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davidimiller.bsky.social
Physicist Turned Psychologist | Senior Researcher in #STEMed | Meta-Analysis Nerd | https://d-miller.github.io/ Also posts about science funding to focus my attention. Personal account. I don’t speak for my employer or any other orgs.
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I've spent the day working with Reporter data... differences in number of funded applications from 1/20/24-2/21/24 and 1/20/25-2/21/25 by state. This is the picture (happy to share code):

And here's the infuriating part: most major outlets don't allow noting funding sources, per editorial policy. Here's a recent exchange I had with an op-ed editor at a major outlet about that point (my request was not granted). Recent events show the need to change these editorial policies...

"The reclassification exposes these employees to termination without due process, said U.S. Representative Don Beyer... NSF unilaterally stripped permanent status from both union and non-union workers, including executives, without notification." More on this here: beyer.house.gov/news/documen...

Get in dorks, we're going protesting! STAND UP FOR SCIENCE WITH US ON MARCH 7TH, 2025 WASHINGTON DC AND EVERY STATE CAPITOL Because science is for everyone! Find us at www.standupforscience2025.org #standupforscience2025 #scienceforall #sciencenotsilence

Short 🧵 covering the role of the federal government in funding science.

Dear federal workforce: Please include the phrase “deez nuts” when you respond to Musk micromanagement email.

NSF employees were unlawfully reclassified from career to probationary, and then fired. www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...

I was awarded the NSF GRFP as a senior in undergrad, and it directly enabled me to pursue a PhD. Whether it's just due to uncertainty, the thought that this program could be at risk is deeply disheartening. GRFP isn’t just funding—it’s an investment in the future of science.

I had two students apply this year. One master's and one undergraduate student. They put their soul into these applications. The fact that they might even get a chance is so ....😡🤬🤬🤬

No doubt that's true. But I also think about it from the lens of: where's my local sphere of influence? Feeling overwhelmed with the entire takeover, possibility of WWIII, etc. is exactly the point: make you feel powerless. You regain that power by knowing where you can make a difference.

For this GRFP cycle, I spent HOURS editing and providing feedback on 25+ of these applications and was FLOORED by the talent and passion seeping off the pages of every single one! Please show up, show out, and join us for #standupforscience2025 @standupforscience.bsky.social !

I applied for the GRFP this year. It’s an essential program for so many to pursue — or even get into! — grad school. This is incredibly worrying on so many levels

Fuck. Normally we’d hear back sometime in March, I think? Since many applicants factor it into grad school decisions & those are due in mid-April.

I'm a pessimist, but it's hard for me to imagine the American science ecosystem completely recovering from this ongoing damage, even if fellowships ARE awarded and funding is restored. If I were a student pursuing a science career, I wouldn't even consider the US. The risk feels too great.

we have one person in our group who applied for grfp this year and if all their hard work (while simultaneously prepping for quals and taking classes and ta-ing!) gets thrown out i think our entire group is gonna revolt

😡 F'ing ridiculous. After updating its FAQ yesterday, NSF refused to directly answer a simple question: "Will the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) continue to award fellowships in 2025?" GRFPs are a lifeline that support 2,000+ graduate students/year. www.nsf.gov/executive-or...

That's Vanderbilt with no phd admissions, Pitt announced yesterday, and now Penn is reducing their grad admissions (and notified faculty after they already began notifying students which ouch). www.thedp.com/article/2025...

Such a key message to get to the public & Congress on *why* the delays in science funding is important: "The discoveries that aren’t made — you can’t point to them, because they will never be made," @jeremymberg.bsky.social as quoted in new WaPo article. www.washingtonpost.com/science/2025...

We are honored to represent @nadohe.bsky.social, @aaup.bsky.social, Baltimore and ROC, who each bravely pushed back against Trump’s intimidation & scare tactics, securing a victory for women, minorities, people with disabilities, veterans, and so many more. Full article: www.cnn.com/2025/02/21/p...

NEW: A federal judge blocked Trump’s effort to stop funding grants and contracts that have DEI components, saying it is likely viewpoint discrimination and worded so vaguely that it will chill free speech. www.politico.com/news/2025/02...

And here's an explainer in WaPo:

🚨 BREAKING (and good news on Fri night!!): Federal judge blocks an EO to "terminate...'equity-related' grants or contracts" via prelim injunction Noted violations to 1st Amend rights, in addition to potential for "arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement" storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

SO MUCH THIS. I've been thinking that limits in the public's civic knowledge is one of the most serious threats right now. Means that statements like, "well the president should be able to align federal spending with his vision" go unchallenged. Really good thread with receipts below 👇

““This crisis — and I’m not exaggerating by calling it a crisis — has already consumed one funding cycle…But if this block to publishing in the register continues on much longer, it’s going to swallow two funding cycles, and that will put many labs out of business.” @labonnelab.bsky.social

This is really interesting (and important!) on comparing NSF funding in the first month of a new administration. Here's four insights from this graph: 1. The slowness in making new NSF awards for 2025 is highly unusual, even compared to when Trump took office in 2017. And that's...

Here is the corresponding data for NSF with some key events marked...Remarkably consistent with the NIH data.

I have heard from several sources (although details are vague) it appears that NIH is back to blocking NoA release while awaiting development of plans for dealing language, perhaps pertaining to DEI issues, in these awards. If this is occurring, it seems like a clear violation of the TRO. 1/n

For those dismayed at the future of ed research, especially IES: The Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness (SREE) will host virtual gatherings next week Don't have to be a member to join: Wed, Feb 26: sree.memberclicks.net/wednesday--f... Sat, March 1: sree.memberclicks.net/march1cc

I was happy to speak with @melissagiragrant.com about pushing back against academic censorship in the current moment. @newrepublic.com newrepublic.com/article/1917...

This is a five-alarm fire 🔥 for US science 🧪. (We keep saying that, but it keeps being true 😭.) Trump and Musk are blocking *ALL* NIH grants ‼️ by "exploiting a loophole in the process"—stopping study sections & council meetings. Every biomedical researcher in the country should be screaming. 1/

Here are some data documenting the funding "pause" pulled from NIH Reporter. Current results (FY25) (Red) are compared with results from FY21 (first year of Biden Administration) and FY24. Note that data from Reporter lag behind release of NoAs by ~1 week. I will be tracking this going forward.

May I present some ways that we might ask for our users' sex/gender on our forms in order to comply with new EOs: codepen.io/buttermilkbi...