...welp, this just rocketed to the top of my to-read list. Looking forward to it!

Carrie McDonough: Money for Pittsburgh steel, but not for Pittsburgh science Donald Trump recently celebrated a planned partnership between U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel expected to bring a $14 billion investment to U.S. Steel over...

Trump's proposed FY26 budget cuts will decimate our universities with devastating consequences for cities like Pittsburgh.

Worried Northwestern lab directors describe ‘bleak’ atmosphere in wake of Trump research funding freeze The Trump administration’s freezing of $790 million in federal research funding for Northwestern University has left concerned lab directors without key grants and forced the university to spend mi…

The Trump administration’s freezing in April of $790 million in federal research funding for Northwestern University has left concerned lab directors without key grant money from the National Institutes of Health.

I've been worrying about this since their website dropped offline. Losing the NRRL folks and their microbial strain collection would be a real blow.

What terrible news - I'm so sorry to hear this.

An unfinished sign on a table, surrounded by paintbrushes and paint. The sign says "Defunding science: bad for Pittsburgh, bad for PA, bad for the USA [& bad for the whole world!]"

(I missed the first talk or two because I had to pick up some posterboard and quickly slap together a sign!)

Rep. Summer Lee at Pittsburgh's Stand Up For Science rally in Schenley Plaza, talking about the importance of scientific research in Pittsburgh (and beyond!)

Prof. Jeremy Berg at Pittsburgh's Stand Up For Science rally in Schenley Plaza, explaining the ongoing assault on science funding at the NIH.

Memorable talks included @jeremymberg.bsky.social explaining the assault on NIH funding (while sneaking in a bit of bioinorganic chemistry!) & @repsummerlee.bsky.social giving a barn-burner of a speech in support of science research in Pittsburgh and in the US.

A crowd of people carrying signs supporting science at the Stand Up For Science rally in Pittsburgh, with the Cathedral of Learning in the background.

A crowd of people carrying signs supporting science at the Stand Up For Science rally in Pittsburgh.

Today's #standupforscience rally in Pittsburgh - it was great seeing so many people turn out. #standupforscience2025

Local SUFS Events Stand Up for Science is officially supporting rallies in Washington DC and 31 other cities around the country. This means that a confirmed site leader—backed by our core team—is actively organizing…

For anyone who hasn't been spending perhaps a little too much time following things online, there may be a #standupforscience2025 rally or walkout near you: standupforscience2025.org/local-event-...

Hoping to see other Pittsburgh folks standing up for science in Schenley Plaza tomorrow! (It'll sure beat spending lunch doomscrolling like the last month...)

I've been meeting with applicants from two programs who're visiting Pitt this weekend - it was more than a little disconcerting to come out of a poster session yesterday evening and see this everywhere online. (Effects on programs in the med school or that already extended offers seem... unclear.)

Any chance you could add me? After spending too much time with natural products in methanotrophs and actinobacteria as a grad student and postdoc, I'm working on getting my own group up and running!

A sculpture spelling out ABRCMS in front of convention center windows, with a river and a yellow bridge visible through the glass.

Can finally confirm: #ABRCMS in person definitely beats the online early-pandemic versions. I didn't have to travel and I'm still wiped out by so many hours of posters... but there was so much exciting science and so many talented undergrad and postbac researchers! Highly recommended. #ABRCMS2024

I only was able to squeeze my way past the crowds to catch Nathalie's poster - Sophie was surrounded when I went by - but I really loved getting to hear about her research! (I think I may have actually been just off-screen in two of those photos, waiting my turn to talk proteins!)

If you're interested in microbial chemical biology and looking for a research technician position, the Kenney Lab at Pitt is hiring. You'd be working with weird new (metallo)enzymes, weird microbes, and weird new natural products. Fill out an application here: cfopitt.taleo.net/careersectio...