Sign in

Anna Vlasits

@annaintegrated.bsky.social
1.3K followers 636 following 120 posts

Retina neurobiologist. My lab at University of Illinois, Chicago: vlasitslab.org Views my own.

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Anna Vlasits
Jídé Salawu @jidesalawu.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Be Canadian. Be zany. Be moody. Be relatable. Write about your mother. Write about desire. Write about trauma. Write about loneliness. Write about grief. Write about nature. Write about the body. Invoke universals. Make it mythic. www.thenation.com/article/cult...
thenation.com
The Myths of Anne Carson
Throughout her long and prolific career, Carson has specialized in unexpected juxtapositions between modern life and ancient times, contemporary art and the literature of the past.
011
Reposted by Anna Vlasits
Lina Srivastava @linasrivastava.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Sometimes the Nobel Committee gets it right. Love Anne's Carson's body of work. And this one, "God's List of Liquids" is such a beautiful example.
It was a November night of wind.
Leaves tore past the window.
God had the book of life open at PLEASURE
and was holding the pages down in one hand
because of the wind from the door.
For I made their flesh as a sieve
wrote God at the top of the page
and then listed in order:

Alcohol
Blood
Gratitude
Memory
Semen
Song
Tears
Time.

--Anne Carson
021
Anna Vlasits @annaintegrated.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
I regularly think on her translating screams from ancient Greek. I regularly think on her thinking about her brother on Wuthering Heights on young gay boys on pilgrimage on Zeus on goldsandled Dawn and gold chickpeas were growing on the banks
000
Anna Vlasits @annaintegrated.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
I saw her read somewhere down by St. Marks in NYC. I did not know you could wear that much red. I wore red shoes at my wedding.
110
Anna Vlasits @annaintegrated.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
My first semester of college, a teacher noticed me. He noticed that I loved the Hymn to Demeter and told me to buy some translations of Sappho. That was the beginning of my love affair with her work a vine that grows up trees
100
Anna Vlasits @annaintegrated.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Congratulations to Anne Carson. The poet most dear to my heart. Interviewer: How are you going to celebrate this unexpected news? Carson: We're going to go out for a walk in the woods so that we don't have to answer the phone. And then we're going to hear the choir. youtu.be/9_KWkHyvVfM?...
youtu.be
First reactions | Anne Carson, Nobel Prize in Literature 2026 | telephone interview
YouTube video by Nobel Prize
110
Reposted by Anna Vlasits
Chris Power @chrispower.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Anne Carson, newly minted Nobel Prize in Literature laureate, once published the greatest ever author bio
452096
Reposted by Anna Vlasits
Jonathan Wosen @jonathanwosen.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Trump administration proposes $70,000 fee for popular international student work program (fee would be $100k for many students in STEM fields). My latest for @statnews.com www.statnews.com/2026/10/07/t...
statnews.com
Trump administration proposes $70,000 fee for popular international student work program
The Trump administration has proposed a $70,000 fee for a popular work authorization program meant to give students professional experience
011
Anna Vlasits @annaintegrated.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
I wonder if the Nobel committee read my article on ZH Pan or not... archive.is/https://www....
archive.is
080
Reposted by Anna Vlasits
McPherson Eye Research Institute @mcphersoneri.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Last weekend, the McPherson ERI was proud to co-sponsor the inaugural Midwest Retina Neurobiology Workshop! We’re excited to see the Midwest retina neurobiology community continue to grow! #RetinaResearch #VisionScience #UWMadison #Neuroscience #ScienceCommunity
141
Anna Vlasits @annaintegrated.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Paywall-free version of my article here: archive.is/https://www....
archive.is
021
Reposted by Anna Vlasits
Maureen Barr @barrlab.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Prescient reporting on Zhuo-Hua Pan being overlooked for his pioneering work in optogenetics, by @annaintegrated.bsky.social
0196
Reposted by Anna Vlasits
Ed Yong is offline @edyong209.bsky.social · 01/09/2016
Such an interesting piece on the other forgotten pioneers of optogenetics www.statnews.com/2016/09/01/optogen…
statnews.com
He may have invented one of neuroscience’s biggest advanc...
The saga of Zhuo-Hua Pan, perhaps the rightful inventor o...
133
Anna Vlasits @annaintegrated.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Related to the #NobelPrize in #Optogenetics: I'm reflecting on the question "who invented X?" in science. 10 years ago I wrote about the people who were working on optogenetics, the patent debates and the role of race and prestige. I don't know the answer, but... www.statnews.com/2016/09/01/o...
statnews.com
He may have invented one of neuroscience’s biggest advances. But you’ve never heard of him
The saga of Zhuo-Hua Pan, perhaps the rightful inventor of optogenetics, raises the question of what it means to invent something in science.
25420
Reposted by Anna Vlasits
Miranda Scalabrino, PhD @icanhasmiranda.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Incredible weekend in Madison for the inaugural Midwest Retinal Neurobiology Workshop, focused on trainees and community building. All the trainees absolutely killed it, including Taylor Rau from my lab. Happy to have this group and major thanks to @annaintegrated.bsky.social for initiating.
Woman standing at a podium in front of a giant projector screen

Half eaten yellow cake with chocolate icing that says “Midwest retina” in the center
094
Reposted by Anna Vlasits
Dr. Brittany J. Carr @drbjcarr.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Yi-Rong is looking for a postdoctoral fellow! She's not on Bluesky so helping spread the word. Please follow the link to apply #retina 🧪 www.nature.com/naturecareer...
nature.com
Postdoctoral Scholar in Visual System Neurobiology & Multi-Omics - Los Angeles, California job with University of California Los Angeles | 12864661
We are seeking a highly motivated scientist trained in neuroscience with expertise in molecular biology and bioinformatics
043
Reposted by Anna Vlasits
Bike Lane Uprising @bikelaneuprising.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Driver was cited for “failing to yield” In less than 24 hours we have learned of 3 crashes involving bicyclists/scooter riders. 2 of the crashes were fatal and the 3rd crash victim is currently believed to be in critical condition.
14615
Reposted by Anna Vlasits
UCLA Neuroscience Theme @uclaneurotheme.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Congrats to YiRong Peng, Greg Field, & Alex Huk on $8.9M BRAIN Initiative U01 from NINDS & NEI to build precision viral tools targeting specific retinal cell types. Combines genetics, viral engineering, retinal physiology, & visual processing, aimed at therapeutic potential for retinal degeneration.
Yirong Peng, Greg Field, & Alex Huk
0186
Reposted by Anna Vlasits
c0nc0rdance @c0nc0rdance.bsky.social · 04/07/2025
Passenger railway systems, by travel length: 202,000 km - European passenger railway 162,000 km - Chinese passenger railway 69,000 km - Indian passenger railway 34,000 km - US passenger railway 33,000 km - Australian passenger railway 12,000 km - Canadian passenger railway
Passenger Railway Networks 2020, showing Europe, North America, SE Asia, and Australia.  The European map is dense and all-encompassing.  The SE Asia map shows dense Indian train system.  North America is sparse and wispy, and Australia's map reflects vast distances between coastal areas, with little transit across the center of the island continent.
118616
Reposted by Anna Vlasits
Sweta Agrawal @hokuba.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Towards this end, Wayne developed a novel behavioral assay, informally referred to as the "Hokie Pokie." Flies are tethered and flying in the dark, and then we raise a platform to contact their legs and see what happens.
153
Reposted by Anna Vlasits
Sweta Agrawal @hokuba.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
The Agrawal lab has published its first paper! "Sticking the landing: leg mechanosensory feedback coordinates the transition from flight to landing" www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... This project was led by a technician in the lab, Tse-Wei (Wayne) Kuo. Brief 🧵on what we found
agrawal-lab-workspace.slack.com
Slack
88328
Reposted by Anna Vlasits
Supraja Varadarajan @suprajagv.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
If you missed these 4 talks by @wertlaboratory.bsky.social @annaintegrated.bsky.social @axonreg2lab.bsky.social and Laura Campello be sure to find them and talk to them about their awesome science! And another plug for the newly minted Campello Lab and Schaeffer Labs. #iser2026 #womeninscience
0124
Reposted by Anna Vlasits
Wert Laboratory (PI: Katherine Wert) @wertlaboratory.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Great way to end #ISER2026, with a Valencian beach sunset and the amazing company of incredible scientists @suprajagv.bsky.social @annaintegrated.bsky.social
1152
Reposted by Anna Vlasits
Caustic Autistic @causticautistic.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
Because capitalism. The automotive(/tire/oil) companies wouldn't be making nearly as much if people across this vast country had, say, an extensive passenger rail system, the one that allowed all those small towns and rural communities to connect to each other and major cities.
0264
Reposted by Anna Vlasits
👻madeline bOoOoOoOodent👻 @oldenoughtosay.com · 31/07/2026
Happy Friday everyone, as promised, here is my personal theory on this. I think Redwall takes place in our world, after an apocalyptic event of the nuclear variety caused rapid but varied growth of all animals, including humans, leading to our extinction and their mental development. Okay? 🧵
21626124
Reposted by Anna Vlasits
Carl Zimmer @carlzimmer.com · 10/07/2026
The @nytimes.com Lost Science series continues. USG killed funding for Jessica Cantlon's study of cognitive skills, saying it was turning from basic to applied science. "There won’t be more discoveries, and we’ll just stop at what we already know," Cantlon says. Gift link: nyti.ms/4hbDmCS
Photo of scientist Jessica Cantlon sitting in front of fMRI scanner and computers. Photo by Jake Reinhart for The New York Times
24817
Anna Vlasits @annaintegrated.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Sight, hearing, touch sense forces - light/sound waves at a distance or direct force on skin. So formulate language in forces= you can transmit that info. Taste and smell are different: chemosensation. You would have to create a language formulated in chemicals and have the resolution to "read" it.
010
Reposted by Anna Vlasits
The War on Cars @thewaroncars.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
New "3,000 feet to pass a cyclist" law just dropped.
919819
Reposted by Anna Vlasits
The Transmitter @thetransmitter.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
In this month’s “Liftoff,” @marisosa.bsky.social discusses the challenges and excitement of task-switching as a new PI, and @debyee.bsky.social shares how she plans to foster a culture of reproducibility in her lab. #neuroskyence By @franciscorr25.bsky.social www.thetransmitter.org/liftoff-new-...
thetransmitter.org
Liftoff: New lab alerts
Learn about early-career scientists starting their own labs.
0177
Reposted by Anna Vlasits
Leading Edge Fellows Program @leadingedgeprogram.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
We are thrilled to announce the 2026 Zara Weinberg Leading Edge Fellows! 40 remarkable postdocs pursuing transformative research in biological/biomedical sciences. This is the 7th Leading Edge cohort and we are so excited to welcome them! www.leadingedgesymposium.org/fellows/
Congratulations to the 2026 Zara Weinberg Leading Edge Fellows! 
Airi Yoshimoto, Yijun Yang, Alexandra Wells, Simran Virdi, Archana Venkataraman, Emery Usher, Marianna Tannus Ruckert, Wenzhi Song, Kathryn Shelley, Selin Schamiloglu, Julia Peloggia de Castro, Ines Patop, Ruhi Patel, Suranjana Pal, Bernie Simone Owusu Yaw, LaShae Nicholson, Sivapratha Nagappan Chettiar, Dallas Mould, Jessica Moore, Deka Mohamed, Sierra Marable, Annie Ly, Xi (Lucy) Lu, Deirdre Logsdon, Anna Lipkin, Ellen Lesser, Mia Konjikusic, Veronika Kondev, Cayla Jewett, Lucia Ichino, Erin Huiting, Maggie Horst, Isabella Gaeta, Martha Echevarria-Andino, Natasha Claxton, Sarah Cherkaoui, Nikita Bhalerao, Merci Best, Meenakshi Asokan, Alicer Andrew
011855
Reposted by Anna Vlasits
Miranda Scalabrino, PhD @icanhasmiranda.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
Really lucky to have this group of new PIs to traverse academia together. Continuing the legacy of the tight knit, collaborative, and kind retina neurobiology community. #RetNeuroSRC @annaintegrated.bsky.social @juanonyme.bsky.social
Group of 3 women and 2 men sitting in chairs in a circle, smiling at the camera.
0155
Reposted by Anna Vlasits
@arvoinfo.bsky.social‬ @arvoinfo.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
OMB proposed policies may dramatically affect federal funding of research/related activities. @arvoinfo.bsky.social believes such decisions should be based on expertise, peer review and scientific merit. We urge the #VisionResearch community to oppose these changes. Learn how: bit.ly/4udtFa1
bit.ly
OMB’s Proposed Federal Financial Assistance Rule
001
Reposted by Anna Vlasits
Dan Garisto @dangaristo.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
About as strong a statement as we've seen from AAAS over the course of this presidency. A good barometer for how seriously they're taking the OMB rule.
23814
Anna Vlasits @annaintegrated.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
For us, this is about our health, mental well being, and the well being of the planet. We are a pretty darn low emissions household. and I'll say it again: Wheee! [photo: on our bikes on the train to Indiana Dunes National Park]
000
Anna Vlasits @annaintegrated.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
I'm not saying we never use cars. Sometimes you have to. We borrow a neighbor's old beater or a relative's car from time to time. I take taxis a few times a month. We budget them in our monthly budget. And we ask others to drive our kids places when they're going there too - carpooling.
100
Anna Vlasits @annaintegrated.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Being #carless takes community. My husband does mobility activism in our suburb. We do a monthly "Critical Mass" with our kids ("Kidical Mass"!) People in our village do bike buses, where they pick up the whole neighborhood biking to school. [photo: our corgi learning how to ride in our bike]
211
Anna Vlasits @annaintegrated.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
- My kids build independence. My 11yo knows how to take the L, walk and bike the streets of our suburb. He really knows where he's going. - We do fun bike trips! In Chicago, check this www.oofd.org - We experiment with "can we take it on a bike?" A christmas tree? a #Corgi? A thanksgiving dinner?
100
Anna Vlasits @annaintegrated.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
- We experience all weather (a pro!). You know that exhilarating feeling when you ski through puffy snow, or hike in the heat, or get drenched in the rain? I do that on my way to work or violin lesson or grocery store. A phrase I learned in Germany, "There's no wrong weather, only wrong clothing."
100
Anna Vlasits @annaintegrated.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
But here are the pros to #carless life: - We exercise every day. Just by going places. It feels wonderful. Our bikes are our gym membership. - Parking is free and easy. - We never pay for gas or car insurance (though a few of our bikes are insured) - Wheeeeeee! [photo: my son carrying his violin]
110
Anna Vlasits @annaintegrated.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
- You can't live anywhere. You need to be able to safely ride. *This is an infrastructure issue.* There are some great reads about this, how cities aren't built for human mobility, only for cars. Check this one out from your library to learn more: @thewaroncars.bsky.social www.lifeaftercars.com
lifeaftercars.com
Life After Cars
110
Anna Vlasits @annaintegrated.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Some cons to being #carless: - we can't sign our kid up for ninja class two suburbs over. It's too far on a regular basis. - pickup snafus. We spend a fair amt of time figuring out who is going where with which bikes. - Safety: cars are dangerous. We are riding with our kids in our helmets+clothes.
100
Anna Vlasits @annaintegrated.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
First: If you have mobility challenges, then a car or other vehicle might be a great alternative. I never want to "other" folks that have different mobility needs than me! 🩷The more diverse our mobility options are (with bikes and walking and public transit) the more space there is for everyone.
100
Anna Vlasits @annaintegrated.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
It's my half birthday which is also #worldbikeday The last time my family owned a car was in 2017. We live in the Chicago suburbs with 2 kids, before that we lived in a small town in Germany. One can't be #carless everywhere. It takes effort. But for us, the pros vastly outweigh the cons.
A bike with a huge load of toilet paper on the rack
160
Reposted by Anna Vlasits
Noam Ross @noamross.net · 03/06/2026
If you're wondering *how* to speak as a united front, @standupforscience.net is here for you. fight2win.standupforscience.net is where to go, @cdelawalla.bsky.social is rallying the troops bsky.app/profile/cdel...
11910
Reposted by Anna Vlasits
Pam Herd @pamherd.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Please read this thread and write a comment!!! Agencies have to read and take seriosuly these comments. The comments matter. Also, call your reps. www.regulations.gov/document/OMB...
regulations.gov
Regulations.gov
12734
Reposted by Anna Vlasits
Carl T. Bergstrom @carlbergstrom.com · 30/05/2026
While regulations.gov incorrectly lists this action as "closed for comments", you can submit your comments directly here: www.regulations.gov/commenton/OM... My response is below, but don't feel that you need to draft anything nearly so long-winded. A short statement will also be very helpful.
For the better part of a century, US science has been the envy of the world, propelled by Eisenhower-era investment in every level of research and education, up through and including the American research university system. The best and brightest from around the world have come to the United States to study and work. Some stayed, bringing their exceptional talent here; others returned home, often carrying with them professional norms, institutional ties, and democratic ideals encountered in the United States, a process that has been a critical form of US soft power for many decades. This vibrant ecosystem of science, technology, engineering, and medicine has led the US through its transformation from a manufacturing economy to a technology and information economy, and ensured US prosperity and economic power up to the present day. Our funding agencies have not only promoted the technological discoveries and medical breakthroughs that transform our world and extend our lives, but also have been instrumental in developing the human capital that flows into our commercial science and technology sector and generates the growth and innovation that has given US businesses a worldwide competitive advantage. 

These proposed changes to the Regulations for Federal Financial Assistance undercut all of this. By transferring decision-making authority from scientific experts to political appointees in the grantmaking process, we lose the competitive edge and innovative capacity provided by the most effective research funding system in history. The numerous provisions allowing administrators to exclude individuals and institutions based on political litmus tests serve to squander the diverse talent available in this country, undermine basic principles of free speech, and run counter to the very ethos of science as described by Robert Merton in 1942. 

Science costs money, and scientific research is planned out on the scale of years. When any grant can be terminated at any time for…
2200108
Reposted by Anna Vlasits
Alex Wild @alexwild.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
tl,dr; Scientists no longer allowed to use federal funding to publish, attend meetings, or talk to the public. They cannot collaborate internationally. Grants can be cancelled for any reason, at any time, political appointees have a final say over what gets funded, and who gets funded.
17144952553
Anna Vlasits @annaintegrated.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
ahhhh my favorites. It looks like you have halos over your heads 😇
120
Reposted by Anna Vlasits
John Tuthill @tuthill.bsky.social · 03/05/2026
Interesting side note, the 2p microscopes Peter gave us turned out to be the prototypes for the Sutter MOM, which Peter built with Denk and Euler in Heidelberg to do retina calcium imaging. Learned this from Rick Ayer (of Sutter) when he stopped by the lab once. www.nature.com/articles/nat...
nature.com
Directionally selective calcium signals in dendrites of starburst amacrine cells - Nature
Nature - Directionally selective calcium signals in dendrites of starburst amacrine cells
051
Reposted by Anna Vlasits
John Tuthill @tuthill.bsky.social · 03/05/2026
We received the sad news that my emeritus colleague Peter Detwiler passed away at his home in Prague last week. nbio.uw.edu/people/entry... Peter was an amazing scientist, builder, and artist, who was always very modest about his accomplishments. And he was very kind. A quick example...
3214