iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Elizabeth (Bit) Meehan, PhD @elizabethbitmeehan.com · 01/10/2026

y'all i'm working on this data collection project looking at dissertations & sometimes I get reminders that we are not all playing the same game (1999 edition)

not the least, I would like to thank my family: my parents, for buying me a lovely condominium at Harvard Street so that I could concentrate on my research with out worrying about paying rents,

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Elizabeth (Bit) Meehan, PhD @elizabethbitmeehan.com · 25/09/2026

Eh I did video games generally because fuck it we ball

Nine foundational video games for me

BioShock infinite
Super Mario Brothers three
red dead redemption two
Detroit become human
Luigi’s mansion
Skyrim
age of empires two
Paper Mario and the thousand year Door
Contra

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Elizabeth (Bit) Meehan, PhD @elizabethbitmeehan.com · 13/09/2026

under the couch hiding time is sacred & must not be disturbed

A golden colored terrier mix sits underneath a couch in sphinx mode with her small head on top of a fuzzy large squirrel that’s twice the size of her head with her head resting between the squirrels’ head and body looking curiously at the camera

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Elizabeth (Bit) Meehan, PhD @elizabethbitmeehan.com · 11/09/2026

glad this follow-up study was published in @pspolisci.bsky.social - this takeaway is what I think most folks would agree is the current state of play for the political science academic job market www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Taken together, these findings present a more nuanced picture of the relationship between departmental ranking and candidate outcomes. Overall, placement rates for candidates were similar across higher- and lower-ranked departments, with about 25% of candidates finding permanent academic positions in the 2023–2024 job-market cycle. However, higher-ranked departments had an advantage in placing candidates into postdoctoral positions that may improve their prospects in multiyear searches. In addition, candidates from higher-ranked departments were more likely to secure positions in PhD-granting and higher-ranked institutions, whereas candidates from lower-ranked schools were more likely to find employment at MA-/BA-granting departments.

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Elizabeth (Bit) Meehan, PhD @elizabethbitmeehan.com · 01/09/2026

In a world that’s becoming less colorful, this year’s #APSA2026 nails are vibrant and just a little bit silly 💅

One hand of short almond shaped gel X nails with each finger being a different color with small polkadots of a contrasting color on top

The other hand of short almond shaped gel X nails with each finger being a different color with small polkadots of a contrasting color on top

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Elizabeth (Bit) Meehan, PhD @elizabethbitmeehan.com · 27/08/2026

This was the list of social science fields for the 2025 call - Psychology and STEM Education are separated out, and the ladder is completely gone for 2026: www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...

SOCIAL SCIENCES

Anthropology

Archaeology

Artificial Intelligence

Biological Anthropology

Communications

Computationally Intensive Research

Cultural Anthropology

Cybersecurity

Decision Making and Risk Analysis

Economics

Geography

International Relations

Law and Social Science

Linguistic Anthropology

Linguistics

Medical Anthropology

Political Science

Public Policy

Quantum Information Science

Science and Technology Studies

Science Policy

Social Sciences Education

Sociology

Urban and Regional Planning

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Elizabeth (Bit) Meehan, PhD @elizabethbitmeehan.com · 26/08/2026

(1) there's a generic "social science" call for the NSF GRFP (2) the SBE Directorate is NOT listed as one of the sponsoring organizations (3) POLITICAL SCIENCE IS NOT AN ELIGIBLE SOCIAL SCIENCE FIELD. (4) only 1st year grad students again www.nsf.gov/funding/init...

Social Sciences
Anthropology
Archaeology
Artificial Intelligence
Biological Anthropology
Computationally Intensive Research
Cybersecurity
Decision Making and Risk Analysis
Economics
Geography
Linguistic Anthropology
Linguistics
Medical Anthropology
Quantum Information Science
Science and Technology Studies
Sociology
Urban and Regional Planning

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Elizabeth (Bit) Meehan, PhD @elizabethbitmeehan.com · 20/08/2026

tbf there were social science GRFP awards made in 2026 - table version of the data in the alt text

2016 Anthropology GRFP 50 66 116
2016 Economics GRFP 31 38 69
2016 Political Science GRFP 19 20 39
2016 Psychology GRFP 137 200 337
2016 Sociology GRFP 32 41 73
2017 Anthropology GRFP 39 33 72
2017 Economics GRFP 32 24 56
2017 Political Science GRFP 11 13 24
2017 Psychology GRFP 125 111 236
2017 Sociology GRFP 28 25 53
2018 Anthropology GRFP 33 24 57
2018 Economics GRFP 37 20 57
2018 Political Science GRFP 16 12 28
2018 Psychology GRFP 121 81 202
2018 Sociology GRFP 20 20 40
2019 Anthropology GRFP 35 11 46
2019 Economics GRFP 38 7 45
2019 Political Science GRFP 10 6 16
2019 Psychology GRFP 99 131 230
2019 Sociology GRFP 24 8 32
2020 Anthropology GRFP 33 10 43
2020 Economics GRFP 44 17 61
2020 Political Science GRFP 12 6 18
2020 Psychology GRFP 91 142 233
2020 Sociology GRFP 29 12 41
2021 Anthropology GRFP 30 14 44
2021 Economics GRFP 45 17 62
2021 Political Science GRFP 16 6 22
2021 Psychology GRFP 90 140 230
2021 Sociology GRFP 31 12 43
2022 Anthropology GRFP 33 4 37
2022 Economics GRFP 45 14 59
2022 Political Science GRFP 8 4 12
2022 Psychology GRFP 114 106 220
2022 Sociology GRFP 23 5 28
2023 Anthropology GRFP 32 7 39
2023 Economics GRFP 43 7 50
2023 Political Science GRFP 8 1 9
2023 Psychology GRFP 139 75 214
2023 Sociology GRFP 20 3 23
2024 Anthropology GRFP 31 15 46
2024 Economics GRFP 37 22 59
2024 Political Science GRFP 9 8 17
2024 Psychology GRFP 122 113 235
2024 Sociology GRFP 21 9 30
2025 Anthropology GRFP 13 19 32
2025 Economics GRFP 25 33 58
2025 Political Science GRFP 6 8 14
2025 Psychology GRFP 56 190 246
2025 Sociology GRFP 11 17 28
2026 Anthropology GRFP 28 0 28
2026 Economics GRFP 42 3 45
2026 Political Science GRFP 5 1 6
2026 Psychology GRFP 62 87 149
2026 Sociology GRFP 12 0 12

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Elizabeth (Bit) Meehan, PhD @elizabethbitmeehan.com · 17/08/2026

social science? don't know her - hopefully some NOFOs come out soon

BIO: Biological Sciences Core Research
Supports foundational and interdisciplinary research projects that expand knowledge of biology at any level of organization, from the molecular to the biome scale.

CISE: Expeditions in Computing
Supports the pursuit of ambitious, foundational research agendas that promise to define the future of computing and information.

ENG: Electrical, Communications, and Computing Systems (ECCS)
Supports foundational research for electrical, communications and computing systems.

ENG: Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation (CMMI)
Supports foundational research projects for civil, mechanical, and manufacturing innovation.

ENG: Chemical, Bioengineering, Energy and Transport Systems (CBET)
Supports foundational engineering research for chemical, bioengineering, energy, and transport systems.

ENG: Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation: Wave-Based Computing
Supports foundational and transformative research to advance the development of computing approaches that harness the principles of wave dynamics.

GEO: Geological Sciences Core Research: Atmospheric, Geospace, Earth and Ocean Sciences
Supports foundational research projects that advance the frontiers of knowledge across all areas of the geosciences.

MPS Mathematical Sciences Research Programs (MPS MathSci)
Supports multiple research programs at the frontiers of discovery in theoretical and applied mathematical sciences.

MPS Materials Research Programs (MPS Materials)
Supports multiple materials research programs that advance fundamental understanding of materials, their properties, and their potential applications.

MPS Physics Research Programs (MPS Physics)
Supports multiple research programs at the frontiers of discovery in physics.

MPS Chemistry Research Programs (MPS Chem)
Supports multiple disciplinary research programs in chemistry that connect molecular-level understanding to advances across different domains.

MPS Astronomical Sciences Research Programs (MPS A…

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Elizabeth (Bit) Meehan, PhD @elizabethbitmeehan.com · 05/08/2026

also: i know turnouts are lower for uncontested primaries, but the enthusiasm gap proxied by primary voter turnout...

UNITED STATES SENATOR 6 YEAR TERM (1) POSITION
DEMOCRATRIC Party Votes: 878,704
REPUBLICAN Party Votes: 679,651

4TH DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS 2 YEAR TERM (1) POSITION
DEMOCRATIC Party Votes: 98,724
REPUBLICAN Party Votes: 83,279

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Elizabeth (Bit) Meehan, PhD @elizabethbitmeehan.com · 05/08/2026

(Q) Bit why do you keep chirping about MI-4 races (A) because Huizenga sucks, my family lives there, and the Dem primary just narrowly went for AES there in 2 very white, Christian counties of allegan & ottawa

The full Michigan map with MI-4 counties highlighted in the democratic senate primary. 3/6 counties favored El Sayed at a larger margin than the 3/6 favoring Stevens. 2 of the El Sayed counties are v white and Christian

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Elizabeth (Bit) Meehan, PhD @elizabethbitmeehan.com · 22/07/2026

Stigler doesn’t get you everywhere but it gets you a lot of places a lot of the time www.jstor.org/stable/3003160

The theory of economic regulation
George J. Stigler
The University of Chicago The potential uses of public resources and powers to improve the economic status of economic groups (such as industries and occupa-
tions) are analyzed to provide a scheme of the demand for regulation. The characteristics of the political process which allow relatively small groups to obtain such regulation is then sketched to provide elements of a theory of supply of regulation. A variety of empirical evidence and
illustration is also presented.
• The state-the machinery and power of the states a potential insurance have their more modest repast. The central tasks of the theory of economic regulation are to explain who will receive the benefits or burdens of regulation, what form regulation will take, and
the effects of regulation upon the allocation of resources. Regulation may be actively sought by an industry, or it may be thrust upon it. A central thesis of this paper is that, as a rule, regula- tion is acquired by the industry and is designed and operated pri- marily for its benefit. There are regulations whose net effects upon the regulated industry are undeniably onerous; a simple example is the differentially heavy taxation of the industry's product (whiskey, playing cards). These onerous regulations, however, are exceptional and can be explained by the same theory that explains beneficial (we
may call it "acquired"') regulation.

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Elizabeth (Bit) Meehan, PhD @elizabethbitmeehan.com · 14/07/2026

another rulemaking for y'all, due July 31 www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...

SUMMARY:

The Secretary of Education proposes to rescind the International Education Programs regulations and the Fulbright-Hays Program Regulations to provide the Department of Education (ED) with greater flexibility in carrying out its statutory authority to implement these programs and to enable the Department to align such programs with current and evolving priorities and needs, such as workforce readiness, national competitiveness, and returning education to the States. These changes will enable ED to more effectively achieve the statutory intent of the programs authorized under Title VI of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, and Section 102(b)(6) of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, respectively. The Department seeks comments on this recission of regulations.

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Elizabeth (Bit) Meehan, PhD @elizabethbitmeehan.com · 14/07/2026

just having some fun over here (social science edition)

mapping the total number of NSF GRFP awardees and honorees from 2016 through 2026 in anthropology, economics, political science, psychology, and sociology. all have declined over time.

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Elizabeth (Bit) Meehan, PhD @elizabethbitmeehan.com · 25/06/2026

my siblings in Christ, the OMB proposed rulemaking still has not closed it comments yet the draft GFA put forward by NSF is trying to go through with (1) 15% de minimis indirect rate and (2) disallowing publication costs

Guide 12. Cost Principles and Allowability
• Updates the Prior Approval Matrix to align with NSF's implementation of 2 CFR 200.
• Updates Build America, Buy America and Made in America requirements to align with 2 CFR 184.
• Revises the de minimis indirect cost rate to 15% consistent with 2 CFR 200.
• Disallows publication costs consistent with proposed revisions to 2 CFR 200.

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Elizabeth (Bit) Meehan, PhD @elizabethbitmeehan.com · 10/06/2026

my siblings in Christ those are some bold assumptions

In our base case, we make the following assumptions: (a) critical technology and engineering challenges (namely radiation impact and GPU reliability) are sufficiently solved or mitigated by ~2040, (b) large cost categories (launch, radiators, and solar) also achieve sufficient cost-down scaling, and (c) a generally bullish outlook on overall AI demand and chip production ramp.

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Elizabeth (Bit) Meehan, PhD @elizabethbitmeehan.com · 10/06/2026

who's going to pay for something that has a 5-year useful life? answer: middleman companies that lease data center capacity to firms & are willing to bear the maintenance, upgrade, and end-of-life costs * who's gonna get rid of all the space trash this generates *

The cost difference is even starker when considering monthly levelized datacenter costs - because space datacenters are expected to have a useful life of only 5 years vs the 15 years for Earth-based datacenters, monthly levelized datacenter capital costs are a whopping 18x higher than for terrestrial datacenters!

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Elizabeth (Bit) Meehan, PhD @elizabethbitmeehan.com · 10/06/2026

so many things sent me in this article, starting with this line

Rather, Space-based datacenters make sense in the world where AI demand well exceeds all of the four layers of terrestrial datacenter supply that we will introduce below.

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Elizabeth (Bit) Meehan, PhD @elizabethbitmeehan.com · 19/05/2026

y'all I am most looking forward to the last one: "State of Political Science Research Funding" I've drafted ~6k word report examining major polisci funding organizations, opportunities, etc. in the US over the last decade tl;dr - shit's bleak. we have to (re)imagine funding & collaboration