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fmcbride8.bsky.social

@fmcbride8.bsky.social
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Prosper @prosperpostdoc.bsky.social · 14/10/2025
Reminder that we have a PI Network session coming up in a week's time - there's still time to register via the link below! 📅 21st October, 12-1pm - a session all about how narrative CVs can be used to support career development, led by Dr Taryn Bell at the University of Leeds: bit.ly/4nTAb2S
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Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social · 06/10/2025
A riddle for @theguardian.com books page. p.s. My new book 'Physics for Cats' is out this week in bookshops and online. Details at www.tomgauld.com
Title: One door leads to freedom, the others to certain death. You may ask one question. 

Image: Three guards with shields and speard stand in front of three doors. One guard sits at a folding table working at a typewriter, his shield and spear leaning against the wall.

Caption: One guard always tells the truth, one always tells lies, and the third always tells an entrancing story that blends reportage with imagination in an attempt to reach a deeper authenticity by moving beyond the narrow categories of fact and fiction.
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Prosper @prosperpostdoc.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
📅 SAVE THE DATE! Following a week and a half of fantastic events and conferences, we're delighted to announce the date for our next Prosper Practice Exchange. This year we're heading to The Eastside Rooms in Birmingham on 3rd Feb (10:00-16:00). Registration will be open soon, so stay tuned!
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Randall Munroe @xkcd.com · 02/09/2025
Sea Level xkcd.com/3135/
Comic. [Two people on shore looking at body of water] PERSON 1: Hey, where’s that big island we were looking at this morning? PERSON 2 with short hair: Oh, it’s underwater. The ocean’s depth here goes up and down by like ten feet every day. PERSON 1: What? PERSON 2: It’s because the planet has a big moon orbiting near the surface. It causes weird gravity effects. PERSON 1: *What???* [caption] People here are used to them, but tides are one of the weirdest and most sci-fi elements of life on Earth.
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RSPB @rspb.bsky.social · 02/09/2025
We need your help again. Coul Links is an extraordinary coastal dune habitat, home to rare and remarkable wildlife. But it is now threatened for a second time by plans for an 18-hole golf course that would cause irreparable damage. Your voice could help save it. 👇
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Randall Munroe @xkcd.com · 26/08/2025
Coastline Similarity xkcd.com/3132/
Comic. (1) [Teacher points to world map that highlights the edges of South America’s eastern coastline and Africa’s western coastline.] TEACHER: People had long noticed that South America and Africa had similarly-shaped coastlines. (2) TEACHER: In the 20th century, geologists finally found the explanation. (3) STUDENT: *Plagiaris*— TEACHER: Continental drift. STUDENT: Oh.
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White Rose University Consortium @whiteroseuc.bsky.social · 31/07/2025
Are you a PhD student eager to explore exciting career opportunities? Don’t miss this free PhD Careers Fair, open to all postgraduate researchers from @universityofleeds.bsky.social, @sheffielduni.bsky.social, @york.ac.uk. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/phd-career...
PhD Careers Fair
Wed 10 September, 1 - 3pm
University of Leeds
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Peter Murphy @peterwmurphy1.bsky.social · 24/07/2025
Music teacher Melody Jenkins' tribute to #OzzyOsbourne is something special. #CrazyTrain #music #education
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Prosper @prosperpostdoc.bsky.social · 10/07/2025
A wonderful end to our 2025 University of Liverpool Prosper cohort, at the ever-lovely School of Arts Library. It's been a great six months - many thanks to all the members for their enthusiasm and contributions!
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Prosper @prosperpostdoc.bsky.social · 30/06/2025
📣 Back by popular demand - we're running a free online Portal Made Easy session next Wednesday 9th July, from 11.30-12.30 - with a particular focus on our Curated Lists functionality. For more info and to register: bit.ly/4l4918p
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Prosper @prosperpostdoc.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
Thankyou to all who came along to our launch event - this is v much a pilot so please continue to input and help us shape the offering 🙂 For those who missed it, we'll be uploading video and materials from the session next week.
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Prosper @prosperpostdoc.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
The Prosper Exchange is now live! You can now request enhanced support from Prosper in return for an in-kind contribution to our growing community of practice bit.ly/3GjeCZp Visit the link above to learn more, or watch the short vid below to hear about how Heriot-Watt University used the Exchange.
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Prosper @prosperpostdoc.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
📅 Reminder - at 1pm next Thursday 26th June we'll be launching the pilot of our new Prosper Exchange - register here: bit.ly/430fj2o Join us to to learn more about the future of Prosper, connect with peers from across the sector, and get involved in our growing community of practice!
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Randall Munroe @xkcd.com · 12/06/2025
Good Science xkcd.com/3101/
5-panel comic. (1) [teacher with long hair next to whiteboard] TEACHER: I’m supposed to give you the tools to do good science. (2) [teacher addressing students] But what *are* those tools? Methodology is hard and there are so many ways to get incorrect results. What is the magic ingredient that makes for good science? (3) TEACHER: To figure it out, I ran a regression with all the factors people say are important: [embedded list in sub-panel, cut off at end] Outcome variable: correct scientific results. Predictors: collaboration; skepticism of others’ claims; questioning your own beliefs; trying to falsify hypotheses; checking citations; statistical rigor; blinded analysis; financial disclosure; open data (4) TEACHER: The regression says two ingredients are the most crucial: 1) genuine curiosity about the answer to a question, and 2) ammonium hydroxide. (5) STUDENT: Wait, why did *ammonia* score so high? How did it even get on the list? LONG HAIR: ...And now you’re doing good science!
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Prosper @prosperpostdoc.bsky.social · 05/06/2025
We caught up with former Prosper postdoc Rosa Morra, who was recently promoted to Principal Scientific Programme Manager at EMQN CIC ( 🎉 congrats!), to discuss her transition beyond academia - read more on our Portal here: bit.ly/4dOAt7i
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Dr Rosa Morra - Prosper
An interview with former Prosper postdoc Dr Morra, who has since moved beyond academia and now works for EMQN CIC as Principal Scientific Programme Manager
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Randall Munroe @xkcd.com · 29/05/2025
Mass Spec xkcd.com/3094/
[Person with ponytail wearing lab coat hands balloon to another person in front of a springboard, a magnet hanging from above, and then a target] PERSON WITH PONYTAIL to Person 2: Rub this balloon against your head, then go jump past that magnet toward the target on the wall. [caption] Before the bathroom scale was invented, the only way to weigh people was mass spectrometry.
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Developing Business-Aware Academics @dbaa-exeter.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
Only three days left! There are still three days to apply for DBAA funding to explore the barriers, motivators, and enablers facing PGRs and ECRs when engaging beyond academia. Applications close on 30th May so be sure to get yours in soon! 🔗 business-aware-academics.org/funding-rese...
Two people talking at an event, with the text 'FUNDING AVAILABLE' overlaid
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Quite Interesting @qi.com · 22/05/2025
The more curious you are, the better you can cope with change.
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Prosper @prosperpostdoc.bsky.social · 19/05/2025
If you missed last week's Employer Insight session with Inizio Medical (or simply want to revisit), you can now find it on our Portal: bit.ly/43ikoSz Many thanks to our guests for sharing their valuable insights into transitioning from academia into the medical communications industry
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Prosper Employer Insight session - Inizio Medical
Matt McGinley and Susan Jalicy from Inizio Medical talk about transitioning from a research career to the medical communications industry.
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Randall Munroe @xkcd.com · 25/04/2025
Tennis Balls xkcd.com/3080
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Quite Interesting @qi.com · 08/05/2025
I've never seen the Icarus story as a lesson about the limitations of humans. I see it as a lesson about the limitations of wax as an adhesive. RANDALL MUNROE (XKCD)
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Prosper @prosperpostdoc.bsky.social · 07/05/2025
💡 Did You Know: The Prosper Portal (bit.ly/4lmQuoH) has an advanced search function to help you quickly find relevant resources. Click on the 'advanced' tab on the left of the search bar... (🧵 1/5)
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Prosper @prosperpostdoc.bsky.social · 06/05/2025
"Prosper is one way that we saw how we could not only collaborate with other colleagues, but also really empower our postdocs and change the dynamic about the value that we have" - Andrew Moss, Research Culture Manager, Durham University
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Developing Business-Aware Academics @dbaa-exeter.bsky.social · 30/04/2025
📢 New report launch 📢 A huge thank you to everyone who attended our webinar today where we launched our new report, Equipping Researchers for Impact: Unlocking the potential of university-business relationships You can read the full report online here: business-aware-academics.org/funding-rese...
business-aware-academics.org
Report - Equipping Researchers for Impact: Unlocking the potential of university-business relationships - Developing Business-Aware Academics
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Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
My latest @newscientist.com cartoon
Title:
SOME GRAMMATICAL VOICES FOR USE IN SCIENTIFIC WRITING

ACTIVE VOICE
e.g.
Our team collected samples and then we tested them.

CLICKBAIT VOICE
e.g.
We collected some samples...
You won't believe what happened next!

PASSIVE VOICE
e.g.
Samples were collected and tested.

HAIKU VOICE
e.g.
Quiet science lab.
Workers arrive with samples.
The testing begins.

PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE VOICE
e.g. We did all the collecting and testing.
No need to thank us.
Just doing our job.

CONSPIRACY VOICE
e.g.
Mysterious "Samples" were harvested and covertly "tested" by so-called scientists.
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Prosper @prosperpostdoc.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
📅 📣 For all staff responsible for postdoc career development - we're hosting an online event on Thursday 26th June, 1-2.30pm to launch the pilot of our Prosper Exchange. Register here or via the QR code below: bit.ly/430fj2o (🧵 1/4)
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Prosper @prosperpostdoc.bsky.social · 25/04/2025
📅 Reminder that we have another Employer Insight session coming up soon on 14th May. For anyone interested in Medcomms careers we'll be joined by representatives from Inizio Medical - for more info and to register, click here or scan the QR code below: bit.ly/4jcVavV
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Prosper @prosperpostdoc.bsky.social · 25/04/2025
Thankyou all who came along to our Employer Insight session with the Environment Agency on Wednesday - for those who missed it, or simply want to revisit, you can watch/listen on our Portal here: bit.ly/3Rzpi8n
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Employer Insight session: Environment Agency - April 2025 - Prosper
Representatives from the Environment Agency talk about the skills postdocs can bring to their organisation, and the practicalities of a career with the EA
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Quite Interesting @qi.com · 28/04/2025
‘The Fish Doorbell’ is a live stream from an underwater camera set up at a rarely opened canal lock in the Dutch city of Utrecht. If you see a fish, you can press the digital ‘doorbell’ notifying the lock operator that there are fish waiting to pass. visdeurbel.nl
visdeurbel.nl
De Visdeurbel — De Visdeurbel
Zie je een vis? Druk op de Visdeurbel dan opent onze sluiswachter de sluis en kunnen de vissen doorzwemmen.
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Prosper @prosperpostdoc.bsky.social · 27/03/2025
💡 We've written a blog for @resprofnews.bsky.social on the need better data and tracking of researcher careers - check it out: bit.ly/3FJLCtp
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Increasing mobility of research careers demands a better map - Research Professional News
Tracking postdocs’ job moves benefits individuals, academia and society, say James Howard and Fiona McBride
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Quite Interesting @qi.com · 19/03/2025
A snail in the British Museum holds the record for the longest suspended animation of any animal. After four years mounted on cardboard it was noticed to be alive. It was promptly freed, and a partner located. The snail survived for two more years before returning to the museum.
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Led By Donkeys @ledbydonkeys.org · 17/03/2025
Thousands of people are ditching Tesla. Here’s one of them with a message you can see from space. Location: Black Rock Sands, Wales, UK Led By Donkeys is 100% funded by small donations.
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UK Research and Innovation @ukri.org · 12/03/2025
When people move between academia, business and government, it can lead to rewarding careers and world-changing ideas. So how do we empower people to take a less linear path? Our latest blog explores our work with Prosper to help postdocs enhance their career mobility.
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Bert’s Books @bertsbooks.bsky.social · 12/03/2025
Good morning. We are open. 📖☕️
The number of books I buy is nobody’s business, not even my own.
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Foxes In Love @foxes-in-love.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
A comic of two foxes, one of whom is blue, the other is green. In this one, Blue walks up to Green, who is staring up to the ceiling with a focused frown.
Blue: What's wrong with the lamp?
Green: Nothing, I'm just trying to trigger a sneeze.

Blue raises an eyebrow in confusion. Green turns to look at him, calmly as if explaining the most natural thing in the world.
Blue: You're what?
Green: You know when you've got to sneeze, but it isn't coming, so you'll look at a bright li-

Green is interrupted and knocked over by a very loud, aggressive sneeze. Blue raises his tail over his face to shield himself from it.

Once the sneeze is over, Blue calmly looks at Green, who is now laying on his back on the floor.
Blue: I'm not that bright.
Green: You are my splendid, brilliant sunshine.
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