Breaking news: Indiana University plant microbiologist Roger Innes has been locked out of his laboratory by the school in response to a request by one of his federal funders. The move comes after Innes complained about the government’s prosecution of Chinese postdocs. https://scim.ag/4tsDqRr
How it started / how it’s going — Jay Bhattacharya edition.
2025: “We will never use this agency to censor scientists who disagree"
2026 : Bhattacharya “has canceled the publication of a study that found that the Covid vaccine sharply cut the odds of hospitalizations and emergency visits”.
My grad student, who got RWR and appealed, got an email from GRFP program today that said "Your application was screened by NSF program officers with expertise in your proposed field of study and was determined to be ineligible according to the solicitation requirements."
No details were given. 😡
NSF GRFP applicants (and mentors): Was your application Returned Without Review and deemed ineligible despite fitting in the allowed topics?
1) Write NSF
2) Write your Congressperson
3) CC us at [email protected] so we can compile + follow up
Details and template at grant-witness.us/grfp-letter
Special Feature: A new special issue explores genomic forecasting, a promising, but developing tool for conservation. The verdict: it's a useful approach, but its reliability often depends on the context.
Read now ahead of print!
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
If you are a student whose NSF GRFP application was returned without review for vague 'eligibility' reasons:
1) Let your department chair & Graduate School know. Encourage them to contact NSF & congress
2) Write to your congressional reps.
3) Write to [email protected] to request re-consideration;
Deadline to submit an abstract for the 3rd Biennial Conference of North American Forest Genetics Society (NAFGS) has been extended by one week! New deadline: March 9th
June 15th–19th, 2026 | Université Laval, Québec City, Canada
www.nafgs.org/conference2026
Join the Plant Computational Genomics Lab and the Institute for Systems Genomics @uconnresearch.bsky.social ! Currently seeking 2 full-time onsite research assistants, one of whom will be our Molecular Lab Manager. Apply by June 26th. 🌲 🌳 🧬 @uconneeb.bsky.social
jobs.hr.uconn.edu/en-us/job/49...
North American Forest Genetics Society #NAFGS26 🌲 🌳 🧬! Abstracts due Mar 1 | Travel Awards Mar 8 | Early Reg ends Mar 31 | Looking forward to welcoming you & our invited speakers in Québec City: @jillahamilton.bsky.social @cavenderg9.bsky.social @jeansebmoore.bsky.social @arthurouaknine.bsky.social