TIL the first paragraph of Lorem Ipsum is 69 words long, and that's just, you know, nice.

One of my favorite cell lines to work with, it's so pretty!

Also what a coincidence because I'm thawing some ZO-1 cells today 😊

Group photo of the participants of the Live, Laugh, Shimmy workshop on using performance as a scicomm tool

Photo of the facilitators of the Live, Laugh, Shimmy workshop on using performance as a scicomm tool. The four facilitators are posing with colored boas. They are standing in front of a projection screen, showing the flyer for Chiasm Cabaret, a sexy science variety show.

#SciTalk2026 was, as usual, an amazing whirlwind of reconnecting with old and meeting new friends, talking about creative #SciComm, optimism for the future, and facilitating "Learn, Laugh, Shimmy" with some of my absolute favorite people.

Not to mention the SOLD OUT #ChiasmCabaret show!

A panelist of four sits in front of a projection screen in a conference room, with the moderator off to the right.

Last week, I had the honor to sit on a panel talking about Kickstarting a Scicomm career at ComSciCon-PNW 2026.

There were some hot takes, fruitful discussions, and amazing questions. I'm excited to see the next generation of science communicators take the spotlight and do amazing things!

#SciComm

Flyer for the nerdy variety show showing photos of all the performers

Can't wait to see "Bards and Jesters and (Drag) Queens, Oh My!" take the stage @norwescon.org

There will be comedy! There will be drag! There will be dancing! There will be singing! There will be entertainment galore!

See you there?

Flyer for the event at Norwescon showing the six performers that will be in the show!

Say what? a gaggle of geeks is BACK at @norwescon.org!
If you're at the con, I hope you'll join the nerdiest comedians of the region bringing their deepest cuts and geekiest jokes!

Singalong optional 😉

Screenshot of the panel description: Nerds doing science Have you ever realized that a lot of people with nerdy hobbies also happen to have nerdy jobs? Join our panel of scientists, engineers, and other STEM professionals who also happen to do cosplay, comedy, or nerdy art! Learn how they combine their professional life with their side-gigs or hobbies, how those two sometimes intersect, and leave inspired to use your creativity across all aspects of your life! Date & time Friday, April 3, 2026, 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM Location Guest/Industry Panels/Premiers - Ballroom 2

While I'm at it, let me share that I'll be part of this panel at @sakuraconofficial.bsky.social next week!

We've brought together the nerdiest of nerds to talk about how their work and side projects intersect!

#NerdsDoingNerdyThings!

Flyer for the nerdy variety show showing photos of all the performers

Can't wait to see "Bards and Jesters and (Drag) Queens, Oh My!" take the stage @norwescon.org

There will be comedy! There will be drag! There will be dancing! There will be singing! There will be entertainment galore!

See you there?

Flyer for the event at Norwescon showing the six performers that will be in the show!

Say what? a gaggle of geeks is BACK at @norwescon.org!
If you're at the con, I hope you'll join the nerdiest comedians of the region bringing their deepest cuts and geekiest jokes!

Singalong optional 😉

Screenshot of the panel description: Nerds doing science Have you ever realized that a lot of people with nerdy hobbies also happen to have nerdy jobs? Join our panel of scientists, engineers, and other STEM professionals who also happen to do cosplay, comedy, or nerdy art! Learn how they combine their professional life with their side-gigs or hobbies, how those two sometimes intersect, and leave inspired to use your creativity across all aspects of your life! Date & time Friday, April 3, 2026, 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM Location Guest/Industry Panels/Premiers - Ballroom 2

While I'm at it, let me share that I'll be part of this panel at @sakuraconofficial.bsky.social next week!

We've brought together the nerdiest of nerds to talk about how their work and side projects intersect!

#NerdsDoingNerdyThings!

Flyer for Chiasm Cabaret: A Sexy Science Variety Show showing all the performers.

Hey Portland, what are you up to on Friday?

Want to come see some nerdy burlesque, drag and comedy?

Tickets & Info: www.mcmenamins.com/venueevent.a...

Graphic promoting the workshop at Science Talk '26. The four people shown are the workshop facilitators, each in their entertainment alter ego!

Will you be at #SciTalk2026?
Want to learn more about putting together a scicom variety show?

We got you! Join us for the workshop “Laugh, Learn, and Shimmy: Science Communication with a Tease”

Come see me sing some of my origin songs!

Grad school trauma. That's my origin...

Info and tickets:
www.eventbrite.com/e/the-left-b...

If you can tell me what my earrings are, I'll send you a sticker! 😉

Wondering what the role of actin in CLIC/GEEC endocytic scission is? Well, Maggie is here to tell you how we're going to find out!

#NWDB2026

“I’ve actually been enjoying walking and using public transit more instead, all thanks to legendary environmental activist Donald J. Trump.”

Come see me sing some of my origin songs!

Grad school trauma. That's my origin...

Info and tickets:
www.eventbrite.com/e/the-left-b...

The impulse to do a "you gotta hand it to 'em!!" reach across the aisle here is bizarre.

We're talking about a surgeon general nominee who is not a licensed doctor and who wouldn't directly answer questions about vaccines. We've got bigger fish to fry than "we should have fewer fat people."

Research staff Initial bargaining demands: support successful career paths for research staff

Research staff Initial bargaining demands: maintain pay structures that keep pace with inflation and the rising cost of living

Research staff Initial bargaining demands: invest in a more inclusive, accessible, equitable and diverse research community

Research staff Initial bargaining demands: foster a safe, fair, and productive work environment

Research Staff! Have you signed the initial bargaining demands (IBDs) yet?

Signing on means you support the goals outlined in the demands and want to work together to achieve those goals during bargaining.

Read the IBDs and sign on here: form.jotform.com/260154423245...

Research Staff: meet your bargaining team members Evan, Gracy, and Tess; helping fight for fair compensation, enforceable reimbursement timelines, and improved workplace protections.

Sign in to the initial bargaining demands here: form.jotform.com/260154423245...

Research Staff: meet your bargaining team members Jessamy, Gabriel, and Shane.

Don't forget to sign our initial bargaining demands outlining some of the important goals we have for our next contract!

form.jotform.com/260154423245...

edited caption:

Research Staff: meet your bargaining team members Iván, Lucas, and KeliAnne.

We will start bargaining in less than a month, so be sure to sign our initial bargaining demands outlining some of the important goals we have for our next contract!

form.jotform.com/260154423245...

Photo of the back of a ankle boot with the heal clearly falling off...

How's your day going?

Honored to be one of the Moore Foundation Postdoctoral Fellows at @uofwa.uw.edu. Grateful for the support from @moorefound.bsky.social and excited to pursue research applying computer vision to cellular membrane reconstruction @matsulab.com.

1. The thing about science that these jokers don't understand is that science cannot be vibe-coded.

Whatever its flaws, the point with vibe coding is that you're trying to quickly make something that sorta works, where you can immediately sorta see if it sorta works and then sorta use it.

A group selfie of Valerie, wearing a salon of shame t-shirt, and the improvisors from Jet City Improv!

Selfie of Valerie's face in close up in front of a neon sign that says "The Drama Room"

Thanks for having me at the special edition of @salonofshame.bsky.social last week, where the wonderful humans from @jetcityimprov.bsky.social improvised scenes based on my teen angst and pining stares. 💜

I desperately need to stop smiling with my mouth open though!

I don't understand how I'm expected to leave the warmth of my bed (ever).

I don't understand how I'm expected to leave the warmth of my bed on a cold winter morning.

there are a lot of days where I wish "there's always a Discworld quote" was not, in fact, true

* This exchange contains almost all you need to know about human civilization.

How had I forgotten how much I love the footnotes?