Reposted by Annika BarberMark Copelovitch @mcopelov.bsky.social · 11h~Approximately no one in the general public knows because the leaders of the R1 research universities - whose budgets, programs, & personnel are entirely or significantly dependent on federal funding - have been totally absent from the public square in explaining & collectively protesting this. 22616221
Annika Barber @annikabarber.bsky.social · 3hWhen you want to sleep in but the attention-needer needs attention: 140
Reposted by Annika BarberJoey Politano🏳️🌈 @josephpolitano.bsky.social · 21hSort of insane fact about how broken US urban planning is—America now spends more building *just the lights for roads and highways* than on all subways & ground mass transit combined Spending on roadway *pavement* is 18x transit spending 472677721
Reposted by Annika BarberCole Donovan @colesci.bsky.social · 01/10/2026So if I'm going to seriously ask the question if the government is using its R&D resources wisely, it makes sense to spend a lot of time focusing on business and federal internal expenditures, as opposed to relentlessly focusing on less than a quarter of the overall pie. 1277
Annika Barber @annikabarber.bsky.social · 28/09/2026In professional settings where using the word "fuckery" would be ill-advised, I have been substituting the word "skulduggery," which has proved quite satisfying. 6316
Annika Barber @annikabarber.bsky.social · 26/09/2026Terrifying wake up at 1:30 am as a massive oak tree blew over and obliterated our deck. 🌳 The wind is still scary. 2132
Annika Barber @annikabarber.bsky.social · 25/09/2026🚨🚨🚨 Very urgent for many of us. I also just learned this today. Tell your friends. Tell your grant admins. 🧪 21826
Annika Barber @annikabarber.bsky.social · 24/09/2026Did Aristotle form a peripatetic school because the crumbling institutional infrastructure was so bad that the offices, labs, and classrooms were frequently unusable? I write this from a random corner of my building, as my office is being deconstructed to fix the 3-months-broken A/C. #academicsky 061
Annika Barber @annikabarber.bsky.social · 24/09/2026My husband and I often comment that if it’s this difficult for two financially secure parents with graduate degrees, flexible schedules for calls & appointments, and reliable internet access & transportation to get our kids disability services- how does anyone less privileged succeed? 1134
Annika Barber @annikabarber.bsky.social · 22/09/2026Nephew (age 4) came to visit lab today. He loves to hang out with Real Scientists and do Real Science at my lab. My lab members are very kind about welcoming him in as a valued colleague. He can’t stop talking about his science friends. 331114110
Annika Barber @annikabarber.bsky.social · 21/09/2026Academia: Where someone sends you a work email to your work email address at 7:30 pm on a Saturday and then follows up with a call to your personal cell phone at 9:02 am on Monday morning to ask you to please respond. 🫠 5193
Annika Barber @annikabarber.bsky.social · 20/09/2026Coffee shop grant-writing with my husband (he’s grading, not grant writing) in a cute spot with live Sunday afternoon music. Gotta find the joy in the despair of writing doomed grants. 💜 😭 🧪 1300
Annika Barber @annikabarber.bsky.social · 20/09/2026(Another) 5 alarm fire for biomedical research in America. 2107
Annika Barber @annikabarber.bsky.social · 19/09/20264 yo nephew is in town and the number one household object that has him captivated is…the trash grabber. No leaf or stick or scrap of trash in the vicinity of my house is safe! 1120
Reposted by Annika BarberKo-Fan Chen 陳克帆 @kofanchen.biologists.social.ap.brid.gy · 18/09/2026Interested in understanding how environmental light control #sleep in #Drosophila and other #Diptera species? Two potential #PhD opportunities to work in my lab from 2027 September, please see details in www.kofanchenlab.net/come-join-us and spread the wordskofanchenlab.netCome Join USPotential PhD project A 047
Annika Barber @annikabarber.bsky.social · 18/09/2026Re-reading the Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass, I'm in awe of just how good a writer he is. And how petty. He'll describe a slave-owner's abuse, violence, pious hypocrisy, and then finish with a parting dig like "also, he thought he could sing but he totally sucked at it." 💙📚 1123
Reposted by Annika BarberMichael Hobbes @michaelhobbes.bsky.social · 17/09/2026Great system, no notes www.propublica.org/article/scho... 271419331
Annika Barber @annikabarber.bsky.social · 17/09/2026Sure! Why write a paper at all? Just upload an AI parseable dataset and a methods description and let people ask the AI all the questions. Rationale? Citations? Interpretation? Up to the “reader” and their choice of AI prompts. 🧪 5160
Reposted by Annika BarberStates United Democracy Center @statesunited.org · 16/09/2026💰🚨 NEW: Since January 2025, the Trump administration has disrupted $177 billion across 17 funding sectors in all 50 states and DC. Our new project with @grantwitness.org tracks every dollar, grant by grant, and shows the impact of disruptions 🔗 www.lostfunds.orglostfunds.orgLost Funds — $177 Billion GoneTrack the Trump administration’s federal funding disruptions state by state — what was cut or frozen, who it hurts, and how states are fighting back in court. 23532
Annika Barber @annikabarber.bsky.social · 16/09/2026More academics should take up embroidery. It can be good to have something socially acceptable to stab over and over during certain meetings. 🪡 🧵 🪲 #academicsky 1024520
Reposted by Annika BarberDavid Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 15/09/2026NSF has reduced the research budget for all atmospheric, ocean, and earth sciences by ~80%. 80%! A lot of us will not be conducting new research or training new students for the foreseeable future. 201444722
Reposted by Annika BarberPatrick Mineault @patrickmineault.bsky.social · 14/09/2026Are virtual flies playing Beat Saber? SM64? Doom? No. The new fly connectome is an incredible achievement! Less is going on in the sim videos than it seems. I'm stoked to see people engage with neuroscience though. My breakdown: www.neuroai.science/p/are-flies-...neuroai.scienceAre flies playing Beat Saber?What a time to be alive! 27021
Annika Barber @annikabarber.bsky.social · 14/09/2026Goose before vs. Goose after! He’s such a good boy at the groomer and is always happy to get to see Ms. Brittany. And yes, he does roll around town in a little car seat. 🪿 🐶 0101
Annika Barber @annikabarber.bsky.social · 14/09/2026My perspective on reading is the same as on exercise. The best exercise is one you enjoy and want to do again. The best book to read is one that makes you want to keep reading. Unless you're designing a literature or PE syllabus, do things you enjoy! Slogging through "classics" isn't extra points. 1101
Annika Barber @annikabarber.bsky.social · 12/09/2026It’s Gustav’s first time on a weekend getaway with us. I think he’s finding that the bougie bed and breakfast lifestyle suits him. 🪿 🐶 3275
Reposted by Annika BarberManuela Casasoli @manuelacasasoli.bsky.social · 08/09/2026A common rhythm across a remarkably diverse set of species. "From flashing fireflies to human music, many biological rhythms appear to converge on the same rhythmic range." 🧪 #Science #Biology #Neuroscience #Ecology 1- www.scientificamerican.com/article/natu... 2- journals.plos.org/plosbiology/... 2708
Annika Barber @annikabarber.bsky.social · 10/09/2026Does your laboratory or STEM department have an AI use policy that covers lab-related situations? My lab is working to create one for ourselves and would love to see examples - most stuff I find is focused on teaching and learning, not data analysis, coding, technical writing, etc. 🧪 284
Annika Barber @annikabarber.bsky.social · 10/09/2026If politicians really cared about safety in youth sports, they'd be focused on preventing traumatic brain injuries and eating disorders. Not keeping trans kids from playing. 1266
Annika Barber @annikabarber.bsky.social · 09/09/2026NIH can't scrape together enough reviewers or study sections and they're simultaneously making reviews jump through more hoops. Realtime retraining for experienced reviewer. No more zip downloads of all apps. I regret agreeing to a Nov section because it's not just more work, it's more busywork. 63116
Annika Barber @annikabarber.bsky.social · 09/09/2026Writing NIH grants really feels like fiddling while Rome burns. Idk how y'all are doing this. Idk how I'm doing this. 😭static.klipy.comThis Is Fine Dog Meme: House on FireAlt: This Is Fine Dog Meme: House on Fire 5667
Reposted by Annika BarberDrug Monkey @drugmonkey.bsky.social · 08/09/2026And there it is. As rumored, and as predicted by YHN from the gitgo, enhanced triage of NIH grants will continue. grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...grants.nih.govNOT-OD-26-114: Continuation of Modifications to Peer Review PracticesNIH Funding Opportunities and Notices in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts: Continuation of Modifications to Peer Review Practices NOT-OD-26-114. NIH 54136
Reposted by Annika BarberMark Histed @markhisted.org · 07/09/2026Yes, and why does Jay Bhattacharya keep saying that he was censored and we need academic freedom for all views (no matter how fringe, no matter the consensus truth)? Because he wants to avoid their claims being regulated. 1/ 111921
Annika Barber @annikabarber.bsky.social · 07/09/2026Spending 2 h on errands and whatnot to redo porch decor and touch up paint is why it's tedious that we are on the tour again. But it's also good to have a motivation to actually accomplish all the small non-urgent house projects that make it nice to live here! 181
Reposted by Annika BarberSenator Chris Van Hollen @vanhollen.senate.gov · 07/09/2026This Labor Day, if you've ever benefited from: — The weekend — 40-hour work weeks — Workplace safety standards — A minimum wage — Paid time off thank a union. Unions don’t just improve working conditions for their members, they help every American worker. Happy Labor Day! 11740203
Annika Barber @annikabarber.bsky.social · 06/09/2026Agreed to put just the first floor of our house on our neighborhood historic home tour, but already having regretzzzz. But if you're an NJ local who wants to nose into historic Trenton homes, get your tickets. Proceeds benefit HomeWorks Trenton. www.dathil.com/cadwalader/C...dathil.comHouse Tour 2026 061
Annika Barber @annikabarber.bsky.social · 06/09/2026A fuzzy chonk friend I saw at Washington Crossing today. 🐝 010
Annika Barber @annikabarber.bsky.social · 04/09/2026Found a sticky note on my desk, in my own handwriting, that just says, “Find room for memory.” Poetic enough that I puzzled over it a moment! Then realized that it’s a reminder to find a physical small room suitable for performing fly courtship memory assays. 😂 🪰🧪 3473
Annika Barber @annikabarber.bsky.social · 04/09/2026It’s rained so much in August that my yard has gone full cottagecore, all moss and mushrooms. 🍄 3173
Reposted by Annika BarberSimon W Davis @woodforbrains.bsky.social · 03/09/2026Ho-LEE fuck democrats-appropriations.house.gov/news/press-r...democrats-appropriations.house.govDefense Officials Attempt to Raid NIH Funds to Cover Department of Defense ActivitiesHouse Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) has learned that officials at the Department of Defense (DoD) are working to divert billions of dollars from the National Institute... 441433638
Annika Barber @annikabarber.bsky.social · 03/09/2026I support trainees having kids as grad students or postdocs on principle. And today a trainee’s toddler who has seen me regularly on Zoom for her whole life asked if I would be her best friend. Which is another good reason to support your parent-trainees! 🥹 3272
Reposted by Annika BarberKolya Flower @kolyaflower.bsky.social · 03/09/2026part of the ongoing omnicrisis is that experts in almost every field are finding themselves stuck explaining the Cookie Monster issue 14618
Reposted by Annika BarberChampalimaud Research @champalimaudr.bsky.social · 03/09/2026🧠Ever wonder how the brain turns a taste into the decision to eat – or not? For the 1st time @ribeirocarlitos.bsky.social team at @champalimaudf.bsky.social and their collaborators have mapped the complete neural circuitry behind an animal’s feeding decisions. 👉 www.fchampalimaud.org/news/bluepri... 1207
Annika Barber @annikabarber.bsky.social · 02/09/2026Drosophila people - I *really* need to know the story behind the naming of the Turandot genes. I have backtracked to the 2001 papers from the Hultmark lab and there's no explanation! @hansonmark.bsky.social do you know?? Any other fly stress response peeps? Opera fans? 🪰 42216
Annika Barber @annikabarber.bsky.social · 02/09/2026Riding the usual roller coaster of talk prep from "Oh no, I don't have enough to fill 45 minutes!" to "Oh no, I can't present 40 data slides within the time limit!" #academicsky 0121
Annika Barber @annikabarber.bsky.social · 31/08/2026Where did the idea that writing is a thing one becomes inspired to do and then sits down and does joyfully and seamlessly from start to finish come from? Cuz somehow nearly all of us expect this despite a lifetime of evidence to the contrary and against the admonishments of all instructors. 😭 160
Annika Barber @annikabarber.bsky.social · 31/08/2026The culture of "we'll wait 5 minutes for everyone to join" on zoom meetings has made me, a painfully punctual person, become my own nemesis. Because why should I join on time if we're all going to have to wait 5 minutes anyway? 4160
Annika Barber @annikabarber.bsky.social · 29/08/2026For these reasons I spent an hour reading three papers to rule out the need to include a specific gene in a discussion of feeding rhythms. Reading to rule out is as important as reading to include- cuz now I know WHY that gene isn’t relevant and what aspects of feeding it does regulate. 🚫🤖 1102
Annika Barber @annikabarber.bsky.social · 28/08/2026Omg a grickledoodled fly based on my suggestion! 🤩 🪰 061