Adam Steinbrenner
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adsteinbrenner.bsky.social
Adam Steinbrenner
@adsteinbrenner.bsky.social
1.2K followers 330 following 61 posts
Associate Prof @UWBiology Seattle. How do plants recognize and resist pests 🐛? We study receptor function + evolution in plant innate immunity. steinbrennerlab.org
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Reposted by Adam Steinbrenner
brendannyhan.bsky.social
A staggering statistic: "North American researchers were charged over US$2.27 billion by just two for-profit publishers. The Canadian research councils and the US National Science Foundation were allocated US$9.3 billion in that year." What are we doing?
hansonmark.bsky.social Mark A. Hanson @hansonmark.bsky.social · 4d
We wrote the Strain on scientific publishing to highlight the problems of time & trust. With a fantastic group of co-authors, we present The Drain of Scientific Publishing:

a 🧵 1/n

Drain: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Strain: direct.mit.edu/qss/article/...
Oligopoly: direct.mit.edu/qss/article/...
A table showing profit margins of major publishers. A snippet of text related to this table is below. 1. The four-fold drain 1.1 Money Currently, academic publishing is dominated by profit-oriented, multinational companies for whom scientific knowledge is a commodity to be sold back to the academic community who created it. The dominant four are Elsevier, Springer Nature, Wiley and Taylor & Francis, which collectively generated over US$7.1 billion in revenue from journal publishing in 2024 alone, and over US$12 billion in profits between 2019 and 2024 (Table 1A). Their profit margins have always been over 30% in the last five years, and for the largest publisher (Elsevier) always over 37%. Against many comparators, across many sectors, scientific publishing is one of the most consistently profitable industries (Table S1). These financial arrangements make a substantial difference to science budgets. In 2024, 46% of Elsevier revenues and 53% of Taylor & Francis revenues were generated in North America, meaning that North American researchers were charged over US$2.27 billion by just two for-profit publishers. The Canadian research councils and the US National Science Foundation were allocated US$9.3 billion in that year. A figure detailing the drain on researcher time. 1. The four-fold drain 1.2 Time The number of papers published each year is growing faster than the scientific workforce, with the number of papers per researcher almost doubling between 1996 and 2022 (Figure 1A). This reflects the fact that publishers’ commercial desire to publish (sell) more material has aligned well with the competitive prestige culture in which publications help secure jobs, grants, promotions, and awards. To the extent that this growth is driven by a pressure for profit, rather than scholarly imperatives, it distorts the way researchers spend their time. The publishing system depends on unpaid reviewer labour, estimated to be over 130 million unpaid hours annually in 2020 alone (9). Researchers have complained about the demands of peer-review for decades, but the scale of the problem is now worse, with editors reporting widespread difficulties recruiting reviewers. The growth in publications involves not only the authors’ time, but that of academic editors and reviewers who are dealing with so many review demands. Even more seriously, the imperative to produce ever more articles reshapes the nature of scientific inquiry. Evidence across multiple fields shows that more papers result in ‘ossification’, not new ideas (10). It may seem paradoxical that more papers can slow progress until one considers how it affects researchers’ time. While rewards remain tied to volume, prestige, and impact of publications, researchers will be nudged away from riskier, local, interdisciplinary, and long-term work. The result is a treadmill of constant activity with limited progress whereas core scholarly practices – such as reading, reflecting and engaging with others’ contributions – is de-prioritized. What looks like productivity often masks intellectual exhaustion built on a demoralizing, narrowing scientific vision. A table of profit margins across industries. The section of text related to this table is below: 1. The four-fold drain 1.1 Money Currently, academic publishing is dominated by profit-oriented, multinational companies for whom scientific knowledge is a commodity to be sold back to the academic community who created it. The dominant four are Elsevier, Springer Nature, Wiley and Taylor & Francis, which collectively generated over US$7.1 billion in revenue from journal publishing in 2024 alone, and over US$12 billion in profits between 2019 and 2024 (Table 1A). Their profit margins have always been over 30% in the last five years, and for the largest publisher (Elsevier) always over 37%. Against many comparators, across many sectors, scientific publishing is one of the most consistently profitable industries (Table S1). These financial arrangements make a substantial difference to science budgets. In 2024, 46% of Elsevier revenues and 53% of Taylor & Francis revenues were generated in North America, meaning that North American researchers were charged over US$2.27 billion by just two for-profit publishers. The Canadian research councils and the US National Science Foundation were allocated US$9.3 billion in that year. The costs of inaction are plain: wasted public funds, lost researcher time, compromised scientific integrity and eroded public trust. Today, the system rewards commercial publishers first, and science second. Without bold action from the funders we risk continuing to pour resources into a system that prioritizes profit over the advancement of scientific knowledge.
November 12, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Reposted by Adam Steinbrenner
gensocuk.bsky.social
Congratulations to Joe Felsenstein on being awarded the 2026 Mendel Medal!
November 14, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Reposted by Adam Steinbrenner
environmicrobio.bsky.social
“The prohibited activities would include joint research, co-authorship on papers, and advising a foreign graduate student or postdoctoral fellow. The language is retroactive, meaning any interactions during the previous 5 years could make a scientist ineligible for future federal funding.”
U.S. Congress considers sweeping ban on Chinese collaborations
Researchers speak out against proposal that would bar funding for U.S. scientists working with Chinese partners or training Chinese students
www.science.org
November 14, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Reposted by Adam Steinbrenner
nataliagupa.bsky.social
Now that Im finally here, I'm excited to announce that I've joined @salkinstitute.bsky.social as a postdoc with @lmueller.bsky.social Keep your eyes open for everything AMF symbiosis, peptide biogenesis, and the apoplast!
November 6, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Reposted by Adam Steinbrenner
juliasaltz.bsky.social
My lab at Indiana University is searching for a *postdoc* and *technician* to contribute to our work studying the evolution of social behavior using fruit flies as a model system. Details below, feel free to email me with any questions! More info on our research: saltzlab.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Reposted by Adam Steinbrenner
chenxinli2.bsky.social
It's grad school application season! My lab (cxli233.github.io/cxLi_lab/ ) will be recruiting a PhD student via the MPS program at MSU (mps.natsci.msu.edu) for Fall 2026.

Happy to take inquires via email (which can be found in the lab website) if you are applying this cycle.
Our current carbon economy relies on fossil fuels, from which we isolate small organic molecules to produce medicines, plastics, cosmetic, or other chemicals that we use everyday. However, sustainability requires a more biomass-based carbon economy, where we engineer plants to produce precursor molecules, which can then be assembled to desired chemicals that we use daily. Plants have evolved an amazing diversity of metabolites, but these metabolites are not produced in every cell of the plant. Therefore, it is essential to understand how plants can express different metabolic pathways across different organs, tissues, and even cell types. We are interested in the following questions: How are metabolic pathways (especially specialized metabolism) controlled by cell fate? How can we reprogram plant cell fates for biomanufacturing? How can we toggle between differentiated cell states for metabolic engineering and totipotent cell state for genetic engineering?
cxli233.github.io
October 6, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Reposted by Adam Steinbrenner
theplantjournal.bsky.social
📢Announcement!
The call for 𝐓𝐏𝐉 𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 is now open! 🌟
It is designed to offer support and mentorship to researchers transitioning from post-doctoral scientists to principal investigators

Info: 👉http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/page/journal/1365313x/homepage/TPJ-fellowships
& in 🧵
September 29, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Reposted by Adam Steinbrenner
omfishient.bsky.social
🧪 Were you one of the many thousands of STEM students (and mentors) impacted by the sudden change in #NSF #GRFP eligibility last week?

We created a petition to NSF leadership and Congress to reverse the changes - please sign and share your stories here!!

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 5:02 PM
Reposted by Adam Steinbrenner
danielbolnick.bsky.social
The GRFP announcement from NSF cuts out an entire cohort of 2nd year students from consideration, without warning. This is so deeply unfair that it warrants a formal protest from the scientific community. If someone wants to work with me to craft an open letter and solicit signatures, LMK.
dangaristo.bsky.social Dan Garisto @dangaristo.bsky.social · Sep 26
New: After a long wait, the GRFP solicitation is live! Deadlines have been extended to early November, so applicants have a bit over a month to submit. www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
www.nsf.gov
September 26, 2025 at 5:10 PM
adsteinbrenner.bsky.social
Very frustrated with NSF GRFP. A 2nd year grad now ineligible after postponing last year.

Her pre-grad app was rejected without review for mentioning crop impacts.

I'm a previous recipient and served many years as a reviewer. The fellowship needs serious reform, not half-baked solicitation changes
September 26, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Reposted by Adam Steinbrenner
morgancarterphd.bsky.social
I hate this for the second years who had already been working on applications.

Also the USDA fellowship RFA has still not been issued for this year.

It is harder and harder to find fellowships to support the newest generation of scientists. 🧪

We are shortchanging our future.
laurawilliams.bsky.social Laura Williams @laurawilliams.bsky.social · Sep 26
NSF GRFP solicitation out.
App deadlines now in November.
As others noted, eligibility rules for current graduate students now exclude 2nd year grad students. See the solicitation - they’ve emphasized “first year” and “less than one academic year” in grad program.

www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
www.nsf.gov
September 26, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Reposted by Adam Steinbrenner
gittacoaker.bsky.social
My department at UC Davis is hiring a mycologist, broadly interpreted. Please repost, share, and consider applying. recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF07339
Assistant Professor of Plant Pathology
University of California, Davis is hiring. Apply now!
recruit.ucdavis.edu
September 22, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Reposted by Adam Steinbrenner
plantophagy.bsky.social
This looks like a great opportunity: #Tenure-track assistant #professor position at University of Lausanne on #MPMI
career5.successfactors.eu/career?caree...
Career Opportunities: DBMV: Tenure Track Assistant Professor towards Associate Professor in the field of Plant-organism (22484)
career5.successfactors.eu
September 17, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Reposted by Adam Steinbrenner
gittacoaker.bsky.social
Happy to share this review on the diversity of resistance in Triticeae. I learned a lot writing it. Heavy lifting by Yinghui Li, Liubov Govta, and @yichangsung.bsky.social with our long-time collaborator Tzion Fahima.
www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...
The Spectrum of Diverse Disease-Resistance Genes Cloned and Characterized in the Triticeae Tribe | Annual Reviews
The Triticeae tribe comprises species representing some of the world's largest food and forage crops, including common wheat, durum, barley, rye, and oat. Crop yields are continuously threatened ...
www.annualreviews.org
September 16, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Reposted by Adam Steinbrenner
botsocamerica.bsky.social
Mentors needed for BSA’s GRFP Workshop! 🌱

The Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) Workshop for Plant Researchers is returning in 2025. With NSF’s 2026 GRFP deadline set for Oct 27, we’re looking for mentors to guide student applicants.

Learn how you can help!
mailchi.mp/botany.org/b...
Flyer with a green leafy background announcing the Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) Workshop for Plant Researchers. Large bold text at the top reads: “We need your help!” The flyer asks graduate students who have received a GRFP award, as well as postdocs, research scientists, and faculty PIs, to sign up as mentors for the Botanical Society of America’s GRFP Workshop. Section titled What does mentoring require? lists two points: Read statements from 4–6 students applying for the GRFP. Provide feedback and facilitate two 1.5-hour meetings for your group. On the right, a QR code and link direct potential mentors to register. Logos at the bottom include NSF GRFP and the Botanical Society of America.
September 12, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Reposted by Adam Steinbrenner
sloanevolab.bsky.social
The Department of Biology at Colorado State University is hiring an Assistant Professor in the area of plant-microbe interactions! Please spread the word!

jobs.colostate.edu/postings/165...
Assistant Professor Plant-Microbe Interactions
We seek a creative, collaborative, and visionary plant biologist to establish an internationally recognized research program at the forefront of plant-microbe interactions aimed at understanding how t...
jobs.colostate.edu
September 8, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Reposted by Adam Steinbrenner
meganbarkdull.bsky.social
While full solicitation isn’t up, looks like we have 2025 proposal deadlines for the GRFP: www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
www.nsf.gov
September 8, 2025 at 6:10 PM
adsteinbrenner.bsky.social
More fruits of studying natural variation in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris): an interesting genetic basis for insensitivity to caterpillars' In11 elicitor 🐛

Our new bioRxiv preprint from star technicians Brian Behnken and Wesley George below 🧵

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
September 5, 2025 at 3:29 AM
Reposted by Adam Steinbrenner
brunongou.bsky.social
Very happy to share our latest work “Systematic discovery and engineering of synthetic immune receptors in plants” out in @science.org !

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Systematic discovery and engineering of synthetic immune receptors in plants
Plants deploy a diverse array of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), which perceive microbe-associated molecular patterns to activate immune responses. Leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase subgr...
www.science.org
September 4, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Reposted by Adam Steinbrenner
kseniakrasileva.bsky.social
Spread the word 😃
Our department has an open position at the Assitant Professor level 🌱
September 3, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Reposted by Adam Steinbrenner
danvec.bsky.social
Today we report how plant immune preparedness against future infections is negatively intercepted by elevated temperatures! @theplantjournal.bsky.social #OpenAccess

This work was initiated by my first MSc student Alyssa Shields. @laurierbiology.bsky.social

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Warm temperature suppresses plant systemic acquired resistance by intercepting N‐hydroxypipecolic acid biosynthesis
Elevated temperature impacts plant immunity at the primary infection site, but how it affects immune preparedness for future infections remains unclear. Here we report that warm temperature suppresse...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
August 4, 2025 at 8:05 PM
adsteinbrenner.bsky.social
How do predatory wasps find their caterpillar prey?

In our new preprint on Biorxiv we show that the host plant's immune system detects herbivory to sound the alarm. 🌱🐛

See thread from @nataliagupa.bsky.social -- a surprising role for a plant PRR in indirect defense against herbivores.
Representative image of a committed attack by Polybia sp and Mischocyttaurus sp on a sentinel fall armyworm caterpillar
August 2, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Reposted by Adam Steinbrenner
nataliagupa.bsky.social
I am thrilled to share the 2nd chapter of my PhD with @adsteinbrenner.bsky.social In collaboration with @tiszapatrick we demonstrated that the LRR-RLP INR is the missing molecular link between caterpillar recognition and predatory wasp recruitment in the field. A thread 1/6
biorxiv-plants.bsky.social bioRxiv Plant Bio @biorxiv-plants.bsky.social · Aug 1
A plant immune receptor mediates tritrophic interactions by linking caterpillar detection to predator recruitment https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.07.29.667524v1
August 1, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Reposted by Adam Steinbrenner
biorxiv-plants.bsky.social
A plant immune receptor mediates tritrophic interactions by linking caterpillar detection to predator recruitment https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.07.29.667524v1
August 1, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Reposted by Adam Steinbrenner
gittacoaker.bsky.social
Excited this paper is finally published! We focused on the inner concave surface of LRR RKs to expand bacterial flagellin perception in plants. Selection indicates expanded perception is more common than previously thought. Experiments led by @jerrytli.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Unlocking expanded flagellin perception through rational receptor engineering - Nature Plants
Receptor kinase FLS2 detects the flg22 epitope of bacterial flagellin. Here the authors identify key residues on FLS2’s concave surface that enable expanded perception of flg22 variants, allowing the ...
www.nature.com
July 29, 2025 at 1:18 AM