Sign in

Uschi Symmons

@usymmons.bsky.social
376 followers 637 following 48 posts

Programme manager for #health and #biotech at the EU Innovation Council (#EIC), based in Brussels. Previously research in genomics, single-cell bio, rare diseases & animal models. Talks a lot about science #funding, #mentorship & #equity. Opinions my own

PostsRepliesMedia
Uschi Symmons @usymmons.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
📣📣📣Really happy to see this short summary of our #EIC *Biotechnology for Healthy Ageing* #funding call out, also explaining our portfolio approach to EIC Pathfinder challenges and how it applies to this topic: rdcu.be/FPiGUWcQXSSa #biotech #ageing (1/3)
rdcu.be
130
Uschi Symmons @usymmons.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
Really fascinating two-headed two-coloured #tulip growing in our garden. 🌷🌷🌷 Wishing I'd paid more attention in plant development class to know how this is possible and if I can expect the same to happen next year... 🧬🤔 #spring #tulipseason #surprisephenotype
Picture of a tulip with two differently coloured flowers
030
Uschi Symmons @usymmons.bsky.social · 25/04/2026
❓Today I called an ✈️ airline ✈️customer service for a booking I couldn't resolve online. As it turned out, neither could the agent at the other end of the line. But after about 10 minutes he informed me that my call time was up (even though issue was still unresolved). Is this a thing now?? 🤔
000
Uschi Symmons @usymmons.bsky.social · 28/03/2026
Just came across "About: Blanks": blank notebooks with real #book covers. Undecided if I like the idea or not. On one hand the notebooks are beautiful & #recycling is better than throwing books away,but it's also sad: It feels like only the book covers are deemed worthy to save, not the content...
Picture of books from the label "About: Blanks" and a sign with a description
030
Reposted by Uschi Symmons
PRISM-LT @prism-livingtissues.eu · 18/03/2026
Most biotech training focuses on what you can do. The ELSA Summer School on Engineered Living Materials will focus on how to integrate ethical, legal, and social points into your research and how to communicate evolving science to the public and policymakers. prism-livingtissues.eu/elsa-summer-...
prism-livingtissues.eu
ELSA Summer School on Engineered Living Materials, 13–17 Jul 2026, UK
Five-day residential summer school on the ethics, law and society of engineered living materials. Glasgow & Loch Lomond. Apply by 22 March.
253
Uschi Symmons @usymmons.bsky.social · 17/03/2026
📢European scientists interested in translational #ageing research: join our online info session on the upcoming EIC #funding call on "Biotechnology for Healthy Ageing" on 🗓️March 20, 2026. 📝Registration: lnkd.in/gJAUXB66
lnkd.in
LinkedIn
This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn
112
Reposted by Uschi Symmons
Universal Hub @universalhub.com · 10/03/2026
It's come to this: The Ig Nobel Awards, presented at Harvard or MIT since the 1990s, is moving to Zurich because the US is not safe for foreign visitors www.swissinfo.ch/eng/research...
swissinfo.ch
Ig Nobels to move awards to Switzerland due to concern over US travel visas
The annual ceremony of the Ig Nobels, a satirical award for scientific achievement, is normally held in the United States. This September it will take place in Zurich after organisers deemed the US “u...
517196
Uschi Symmons @usymmons.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
Question to the bsky crowd: does a weekly (i.e. 6-7day) biological cycle exist in people? Thinking specifically about hormonal and/or drug-response related...
000
Reposted by Uschi Symmons
European Medicines Agency @ema.europa.eu · 17/02/2026
EMA is organising a virtual webinar to explore the evolving role of platform technologies, bringing together regulators and medical developers to discuss how they can be used beyond quality and manufacturing. Mark your calendars and tune into the live broadcast 👇 www.ema.europa.eu/en/events/we...
1102
Reposted by Uschi Symmons
Florian T. Merkle, PhD @florianmerkle.bsky.social · 15/02/2026
Undergrads seeking summer research experience in gene or cell therapy: there's a *paid opportunity* from @bsgct.bsky.social! Please apply before 27th Feb. Please see bsgct.org/undergraduate/ for details. Please repost to help spread the word - thanks!
016
Uschi Symmons @usymmons.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
You had one job 😅
Napkin with maze drawn on it
110
Reposted by Uschi Symmons
Jennifer Ouellette @jenlucpiquant.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
China bans all retractable car door handles, starting next year arstechnica.com/cars/2026/02...
arstechnica.com
China bans all retractable car door handles, starting next year
The pop-out door handle ban starts in 2027 for new cars, 2029 for existing models.
3477
Reposted by Uschi Symmons
Joanna Bagniewska @joannabagniewska.com · 24/01/2026
Thanks to the White House about half the internet learnt that there are actually no penguins in Greenland. Yay #scicomm! BUT there *is* one 🐧living in the northern hemisphere: the Galapagos penguin, the only species found (just) north of the equator. No, the "penguin" on the WH tweet is not it. 🧪🪶
White House tweet with Trump walking with a penguin toward a Greenland flag Galapagos penguin, photo by putneymark (Wikimedia commons)
1525257
Uschi Symmons @usymmons.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
Last week I joined a presentation by the mathematician István Lénárt on spherical (vs Euclidean) geometry using oranges, markers and bottle caps. It was a ton of fun, very inspiring and really reminded me how learning new stuff can take the mind of things, such as current affairs...
Picture of 2 oranges with drawings
220
Reposted by Uschi Symmons
CEN and CENELEC @cen-cenelec.bsky.social · 27/10/2025
🌟 Are you a Young Professional shaping the future of European #Standardization? CEN and CENELEC want to hear your story! 💬 We’re looking for passionate young experts who are making a difference through standards. 📩 Reach out to schedule an interview and share your experience!
🌟 Are you a Young Professional shaping the future of European #Standardization? CEN and CENELEC want to hear your story! 💬
We’re looking for passionate young experts who are making a difference through standards — and we’d love to feature your journey to inspire others.
📩 Reach out to schedule an interview and share your experience!
 #YoungProfessionals #FutureOfStandards
042
Reposted by Uschi Symmons
Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 10/01/2026
Powerful piece in STAT this morning from some NIH staff members who have resigned www.statnews.com/2026/01/10/n... 1/3
statnews.com
The NIH has lost its scientific integrity. So we left
“We can no longer lend our credibility to an organization that has lost its integrity,” write four scientists and administrators who recently resigned from the NIH.
8520265
Uschi Symmons @usymmons.bsky.social · 11/12/2025
Really fascinating data. If I remember correctly, the Volkswagen Stiftung had similarly reported on increase in diversity during interim evaluations of their lottery scheme.
110
Reposted by Uschi Symmons
Manuel Thery @manuelthery.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
#LivingArchitectures We put cells and cytoskeleton filaments on the architecture of the musée d'Orsay. www.musee-orsay.fr/fr/agenda/ev... Scientists of the #CytoMorphoLab adapted their protocols to illustrate the questions that keep them awake at night. -> Two shows on the 24th and 25th of January.
19312103
Uschi Symmons @usymmons.bsky.social · 29/11/2025
Normally, every year I make a special advent 🗓️ for my family. They have included treasure hunts across town, quizzes and a day-by-day story. But this year, my 7y.o. and husband went all out to surprise me with a calendar they made for me! ❤️🤶🏻🎄🎄🤶🏻❤️ Can't wait to see what each day has in store!
060
Uschi Symmons @usymmons.bsky.social · 16/11/2025
Almost 20 years after it was published I finally read World War Z and I'm crazy shocked by a) how underrepresented women are in the book, and b) how little this seems to be discussed in most analyses of the book. #howManyWomen #weekendreading
Picture of the book "World War Z" on top of a knitted blanket
050
Uschi Symmons @usymmons.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
The #EIC work programme 2026 is out! It includes 2 health-related challenges: - ⌛Pathfinder Challenge: #Biotechnology for Healthy #Ageing - 🧫 Advanced Innovation Challenge: Translating Disruptive New Approach Methodologies #NAMs into Practice 📑 Check it out: www.linkedin.com/safety/go?ur...
linkedin.com
110
Uschi Symmons @usymmons.bsky.social · 02/11/2025
Ghost train in Vienna...
Interior of an empty train with red seats
030
Uschi Symmons @usymmons.bsky.social · 13/10/2025
Almost 10yrs ago🫣 I contributed to a @nature.com Careers story on Individual Dev Plans (IDPs). This summer I got to follow up,discuss my career&IDPs some more. 🎧The podcast is now out! It's part of a series on career strategies/tools, all of which is worth a listen👂🏻 www.nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com
Client Challenge
010
Uschi Symmons @usymmons.bsky.social · 07/10/2025
Really enjoying this story about Fred Ramsdell not knowing about his Nobel prize in Medicine, because he's offline, hiking in Idaho. There seems to be such pressure to be reachable all the time nowadays, that is nice to see! 😅 www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
theguardian.com
Nobel committee unable to reach prize winner who is ‘living his best life’ hiking off grid
Fred Ramsdell was among those honoured with a 2025 Nobel Prize in Medicine but might not know because he is somewhere in Idaho and uncontactable
063
Uschi Symmons @usymmons.bsky.social · 28/09/2025
Husband recently got a @newyorker.com print subscription, and I've really enjoyed some of their #science and #technology pieces. For example, this one on the search for interventions for healthy #ageing was a really fun read: www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
Picture of a New Yorker article on ageing, titled "Live long and prosper"
000
Uschi Symmons @usymmons.bsky.social · 27/09/2025
Only in Belgium...? 😂 #beernation #DrinksForDogs
2 cans of "dog beer"
010
Reposted by Uschi Symmons
Dr Kathleen Millen @neurodevkathy.bsky.social · 20/09/2025
🚨🚨🚨🧪 H1B scientists who are traveling outside the USA. Please be aware that current advice is to return to the USA IMMEDIATELY
0810
Reposted by Uschi Symmons
Scott Delaney @scott-delaney.bsky.social · 29/08/2025
NEW: Don't ask too many questions, but... NIH may not re-terminate the 900ish grants at issue in the main NIH lawsuits after all. To the PIs of reinstated grants, SPEND NOW! 🧵 Here's what NIH is probably thinking. Bear with me:
415974
Reposted by Uschi Symmons
Max-Planck-Gesellschaft @maxplanck.de · 01/08/2025
Director at Max Planck - a unique position! The Open Call for Expressions of Interest in Max Planck Directorships is open now and can be submitted by the 31st of October 2025. ➡️ mpg.de/directors - Please share the Open Call among potential candidates.
Open Call for Expressions of Interest in Max Planck Directorships:
Expressions of interest can be submitted until 31 October 2025.
1161195
Uschi Symmons @usymmons.bsky.social · 24/07/2025
And with these 1500 pieces our summer staycation has officially begun... 🧩🧩🧩
Puzzle of Mont Saint Michel in France
030
Uschi Symmons @usymmons.bsky.social · 12/07/2025
Sometimes I can't help but wonder what triggered inclusion of certain points in the user manual... Case in point: the crutch 🩼 that "does not respond to verbal or telepathic command" 😅
Picture of the iwalk crutch packagingHighlight from the iwalk crutch user manual
011
Uschi Symmons @usymmons.bsky.social · 09/06/2025
At a conference, and just noticed someone who is "taking notes" by having his computer microphone open, which is auto-transcribing the talks and from time-to-time trading pictures of key slides. Is this the future?
000
Reposted by Uschi Symmons
Anna Obenauf @obenaufa.bsky.social · 04/05/2025
⭐ Faculty for the Future Fellows ⭐ Interesting opportunity for women scientists from the world’s developing and emerging economies schlumbergerfoundation.com/eligibility-...
schlumbergerfoundation.com
Eligibility Criteria - Schlumberger Foundation
046
Uschi Symmons @usymmons.bsky.social · 06/04/2025
📢📢📢ICYMI: we're discussing #nanomedicine on Tuesday! There will be awesome #EIC projects and a roundtable discussion. It's virtual and free! Registration link in the original post.
010
Uschi Symmons @usymmons.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
If you're curious abt #nanomedicine & #healthcare, I'm thrilled to announce *Nanomedicine for Today and Tomorrow*, a joint EIC/ETPN event! 🗓️ 8 April, 2PM CET online We’ll present projects+discuss challenges/opportunities to bring nanomedicine to patients. Register: events.zoom.us/ev/AqETSFZxo...
events.zoom.us
Nanomedicine for Today and Tomorrow: a joint EIC - ETPN event.
001
Uschi Symmons @usymmons.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
With the world on fire, this was just the thread I needed today, incl some awesome 🐁🐁🐁 mutants and what we *didn't* learn about 🦣 mutations.
000
Reposted by Uschi Symmons
Dr. Becca @docbecca.bsky.social · 25/02/2025
Great write up at @thetransmitter.bsky.social on the seeming erasure of SABV in the new era of NIH. Gotta say The Transmitter is killing it the last few weeks, first to report on the Federal Register block and now this. Leading the charge! 💪 www.thetransmitter.org/policy/exclu...
thetransmitter.org
Exclusive: NIH appears to archive policy requiring female animals in studies
Such a shift would “put us back in the dark ages in terms of our science,” says neuroscientist Anne Murphy, who helped to formulate the original policy.
6186100
Uschi Symmons @usymmons.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
Visiting my mum+sorting through some old stuff. Found my high school geography notes, including lessons on #EU #history, #institutions & #policy from ~1999 (HU wasn't even a member state yet!). Who would have thought that 25 yrs later I will be working for the institutions... 🤯😱☺️ #BlastFromThePast
Picture of a note book with handwritten notes on EUPicture of handwritten notes from high school geography class in 1999
000
Reposted by Uschi Symmons
BK. Titanji @boghuma.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
🚨 The CDC website is purging resources on LGBTQ+ health, diversity, equity, and health disparities. This is not just a bureaucratic change. It’s a dangerous decision with profound negative public health consequences. Let’s break down the harm this will cause. 🧵⬇️
19473222
Reposted by Uschi Symmons
Harmit Singh Malik @harmitmalik.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
If you have been affected by the fires in LA, or are concerned about your ability to keep precious Drosophila strains going during the latest funding crisis, we will host your strains as a backup. Please email me. Please amplify. If you are also able to host fly strains, add your name as well.
12784595
Uschi Symmons @usymmons.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
Having an amazing time attending "Women's Health: Genes, data and advancing approaches" virtually. Presentations so far were 🎉🎉🎉. I learned so much&already have a looong post-meeting reading list 📄😊 Plus,one of the best hybrid conferences I've experienced to date. #WomensHealth2025
050
Reposted by Uschi Symmons
Peter Stefanovic @peterstefanovic.bsky.social · 27/01/2025
EU medicines agency quits X & moves to Bluesky "EMA will no longer post updates and content on X. We believe the X platform no longer suits our communication needs” the agency said in a statement www.reuters.com/world/europe...
reuters.com
EU medicines agency quits X, moves to Bluesky
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) said on Monday it would no longer post on X and would use rival Bluesky instead, becoming the latest organisation to quit a social media platform that some have criticised for its content.
472315286488
Reposted by Uschi Symmons
Daphne Zohar @daphnezohar.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
Trump executive order declaring only ‘two sexes’ gets the biology wrong, scientists say t.co/kAil53eYzu
t.co
https://www.statnews.com/2025/01/23/trump-executive-order-only-two-sexes-not-supported-by-science/
001
Reposted by Uschi Symmons
Elizabeth Beston @elizabethbeston.bsky.social · 23/12/2024
I still have no idea what this is! Best guess at the moment is some kind of trochophore. It’s shaped like a Minstrel or a sea bean and the cilia was only around the midline. It had this amazing flicking ‘tail’. 258 um in diameter. In August they were in every sample. North Sea. Can you help? 🦑
2355
Reposted by Uschi Symmons
Thiago Carvalho @cyrilpedia.bsky.social · 08/12/2024
'Nature asked science-policy specialists which country is particularly good at ensuring science is factored into government decisions. The question mystified many respondents. “Not aware of any,” wrote one. “None have enviable systems,” wrote another. “Very hard to say,” said a third.'
nature.com
Advising governments about science is essential but difficult. So train people to do it
A great scientist doesn’t necessarily make an effective science adviser — but schooling and practice can help to bridge the gap.
65829
Reposted by Uschi Symmons
Dr Melody Taba @melodytaba.bsky.social · 04/12/2024
Altmetrics now tracking Bluesky! 🦋 🦘🎓 #AcademicSky #MedSky #publichealth 🛟
1275
Uschi Symmons @usymmons.bsky.social · 01/12/2024
I ❤️ Xmas: our family,from around the 🌎,comes 2gether. We've developed our own special traditions thru the years& 1 of my fav's is to DIY a ridiculously #extravagant #advent 🗓️ with a serial, family-themed story. This year I used some old Nature's- I think it turned out quite beautiful! #upcycling 🎄🎄🎄
Advent calendar, made of toilet rolls wrapped in magazine pages, in front of map of the world
020
Reposted by Uschi Symmons
Dr Kat Day (she/her) 🌖 @chronicleflask.katday.com · 23/11/2024
A list of sort-of-algorithmic general feeds that might make your Bluesky experience more fun: Thread 🧵 🪡 1/5
64335
Uschi Symmons @usymmons.bsky.social · 22/11/2024
Interesting read on #menopause in India: bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com
Menopause, the other menstrual taboo for Indian women
In India, where conversation on menstruation is still taboo, menopause awareness is far behind.
010
Reposted by Uschi Symmons
Dr. Kat Napaaqtuk❄️ @napaaqtuk.bsky.social · 18/11/2024
Found it: bsky.app/profile/kord...
0155