Needhi Bhalla 💅🏽
@needhibhalla.bsky.social
Cell biologist and geneticist, Professor, mom and consumer of alcohol. Those might all be related. I grind til I own it.
She/her/hers.
ORCID: 0000-0002-6859-0073
personal account
She/her/hers.
ORCID: 0000-0002-6859-0073
personal account
Pinned
Scaling back DEI programmes and the loss of scientific talent
Nature Cell Biology - Programmes that support diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in science are under attack in the USA. Data indicate that diversity in the scientific workforce increases...
www.nature.com
@joann-trejo.bsky.social, @marymunson4.bsky.social and I have a commentary in @natcellbio.nature.com on recent attacks on DEI in biomedical research: "If scientific research, especially biomedical research, is meant to serve everyone, then it requires that everyone has an opportunity to participate"
Reposted by Needhi Bhalla 💅🏽
Reposted by Needhi Bhalla 💅🏽
My department at California State University Northridge is hiring! We're looking for a new colleague studying microbiology or molecular/cellular biology. I'm not on the search committee, but happy to answer questions about the department and campus, and life in LA
buff.ly/Pc1KOaC
buff.ly/Pc1KOaC
Career Opportunities
Applicant Log-In
careers.pageuppeople.com
December 4, 2025 at 7:19 PM
My department at California State University Northridge is hiring! We're looking for a new colleague studying microbiology or molecular/cellular biology. I'm not on the search committee, but happy to answer questions about the department and campus, and life in LA
buff.ly/Pc1KOaC
buff.ly/Pc1KOaC
Reposted by Needhi Bhalla 💅🏽
Important for people to know the $75 mil payout from Northwestern to the government didn't turn on canceled grants that broaden participation in stem, physics, promote diversity etc... what this communicates about uni priorities is clear: dailynorthwestern.com/2025/12/03/c...
Northwestern NSF grant terminations leave researchers stuck
Although Northwestern struck a deal with the Trump administration to restore federal research funding, National Science Foundation grants terminated in accordance with executive orders remain unchange...
dailynorthwestern.com
December 5, 2025 at 2:31 AM
Important for people to know the $75 mil payout from Northwestern to the government didn't turn on canceled grants that broaden participation in stem, physics, promote diversity etc... what this communicates about uni priorities is clear: dailynorthwestern.com/2025/12/03/c...
Reposted by Needhi Bhalla 💅🏽
“I keep thinking about Anne Frank, who was kept alive with her family by a good friend named Miep,” said the Rev. Jane Mauldin, a Unitarian minister who was one of the volunteers who raced to the North Kenner raid on the roofers … “I keep in my head saying, ‘What would Miep do?’”
I went to New Orleans to see what it looks like when a great American city comes under siege from the government, as masked goons of 'Catahoula Crunch' lie about nabbing bad guys before swarming Home Depot, roofing jobs for folks with brown skin
My special report www.inquirer.com/opinion/new-...
My special report www.inquirer.com/opinion/new-...
Life during wartime in New Orleans as feds terrorize Latinos who saved a city | Will Bunch
The first day of long-feared federal immigration raids across Greater New Orleans exposes the Big Lie of mass deportation.
www.inquirer.com
December 4, 2025 at 8:23 PM
“I keep thinking about Anne Frank, who was kept alive with her family by a good friend named Miep,” said the Rev. Jane Mauldin, a Unitarian minister who was one of the volunteers who raced to the North Kenner raid on the roofers … “I keep in my head saying, ‘What would Miep do?’”
Reposted by Needhi Bhalla 💅🏽
"Terrible things are happening outside ... poor helpless people are being dragged out of their homes. Families are torn apart; men, women and children are separated. Children come home from school to find that their parents have disappeared." — Anne Frank (Jan 13, 1943)
“I keep thinking about Anne Frank, who was kept alive with her family by a good friend named Miep,” said the Rev. Jane Mauldin, a Unitarian minister who was one of the volunteers who raced to the North Kenner raid on the roofers … “I keep in my head saying, ‘What would Miep do?’”
I went to New Orleans to see what it looks like when a great American city comes under siege from the government, as masked goons of 'Catahoula Crunch' lie about nabbing bad guys before swarming Home Depot, roofing jobs for folks with brown skin
My special report www.inquirer.com/opinion/new-...
My special report www.inquirer.com/opinion/new-...
December 4, 2025 at 8:25 PM
"Terrible things are happening outside ... poor helpless people are being dragged out of their homes. Families are torn apart; men, women and children are separated. Children come home from school to find that their parents have disappeared." — Anne Frank (Jan 13, 1943)
Reposted by Needhi Bhalla 💅🏽
This is what government censorship actually looks like: defunding entire fields, deporting researchers, and quite effectively chilling speech that helps people understand how our information systems are being exploited and calls out powerful people and platforms for their bullshit.
For the last decade, the pervasive spread of bullshit & manipulation of online platforms have been widely recognized societal concerns. Now non US citizens studying those subjects can be labeled “censors” & denied visas or deported from the US. Censorship, indeed. www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
Exclusive: Trump administration orders enhanced vetting for applicants of H-1B visa
An internal State Department memo said that anyone involved in "censorship" of free speech should be considered for rejection.
www.reuters.com
December 4, 2025 at 5:27 PM
This is what government censorship actually looks like: defunding entire fields, deporting researchers, and quite effectively chilling speech that helps people understand how our information systems are being exploited and calls out powerful people and platforms for their bullshit.
Reposted by Needhi Bhalla 💅🏽
Reposted by Needhi Bhalla 💅🏽
Holy shit.
Reuters reporting that new admin instructions on visas are if you worked at a platform in trust & safety or content moderation or on fact checking or online safety at an platform you *and your loved ones* are ineligible for H-1B visa.
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
Reuters reporting that new admin instructions on visas are if you worked at a platform in trust & safety or content moderation or on fact checking or online safety at an platform you *and your loved ones* are ineligible for H-1B visa.
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
December 4, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Holy shit.
Reuters reporting that new admin instructions on visas are if you worked at a platform in trust & safety or content moderation or on fact checking or online safety at an platform you *and your loved ones* are ineligible for H-1B visa.
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
Reuters reporting that new admin instructions on visas are if you worked at a platform in trust & safety or content moderation or on fact checking or online safety at an platform you *and your loved ones* are ineligible for H-1B visa.
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
Reposted by Needhi Bhalla 💅🏽
Affirmative action for men is a thing!
November 21, 2025 at 12:50 AM
Affirmative action for men is a thing!
Reposted by Needhi Bhalla 💅🏽
Some of y'all didn't believe me 2 weeks ago so I'll reshare in light of the hilarity above
bsky.app/profile/bake...
bsky.app/profile/bake...
Biggest shocker at my talk today, which is consistent with my other talks and media stuff, is that the acceptance rate for men and women are different at highly selective institutions. Men have a much higher acceptance rate because most colleges are scared to go beyond a 60/40 ratio.
December 4, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Some of y'all didn't believe me 2 weeks ago so I'll reshare in light of the hilarity above
bsky.app/profile/bake...
bsky.app/profile/bake...
Reposted by Needhi Bhalla 💅🏽
Not "hurt college men" Washington Post
lololololol *this* is the bad place (h/t @iansociologo.bsky.social)
I'll share my thread from 2 weeks ago about this issue in the reply
lololololol *this* is the bad place (h/t @iansociologo.bsky.social)
I'll share my thread from 2 weeks ago about this issue in the reply
Brown University accepted nearly equal numbers of male and female students, but got almost twice as many female applicants. That math meant it was easier for men to get in.
Trump's DEI ban may end gender balancing efforts that often benefit men.
Trump's DEI ban may end gender balancing efforts that often benefit men.
Trump’s attack on DEI may hurt college men, particularly White men
The Trump administration’s ban on diversity, equity and inclusion also targets gender. The ban may impact gender balancing practices that often benefit college men.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 4, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Not "hurt college men" Washington Post
lololololol *this* is the bad place (h/t @iansociologo.bsky.social)
I'll share my thread from 2 weeks ago about this issue in the reply
lololololol *this* is the bad place (h/t @iansociologo.bsky.social)
I'll share my thread from 2 weeks ago about this issue in the reply
Reposted by Needhi Bhalla 💅🏽
Holy moly. Just reading the name “Vern Yip” gave me temporal vertigo! Like a blast from the past and from a completely different universe.
I didn’t know he was still on the scene.
www.npr.org/2025/12/04/n...?
I didn’t know he was still on the scene.
www.npr.org/2025/12/04/n...?
Vern Yip's secret to better home decor? Stop scrolling for inspiration
In the digital age, it's easy to curate the look of your home with the help of artificial intelligence and social media. But designer Vern Yip would like you to take a more hands-on, tactile approach.
www.npr.org
December 4, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Holy moly. Just reading the name “Vern Yip” gave me temporal vertigo! Like a blast from the past and from a completely different universe.
I didn’t know he was still on the scene.
www.npr.org/2025/12/04/n...?
I didn’t know he was still on the scene.
www.npr.org/2025/12/04/n...?
Reposted by Needhi Bhalla 💅🏽
I rarely (if ever) have seen an article highlighting women who were denied admission to a university that deliberately prioritizes male applicants.
Even this one (at least the headline and blurb) frame men as the primary victims.
Even this one (at least the headline and blurb) frame men as the primary victims.
Brown University accepted nearly equal numbers of male and female students, but got almost twice as many female applicants. That math meant it was easier for men to get in.
Trump's DEI ban may end gender balancing efforts that often benefit men.
Trump's DEI ban may end gender balancing efforts that often benefit men.
Trump’s attack on DEI may hurt college men, particularly White men
The Trump administration’s ban on diversity, equity and inclusion also targets gender. The ban may impact gender balancing practices that often benefit college men.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 4, 2025 at 6:52 PM
I rarely (if ever) have seen an article highlighting women who were denied admission to a university that deliberately prioritizes male applicants.
Even this one (at least the headline and blurb) frame men as the primary victims.
Even this one (at least the headline and blurb) frame men as the primary victims.
🧪
Many of us need to keep writing federal grants (both for political reasons and as a Hail Mary to keep people employed) despite the feeling it's a waste of time, so... if you got an NSF or NIH grant funded this year, would you mind bragging about it in the replies, so it feels like the odds are >0%?
December 4, 2025 at 6:47 PM
🧪
Reposted by Needhi Bhalla 💅🏽
Many of us need to keep writing federal grants (both for political reasons and as a Hail Mary to keep people employed) despite the feeling it's a waste of time, so... if you got an NSF or NIH grant funded this year, would you mind bragging about it in the replies, so it feels like the odds are >0%?
December 4, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Many of us need to keep writing federal grants (both for political reasons and as a Hail Mary to keep people employed) despite the feeling it's a waste of time, so... if you got an NSF or NIH grant funded this year, would you mind bragging about it in the replies, so it feels like the odds are >0%?
Reposted by Needhi Bhalla 💅🏽
The masks are off with ACIP. Several of them are bigots who do not give a DAMN about people who suffer with Hepatitis B because they blame them for having it.
December 4, 2025 at 6:32 PM
The masks are off with ACIP. Several of them are bigots who do not give a DAMN about people who suffer with Hepatitis B because they blame them for having it.
Reposted by Needhi Bhalla 💅🏽
Retsef Levi is pontificating again, using his personal beliefs and anecdotes to support a push for “personalized medicine.”
THIS IS NOT PUBLIC HEALTH.
MIT should be utterly ashamed to have this man on their faculty. He is a danger to the health of the people of the U.S.
THIS IS NOT PUBLIC HEALTH.
MIT should be utterly ashamed to have this man on their faculty. He is a danger to the health of the people of the U.S.
December 4, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Retsef Levi is pontificating again, using his personal beliefs and anecdotes to support a push for “personalized medicine.”
THIS IS NOT PUBLIC HEALTH.
MIT should be utterly ashamed to have this man on their faculty. He is a danger to the health of the people of the U.S.
THIS IS NOT PUBLIC HEALTH.
MIT should be utterly ashamed to have this man on their faculty. He is a danger to the health of the people of the U.S.
Reposted by Needhi Bhalla 💅🏽
This is good and important and BIPARTISAN and a great use of your time right now would be to call your Senators to thank them and/or tell them to get the hell on board to help
for the peanut gallery "where are the democrats" literal mr. democrat chuck schumer is trying to stop this.
www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...
www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...
US lawmakers want war powers vote after Trump pledges Venezuela attack 'soon'
A group of Democratic and Republican U.S. senators filed a resolution on Wednesday that would block U.S. military action against Venezuela without congressional approval, after President Donald Trump ...
www.reuters.com
December 4, 2025 at 5:05 PM
This is good and important and BIPARTISAN and a great use of your time right now would be to call your Senators to thank them and/or tell them to get the hell on board to help
Reposted by Needhi Bhalla 💅🏽
all they know how to do is podcast
Not remotely the most important ACIP observation, but I’m struck by how they’ve transformed the setup into something that looks like an official CDC broadcast rather than an actual advisory committee meeting. (Compare to the old pre-covid setup). Better for clips/soundbites/social media, I suppose?
December 4, 2025 at 4:23 PM
all they know how to do is podcast
Reposted by Needhi Bhalla 💅🏽
Given my day (a typical day in academia), grateful this t-shirt from @effinbirds.com exists. You, too, could own one. Or gift one. Just sayin'.
powered by spite Women's T-Shirt | Effin' Birds
Shop powered by spite – available on Women's T-Shirt
effinbirds.threadless.com
December 4, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Given my day (a typical day in academia), grateful this t-shirt from @effinbirds.com exists. You, too, could own one. Or gift one. Just sayin'.
Reposted by Needhi Bhalla 💅🏽
This is how you write a headline
Palantir CEO Says Making War Crimes Constitutional Would Be Good for Business
Palantir CEO Says Making War Crimes Constitutional Would Be Good for Business
Alex Karp vows to use his "whole influence" on immigration and defense policy.
gizmodo.com
December 4, 2025 at 3:50 PM
This is how you write a headline
Reposted by Needhi Bhalla 💅🏽
ACIP is no longer a legitimate scientific body.
Period.
This is a goat rodeo of radical anti-vaxxers.
Period.
This is a goat rodeo of radical anti-vaxxers.
December 4, 2025 at 3:50 PM
ACIP is no longer a legitimate scientific body.
Period.
This is a goat rodeo of radical anti-vaxxers.
Period.
This is a goat rodeo of radical anti-vaxxers.
Reposted by Needhi Bhalla 💅🏽
Sitting outside the Health Science Library, waiting for my GoTriangle 800 bus to take me to the transit centre so I can participate in their Ride-Along in conjunction with GoCary. Some retired guys play golf, I ride buses and blog blog 😎
December 4, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Sitting outside the Health Science Library, waiting for my GoTriangle 800 bus to take me to the transit centre so I can participate in their Ride-Along in conjunction with GoCary. Some retired guys play golf, I ride buses and blog blog 😎
Reposted by Needhi Bhalla 💅🏽
Great thread from the author of a deeply investigated piece on the University of Tulsa. Here's the article.
www.chronicle.com/article/the-...
www.chronicle.com/article/the-...
December 4, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Great thread from the author of a deeply investigated piece on the University of Tulsa. Here's the article.
www.chronicle.com/article/the-...
www.chronicle.com/article/the-...
Reposted by Needhi Bhalla 💅🏽
The details might be unique to Tulsa, but this story’s themes — about aspiration and its shortfalls — illustrate some of higher ed's deepest vulnerabilities. (13/14)
December 4, 2025 at 3:33 PM
The details might be unique to Tulsa, but this story’s themes — about aspiration and its shortfalls — illustrate some of higher ed's deepest vulnerabilities. (13/14)