Sign in

Joe Thornton

@joethorntonlab.bsky.social
1.1K followers 92 following 15 posts

Evolutionary biochemistry at UChicago. Reconstructing ancient proteins.

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Joe Thornton
Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
Powerful piece from two former NIH staffers www.insidehighered.com/opinion/view...
insidehighered.com
The 3-Pronged Attack on Scientific Communication (opinion)
At the NIH, political appointees exercise extensive control over scientific communication, and research on health communication is under siege.
09563
Reposted by Joe Thornton
Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 10/10/2025
Reporting live from Chicago, there’s no “hellscape” I’d rather be in.
571241996285
Reposted by Joe Thornton
georghochberg.bsky.social @georghochberg.bsky.social · 11/06/2025
New paper from the lab from Sriram Garg in my group. We introduce a general substitution matrix for structural phylogenetics. I think this is a big deal, so read on below if you think deep history is important. academic.oup.com/mbe/advance-...
academic.oup.com
A general substitution matrix for structural phylogenetics.
Abstract. Sequence-based maximum likelihood (ML) phylogenetics is a widely used method for inferring evolutionary relationships, which has illuminated the
39752
Reposted by Joe Thornton
Anna Vlasits @annaintegrated.bsky.social · 11/06/2025
Hey #Chicago science folks. It's time to get out there with everyone else fighting. @standupforscience.bsky.social stands together with @indivisiblechicago.bsky.social for No Kings Day this Saturday June 14. Find your rally at www.nokings.org #nokings 👑❌
09025
Reposted by Joe Thornton
AAUP @aaup.org · 14/04/2025
Harvard will not comply. “No government — regardless of which party is in power — should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue.” — Harvard President Alan M. Garber www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
thecrimson.com
Harvard Will Fight Trump’s Demands | News | The Harvard Crimson
Harvard will not comply with the Trump administration’s demands to dismantle its diversity programming and limit student protests in exchange for its federal funding, University President Alan M. Garb...
171073297
Joe Thornton @joethorntonlab.bsky.social · 14/04/2025
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/14/o...
nytimes.com
Opinion | This Is How Universities Can Escape Trump’s Trap, If They Dare (Gift Article)
It’s been tried in other countries facing authoritarian crackdowns. It works.
031
Reposted by Joe Thornton
Vaughn Cooper @vscooper.micropopbio.org · 25/03/2025
My OpEd in @elife.bsky.social “It feels as if we are trying to fight a series of attacks on science with one arm tied behind our back and our lips half sewn shut.” “Yet we are not beaten, and some of us are downright energized.” elifesciences.org/articles/106...
elifesciences.org
Science Under Threat in the United States: Feeling abandoned but energized
Many individual researchers are frustrated by the response - or the lack of a response - from universities to a growing crisis.
817280
Joe Thornton @joethorntonlab.bsky.social · 08/03/2025
The government’s attack on Columbia University has nothing to do with addressing antisemitism. The goal is to force universities to police and punish students and faculty to Trump’s liking — to use our universities against us to obliterate political protest and chill discourse.
211
Joe Thornton @joethorntonlab.bsky.social · 08/03/2025
This attack on Columbia University is patently illegal, but the bully could still succeed by making other universities cower and pre-submit to the White House's climate of fear. Solidarity!
45314
Reposted by Joe Thornton
Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution @official-smbe.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
Message from SMBE Leadership
05932
Joe Thornton @joethorntonlab.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
02510
Reposted by Joe Thornton
Gina Baucom @gbaucom.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
Letter from the SSE/SSB/ASN councils on the scientific understanding of sex and gender, pls RT
evolutionsociety.org
Letter to the US President and Congress on the Scientific Understanding of Sex and Gender
President Donald J Trump Washington, DC Members of the US Congress Washington, DC February 5, 2025 RE: Scientific Understanding of Sex and Gender Dear President Trump and Members of the US Congr...
9560422
Reposted by Joe Thornton
Daniel Bolnick @danielbolnick.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
I usually reserve this account for my personal views; but today I want to represent my position as President of @asn-amnat.bsky.social to post a message that will shortly go out to the membership of the American Society of Naturalists from the ASN Executive Council
34789313
Joe Thornton @joethorntonlab.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
I see no other institution that has taken a position as unnecessarily restrictive of research, and as submissively precompliant, as that taken by the University of Chicago. bsky.app/profile/jere...
1204
Reposted by Joe Thornton
Neale Mahoney @nealemahoney.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
Guidance from Stanford leadership on the OMB memo.
1019158
Joe Thornton @joethorntonlab.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
The sword has now been brandished over civil society, including scientists, universities, and other NGOs. Who, including university presidents, will have any backbone in defending their jnstitutions’ missions? Or will they take on the Zuckerberg/ Bezos pose? www.nytimes.com/live/2025/01...
nytimes.com
Trump Administration Live Updates: White House Orders Federal Grants Pause (Gift Article)
062
Joe Thornton @joethorntonlab.bsky.social · 27/02/2024
Scientists at universities that have raised graduate student stipends: What have your administrations done to mitigate the costs to lab budgets so that the science itself doesn’t have to be curtailed? Examples of best practices would be appreciated.
211
Joe Thornton @joethorntonlab.bsky.social · 23/10/2023
Midwest seasonal update
000
Reposted by Joe Thornton
Jaeda Patton @jaedapatton.bsky.social · 16/10/2023
The Human Genetics and Genetics, Genomics & Systems Biology PhD programs at UChicago are hosting our second annual info session for prospective applicants. Sign up at bit.ly/GeneticsInfo20… for application tips from a diverse panel of current PhD students and faculty! And please repost! 🧪🧬🖥️
0814
Joe Thornton @joethorntonlab.bsky.social · 06/10/2023
Here’s a powerful and insightful critique of “protecting science from woke-ism” rhetoric and policy. Written for a UK context, it’s very relevant in the US and elsewhere. Please read and consider signing.
096