Your voice matters!

Mark Peifer (He, him)@peiferlabunc.bsky.social · 4w ago

Here is the comment I posted commenting on the OMB Rules about federal funding. My is jut an example: It's key to personalize it and this tool from @faseborg.bsky.social helps one do so. Do it NOW--the future of American science is at stake www.faseb.org/science-poli...

I am a Professor of Biology at UNC-Chapel Hill and have run an NIH-funded research lab there for 33 years. The rule changes proposed by OMB would negatively affect our work and that of my colleagues in multiple ways and weaken American science at a time when international competition is accelerating. I am especially concerned about section §200.205 which would require that a senior political appointee personally review and approve every discretionary grant, with authority to override peer review. I have reviewed grants for both NIH and NSF. The peer review system developed here is the envy of my colleagues around the world. Experts in the field assess the significance of the work, and its likely impact, and this is then used to rank grants for funding. It has made America the leader in biomedical research. Replacing this with review by political appointees without expertise in the areas of study will reduce the impact of the grants funded. I also am concerned that the sheer number of grants will overwhelm the ability of the relatively small number of political appointees’ ability to review all of the proposals, thus reducing grant funding. The impact of this new policy will be amplified by section §200.340 , which would allow grant termination in the middle of a funding cycle simply due to a decision, likely made by a political appointee, that the agencies priorities have changed. We hire personnel, PhD students, postdoctoral fellows and technicians, based on the awarded grant funding. Allowing immediate termination where there was no noncompliance will leave people in our labs subject to immediate job loss, without the time to plan for a transition. This will further discourage young people for entering this important enterprise at a time when the need for and benefits of science have never been greater.
Seth Tomchik@sethtomchik.bsky.social · last mo.

Caught a performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream at Riverside Theater in Iowa City on Thursday. The performers and production were amazing. What a gift to the community. No photos allowed during the performance so this will have to suffice.

An clsssic wood framed outdoor Shakespearean theater, photographed in the evening, with a large banner advertising the current performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream hanging from the front
elizabethginexi.bsky.social@elizabethginexi.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Calling all Scientists! Research Administrators! Deans! Fans of Science! No one is coming to save us. Here is your assignment. I have written a step by step, easy to understand "how-to" document to help you comment on the proposed OMB rule. elizabethginexi.substack.com/p/what-we-ne...

What We Need to do NEXT: OMB’s Proposed Federal Financial Assistance Rule (OMB 2026-10817)

What OMB’s Proposed Federal Financial Assistance Rule Means in Practice

elizabethginexi.substack.com

Karen S Wilcox, PhD (she/her)@karenswilcoxphd.bsky.social · 9mo ago

After 10 years, I am stepping down as chair of our department and we have an active search going on! Utah is a phenomenal place to live and work and it's been the honor of a lifetime chairing the department founded by Lou Goodman. #MedSky #Neuroskyence Repost! jobs.chronicle.com/job/37914733...

Chair of Pharmacology and Toxicology - Salt Lake City, Utah job with The University of Utah | 37914733

The University of Utah seeks a Chair of Pharmacology and Toxicology

jobs.chronicle.com

Mark Peifer (He, him)@peiferlabunc.bsky.social · 9mo ago

The UNC Department of Biology is seeking a Director of Biology Teaching Labs, a key leadership role overseeing our undergraduate laboratory program. 1/n Learn more and apply here: unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/308...

Director of Biology Teaching Labs

The Director of Biology Teaching Labs provides leadership and direction in the management of the Biology Department's undergraduate laboratories and will be responsible for the undergraduate laborator...

unc.peopleadmin.com

NPR@npr.org · 10mo ago

Three high schoolers founded a book club that reads some of the country's most frequently banned books after a state law removing books with sexual content was signed in 2023. Two years later, many of the books have been reshelved and parts of the law can't be enforced.

When books were being pulled from Iowa classrooms, these teens started an after-school club to read them

Three Iowa City West high schoolers founded a book club that reads some of the country's most frequently banned books after a state law removing books with sexual content was signed in 2023. Two years later, many of the books have been reshelved and parts of the law can't be enforced.

n.pr

Seth Tomchik@sethtomchik.bsky.social · 10mo ago

The framing of the article (and others like it) is wildly misleading. Academia does not have a sweetheart deal and never did. Universities produce knowledge and educate students, and are funded to do those things. It is hard, undercompensated work, with extreme competition at all levels.

Bradford Vivian@bradvivian.bsky.social · 10mo ago

The definition of “viewpoint diversity” that figures like this promote implies *censorship* (the “must” part): curbing some forms of expression to boost others. It’s an invention of orgs who advocate government censorship of teaching/research + restrictions on protected political speech in colleges.

Opinion Opinion by Megan McArdle The sweetheart deal is over for academia Universities must restore public trust, starting with viewpoint diversity.
Bethany Brookshire@beebrookshire.bsky.social · 10mo ago

Some good advice in here but one critical piece I always give is this: Get a hobby. Preferably a mildly social one. One that has NOTHING TO DO WITH SCIENCE. NOTHING. You need friends. Not colleagues. FRIENDS. Friends who will love you no matter your research prospects...

Nature@nature.com · 10mo ago

What's one piece of advice you'd give to someone considering a PhD? We asked 3785 doctoral candidates across 107 countries for their hard-won wisdom go.nature.com/4nDjJ7t

Seth Tomchik@sethtomchik.bsky.social · 10mo ago

A new series of postdoc career development seminars launched this semester. The first, "Postdoc to PI" featured new Assistant Professors (i.e., with fresh experience) to coach postdocs looking to hit the academic job market soon. Keep an eye out for more upcoming events: uipda.grad.uiowa.edu

Postdocs seated in a sunlit room, facing a panel of five professors seated at a table in the front of the room, who are in front of floor-to-ceiling windows.Close-up view of five professors seated at a table in front of windows, engaged in a panel discussion with an audience that is not pictured (behind the camera)Flyer for the Postdoc to PI panel
Annika Barber@annikabarber.bsky.social · 10mo ago

Despite These Times...my department is hiring! I really like my department, we have a good mix of disciplines and organisms and we're really low-drama. We also get pizza at faculty meeting. So if you're a computational and structural biologist, join us! 🧪 jobs.rutgers.edu/postings/260...

Assistant Professor - Tenure Track Faculty

The Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is inviting applicants for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position. The position requires a doc...

jobs.rutgers.edu

Tina Tootle@tinatootle.bsky.social · 10mo ago

One month left to apply! The Department of Biology at the University of Iowa is hiring an assistant professor in genetics whose research focuses on a fundamental mechanism that can be applied to cancer. Apply at: jobs.uiowa.edu/faculty/view.... Come join our vibrant department!🧪

Faculty Requisition Details - Jobs@UIOWA: Search and Apply for Jobs at The University of Iowa

Jobs@UIOWA: The official place to search and apply for jobs at The University of Iowa.

jobs.uiowa.edu