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Blue Eyed Grass @blueeyedgrass.bsky.social · 1d

As a famous song says "back of the sign didn't say nothing".

Blue Eyed Grass @blueeyedgrass.bsky.social · 1d

Well, if one of those fundamental questions is "are biomedical/mol gen grad students increasingly viewed as labor rather than trainees", than I think yes over the last 20 years there has been a net change. Mentors vary, obviously, but "broadly trained" is not the focus it used to be. JMO.

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Blue Eyed Grass @blueeyedgrass.bsky.social · 1d

Prof. BigShot gets NIH$$ to make a big data set. Grad student helps gets data set. Annual progress meeting for the student. "Nice work. Which hit is most interesting and what comes next". And there's that look.

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Blue Eyed Grass @blueeyedgrass.bsky.social · 1d

In the UC system, unionization of grad students has been successful in upping salaries (attendant by other problems). But the larger issue "are we training scientists or a labor force" is IMO a something to really thing about in an increasingly technocentric science enterprise. .

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Blue Eyed Grass @blueeyedgrass.bsky.social · 1d

Biggest danger spot was high school. Getting "this assignment is stupid, I'm not going to do it" and "I don't have to work hard" attitude. Enrolled him in college data science courses and that really helped. Lit a fire. Lucky for us, once hit college all good. Good luck! Enjoy the journey.

Blue Eyed Grass @blueeyedgrass.bsky.social · 1d

We were lucky in that for our son soccer ended up being this outlet into which he could (and still does) pour that boredom and restless energy. Tail can wag the dog though. If it takes off you can find your life is getting really rearranged.

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Blue Eyed Grass @blueeyedgrass.bsky.social · 1d

We've walked that road. Rather than reform it, maybe think how to direct it. If like us, school gifted programs in elementary won't be much help. Be wary if they want to skip a grade. We tried that and it was a disaster.

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Reposted by Blue Eyed Grass

Lincoln Democracy 🇺🇸 🇨🇦 🇲🇽 🇺🇦 @stef47.bsky.social · 2d

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Blue Eyed Grass @blueeyedgrass.bsky.social · 2d

Read this, and the authors are right. It is the best training. But I am old and cynical. I find myself asking "training for what". So they can get an R01 to conduct a single cell transcriptome analysis where they tweak a variable and generate a database?

Teresa Rayon @trayon.bsky.social · 2d

Model organisms as platforms for training scientific minds

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Blue Eyed Grass @blueeyedgrass.bsky.social · 4d

Speaking of advising, happened to see USC is slashing advisors and other staff, and more cuts on the way. Not my line, but storytelling of how academia really works could be compelling, also highlighting the value and fragility of these institutions.

www.uscannenbergmedia.com/2025/10/05/v...

Viterbi lays off all 57 student academic advisors

The School of Engineering notified advisors Monday that they could reapply to a reduced 44 positions at decreased pay.

www.uscannenbergmedia.com

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Blue Eyed Grass @blueeyedgrass.bsky.social · 4d

For c. elegans, I'll additioinally throw out the discovery of the role of small RNAs in controlling gene expression.

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Blue Eyed Grass @blueeyedgrass.bsky.social · 4d

Agree, that was probably the conceptual zenith of yeast's contribution to cell proliferation. The subsequent detailed models of kinetochore structure and chromosome/K attachment arising from that field are also a remarkable achievement I think.

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Blue Eyed Grass @blueeyedgrass.bsky.social · 5d

Advising is so critical, and often the first unit to be underappreciated and face the axe.

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Blue Eyed Grass @blueeyedgrass.bsky.social · 5d

Before this is over, I now strongly suspect we will see amplexus emerge as a resistance tactic. OTOH I am totally down for it. OTO, I will need to go someplace quiet and rethink the universe from the ground up.

Tyler, from the Internet @tylerfromtheinternet.com · 5d

Taking frogs back from the alt right 🫡

The Oregonian @oregonian.com · 5d

Things are happening at Portland's ICE facility tonight.

Read more of our protest coverage here: www.oregonlive.com/crime/2025/1...

Blue Eyed Grass @blueeyedgrass.bsky.social · 5d

Just tell them you want to slip into the pocket and find peace in the groove and they will be like "gottcha".

Blue Eyed Grass @blueeyedgrass.bsky.social · 6d

Thanks! I'll pass along to him to check out. My parents and sister live in P'cola (well, Milton). if he ended up that way rather than west coast they'd be thrilled. Funny-he's all grown up but still hard to not poke my nose into his business. "Dad, what does training environment even mean?"

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Blue Eyed Grass @blueeyedgrass.bsky.social · 6d

Thank you so much! I'll pass along to him.

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Blue Eyed Grass @blueeyedgrass.bsky.social · 6d

Thank you! Will pass along-he may already be looking at Cornell. On my wife's side, there's a genealogical connection to Cornell. If I have it right, her great grandmother was a Cornell (daughter of one of founder Ezra's brothers?)

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Blue Eyed Grass @blueeyedgrass.bsky.social · 6d

And so if anybody sees this has a recommendation on good graduate programs in soil sciences...

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Blue Eyed Grass @blueeyedgrass.bsky.social · 6d

It's a good point, science keeps going, scientists keep coming. My son graduates this coming spring. Dual major physics and environ sci. Wants to do grad school in physical aspects of soil dynamics. He's been doing experiments in that area since 5th grade science fairs. You have to be who you are.

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Blue Eyed Grass @blueeyedgrass.bsky.social · 7d

I''m sure risky but have to say that looks like a fun day at work.

Blue Eyed Grass @blueeyedgrass.bsky.social · 7d

Case in point. I remember in Jan I think it was that HHMI hard stopped its IE3 program. I was like seriously, you're just going to put your tail between you legs and run? And I still don't get it, not really, why chicken out like that? Such a cool program.

Blue Eyed Grass @blueeyedgrass.bsky.social · 7d

Which begs the question of who does run universities, and why.

Blue Eyed Grass @blueeyedgrass.bsky.social · 7d

I'll take the liberty to suggest that "scientific establishment" should be defined more concretely. People who do not know how the sausage gets made will not get what that term encompasses. And It matters for this discussion. As always, thanks for what you're doing.

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Blue Eyed Grass @blueeyedgrass.bsky.social · 8d

TFW you see a leopard eat its own face.

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