Shweta Bansal
@bansallab.bsky.social
Professor in infectious disease ecology and mathematical epidemiology at Georgetown University (Washington DC). #socialbehavior, #netsci, #networks, #spatialepi, #bigdata, #mathbio, #inequities, #openscience, she/her. http://bansallab.com
Reposted by Shweta Bansal
Lauer is super concerned about the demoralizing impact of low success rates...now that it is white folks being affected drugmonkey.wordpress.com/2025/09/30/l...
Lauer is super concerned about the demoralizing impact of low success rates…now that it is white folks being affected
Mike Lauer, prior head of the Office of Extramural Research at the NIH, has been quoted in a recent Nature news bit by Max Kozlov on the Fiscal Year 2025 grant funding picture. Kozlov writes, in pa…
drugmonkey.wordpress.com
October 1, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Lauer is super concerned about the demoralizing impact of low success rates...now that it is white folks being affected drugmonkey.wordpress.com/2025/09/30/l...
Reposted by Shweta Bansal
There is time to urge a change to the current #GRFP solicitation ( #NSF 25-547 ): reverse the eligibility restrictions and ensure applicants (including 2nd year PhD students) have a fair chance in the competition.
Feel free to sign and share this open petition:
laurenkuehne.github.io/grfpChanges/
Feel free to sign and share this open petition:
laurenkuehne.github.io/grfpChanges/
Petition to NSF to Restore Eligibility for the 2026 Graduate Research Fellowship Program Competition
laurenkuehne.github.io
September 29, 2025 at 6:16 PM
There is time to urge a change to the current #GRFP solicitation ( #NSF 25-547 ): reverse the eligibility restrictions and ensure applicants (including 2nd year PhD students) have a fair chance in the competition.
Feel free to sign and share this open petition:
laurenkuehne.github.io/grfpChanges/
Feel free to sign and share this open petition:
laurenkuehne.github.io/grfpChanges/
Reposted by Shweta Bansal
NSF GRFP is out 2.5 months late w/key changes
1. 2nd year graduate students not eligible.
2. "alignment with Administration priorities"
3. Unlike prior years, they DO NOT specify the expected number of awards... that is a BIG problem.
a brief 🧵 w/receipts
www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
1. 2nd year graduate students not eligible.
2. "alignment with Administration priorities"
3. Unlike prior years, they DO NOT specify the expected number of awards... that is a BIG problem.
a brief 🧵 w/receipts
www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
www.nsf.gov
September 27, 2025 at 12:04 AM
NSF GRFP is out 2.5 months late w/key changes
1. 2nd year graduate students not eligible.
2. "alignment with Administration priorities"
3. Unlike prior years, they DO NOT specify the expected number of awards... that is a BIG problem.
a brief 🧵 w/receipts
www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
1. 2nd year graduate students not eligible.
2. "alignment with Administration priorities"
3. Unlike prior years, they DO NOT specify the expected number of awards... that is a BIG problem.
a brief 🧵 w/receipts
www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
Reposted by Shweta Bansal
Tracy Beth Hoeg at FDA is highly likely to use the VAERS data to make spurious inferences on COVID vaccines. She comes with strong biases against childhood vaccination and no experience in infectious disease epidemiology. Beware what Hoeg, Makary and RFK are selling…
A brief bluetorial about VAERS (Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System)
Self-reported data about adverse effects occurring contemporaneously with vaccinations are useful but have many limitations
Self-reported data about adverse effects occurring contemporaneously with vaccinations are useful but have many limitations
a cartoon says hey everybody an old man 's talking while bart simpson looks on
ALT: a cartoon says hey everybody an old man 's talking while bart simpson looks on
media.tenor.com
September 12, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Tracy Beth Hoeg at FDA is highly likely to use the VAERS data to make spurious inferences on COVID vaccines. She comes with strong biases against childhood vaccination and no experience in infectious disease epidemiology. Beware what Hoeg, Makary and RFK are selling…
Reposted by Shweta Bansal
Dr. Gonsalves has written a piece that is equal parts brilliant and tragic. Read it and use it as motivation to keep fighting the destruction of US science infrastructure. @gregggonsalves.bsky.social
America Is Sliding Into the Abyss
Our science and health infrastructure lies in tatters. Once-dead viruses are roaring back to life. Many people will die. In other words, we’ve reached the point of no return.
www.thenation.com
July 11, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Dr. Gonsalves has written a piece that is equal parts brilliant and tragic. Read it and use it as motivation to keep fighting the destruction of US science infrastructure. @gregggonsalves.bsky.social
Reposted by Shweta Bansal
The great @jimalwine.bsky.social and I on the absolute necessity of restoring the NIH's funding. www.statnews.com/2025/06/26/n...
Private sector, philanthropy can’t replace Trump administration science cuts
Weak plans that propose alternatives to NIH funding are giving false hope to researchers.
www.statnews.com
June 26, 2025 at 9:07 AM
The great @jimalwine.bsky.social and I on the absolute necessity of restoring the NIH's funding. www.statnews.com/2025/06/26/n...
Reposted by Shweta Bansal
New paper! Synchronized breathing data and network models show that age and sex shape infection risk in bottlenose dolphins—critical insight for protecting marine wildlife from future outbreaks. Collab w/ @bansallab.bsky.social
rdcu.be/epHE8
rdcu.be/epHE8
Breathing synchrony shapes respiratory disease risk in bottlenose dolphins
Communications Biology - Social network modeling of wild dolphins reveals how age- and sex-structured contact patterns shape infection risk, offering insight into disease vulnerability and...
rdcu.be
June 6, 2025 at 8:36 AM
New paper! Synchronized breathing data and network models show that age and sex shape infection risk in bottlenose dolphins—critical insight for protecting marine wildlife from future outbreaks. Collab w/ @bansallab.bsky.social
rdcu.be/epHE8
rdcu.be/epHE8
Reposted by Shweta Bansal
🔥 When smoke from climate-linked wildfires drives people indoors, respiratory infections rise. But if 10% of people wear masks, this effect could be offset.
New research in PLOS Climate by Arregui-García and colleagues 👇
journals.plos.org/climate/arti...
New research in PLOS Climate by Arregui-García and colleagues 👇
journals.plos.org/climate/arti...
Disruption of outdoor activities caused by wildfire smoke shapes circulation of respiratory pathogens
Author summary The effects of climate change on human health are becoming more evident, but we often overlook one crucial factor: how extreme weather events influence our behaviors and, in turn, the s...
journals.plos.org
June 19, 2025 at 9:06 AM
🔥 When smoke from climate-linked wildfires drives people indoors, respiratory infections rise. But if 10% of people wear masks, this effect could be offset.
New research in PLOS Climate by Arregui-García and colleagues 👇
journals.plos.org/climate/arti...
New research in PLOS Climate by Arregui-García and colleagues 👇
journals.plos.org/climate/arti...
Joining colleagues in backing NIH staff who wrote the Bethesda Declaration. Time to defend the research infrastructure that has made US biomedicine a global leader from harmful political interference.
I wanted to show support for these brave public servants and to allow others, including the scientific community, to join me. In partnership with @standupforscience.bsky.social, we have a way for you to do that... www.standupforscience.net/bethesda-dec...
Bethesda Declaration — STAND UP FOR SCIENCE
Support NIH Staff Now!
www.standupforscience.net
June 9, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Joining colleagues in backing NIH staff who wrote the Bethesda Declaration. Time to defend the research infrastructure that has made US biomedicine a global leader from harmful political interference.
Reposted by Shweta Bansal
important historical perspective on the value of federal funding of basic research at universities: "These are the building blocks of America's extraordinary strength, created over the last 100 years, and they are now being dismantled in 100 days" 🧪
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Qk4...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Qk4...
Fareed’s Take: Trump is gutting what made American science great
YouTube video by CNN
www.youtube.com
May 13, 2025 at 5:12 PM
important historical perspective on the value of federal funding of basic research at universities: "These are the building blocks of America's extraordinary strength, created over the last 100 years, and they are now being dismantled in 100 days" 🧪
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Qk4...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Qk4...
Reposted by Shweta Bansal
NIH moved up the expiration date for some funding opportunities, effectively *canceling* the next application date without removing it from the standard table. I can't even imagine how many people are still prepping these grants.
👀 List of impacted opportunities:
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
👀 List of impacted opportunities:
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
May 20, 2025 at 1:48 PM
NIH moved up the expiration date for some funding opportunities, effectively *canceling* the next application date without removing it from the standard table. I can't even imagine how many people are still prepping these grants.
👀 List of impacted opportunities:
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
👀 List of impacted opportunities:
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
Reposted by Shweta Bansal
Applying to STEM grad programs? 🎓
Apply now for #CLGSMI! 🤩
➡️ cientificolatino.com/gsmi
The GSMI program supports applicants through 1-on-1 mentorship, fee waivers, professional development, and community building!
Applications accepted on a ROLLING basis until 5/31!
Apply now for #CLGSMI! 🤩
➡️ cientificolatino.com/gsmi
The GSMI program supports applicants through 1-on-1 mentorship, fee waivers, professional development, and community building!
Applications accepted on a ROLLING basis until 5/31!
April 29, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Applying to STEM grad programs? 🎓
Apply now for #CLGSMI! 🤩
➡️ cientificolatino.com/gsmi
The GSMI program supports applicants through 1-on-1 mentorship, fee waivers, professional development, and community building!
Applications accepted on a ROLLING basis until 5/31!
Apply now for #CLGSMI! 🤩
➡️ cientificolatino.com/gsmi
The GSMI program supports applicants through 1-on-1 mentorship, fee waivers, professional development, and community building!
Applications accepted on a ROLLING basis until 5/31!
Reposted by Shweta Bansal
So what should NSF grantees, worried by terminated grants, do? That's something I've been thinking a lot about, given my own NSF grants.
First, I'd encourage to read this AAUP guide focused squarely on NSF grant termination policies: www.aaup.org/sites/defaul...
First, I'd encourage to read this AAUP guide focused squarely on NSF grant termination policies: www.aaup.org/sites/defaul...
April 18, 2025 at 2:48 AM
So what should NSF grantees, worried by terminated grants, do? That's something I've been thinking a lot about, given my own NSF grants.
First, I'd encourage to read this AAUP guide focused squarely on NSF grant termination policies: www.aaup.org/sites/defaul...
First, I'd encourage to read this AAUP guide focused squarely on NSF grant termination policies: www.aaup.org/sites/defaul...
Reposted by Shweta Bansal
Raise your hand if you’ve ever used the Wayback Machine! ✋ The Internet Archive project (funded in part by NEH, #IMLS and #NSF) is an invaluable treasure trove of millions archived sites, texts, software, movies and more. All FREE.
And a vast majority of federal funding has been cut.
archive.org
And a vast majority of federal funding has been cut.
archive.org
April 20, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Raise your hand if you’ve ever used the Wayback Machine! ✋ The Internet Archive project (funded in part by NEH, #IMLS and #NSF) is an invaluable treasure trove of millions archived sites, texts, software, movies and more. All FREE.
And a vast majority of federal funding has been cut.
archive.org
And a vast majority of federal funding has been cut.
archive.org
Reposted by Shweta Bansal
Drug-resistant gonorrhea, a form of the widespread sexually transmitted infection, is considered an urgent health threat worldwide. The US has just lost its ability to detect it.
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/04/h...
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/04/h...
A Federal Lab That Tracked Rising S.T.I.s Has Been Shuttered (Gift Article)
The United States can no longer keep tabs on drug-resistant gonorrhea, among other infections, scientists said.
www.nytimes.com
April 4, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Drug-resistant gonorrhea, a form of the widespread sexually transmitted infection, is considered an urgent health threat worldwide. The US has just lost its ability to detect it.
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/04/h...
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/04/h...
Reposted by Shweta Bansal
UPDATE: Here's where we're at w/ NIH grant terminations:
❌ 429 NIH grants terminated*
❌ 137 related to HIV/AIDS prevention
❌ 27 on cancer
❌ 16 on Alzheimer's
The full Airtable, thanks to wizardry of @noamross.net👇
*This is just what we know. There are certainly more we don't know about yet.
❌ 429 NIH grants terminated*
❌ 137 related to HIV/AIDS prevention
❌ 27 on cancer
❌ 16 on Alzheimer's
The full Airtable, thanks to wizardry of @noamross.net👇
*This is just what we know. There are certainly more we don't know about yet.
Airtable | Everyone's app platform
Airtable is a low-code platform for building collaborative apps. Customize your workflow, collaborate, and achieve ambitious outcomes. Get started for free.
airtable.com
March 28, 2025 at 3:20 PM
UPDATE: Here's where we're at w/ NIH grant terminations:
❌ 429 NIH grants terminated*
❌ 137 related to HIV/AIDS prevention
❌ 27 on cancer
❌ 16 on Alzheimer's
The full Airtable, thanks to wizardry of @noamross.net👇
*This is just what we know. There are certainly more we don't know about yet.
❌ 429 NIH grants terminated*
❌ 137 related to HIV/AIDS prevention
❌ 27 on cancer
❌ 16 on Alzheimer's
The full Airtable, thanks to wizardry of @noamross.net👇
*This is just what we know. There are certainly more we don't know about yet.
Reposted by Shweta Bansal
If the public already knows, then surely there is no harm in posting the results. But they want to suppress them because RFK Jr., who is an anti-vaxxer and who has never conducted scientific research, thinks vaccines are bad. www.propublica.org/article/meas...
The CDC Buried a Measles Forecast That Stressed the Need for Vaccinations
The move — along with the CDC’s explanation — is a sign that the nation’s top public health agency may be falling in line under HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime critic of vaccines.
www.propublica.org
March 29, 2025 at 12:15 AM
If the public already knows, then surely there is no harm in posting the results. But they want to suppress them because RFK Jr., who is an anti-vaxxer and who has never conducted scientific research, thinks vaccines are bad. www.propublica.org/article/meas...
Reposted by Shweta Bansal
RFK Jr.’s lackey claims that the CDC doesn’t need to post the expert report on the measles outbreak.
She says this because it shows that people are more susceptible to measles if they live in under-vaccinated places.
She claims that the report “doesn’t say anything the public doesn’t know”.
She says this because it shows that people are more susceptible to measles if they live in under-vaccinated places.
She claims that the report “doesn’t say anything the public doesn’t know”.
March 29, 2025 at 12:09 AM
RFK Jr.’s lackey claims that the CDC doesn’t need to post the expert report on the measles outbreak.
She says this because it shows that people are more susceptible to measles if they live in under-vaccinated places.
She claims that the report “doesn’t say anything the public doesn’t know”.
She says this because it shows that people are more susceptible to measles if they live in under-vaccinated places.
She claims that the report “doesn’t say anything the public doesn’t know”.
I was just working with NCES data yesterday (to quantify how many 5-6 year olds are homeschooled and miss school vaccine requirements). NCES data aren't just important for education but critical for tracking and improving child nutrition and health too.
I just heard this as well. The entire staff of the National Center for Education Statistics, created in 1867, has been fired.
March 12, 2025 at 2:03 PM
I was just working with NCES data yesterday (to quantify how many 5-6 year olds are homeschooled and miss school vaccine requirements). NCES data aren't just important for education but critical for tracking and improving child nutrition and health too.
Reposted by Shweta Bansal
86 children and 19000 adults have died from flu this season in the U.S. and that's with a vaccine. If we have no vaccines come September these numbers will increase.
www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
FDA cancels meeting to select flu strains for next season's shots
The canceled meeting comes just days after a CDC vaccine advisory committee meeting was abruptly postponed.
www.nbcnews.com
February 27, 2025 at 12:06 PM
86 children and 19000 adults have died from flu this season in the U.S. and that's with a vaccine. If we have no vaccines come September these numbers will increase.
www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
Reposted by Shweta Bansal
🚨 Excited to see our work published in @jmirpub.bsky.social🚨
Our study characterizes the geographical connectivity across spatiotemporal scales, highlighting the significant heterogeneities that influence disease dynamics. W/ L Alvarez-Zuzek @vcolizza.bsky.social @bansallab.bsky.social
Our study characterizes the geographical connectivity across spatiotemporal scales, highlighting the significant heterogeneities that influence disease dynamics. W/ L Alvarez-Zuzek @vcolizza.bsky.social @bansallab.bsky.social
Characterizing US Spatial Connectivity and Implications for Geographical Disease Dynamics and Metapopulation Modeling: Longitudinal Observational Study
Background: Human mobility is expected to be a critical factor in the geographic diffusion of infectious diseases, and this assumption led to the implementation of social distancing policies during th...
publichealth.jmir.org
February 19, 2025 at 2:49 PM
🚨 Excited to see our work published in @jmirpub.bsky.social🚨
Our study characterizes the geographical connectivity across spatiotemporal scales, highlighting the significant heterogeneities that influence disease dynamics. W/ L Alvarez-Zuzek @vcolizza.bsky.social @bansallab.bsky.social
Our study characterizes the geographical connectivity across spatiotemporal scales, highlighting the significant heterogeneities that influence disease dynamics. W/ L Alvarez-Zuzek @vcolizza.bsky.social @bansallab.bsky.social
An excellent effort to get the voices of scientists heard throughout the country
👇👇👇
👇👇👇
Join us! Science Homecoming helps scientists reconnect with communities by writing about the importance of science funding in their hometown newspapers. We’ve mapped every small newspaper in the U.S. and provide resources to get you started. Help science get back home 🧪🔬🧬 🏠
sciencehomecoming.com
sciencehomecoming.com
Science Homecoming
sciencehomecoming.com
February 19, 2025 at 3:43 AM
An excellent effort to get the voices of scientists heard throughout the country
👇👇👇
👇👇👇
Reposted by Shweta Bansal
Since RFK Jr just got confirmed today, I am taking this chance to share this wonderful @sciam.bsky.social piece on
The Staggering Success of Vaccines
www.scientificamerican.com/article/see-...
The Staggering Success of Vaccines
www.scientificamerican.com/article/see-...
See How Many Lives Vaccines Have Saved around the World
Vaccines are the first step toward health equity in many parts of the world
www.scientificamerican.com
February 13, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Since RFK Jr just got confirmed today, I am taking this chance to share this wonderful @sciam.bsky.social piece on
The Staggering Success of Vaccines
www.scientificamerican.com/article/see-...
The Staggering Success of Vaccines
www.scientificamerican.com/article/see-...
Reposted by Shweta Bansal
There’s a lot going on right now & it can be hard to get work done! We’re offering a virtual space for @midas-network.bsky.social trainees to make some writing progress on Monday, Feb 10, at 2pm ET. Join us for an hour to write alongside supportive peers! Register: notredame.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
February 4, 2025 at 2:56 PM
There’s a lot going on right now & it can be hard to get work done! We’re offering a virtual space for @midas-network.bsky.social trainees to make some writing progress on Monday, Feb 10, at 2pm ET. Join us for an hour to write alongside supportive peers! Register: notredame.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Reposted by Shweta Bansal
🚨🧪😷 NEW research: What did outbreak reporting look like during Covid-19 and mpox? We found evidence of:
⚖️ Big moves from WHO on transparency
🌡️ More outbreaks potentially linked to climate change
🐔 Weird gaps and shifts in influenza outbreak reporting
Please share! 🔓 journals.plos.org/globalpublic...
⚖️ Big moves from WHO on transparency
🌡️ More outbreaks potentially linked to climate change
🐔 Weird gaps and shifts in influenza outbreak reporting
Please share! 🔓 journals.plos.org/globalpublic...
January 28, 2025 at 5:08 PM
🚨🧪😷 NEW research: What did outbreak reporting look like during Covid-19 and mpox? We found evidence of:
⚖️ Big moves from WHO on transparency
🌡️ More outbreaks potentially linked to climate change
🐔 Weird gaps and shifts in influenza outbreak reporting
Please share! 🔓 journals.plos.org/globalpublic...
⚖️ Big moves from WHO on transparency
🌡️ More outbreaks potentially linked to climate change
🐔 Weird gaps and shifts in influenza outbreak reporting
Please share! 🔓 journals.plos.org/globalpublic...