Tom
@smootasaurus.bsky.social
Biomedical engineer chasing PhDs. When I'm not doing science, I'm advocating on policies and working to make STEM more inclusive.
Once upon a time, "warrior diplomat" for the US Army.
links — https://projectbiotech.co/tom
Once upon a time, "warrior diplomat" for the US Army.
links — https://projectbiotech.co/tom
Happy snow day New York — Fuck ICE.
December 14, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Happy snow day New York — Fuck ICE.
Quiet quitting but make it grad students with professors who insist on holding classes during final exam week.
December 11, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Quiet quitting but make it grad students with professors who insist on holding classes during final exam week.
If you were lucky enough to have a 3 day work week and pick your schedule, would you choose a consistent consecutive block or break the week up? A or B?
A- Mon, Wed, Thurs
B- Tues, Wed, Thurs
A- Mon, Wed, Thurs
B- Tues, Wed, Thurs
December 10, 2025 at 3:14 PM
If you were lucky enough to have a 3 day work week and pick your schedule, would you choose a consistent consecutive block or break the week up? A or B?
A- Mon, Wed, Thurs
B- Tues, Wed, Thurs
A- Mon, Wed, Thurs
B- Tues, Wed, Thurs
If you're a military veteran with a service connection and private health insurance, this is your reminder — schedule those VA appts for Jan to beat down that ridiculous deductible. Not sure how this works outside vets?
Anyone care to comment with tips for beating health insurance deductibles?
Anyone care to comment with tips for beating health insurance deductibles?
December 9, 2025 at 8:31 PM
If you're a military veteran with a service connection and private health insurance, this is your reminder — schedule those VA appts for Jan to beat down that ridiculous deductible. Not sure how this works outside vets?
Anyone care to comment with tips for beating health insurance deductibles?
Anyone care to comment with tips for beating health insurance deductibles?
Seems yesterday I might have agreed on an aggressive May timeline to defend a master's thesis about a metric fuckton of math.
I should probably find out huh?
I should probably find out huh?
December 8, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Seems yesterday I might have agreed on an aggressive May timeline to defend a master's thesis about a metric fuckton of math.
I should probably find out huh?
I should probably find out huh?
Posting this for absolutely no reason today.
December 5, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Posting this for absolutely no reason today.
My YouTube channel is closing in on its 1st 100 subscribers. Finally updated my bio link or you could watch me rant about potassium deficiency and sports drinks right here 👇
(apologies in advance for the cheesy clickbait preview, but it's all they know over there)
youtu.be/qfwuyS-pIao
(apologies in advance for the cheesy clickbait preview, but it's all they know over there)
youtu.be/qfwuyS-pIao
The Real Reason You Cramp During Workouts (Hint: It's Not Sodium) - Muscle Fatigue Explained
YouTube video by Tom Smoot
youtu.be
December 4, 2025 at 1:13 AM
My YouTube channel is closing in on its 1st 100 subscribers. Finally updated my bio link or you could watch me rant about potassium deficiency and sports drinks right here 👇
(apologies in advance for the cheesy clickbait preview, but it's all they know over there)
youtu.be/qfwuyS-pIao
(apologies in advance for the cheesy clickbait preview, but it's all they know over there)
youtu.be/qfwuyS-pIao
The doctor I work for is suggesting I'm capable of designing a new and novel device based on this hardware that measures ECG signals basically through changes in magnetic field. I can... But the question is really how long will it take me. It's PhD level work TBH.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37874445/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37874445/
Cardiac and respiratory motion extraction for MRI using pilot tone-a patient study - PubMed
This study aims to evaluate the accuracy and reliability of the cardiac and respiratory signals extracted from Pilot Tone (PT) in patients clinically referred for cardiovascular MRI. Twenty-three patients were scanned under free-breathing conditions using a balanced steady-state free-precession real …
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
December 3, 2025 at 6:06 PM
The doctor I work for is suggesting I'm capable of designing a new and novel device based on this hardware that measures ECG signals basically through changes in magnetic field. I can... But the question is really how long will it take me. It's PhD level work TBH.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37874445/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37874445/
Van Epps didn't win in TN-7 this week. Billionaire donors from across the country did. Remember that. Vote accordingly.
December 3, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Van Epps didn't win in TN-7 this week. Billionaire donors from across the country did. Remember that. Vote accordingly.
It's giving Tuesday and I'm terrible at promoting the profit I founded.
Fun twist—I don't want anything. I'm doing the giving.
I joined our summer interns and we made a bunch of games. You can play them for free. So if you hate the New York Times like I do — have at it.
games.weliftandshift.org
Fun twist—I don't want anything. I'm doing the giving.
I joined our summer interns and we made a bunch of games. You can play them for free. So if you hate the New York Times like I do — have at it.
games.weliftandshift.org
Lift & Shift Games Collection
Explore and play games built by Lift & Shift Foundation interns. Fun, challenging, and supporting a good cause.
games.weliftandshift.org
December 2, 2025 at 6:26 PM
It's giving Tuesday and I'm terrible at promoting the profit I founded.
Fun twist—I don't want anything. I'm doing the giving.
I joined our summer interns and we made a bunch of games. You can play them for free. So if you hate the New York Times like I do — have at it.
games.weliftandshift.org
Fun twist—I don't want anything. I'm doing the giving.
I joined our summer interns and we made a bunch of games. You can play them for free. So if you hate the New York Times like I do — have at it.
games.weliftandshift.org
Current mood. Time to rip the bandaid off. It is December after all.
youtu.be/uJovBbYwCXQ?...
youtu.be/uJovBbYwCXQ?...
The Winter Soldier Demons
YouTube video by Marvel Overdrive
youtu.be
December 2, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Current mood. Time to rip the bandaid off. It is December after all.
youtu.be/uJovBbYwCXQ?...
youtu.be/uJovBbYwCXQ?...
Inspired to share some encouragement. If you're working thru hard things — please keep at it.
15+yrs later and I'm just now finding a way to process stuff I hadn't even been able to understand or acknowledge.
My therapist says today's a big deal. Me? Better late than never? Anyway, do the work.
15+yrs later and I'm just now finding a way to process stuff I hadn't even been able to understand or acknowledge.
My therapist says today's a big deal. Me? Better late than never? Anyway, do the work.
December 2, 2025 at 2:50 AM
Inspired to share some encouragement. If you're working thru hard things — please keep at it.
15+yrs later and I'm just now finding a way to process stuff I hadn't even been able to understand or acknowledge.
My therapist says today's a big deal. Me? Better late than never? Anyway, do the work.
15+yrs later and I'm just now finding a way to process stuff I hadn't even been able to understand or acknowledge.
My therapist says today's a big deal. Me? Better late than never? Anyway, do the work.
Hi 👋 I hear there's some political drama about an MRI.
Radiology researcher and biomedical engineering grad student here to say full body MRI is still a gimmick with little clinical value and everyone who gets a diagnostic MRI is told why and where.
Full disclosure — I'm team Tim Walz.
Radiology researcher and biomedical engineering grad student here to say full body MRI is still a gimmick with little clinical value and everyone who gets a diagnostic MRI is told why and where.
Full disclosure — I'm team Tim Walz.
December 1, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Hi 👋 I hear there's some political drama about an MRI.
Radiology researcher and biomedical engineering grad student here to say full body MRI is still a gimmick with little clinical value and everyone who gets a diagnostic MRI is told why and where.
Full disclosure — I'm team Tim Walz.
Radiology researcher and biomedical engineering grad student here to say full body MRI is still a gimmick with little clinical value and everyone who gets a diagnostic MRI is told why and where.
Full disclosure — I'm team Tim Walz.
People spent HUNDREDS of hours watching this video which I love. (Maybe it's the of part standing up for ladies targeted by wellness gurus)
But I realize it's Black Friday and I have a PSA. Listen to me meatheads — DO NOT BUY THE LADY IN YOUR LIFE FITNESS SHIT! Just don't. Here's what you do: 🧵 1/2
But I realize it's Black Friday and I have a PSA. Listen to me meatheads — DO NOT BUY THE LADY IN YOUR LIFE FITNESS SHIT! Just don't. Here's what you do: 🧵 1/2
Weighted Vests: STOP! (Soldier & Engineer EXPLAINS)
YouTube video by Tom Smoot
youtu.be
November 28, 2025 at 2:37 PM
People spent HUNDREDS of hours watching this video which I love. (Maybe it's the of part standing up for ladies targeted by wellness gurus)
But I realize it's Black Friday and I have a PSA. Listen to me meatheads — DO NOT BUY THE LADY IN YOUR LIFE FITNESS SHIT! Just don't. Here's what you do: 🧵 1/2
But I realize it's Black Friday and I have a PSA. Listen to me meatheads — DO NOT BUY THE LADY IN YOUR LIFE FITNESS SHIT! Just don't. Here's what you do: 🧵 1/2
Not sure this counts as a Christmas present but feels like it. Just registered for spring grad school classes. It's only 1 class.
Biomedical Device Infections meets weekly. This is likely my last class unless our PhD advisor gives in to my demands. Regardless, I'm done with the 1hr commute 3x week.
Biomedical Device Infections meets weekly. This is likely my last class unless our PhD advisor gives in to my demands. Regardless, I'm done with the 1hr commute 3x week.
November 25, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Not sure this counts as a Christmas present but feels like it. Just registered for spring grad school classes. It's only 1 class.
Biomedical Device Infections meets weekly. This is likely my last class unless our PhD advisor gives in to my demands. Regardless, I'm done with the 1hr commute 3x week.
Biomedical Device Infections meets weekly. This is likely my last class unless our PhD advisor gives in to my demands. Regardless, I'm done with the 1hr commute 3x week.
Awkward... When I've stumbled on this scene in the past, it was usually at closing time when I show up to drag my soldiers out of the strip club.
November 22, 2025 at 12:37 AM
Awkward... When I've stumbled on this scene in the past, it was usually at closing time when I show up to drag my soldiers out of the strip club.
Not far from wrapping up grad school and forcing myself to share a forward looking view. The math looks a little off according to my graph but this month we dug into data used to Dx ADHD and autism. 1/2
November 20, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Not far from wrapping up grad school and forcing myself to share a forward looking view. The math looks a little off according to my graph but this month we dug into data used to Dx ADHD and autism. 1/2
The NYC medical research community is coordinating a rapid response effort in New York to counter this admin's adversarial policies that are dismantling science. I've been asked to help and feel compelled due to the fact that I've lost three co-workers very recently.
November 14, 2025 at 2:19 PM
The NYC medical research community is coordinating a rapid response effort in New York to counter this admin's adversarial policies that are dismantling science. I've been asked to help and feel compelled due to the fact that I've lost three co-workers very recently.
No I am not losing my shit today. Completely hinged.
November 12, 2025 at 8:46 PM
No I am not losing my shit today. Completely hinged.
Our Chuck Schumer is broken.
Has anyone tried turning him off and back on again?
Has anyone tried turning him off and back on again?
November 10, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Our Chuck Schumer is broken.
Has anyone tried turning him off and back on again?
Has anyone tried turning him off and back on again?
Lately my mental health sucks so I agreed to chat with yet another doc today. If you're struggling, you feel this, or just don't feel right — talk to someone. Anyone. Just start talking. I wish I could say all of this is easy. Sometimes the thing you need most is the hardest thing to ask for.
November 7, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Lately my mental health sucks so I agreed to chat with yet another doc today. If you're struggling, you feel this, or just don't feel right — talk to someone. Anyone. Just start talking. I wish I could say all of this is easy. Sometimes the thing you need most is the hardest thing to ask for.
Big shakeup at my day job today and I don't like it. We lost 3 research staff so I should start talking about the app I started at the beginning of the semester. For now just testing with an old HR strap. Hopefully around the holidays you'll see this in the play store.
November 6, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Big shakeup at my day job today and I don't like it. We lost 3 research staff so I should start talking about the app I started at the beginning of the semester. For now just testing with an old HR strap. Hopefully around the holidays you'll see this in the play store.
Fuck you Bill Ackman. Pay taxes you sh!t stain on science.
November 5, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Fuck you Bill Ackman. Pay taxes you sh!t stain on science.
I see this Spotify boycott picking up steam. I hope it grows.
There are a bunch of other apps. I left Spotify when they gave Joe Rogan a bajillion dollars and wrote about it in UXPlanet. I left for Tidal but listen to Deezer currently.
Maybe I update this guide — medium.com/ux-planet/ar...
There are a bunch of other apps. I left Spotify when they gave Joe Rogan a bajillion dollars and wrote about it in UXPlanet. I left for Tidal but listen to Deezer currently.
Maybe I update this guide — medium.com/ux-planet/ar...
Are You Leaving Spotify Too?
I Gave Tidal A Test Spin And Here’s What I Noticed
medium.com
November 3, 2025 at 12:19 AM
I see this Spotify boycott picking up steam. I hope it grows.
There are a bunch of other apps. I left Spotify when they gave Joe Rogan a bajillion dollars and wrote about it in UXPlanet. I left for Tidal but listen to Deezer currently.
Maybe I update this guide — medium.com/ux-planet/ar...
There are a bunch of other apps. I left Spotify when they gave Joe Rogan a bajillion dollars and wrote about it in UXPlanet. I left for Tidal but listen to Deezer currently.
Maybe I update this guide — medium.com/ux-planet/ar...