Reposted by Kristen KwanAaron Quinlan (he/him) @aaronquinlan.bsky.social · 28/08/2026I am delighted to announce that The Department of Human Genetics at the University of Utah is continuing a multi-year recruiting initiative for multiple tenure-track faculty positions at the rank of Assistant Professor. Please share and consider applying! utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/208... 183101
Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 21/08/2026📣 The Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences @utah.edu is recruiting! We seek researchers addressing exciting questions in vision science using innovative approaches. Join our community @moraneyecenter.bsky.social! Repost and contact me with questions! utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/206... 02721
Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 17/08/2026It was a real joy to attend the 40th Anniversary Symposium and Celebration of the Pfeffer Lab at Stanford this past weekend. I did my undergraduate honors thesis in the Pfeffer Lab, and I’m so deeply grateful to Suzanne and everyone there who set me on the path to where I am today. 0182
Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 14/08/2026Celebrating the 2026 GRC on Visual System Development: a great meeting with exciting science and fantastic colleagues! Thanks to @jnklab.bsky.social and @flyeyelab.bsky.social for all of their work! Looking forward to planning the next one with @latorrelab.bsky.social and @macdonaldlab.bsky.social! 0272
Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 09/08/2026Morning in Maine for the Visual System Development GRS Day 2 and GRC Day 1 1120
Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 03/08/2026I am sincerely honored and excited to be named the Vice Chair for Vision Research at the @moraneyecenter.bsky.social at @utah.edu. I am thrilled to work with everyone to build upon the Moran's rich history in vision research. Stay tuned for much more to come - we will be growing!healthcare.utah.eduMoran Eye Center Names Kristen M. Kwan, PhD, Vice Chair for Vision ResearchThe John A. Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah has named Kristen M. Kwan, PhD, Vice Chair for Vision Research. In this leadership role, she will help guide the strategic direction of the Moran... 77812
Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 09/07/2026It was an absolute JOY to be in Vienna to see my colleague David Grunwald be awarded the @izfs.bsky.social George Streisinger Award! David gave us an inspiring reminder of who we are as a community, how we got here, and what we can accomplish when we work together. #zebrafish #EZM2026 1427
Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 22/06/2026View from my office this morning: the upper part of the foothills are charred from a wildfire that has been burning behind the university 160
Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 29/05/2026Congratulations Skyline High School Class of 2026!!!! 290
Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 08/05/2026Had a fantastic time at #ARVO2026 - so much exciting science, great food, wonderful colleagues, and any form of weather you might want! I am especially honored to have been elected to the AMPC for the Retinal Cell Biology section along with @latorrelab.bsky.social! 0101
Reposted by Kristen KwanRevathi Balasubramanian @ladyglaucoma.bsky.social · 03/05/2026For me, this signals the start of fun science at #ARVO ❤️ 1213
Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 22/04/2026I had a great time visiting Iowa last week, and it was fantastic to catch up with outstanding alums from our PhD program who are out there doing amazing things! @shyamraji.bsky.social @eannemartin.bsky.social 0101
Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 31/03/2026Had a great visit to the University of Kansas! I got to catch up with a bunch of Utah Human Genetics alums, saw the ctenophores, had Rock Choc Jayhawk at Sylas and Maddy’s, and got to bond with my brother’s cat. 080
Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 27/03/2026Had an absolute blast visiting the NEI yesterday! It was great to see so many fantastic people including @samerhattar.bsky.social @jeffreyafarrell.bsky.social @katwrog.bsky.social @abhinavsur.bsky.social @tmr65.bsky.social and so many more! 0201
Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 18/03/2026Hard to believe it’s been six years - that was also our first week of remote work and school due to Covid, so my kids were at home to experience their first earthquake (and me hollering at them to get under our big dining room table) 061
Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 16/03/2026Huge congratulations to Pramod Karthikeyan from the lab on winning the 2026 Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award from the University of Utah School of Medicine! Here’s Pramod in action presenting at Capitol Hill Day last month! @utah.edu @uuhsresearch.bsky.social 1141
Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 11/03/2026Join us for the 2026 Visual System Development GRC at Sunday River, Maine! 060
Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 08/03/2026Best kind of surprise for the weekend: an unexpected meet-up with Chase, the first PhD student from the lab! 3282
Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 16/02/2026So excited to go to Vienna for this in July! 1141
Reposted by Kristen KwanEuropean Zebrafish Society (EZS) @ezsociety.bsky.social · 28/01/2026📅EZM2026-Save the date! We are delighted to welcome you to the 13th European Zebrafish Meeting in Vienna, Austria! 📑Submit your abstract by March 15 2026! ✅Early bird registrations are now open until April 15th 2026 We are looking forward to seeing you there! 01311
Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 04/02/2026Tonight’s diversion: a combined performance of the Wasatch Junior High Concert Band, Skyline High School Wind Ensemble, and the Salt Lake Symphonic Winds 071
Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 28/01/2026First project of the year: a hat for a friend Harlow Flip, Icy Sunset colorway from @spincycle-yarns.bsky.social @dreareneeknits.bsky.social 🧶 #knitsky 1450
Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 22/01/2026Felt this on campus at the University of Utah 020
Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 22/01/2026Just felt a little earthquake in Salt Lake City? 010
Reposted by Kristen KwanPrincess Vimentin PhD | Cancer Biologist @princess-vimentin.bsky.social · 22/01/2026🧪IMPORTANT! This graphic explains how science all over the US is funded. Congress approved a 2% increase in the #NIH budget for FY 26. Buried in the bill- Shift of ~40% of grants to MYF. This will still result in a 35% DECREASE in the NUMBER of grants funded per yr. Russel Vought is behind this. 10211142
Reposted by Kristen KwanJeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 21/01/2026Good news from NIH! Michael Chiang has apparently been reappointed as Director of the National Eye Institute www.nei.nih.gov/about/our-mi...nei.nih.govMichael F. Chiang, M.D. | National Eye InstituteMichael F. Chiang is director of the National Eye Institute, at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. 711018
Reposted by Kristen KwanJenna Norton @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social · 21/01/2026Great overview of the damage to science over the past year. This shows NIH awarded 24% fewer new research awards in FY2025 vs 2024. The multiyear funding language in the new LHHS bill means we should expect the same amount of new science this year. www.nature.com/immersive/d4...nature.comUS science after a year of Trump: what has been lost and what remainsA series of graphics reveals how the Trump administration has sought historic cuts to science and the research workforce. 23724
Reposted by Kristen KwanAlexandra Witze @alexwitze.bsky.social · 20/01/2026One year into Trump's second presidency, how are science and medical research faring? Our @nature.com team breaks it down for you. (1/n) From @virginiagewin.bsky.social, learn about Layoffs ✅ Funding cuts ✅ Attacks on science ✅ www.nature.com/articles/d41... 🧪nature.com‘Shattered’: US scientists speak out about how Trump policies disrupted their careersResearchers lay bare the human toll of lay-offs, funding cuts and attacks on science one year after the president’s return to the White House. 11362173
Reposted by Kristen KwanNeedhi Bhalla 💅🏽 @needhibhalla.bsky.social · 20/01/2026The NIH's MYF policy in 2025 resulted in 4000 fewer grants and fellowships that touched every area of biology and medicine; continuing it in 2026 would be disastrous for science, technology and health in the United States 🧪 www.nytimes.com/interactive/...nytimes.comThe U.S. Is Funding Fewer Grants in Every Area of Science and MedicineA quiet policy change means the government is making fewer bets on long-term science. 28669
Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 18/12/2025Survivorship Bias Sugar Cookies for the Human Genetics Department Holiday Baking Extravaganza 2789
Reposted by Kristen KwanOffice of Mayor Michelle Wu 吳弭 @mayorwu.boston.gov · 22/11/2025An honor and dream come true to perform alongside Yo-Yo Ma, presented by Celebrity Series at Boston Symphony Hall. 💜 🎼Ave Maria (Bach/Gounod) 792807525
Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 01/11/2025This week, the world lost a beacon of joy, compassion, and generosity. We will miss you, Virginia. 💔 www.vcstar.com/obituaries/p...vcstar.comVirginia Eleanor Klemz Weber Obituary - Ventura County StarVirginia Eleanor Klemz Weber, 75, of Ventura, California, passed away peacefully at her home on October 27, 2025, four days shy of her 76th... 041
Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 25/09/2025Article on research cuts beginning to affect the University of Utah (gift link): “At this point, [University President] Randall noted, the U hasn’t felt the full effects of the Trump administration’s research cuts. ‘What will happen next year,’ he said, ‘we will see.’” www.sltrib.com/news/educati...sltrib.comHow the University of Utah is scrambling to cover the millions lost from Trump’s research cutsUniversity of Utah President Taylor Randall has worked to provide "bridge funding" to keep the U.'s research going despite federal cuts. But there have still been some layoffs. 062
Reposted by Kristen KwanCarl Zimmer @carlzimmer.com · 14/09/2025A deep dive into the destruction of US cancer research by @jonathanmahler.bsky.social “It’s an absolutely unmitigated disaster,” a former top official at NIH told him. “It will take decades to recover from this, if we ever do.” Gift link: nyti.ms/48iH3Crnyti.ms 12392219
Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 23/08/2025Le Pas Espagnol Op. 56, No. 6 by Fauré Super-fun performing with my son (17) despite the near-disaster of our music being blown off of the piano in the drafty recital hall - we were saved by my daughter (13)! 1121
Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 08/08/2025Snapshots from end-of-summer travels: Pennsylvania (1/2) 2150
Reposted by Kristen KwanMaureen Barr @barrlab.bsky.social · 01/08/2025We need a new microscope objective. A $1.6k tariff for something that you can hold in your hand and that is only manufactured in Germany 1917561
Reposted by Kristen KwanJeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 30/07/2025STAT Story www.statnews.com/2025/07/29/t... 1/nstatnews.comTrump administration blocks NIH from awarding any research grants and contractsThe order applies to the entirety of new and, possibly, ongoing research grant dollars that go to universities and academic medical centers. 58547
Reposted by Kristen KwanPrasad Jallepalli, MD, PhD @prasad.bsky.social · 30/07/2025www.statnews.com/2025/07/29/t... “[OMB’s rule on NIH spending] constitutes the entirety of new and, possibly, ongoing research grant dollars that go from the NIH out to universities, academic medical centers, and other research institutions.” e.g., noncompeting awards are in jeopardy 0117
Reposted by Kristen KwanCraig Kaplan @triggerloop.bsky.social · 09/07/2025Op-Ed from Dana Carroll and my father Jerry Kaplan highlighting some amazing history of publicly funded science at the U. of Utah and how this is in grave jeopardy. First NIH grant ever was to U of U! 23820
Reposted by Kristen KwanJulie Kiefer @julieckiefer.bsky.social · 21/07/2025The University of Utah could be in danger of losing $100+ million annually School leaders worry Trump administration’s court-contested grant policies could severely impact local research, jobs www.deseret.com/utah/2025/07...deseret.comAn existential research crisis at the University of Utah?School leaders sound the alarms of the possibly heavy costs that would be exacted by proposed grant policies proposed by the Trump administration. 047
Reposted by Kristen KwanJeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 18/07/2025New story about CBO analysis of the effects of NIH cuts and FDA changes on drug development. 1/n [Gift link] www.nytimes.com/2025/07/18/h...nytimes.comHealth Cuts Would Result in Fewer Drugs for Americans, Budget Office Reports 14319
Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 13/07/2025Huge congratulations to Sarah LaPotin from the lab for winning a poster prize at #IZFC2025!! 0364
Reposted by Kristen KwanJeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 12/07/2025IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT Please watch the workshop video and COMMENT by 5:00 Monday 7/14 This is the source of the "no more model organism only grants in NIH-funded research" decree. 4103115