Duncan Smith
@laggingstrand.bsky.social
NYU biologist studying DNA replication. Passionate about undergraduate education. 🇺🇸🇬🇧. Views my own, and all that
Reposted by Duncan Smith
If I were the UK Government I would simply not route all my communications through the platform whose owner just called for regime change in Britain and said "fight back or die"
September 13, 2025 at 6:10 PM
If I were the UK Government I would simply not route all my communications through the platform whose owner just called for regime change in Britain and said "fight back or die"
Reposted by Duncan Smith
Discovering computer as an adult makes you go crazy. Discovering computer as a baby makes you go crazy. In all of human history, there will only ever be one generation to discover computer at the correct age: 13
The problem with every post-Millennial generation is they got to go straight to high speed internet. Of course you'll get computer madness that way. Make them start with those old screeching modems and work their way up
September 12, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Discovering computer as an adult makes you go crazy. Discovering computer as a baby makes you go crazy. In all of human history, there will only ever be one generation to discover computer at the correct age: 13
Reposted by Duncan Smith
One of the greatest errors in K-12 education, in my opinion, is prioritizing trigonometry and calculus over statistics. Yes, trig and calc are important for many professions. Statistics are important for literacy.
oh noooo
September 6, 2025 at 3:19 PM
One of the greatest errors in K-12 education, in my opinion, is prioritizing trigonometry and calculus over statistics. Yes, trig and calc are important for many professions. Statistics are important for literacy.
Reposted by Duncan Smith
The Church Evolution Laboratory (CEL@NYU) will be official as of Sep 1st: shchurch.github.io. We are recruiting at all levels, including a postdoc to work on evolutionary patterns and processes via comparative genomics in Hawaiian Drosophila. Please share widely!
Church Evolution Laboratory
Department of Biology, New York City
shchurch.github.io
August 28, 2025 at 6:16 PM
The Church Evolution Laboratory (CEL@NYU) will be official as of Sep 1st: shchurch.github.io. We are recruiting at all levels, including a postdoc to work on evolutionary patterns and processes via comparative genomics in Hawaiian Drosophila. Please share widely!
Reposted by Duncan Smith
4% payline demoralizing for reviewers - review 9 grants each taking 3-4hrs (total reviewed by all is 90) flying to DC, a hotel conference room to discuss the top half of grants (45) 15 min each, 3x a year for 4 yrs. Paid $300. 4% = maybe 3/90, 0-1 that you reviewed funded. I couldn’t.
July 27, 2025 at 8:12 PM
4% payline demoralizing for reviewers - review 9 grants each taking 3-4hrs (total reviewed by all is 90) flying to DC, a hotel conference room to discuss the top half of grants (45) 15 min each, 3x a year for 4 yrs. Paid $300. 4% = maybe 3/90, 0-1 that you reviewed funded. I couldn’t.
Reposted by Duncan Smith
Success in academia often has more to do with luck, patronage and the job market than “hard work”.
Good academics acknowledge this.
I worked hard, but I was in the right place at the right time on occasion. Historians far more talented than I have fallen between the cracks.
Good academics acknowledge this.
I worked hard, but I was in the right place at the right time on occasion. Historians far more talented than I have fallen between the cracks.
May 21, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Success in academia often has more to do with luck, patronage and the job market than “hard work”.
Good academics acknowledge this.
I worked hard, but I was in the right place at the right time on occasion. Historians far more talented than I have fallen between the cracks.
Good academics acknowledge this.
I worked hard, but I was in the right place at the right time on occasion. Historians far more talented than I have fallen between the cracks.
Reposted by Duncan Smith
Northwestern has not received any NIH funds since March. No written communication about why or what can be done. Thank you Ben Singer for raising awareness at #ATS2025
May 18, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Northwestern has not received any NIH funds since March. No written communication about why or what can be done. Thank you Ben Singer for raising awareness at #ATS2025
Reposted by Duncan Smith
Yesterday, the NIH R35 “Outstanding Investigator” grant to fund scientists in my lab studying antibiotic resistance was terminated for reasons not related to the content of the science, or any actions taken by me or members of my lab
May 13, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Yesterday, the NIH R35 “Outstanding Investigator” grant to fund scientists in my lab studying antibiotic resistance was terminated for reasons not related to the content of the science, or any actions taken by me or members of my lab
Great opportunity to join a new lab doing exciting science. Neurons! Mitochondria! RNA transport!
My lab at NYU is hiring a postdoc interested in RNA biology and local translation in neurons following axonal injury/neurodegenerative diseases!! Apply here: apply.interfolio.com/165681
Apply - Interfolio
{{$ctrl.$state.data.pageTitle}} - Apply - Interfolio
apply.interfolio.com
May 1, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Great opportunity to join a new lab doing exciting science. Neurons! Mitochondria! RNA transport!
Reposted by Duncan Smith
I'm not saying anything novel here but it really is just truly despicable to watch them use THEIR OWN COLOSSAL SCREW UP to slander the reporter THEY INCLUDED ON THEIR CLASSIFIED GROUP CHAT
March 25, 2025 at 11:12 PM
I'm not saying anything novel here but it really is just truly despicable to watch them use THEIR OWN COLOSSAL SCREW UP to slander the reporter THEY INCLUDED ON THEIR CLASSIFIED GROUP CHAT
Reposted by Duncan Smith
Today I lost an NIH grant training clinicians to do research about intimate partner violence with perinatal women.
More women are murdered in the perinatal period than die of obstetric complications.
I didn't just lose a grant. We lost an entire cohort of people building careers to prevent that.
More women are murdered in the perinatal period than die of obstetric complications.
I didn't just lose a grant. We lost an entire cohort of people building careers to prevent that.
March 22, 2025 at 12:19 AM
Today I lost an NIH grant training clinicians to do research about intimate partner violence with perinatal women.
More women are murdered in the perinatal period than die of obstetric complications.
I didn't just lose a grant. We lost an entire cohort of people building careers to prevent that.
More women are murdered in the perinatal period than die of obstetric complications.
I didn't just lose a grant. We lost an entire cohort of people building careers to prevent that.
Reposted by Duncan Smith
So we’ve got two competing schools of what the Democratic Party should do next. One of them is hosting the largest political rallies in history in places like New Hampshire and Arizona, and the other one just got $120 million from Silicon Valley and is on a book tour.
March 22, 2025 at 10:05 PM
So we’ve got two competing schools of what the Democratic Party should do next. One of them is hosting the largest political rallies in history in places like New Hampshire and Arizona, and the other one just got $120 million from Silicon Valley and is on a book tour.
Reposted by Duncan Smith
This is like Gina Raimondo going on MSNBC and telling people to buy Hunter Biden’s paintings, only if Hunter was the unelected co-president and not a private citizen
March 20, 2025 at 12:41 AM
This is like Gina Raimondo going on MSNBC and telling people to buy Hunter Biden’s paintings, only if Hunter was the unelected co-president and not a private citizen
Reposted by Duncan Smith
The Trump admin cut $400 million from Columbia under the guise of “protecting Jews.”
Now they’re freezing $175 million in Penn funds under the guise of “protecting women.”
It’s not about protecting any of us. It’s about gutting our institutions and our democracy.
www.thedp.com/article/2025...
Now they’re freezing $175 million in Penn funds under the guise of “protecting women.”
It’s not about protecting any of us. It’s about gutting our institutions and our democracy.
www.thedp.com/article/2025...
Trump administration freezes $175 million in federal funding to Penn
According to a White House tweet, Wednesday's decision is a result of Penn's
www.thedp.com
March 19, 2025 at 3:16 PM
The Trump admin cut $400 million from Columbia under the guise of “protecting Jews.”
Now they’re freezing $175 million in Penn funds under the guise of “protecting women.”
It’s not about protecting any of us. It’s about gutting our institutions and our democracy.
www.thedp.com/article/2025...
Now they’re freezing $175 million in Penn funds under the guise of “protecting women.”
It’s not about protecting any of us. It’s about gutting our institutions and our democracy.
www.thedp.com/article/2025...
Reposted by Duncan Smith
Schumer needs to quit. He’s useless. Completely clueless.
WATCH: Schumer says "our democracy will be at stake" if Trump disobeys the Supreme Court—but "we're not there yet."
March 19, 2025 at 2:24 AM
Schumer needs to quit. He’s useless. Completely clueless.
"Knowing fully that this moment transcends my individual circumstances, I hope nonetheless to be free to witness the birth of my first-born child"
“My name is Mahmoud Khalil and I am a political prisoner.” www.documentcloud.org/documents/25...
Letter from a Palestinian Political Prisoner in Louisiana March 18, 2025
www.documentcloud.org
March 19, 2025 at 2:19 AM
"Knowing fully that this moment transcends my individual circumstances, I hope nonetheless to be free to witness the birth of my first-born child"
Reposted by Duncan Smith
Fentanyl is very much like a weapon of mass destruction in the sense that Republicans like to lie about finding it and then use that lie as a justification to do ruinous, destructive things
March 19, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Fentanyl is very much like a weapon of mass destruction in the sense that Republicans like to lie about finding it and then use that lie as a justification to do ruinous, destructive things
Reposted by Duncan Smith
There are days in life that shake you.
I’m shattered 💔 to share that I just found out that the US Government terminated my 2024 NIH Director’s Early Independence Award (~$2 million), threatening my long-promised assistant professor job at Columbia University
& academic career... 1/🧵
I’m shattered 💔 to share that I just found out that the US Government terminated my 2024 NIH Director’s Early Independence Award (~$2 million), threatening my long-promised assistant professor job at Columbia University
& academic career... 1/🧵
March 18, 2025 at 11:27 PM
There are days in life that shake you.
I’m shattered 💔 to share that I just found out that the US Government terminated my 2024 NIH Director’s Early Independence Award (~$2 million), threatening my long-promised assistant professor job at Columbia University
& academic career... 1/🧵
I’m shattered 💔 to share that I just found out that the US Government terminated my 2024 NIH Director’s Early Independence Award (~$2 million), threatening my long-promised assistant professor job at Columbia University
& academic career... 1/🧵
Reposted by Duncan Smith
My lab at NYU is hiring a postdoc in microbial ecology and evolution! We are looking for someone interested in both wet and dry lab techniques, including experimental evolution, genome editing, bioinformatics, and some modeling. Apply here: apply.interfolio.com/164683
Apply - Interfolio
{{$ctrl.$state.data.pageTitle}} - Apply - Interfolio
apply.interfolio.com
March 18, 2025 at 8:08 PM
My lab at NYU is hiring a postdoc in microbial ecology and evolution! We are looking for someone interested in both wet and dry lab techniques, including experimental evolution, genome editing, bioinformatics, and some modeling. Apply here: apply.interfolio.com/164683
Reposted by Duncan Smith
One reason this government can so easily frame protesters as terrorists is that others—including some at universities—have already laid the groundwork. When we treat students engaged in constitutionally protected speech like criminals, we make it easier for authoritarian governments to do the same.
Before Mahmoud Khalil's detention last week, ICE came for a Columbia PhD student. She had nothing to do with the Gaza protests, but was arrested last spring during a roundup while trying to walk home. Charges were dismissed. The State Department still revoked her visa.
How a Columbia Student Fled to Canada After ICE Came Looking for Her
Ranjani Srinivasan’s student visa was revoked by U.S. immigration authorities. That was just the start of her odyssey.
www.nytimes.com
March 15, 2025 at 4:19 PM
One reason this government can so easily frame protesters as terrorists is that others—including some at universities—have already laid the groundwork. When we treat students engaged in constitutionally protected speech like criminals, we make it easier for authoritarian governments to do the same.
Reposted by Duncan Smith
I’m told this is a real letter. It basically says, “We’ll destroy Columbia unless you destroy it first.”
March 14, 2025 at 12:02 AM
I’m told this is a real letter. It basically says, “We’ll destroy Columbia unless you destroy it first.”
Reposted by Duncan Smith
New Yorkers: Call Sen. Gillibrand’s office to vote NO on cloture and NO on the Republican Spending Bill.
They vote in the morning.
☎️: (202) 224-4451
They vote in the morning.
☎️: (202) 224-4451
March 14, 2025 at 12:56 AM
New Yorkers: Call Sen. Gillibrand’s office to vote NO on cloture and NO on the Republican Spending Bill.
They vote in the morning.
☎️: (202) 224-4451
They vote in the morning.
☎️: (202) 224-4451
Reposted by Duncan Smith
if Trump and his cronies are able to veto appropriations made by Congress, then we've already moved into a dictatorial system of government. Why would Democrats waste time negotiating spending deals if Trump can just rip them up after he signs them?
March 13, 2025 at 7:40 PM
if Trump and his cronies are able to veto appropriations made by Congress, then we've already moved into a dictatorial system of government. Why would Democrats waste time negotiating spending deals if Trump can just rip them up after he signs them?
Reposted by Duncan Smith
Tommy Tuberville: "When it comes to protesters, we gotta make sure we treat all of them the same: send them to jail."
March 12, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Tommy Tuberville: "When it comes to protesters, we gotta make sure we treat all of them the same: send them to jail."