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Kavya Devarakonda, PhD

@kdevarakonda.bsky.social
2.2K followers 841 following 106 posts

Scientific writer/editor | Neuroscientist | 👩🏽‍🌾 🧶 🦅 | Work with me: www.kavyadevarakonda.com

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Reposted by Kavya Devarakonda, PhD
Mike Feigin 🥯 @mikefeigin.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
How are people dealing with AI use in their grad programs, specifically for thesis proposal, qualifying exam, dissertation? Banned completely? Allowed, but have to recognize its use? No guardrails at all? We have to develop a policy and I’m totally at a loss.
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Reposted by Kavya Devarakonda, PhD
The Transmitter @thetransmitter.bsky.social · 01/12/2025
Most basic neuroscience research in the U.S. is funded by the federal government, but there is an entire funding landscape that lies beyond those federal agencies. To bring those sources together, @thetransmitter.bsky.social presents a funding source directory: bit.ly/4pBBF2B #StateOfNeuroscience
bit.ly
Neuroscience funding: A source directory
Our list features expected and lesser-known governmental and nongovernmental sources of funding for basic neuroscience research.
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Reposted by Kavya Devarakonda, PhD
Erin J. Wamsley 🧠📈😴 @wamsleylab.bsky.social · 02/12/2025
Glad to see this story right up top on the NYT page today -- NIH is paying out multiple years of funding to existing grants in an explicit effort to AVOID funding new grants. Clear as day that destroying science is an explicit goal of the federal government. #academicsky #psychscisky 🧠🟦
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Kavya Devarakonda, PhD @kdevarakonda.bsky.social · 01/12/2025
🔬 Biomedical researchers! Struggling to nail your grant’s Specific Aims? For December, I’m trialing a new service! Get expert, targeted feedback on your Aims page to make it clear, compelling, and ready to impress reviewers. Learn more: kavyadevarakonda.com/Specific-Aim... #GrantWritingTips 🧠🧪
kavyadevarakonda.com
Specific Aims Strategy | Kavya Devarakonda - Scientific Writing and Editing
Specific Aims Strategy is a targeted consultation service designed to provide the critical, PhD-level review necessary to elevate your Specific Aims page from good to fundable
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Reposted by Kavya Devarakonda, PhD
Jason Shepherd @jasonsynaptic.bsky.social · 13/11/2025
Just got an email from my SRO for the study section that was missed in October. Good news is that they are trying to reschedule ASAP (Dec/Jan). The bad news is that CSR is mandating that only the the top third (not half) of applications will get discussed for the next 2 rounds.
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Reposted by Kavya Devarakonda, PhD
Drug Monkey @drugmonkey.bsky.social · 13/11/2025
A really good podcast description of the chaos imposed on NIH this year. 🧪 #NIHGrants podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...
podcasts.apple.com
975 - A Tumultuous Year for NIH Funding
Podcast Episode · Public Health On Call · 11/12/2025 · 24m
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Reposted by Kavya Devarakonda, PhD
Carla Golden @goldenneurons.bsky.social · 11/11/2025
Thrilled to share our new paper, out now in @natneuro.nature.com, uncovering how estradiol, the most potent estrogen, modulates reinforcement learning and reward prediction errors across biological levels. www.nature.com/articles/s41... #blueprint 1/7
nature.com
Estrogen modulates reward prediction errors and reinforcement learning - Nature Neuroscience
Dopamine encoding of reward prediction errors naturally fluctuates over females’ reproductive cycles with estrogenic signaling due to reduced expression of dopamine reuptake proteins.
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Reposted by Kavya Devarakonda, PhD
Simon W Davis @woodforbrains.bsky.social · 10/11/2025
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
grants.nih.gov
NOT-OD-24-061: NIH Guidance on Marking Changes in Resubmission Applications
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts: NIH Guidance on Marking Changes in Resubmission Applications NOT-OD-24-061. NIH
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Reposted by Kavya Devarakonda, PhD
Zoé Christenson Wick @zoechristensonwick.bsky.social · 11/09/2025
🚨New preprint alert🚨 We used closed-loop optogenetics to causally test the importance of inhibitory spike timing in network function and found that manipulating PV+ cell theta phase locking in the dentate gyrus can shift seizure susceptibility (both ways!)
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Kavya Devarakonda, PhD @kdevarakonda.bsky.social · 12/09/2025
Excited to share that my PhD work has been published! www.nature.com/articles/s41... 🧠🧪
nature.com
Amygdala–liver signalling orchestrates glycaemic responses to stress
Nature - Studies in mice show that acute stress activates hyperglycaemia via activation of a medial amygdala–ventral hypothalamic circuit that controls glucose metabolic responses in the...
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Reposted by Kavya Devarakonda, PhD
Jason Moore @moorejh.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
Another piece on the NIH responding to the deluge of AI-written grants www.404media.co/nih-capping-... #nih #artificialintelligence
404media.co
The NIH Is Capping Research Proposals Because It's Overwhelmed by AI Submissions
The NIH wrote that it has recently “observed instances of Principal Investigators submitting large numbers of applications, some of which may have been generated with AI tools."
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Reposted by Kavya Devarakonda, PhD
Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 02/03/2025
I am not going to call this a Bluetorial, because I do not want to sully that term (which, at least I, find joyful). Let’s call it a Orwellial.
media.tenor.com
a cartoon of homer simpson holding a card
ALT: a cartoon of homer simpson holding a card
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Kavya Devarakonda, PhD @kdevarakonda.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
Ffs
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Reposted by Kavya Devarakonda, PhD
Dr. Becca @docbecca.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
If the block on the Federal Register isn’t removed in the next few months, I fear a majority of labs will close within a year. This small procedural wrench has the power to kill US science indefinitely, losing an entire generation of discovery and innovation.
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Reposted by Kavya Devarakonda, PhD
Amelia Eisch 🧪🧠👩‍🔬 🐁 @eisch.bsky.social · 16/02/2025
@nature.com “Are the Trump team’s actions affecting your research? Tell Nature” www.nature.com/articles/d41... via Signal: Max Kozlov: mkozlov.01; Dan Garisto: dgaristo.72; Heidi Ledford: hledford.01; Jeff Tollefson: jtollefson.11; Alexandra Witze: alexwitze.01; General Nature: naturenews.61 🧪
nature.com
Are the Trump team’s actions affecting your research? How to contact Nature
Use this form to share information with Nature’s news team, or to make suggestions for future coverage.
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Reposted by Kavya Devarakonda, PhD
Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 15/02/2025
ATTENTION (PARTICULARLY NIHers) If anyone has information about the numbers and types of folks in your institute, center, office, or whatever who were were terminated, please share them with me by DM or on Signal (jeremymberg.78). I am putting together an inventory.
media.tenor.com
a man wearing a white shirt is standing in front of blue stairs
ALT: a man wearing a white shirt is standing in front of blue stairs
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Reposted by Kavya Devarakonda, PhD
Jonathan Peelle @jpeelle.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
I thought it would be cathartic to start a list of bad advice for writing grants. I'll start. Make sure to cram as much information in your grant as possible. The more you can say, the better your score.
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Reposted by Kavya Devarakonda, PhD
Alt NIH Bluesky 🧪 @altnih4science.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
A lot is happening in US science. Bluesky is the best place to stay up the rolling political crisis in America that is crushing US science. It's also a good place to learn what we all can do. We have a starter pack for this. Please send your colleagues here too. 🧪 go.bsky.app/2K6jTi5
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Reposted by Kavya Devarakonda, PhD
Needhi Bhalla 💅🏽 @needhibhalla.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
also this same org has this super useful infographic, breaking down the difference between direct and indirect (also called Facilities and Administration) costs and what F&A costs can and cannot be used for at a research university or institute
Infographic showing what the difference between direct and indirect (also called Facilities and Administration) costs are and what F&A costs can and cannot be used for at a university or research institution
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Kavya Devarakonda, PhD @kdevarakonda.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
It's bleak out there. But it's my birthday week and I'm treating myself to Eagles Super Bowl content (still!) and the 2nd House in the Cerulean Sea book (delightful!) if anyone needs self-care ideas
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Kavya Devarakonda, PhD @kdevarakonda.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
🦅🦅🦅
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Reposted by Kavya Devarakonda, PhD
EJ Snyder @footballej.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
The. Most. Philly. Thing. Ever. Everybody in the world thinks they are going to grind clock… and PHI goes deep for the TD. Grease the light poles. 🎉
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Kavya Devarakonda, PhD @kdevarakonda.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
BABY COOPER!!!!!
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Kavya Devarakonda, PhD @kdevarakonda.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
Le sigh
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Kavya Devarakonda, PhD @kdevarakonda.bsky.social · 09/02/2025
Wow, first OPI the NFL has called all season and it’s to stop the Eagles from converting on a fourth down.
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Reposted by Kavya Devarakonda, PhD
Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
I have learned from several sources that NIH staff tried to find out how to transfer F31-diversity applications to other program announcements for funding but were not able to do this. I don't know whether this was technical (regulations) or ideological. 1/n
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Reposted by Kavya Devarakonda, PhD
Drug Monkey @drugmonkey.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
On this ridiculous shit show of a week, congratulations to everyone who managed to get their NIH grant proposal submitted on deadline! Well done. Make it rain.
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Reposted by Kavya Devarakonda, PhD
Stellate Communications @stellatecomms.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
PLEASE SHARE 💜 With uncertainty in federal research funding & hiring, we are offering *FREE* resume/CV reviews for early-career scientists in the US who have rescinded job offers or who risk layoffs. If you feel this support would benefit you, submit resume/CV here: forms.gle/CCbbu2X5GJwH...
forms.gle
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Reposted by Kavya Devarakonda, PhD
Needhi Bhalla 💅🏽 @needhibhalla.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
Hi all, I am in contact with a reporter at Science magazine who would like to talk with a trainee or mentor who successfully applied for an equity/DEI-related NIH training grant or a training supplement but have not received the Notice of Award and probably won't get the grant.
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Reposted by Kavya Devarakonda, PhD
AZ Faust @azfaust.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
This a funding myth. There are no untapped wells of charity money that can support the kind of research biomedical scientists need to perform today. Most foundation grants are in 25 to 75K/year range, many are on the order of 1-3 years, and in spite of this, are highly competitive.
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Reposted by Kavya Devarakonda, PhD
The thread o’ tweets @threadotweets.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
Susan Orlean
@susanorlean
In my humble opinion, the weekend
has begun
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Kavya Devarakonda, PhD @kdevarakonda.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
PSA for those you polishing your Feb grants: If you draft something in Google docs, make sure you check that Format > Paragraph > Spacing > Line Spacing is set to "Single" not "Multiple". I've seen this on 2 grants this week and saved those clients considerable space
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Reposted by Kavya Devarakonda, PhD
Courtney Milan @courtneymilan.com · 31/01/2025
One of the lessons of the mid-late last century is that consistent systems will beat smart people every day of the week.
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Drug Monkey @drugmonkey.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
Our (minimal) institutional messaging on NIH grants included a reminder not to FAFO with respect to managing your grant. I read it as “get your progress report in on time. And do whatever NIH officials may request promptly”.
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Reposted by Kavya Devarakonda, PhD
Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
Academic Skyers: I am compiling a list of policies and statements from various universities about how they are handling the "pause" in terms of stopping expenditures (or not). Please respond to this post with your institution and materials. THANK YOU!
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Kavya Devarakonda, PhD @kdevarakonda.bsky.social · 26/01/2025
Barkley’s excitement for Shipley 🥹
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Reposted by Kavya Devarakonda, PhD
christine liu / two photon art @christineliu.art · 24/01/2025
Mentors and advisors, a very impactful thing you can do right now is to assure your mentees from all backgrounds that you will continue to support them because their worth is not contingent on any program or funding mechanism 💕
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Reposted by Kavya Devarakonda, PhD
Margaret Crane, PhD @margaretcrane.bsky.social · 24/01/2025
And the funding announcement for diversity supplements now has been updated to expire today. Supplements are so important to the careers of junior scientists. This is crushing for post docs and early career faculty grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
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Kavya Devarakonda, PhD @kdevarakonda.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
I've worked on multiple grants this week where the "narrative" section of the Aims page is a mess, but the authors lay out their case beautifully in the Significance section of the Research Strategy. What's up with that??? 🧠 🧪 #academicsky
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Reposted by Kavya Devarakonda, PhD
Dave Baltrus 🦦 @surtlab.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
Gentle reminder that if you truly value diversity in the workforce, top down executive orders may/will change implementation but it shouldn’t change your dedication to building the best possible team/group/cohort/generation of researchers
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Reposted by Kavya Devarakonda, PhD
Brian Sweis @brianmsweis.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
New paper now out in collab w/ Jess Ables led by MD/PhD student @chinonwakama.bsky.social! We characterized the impact of metabolic dysfunction on decision-making behavior & cognitive heuristics that interact w/ energy balance & environmental demand. 🐭🧠 @sinaibrain.bsky.social tinyurl.com/38m4ybt9
tinyurl.com
Neuroeconomically dissociable forms of mental accounting are altered in a mouse model of diabetes - Communications Biology
A neuroeconomic approach to characterize decision-making behavior reveals alterations in distinct valuation algorithms in a mouse model of diabetes, shedding light on the interaction between meta...
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Reposted by Kavya Devarakonda, PhD
Lauren Vetere @laurenmvetere.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
Interested in how neural communication breaks down in a model of Alzheimer's pathology? In a new preprint, we found desynchronization in medial entorhinal–hippocampal circuits that coincided with the onset of spatial memory deficits in 3xTg mice. (1/6) www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
The title and authors of the manuscript are displayed alongside the bioRxiv lab logo and the Shuman lab logo, which features three blue overlapping oscillations.
The title is: “Medial entorhinal-hippocampal desynchronization parallels the emergence of memory impairment in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease pathology.”
The author list is: Lauren M Vetere, Angelina M Galas, Nick Vaughan, Yu Feng, Zoé Christenson Wick, Paul A Philipsberg, Olga Liobimova, Antonio Fernandez-Ruiz, and Denise J Cai.
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Bita Moghaddam @bita137.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
Yep, this is one of the consequences of all external PHS related communications being halted till at least Feb 1 bsky.app/profile/bita...
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Mark Baxter 🏳️‍🌈🧂 @markgbaxter.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
Currently, only until Feb 1 per CNN www.cnn.com/2025/01/21/h... and science magazine www.science.org/content/arti...
cnn.com
Trump administration directs federal health agencies to pause communications | CNN
Amid a deluge of executive actions, the Trump administration has directed federal health agencies to pause external communications, such as regular scientific reports, updates to websites and health a...
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Kavya Devarakonda, PhD @kdevarakonda.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
Uh, so this is bad
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Mina Kimes @minakimes.bsky.social · 19/01/2025
That game took too much out of me ahead of Ravens Bills. I need a Gatorade or something.
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Kavya Devarakonda, PhD @kdevarakonda.bsky.social · 19/01/2025
*watching the Eagles is stressful meme*
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Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 14/01/2025
The scores did show substantial variability. In my experience, there are a few proposals per study section that really stand out but there is a large group where the merit is similar depending on one's taste and the notion that scores (including below/above paylines) are robust is nonsense. 2/n
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Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 14/01/2025
Yes, I am sure it did. Grant reviews and scores are quite stochastic, depending on who the primary reviewers are and other factors. NIH has never intentionally double reviewed applications but there are quite a few examples where sets of applications were reviewed twice. 1/n
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Kavya Devarakonda, PhD @kdevarakonda.bsky.social · 13/01/2025
What do we think about R01s that have four Specific Aims? #neuroscience #academicsky 🧪
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