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Kristen Kwan

@blockintheback.bsky.social
2.4K followers 1.8K following 4.8K posts

Professor, U of Utah. Biology, family, sports, food. Knitter, musician, aspiring weaver. SLC, via LA, the Bay Area, and Boston. Views are my own.

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Reposted by Kristen Kwan
Aaron Quinlan (he/him) @aaronquinlan.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
I 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...
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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...
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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
It 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.
Pfeffer Lab alums who were able to attend the 40th Anniversary Symposium With Carmen Rancaño and Elva DiazWith Elva Diaz, Carmen Rancaño, Christian Itin, and Kathrin Itin
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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Celebrating 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!
Some past and present Chairs and Vice Chairs of the GRC on Visual System Development (L-R): Jeremy Kay, Seth Blackshaw, Valerie Wallace, Ryan MacDonald, Nadean Brown, Bob Johnston, Kristen Kwan, Anna LaTorre, and Justin KumarAforementioned folks not being so serious
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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
Morning in Maine for the Visual System Development GRS Day 2 and GRC Day 1
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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
I 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.edu
Moran Eye Center Names Kristen M. Kwan, PhD, Vice Chair for Vision Research
The 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...
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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
Three magical words #Vienna
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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
It 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
Lila Solnica-Krezel introducing David Grunwald, the recipient of the 2026 George Streisinger AwardDavid telling us about George, scientific courage, and communityDavid reminding us what makes our zebrafish community so special
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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
View from my office this morning: the upper part of the foothills are charred from a wildfire that has been burning behind the university
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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Congratulations Skyline High School Class of 2026!!!!
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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
Had 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!
Beautiful view of Denver from the convention centerSnow in May in Denver!
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Reposted by Kristen Kwan
Revathi Balasubramanian @ladyglaucoma.bsky.social · 03/05/2026
For me, this signals the start of fun science at #ARVO ❤️
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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
I 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
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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
Had 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.
Kristi, Hans, Kristen, Jason, and Allie - Utah Human Genetics everywhere!Ctenophores!Fantastic ice cream from Sylas and Maddy’sMy brother’s awesome cat
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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
Had 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!
Samer and Kristen Uma, Ajay, Kristen, Brian, and Daniel
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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
Hard 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)
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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
Huge 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
Picture of a student presenting his research poster to another person in the rotunda of Utah’s State Capitol
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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
Join us for the 2026 Visual System Development GRC at Sunday River, Maine!
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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 08/03/2026
Best kind of surprise for the weekend: an unexpected meet-up with Chase, the first PhD student from the lab!
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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
Sunrise in Maryland
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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 16/02/2026
So excited to go to Vienna for this in July!
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Reposted by Kristen Kwan
European 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!
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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
Tonight’s diversion: a combined performance of the Wasatch Junior High Concert Band, Skyline High School Wind Ensemble, and the Salt Lake Symphonic Winds
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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
First project of the year: a hat for a friend Harlow Flip, Icy Sunset colorway from @spincycle-yarns.bsky.social @dreareneeknits.bsky.social 🧶 #knitsky
One side of a reversible hat with lots of pink, orange, yellow, and purpleFlip side of the reversible hat with prominent teal colors
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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 22/01/2026
Felt this on campus at the University of Utah
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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 22/01/2026
Just felt a little earthquake in Salt Lake City?
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Reposted by Kristen Kwan
Princess 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.
Graphic helps visualize how MYF funds FEWER grants despite the increase in budget approval by Congress.

https://www.researchamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/ACT-for-NIH-Multi-Year-Funding-One-Pager_October-2025.pdf
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Reposted by Kristen Kwan
Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
Good 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.gov
Michael F. Chiang, M.D. | National Eye Institute
Michael F. Chiang is director of the National Eye Institute, at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.
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Reposted by Kristen Kwan
Jenna Norton @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
Great 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.com
US science after a year of Trump: what has been lost and what remains
A series of graphics reveals how the Trump administration has sought historic cuts to science and the research workforce.
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Reposted by Kristen Kwan
Alexandra Witze @alexwitze.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
One 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 careers
Researchers 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.
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Reposted by Kristen Kwan
Needhi Bhalla 💅🏽 @needhibhalla.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
The 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.com
The U.S. Is Funding Fewer Grants in Every Area of Science and Medicine
A quiet policy change means the government is making fewer bets on long-term science.
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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
Survivorship Bias Sugar Cookies for the Human Genetics Department Holiday Baking Extravaganza
Tray full of airplane-shaped sugar cookies shaped decorated with red sprinkles Close-up of one airplane-shaped sugar cookie decorated with red sprinkles
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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 24/11/2025
« Not in word list » 😕
Today’s NY Times Spelling Bee, which did not accept the word « brainbow »
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Reposted by Kristen Kwan
Office of Mayor Michelle Wu 吳弭 @mayorwu.boston.gov · 22/11/2025
An honor and dream come true to perform alongside Yo-Yo Ma, presented by Celebrity Series at Boston Symphony Hall. 💜 🎼Ave Maria (Bach/Gounod)
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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
Picture of the Great Salt Lake with a blue sky and wispy clouds
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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 01/11/2025
This week, the world lost a beacon of joy, compassion, and generosity. We will miss you, Virginia. 💔 www.vcstar.com/obituaries/p...
vcstar.com
Virginia Eleanor Klemz Weber Obituary - Ventura County Star
Virginia Eleanor Klemz Weber, 75, of Ventura, California, passed away peacefully at her home on October 27, 2025, four days shy of her 76th...
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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
Article 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.com
How the University of Utah is scrambling to cover the millions lost from Trump’s research cuts
University 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.
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Reposted by Kristen Kwan
Carl Zimmer @carlzimmer.com · 14/09/2025
A 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/48iH3Cr
nyti.ms
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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 23/08/2025
Le 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)!
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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 08/08/2025
Snapshots from end-of-summer travels: Pennsylvania (1/2)
Sunset on Gold Key Lake through the trees Deer in the yardA bear in the yardSunny day on the lake
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Reposted by Kristen Kwan
Maureen Barr @barrlab.bsky.social · 01/08/2025
We 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
Quote for a 63x objective. The objective is $12,784. The tariff is $1,661.92Zeiss 63x objective
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Reposted by Kristen Kwan
Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 30/07/2025
STAT Story www.statnews.com/2025/07/29/t... 1/n
statnews.com
Trump administration blocks NIH from awarding any research grants and contracts
The order applies to the entirety of new and, possibly, ongoing research grant dollars that go to universities and academic medical centers.
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Reposted by Kristen Kwan
Prasad Jallepalli, MD, PhD @prasad.bsky.social · 30/07/2025
www.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
The White House Office of Management and Budget has limited National Institutes of Health spending, according to a memo sent to the institute and center directors on Tuesday afternoon that directed them to immediately halt the issuing of research grants, research and development contracts, and training awards during a “pause” of unspecified duration. 

That 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. The four-sentence email, which STAT obtained, refers to a footnote included with OMB’s apportionment of NIH funding, its allocation of congressionally appropriated dollars for the final two months of the fiscal year.
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Reposted by Kristen Kwan
Craig Kaplan @triggerloop.bsky.social · 09/07/2025
Op-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!
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Reposted by Kristen Kwan
Julie Kiefer @julieckiefer.bsky.social · 21/07/2025
The 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.com
An 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.
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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 19/07/2025
Summer storm
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Reposted by Kristen Kwan
Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 18/07/2025
New 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.com
Health Cuts Would Result in Fewer Drugs for Americans, Budget Office Reports
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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 13/07/2025
Scenes from Madison #IZFC2025
Quiet morning time on the lakeMocha macchiato ice cream from the Daily ScoopVery bold birds angling for a bit of my breakfast burritoView of the state Capitol from inside the rooftop bar Camp Trippalindee
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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 13/07/2025
Huge congratulations to Sarah LaPotin from the lab for winning a poster prize at #IZFC2025!!
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Reposted by Kristen Kwan
Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 12/07/2025
IMPORTANT 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.
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