Steve Kay
@drstevekay.bsky.social
Circadian clock biologist with a keen interest in drug discovery and nature photography
Reposted by Steve Kay
US researchers speak with Nature Careers about the human toll of lay-offs, funding cuts and attacks on science one year after Donald Trump returned to the White House. #Academicsky 🧪
‘Shattered’: US scientists speak out about how Trump policies disrupted their careers
Researchers lay bare the human toll of lay-offs, funding cuts and attacks on science one year after the president’s return to the White House.
go.nature.com
January 24, 2026 at 11:01 PM
US researchers speak with Nature Careers about the human toll of lay-offs, funding cuts and attacks on science one year after Donald Trump returned to the White House. #Academicsky 🧪
JCI - Glioblastoma stem cells resist cuproptosis with circadian variation of copper levels www.jci.org/articles/vie... in collaboration with Jeremy Rich @unclineberger.bsky.social
JCI -
Glioblastoma stem cells resist cuproptosis with circadian variation of copper levels
www.jci.org
January 3, 2026 at 2:21 AM
JCI - Glioblastoma stem cells resist cuproptosis with circadian variation of copper levels www.jci.org/articles/vie... in collaboration with Jeremy Rich @unclineberger.bsky.social
Reposted by Steve Kay
In the first #ScienceEditorial of 2026, H. Holden Thorp focuses on #AI, discussing how it “will allow the scientific community to do more if it picks the right ways to use it.” He revisits the journals’ policies and approaches related to AI.
Read more: https://scim.ag/4qzSdJ5
Read more: https://scim.ag/4qzSdJ5
January 1, 2026 at 8:28 PM
In the first #ScienceEditorial of 2026, H. Holden Thorp focuses on #AI, discussing how it “will allow the scientific community to do more if it picks the right ways to use it.” He revisits the journals’ policies and approaches related to AI.
Read more: https://scim.ag/4qzSdJ5
Read more: https://scim.ag/4qzSdJ5
Reposted by Steve Kay
This is one of the most beautiful things I have witnessed, the craft here is impeccable.
August 13, 2025 at 6:06 AM
This is one of the most beautiful things I have witnessed, the craft here is impeccable.
Reposted by Steve Kay
“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
“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.”
Reposted by Steve Kay
Very well done story on 60 Minutes about the harms of grant terminations and freezes at Harvard with Joan Brugge, Don Engbar, David Liu, and a very compelling young cancer patient, now cured with Liu's technology.
Transcript and video here
www.cbsnews.com/news/researc...
Transcript and video here
www.cbsnews.com/news/researc...
Battle between Trump and universities hurting scientific research in need of federal funding
Federal research funding to universities has fueled breakthroughs for years. The White House is pressuring universities to align with the president's political agenda, or risk losing their funding.
www.cbsnews.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Very well done story on 60 Minutes about the harms of grant terminations and freezes at Harvard with Joan Brugge, Don Engbar, David Liu, and a very compelling young cancer patient, now cured with Liu's technology.
Transcript and video here
www.cbsnews.com/news/researc...
Transcript and video here
www.cbsnews.com/news/researc...
Reposted by Steve Kay
Genetically incorporating environment-sensitive noncanonical amino acids containing rotor-based fluorophores to target proteins enables real-time visualization of microenvironment changes in protein substructures
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Real-time imaging of protein microenvironment changes in cells with rotor-based fluorescent amino acids - Nature Chemical Biology
The use of bulky protein tags and the limited positions available for probe introduction restrict current methods for studying protein microenvironments at high spatial resolution. Here the authors genetically incorporate small environment-sensitive fluorescent amino acids to visualize real-time microenvironmental changes at specific protein substructures.
www.nature.com
September 15, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Genetically incorporating environment-sensitive noncanonical amino acids containing rotor-based fluorophores to target proteins enables real-time visualization of microenvironment changes in protein substructures
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Steve Kay
Jennifer Nemhauser’s and my tribute to our amazing friend and mentor, the extraordinary Joanne Chory.
Read about our personal and professional reminiscences. Thanks to all who provided background for this.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Read about our personal and professional reminiscences. Thanks to all who provided background for this.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Joanne Chory (1955–2024): Plant geneticist extraordinaire | PNAS
Joanne Chory (1955–2024) was a pioneering biologist whose research transformed our
understanding of plant growth and development. Her groundbreakin...
www.pnas.org
July 23, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Jennifer Nemhauser’s and my tribute to our amazing friend and mentor, the extraordinary Joanne Chory.
Read about our personal and professional reminiscences. Thanks to all who provided background for this.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Read about our personal and professional reminiscences. Thanks to all who provided background for this.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by Steve Kay
Here’s some of what scientists told us:
"The past five months are by far the worst I've experienced in my science career (from grad student to professor) over the last 30-plus years because we no longer know if there will be support for the work that we do, because science and research has…” +
"The past five months are by far the worst I've experienced in my science career (from grad student to professor) over the last 30-plus years because we no longer know if there will be support for the work that we do, because science and research has…” +
We asked researchers across the country how federal funding changes have affected them and their labs. Their responses indicate a sense of doom and an existential crisis for science in the US: “The ship is going down and we are powerless.”
Importantly, there’s still time to fix this. 1/2
Importantly, there’s still time to fix this. 1/2
We surveyed hundreds of biomedical researchers about the instability in federal funding. Here’s what they said
“The ship is going down and we are powerless”: What scientists are saying about cuts to federal research funding.
www.statnews.com
August 27, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Here’s some of what scientists told us:
"The past five months are by far the worst I've experienced in my science career (from grad student to professor) over the last 30-plus years because we no longer know if there will be support for the work that we do, because science and research has…” +
"The past five months are by far the worst I've experienced in my science career (from grad student to professor) over the last 30-plus years because we no longer know if there will be support for the work that we do, because science and research has…” +
Reposted by Steve Kay
Unique biological, exposomal, economic and sociocultural factors shape resilience and brain health across the globe. A Review in Nature Medicine discusses underlying mechanisms of resilience. go.nature.com/4l76HNh #medsky 🧪
August 3, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Unique biological, exposomal, economic and sociocultural factors shape resilience and brain health across the globe. A Review in Nature Medicine discusses underlying mechanisms of resilience. go.nature.com/4l76HNh #medsky 🧪
Joanne Chory (1955–2024): Plant geneticist extraordinaire | PNAS www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Joanne Chory (1955–2024): Plant geneticist extraordinaire | PNAS
Joanne Chory (1955–2024) was a pioneering biologist whose research transformed our
understanding of plant growth and development. Her groundbreakin...
www.pnas.org
July 30, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Joanne Chory (1955–2024): Plant geneticist extraordinaire | PNAS www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by Steve Kay
Outrageous. The White House is sidestepping Congress and halting up to $15 billion in NIH research funding, which would have gone to study diabetes, cancer & more.
The order was issued through a four-sentence email sent to NIH directors from Office of Management & Budget Director Russell Vought.
The order was issued through a four-sentence email sent to NIH directors from Office of Management & Budget Director Russell Vought.
July 30, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Outrageous. The White House is sidestepping Congress and halting up to $15 billion in NIH research funding, which would have gone to study diabetes, cancer & more.
The order was issued through a four-sentence email sent to NIH directors from Office of Management & Budget Director Russell Vought.
The order was issued through a four-sentence email sent to NIH directors from Office of Management & Budget Director Russell Vought.
Reposted by Steve Kay
. #Botany2025 My institution (JIC in Norwich, UK) is hiring for a tenure-track Group Leader in Discovery Plant Sciences - see more here:
www.jic.ac.uk/vacancies/gr...
Let me know if you have questions!
www.jic.ac.uk/vacancies/gr...
Let me know if you have questions!
Group Leader in Discovery Plant Sciences | John Innes Centre
The John Innes Centre (JIC) seeks a visionary Group Leader to lead research on Discovery Plant Science.
www.jic.ac.uk
July 28, 2025 at 2:37 PM
. #Botany2025 My institution (JIC in Norwich, UK) is hiring for a tenure-track Group Leader in Discovery Plant Sciences - see more here:
www.jic.ac.uk/vacancies/gr...
Let me know if you have questions!
www.jic.ac.uk/vacancies/gr...
Let me know if you have questions!
Reposted by Steve Kay
Decreased funding, reduced opportunities and growing uncertainty has made life tough for international postdocs living in the US
go.nature.com/4mg4ct9
go.nature.com/4mg4ct9
Meet the early career scientists planning to leave the United States
Decreased funding, reduced opportunities and growing uncertainty has made life tough for international postdocs living in the US.
go.nature.com
July 25, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Decreased funding, reduced opportunities and growing uncertainty has made life tough for international postdocs living in the US
go.nature.com/4mg4ct9
go.nature.com/4mg4ct9
Reposted by Steve Kay
Happy birthday Rosalind Franklin (1920 –1958), #chemist & x-ray crystallographer whose x-ray diffraction images were instrumental to discovering double-helix structure of DNA, made important contributions to carbon & virus research, was 1 of the great scientists of the 20th century. 🧪🐡👩🏼🔬 #histsci 🧵
July 25, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Happy birthday Rosalind Franklin (1920 –1958), #chemist & x-ray crystallographer whose x-ray diffraction images were instrumental to discovering double-helix structure of DNA, made important contributions to carbon & virus research, was 1 of the great scientists of the 20th century. 🧪🐡👩🏼🔬 #histsci 🧵
Reposted by Steve Kay
Tenure-track faculty search of the UCSF Biochemistry & Biophysics Department is open for applications!
We are looking for creative, innovative scientists asking fundamental questions in any area of biology.
Join our vibrant, collaborative, and supportive community!
aprecruit.ucsf.edu/JPF05702
We are looking for creative, innovative scientists asking fundamental questions in any area of biology.
Join our vibrant, collaborative, and supportive community!
aprecruit.ucsf.edu/JPF05702
July 23, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Tenure-track faculty search of the UCSF Biochemistry & Biophysics Department is open for applications!
We are looking for creative, innovative scientists asking fundamental questions in any area of biology.
Join our vibrant, collaborative, and supportive community!
aprecruit.ucsf.edu/JPF05702
We are looking for creative, innovative scientists asking fundamental questions in any area of biology.
Join our vibrant, collaborative, and supportive community!
aprecruit.ucsf.edu/JPF05702
Reposted by Steve Kay
"NIH has ..implemented a new policy requiring that at least one-half of the remaining funds for competing research project grants (RPGs) in FY 2025 be used to upfront fund RPG competing awards. Upfront funding provides the funding for all years of the approved project period .. from one fiscal year"
If anyone is interested NCI posted their FY25 funding strategy today www.cancer.gov/grants-train...
Reasonable to assume other NIH institutes will follow the same guidelines
Reasonable to assume other NIH institutes will follow the same guidelines
Funding Policy - Research Grants
NCI funding policy for research project grant (RPG) awards reflects the funding goals of the institute, NIH, and HHS.
www.cancer.gov
July 23, 2025 at 11:15 PM
"NIH has ..implemented a new policy requiring that at least one-half of the remaining funds for competing research project grants (RPGs) in FY 2025 be used to upfront fund RPG competing awards. Upfront funding provides the funding for all years of the approved project period .. from one fiscal year"
Reposted by Steve Kay
Hundreds of employees at the EPA released a “Declaration of Dissent” today, accusing EPA officials of politicizing the agency and undermining its core mission to “protect human health and the environment.” scim.ag/4lB937S
EPA employees accuse Trump officials of undermining the agency’s mission
“Declaration of Dissent” denounces partisan messaging, rollback of environmental regulations, and dismantling of science office, among other concerns
scim.ag
June 30, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Hundreds of employees at the EPA released a “Declaration of Dissent” today, accusing EPA officials of politicizing the agency and undermining its core mission to “protect human health and the environment.” scim.ag/4lB937S
Reposted by Steve Kay
Where has industry been the past several months? Better late than never I suppose…..
June 30, 2025 at 3:20 AM
Where has industry been the past several months? Better late than never I suppose…..
Reposted by Steve Kay
The Trump administration has canceled billions in research grants to Harvard, imperiling critical scientific work. This has prompted the university to seek new funding models and raises questions about the future of US science funding.
#AcademicSky 🧪
#AcademicSky 🧪
Harvard vs Trump: what this epic battle means for science
Research across science and medicine will probably shrink at one of the world’s most elite universities amid a new political reality.
www.nature.com
June 26, 2025 at 4:07 PM
The Trump administration has canceled billions in research grants to Harvard, imperiling critical scientific work. This has prompted the university to seek new funding models and raises questions about the future of US science funding.
#AcademicSky 🧪
#AcademicSky 🧪
Reposted by Steve Kay
A federal judge on Monday declared the Trump administration’s move to cut hundreds of grants issued by the National Institutes of Health illegal, accusing the government of discrimination against minorities and L.G.B.T.Q. individuals. nyti.ms/4jSIjOG
Trump’s Cuts to N.I.H. Grants Are Illegal, Federal Judge Rules
The judge accused the Trump administration of discriminating against minorities and L.G.B.T.Q. people and ordered the government to restore much of the funding.
nyti.ms
June 16, 2025 at 9:02 PM
A federal judge on Monday declared the Trump administration’s move to cut hundreds of grants issued by the National Institutes of Health illegal, accusing the government of discrimination against minorities and L.G.B.T.Q. individuals. nyti.ms/4jSIjOG
Reposted by Steve Kay
If you’ve ever travelled across multiple time zones, you may already know a bit about #jetlag. What symptoms do you experience?
Check out our full factsheet on Jetlag here: www.bioclocks.uk/factsheets
#chronobiology #scicomm 🧪
Check out our full factsheet on Jetlag here: www.bioclocks.uk/factsheets
#chronobiology #scicomm 🧪
June 11, 2025 at 3:56 PM
If you’ve ever travelled across multiple time zones, you may already know a bit about #jetlag. What symptoms do you experience?
Check out our full factsheet on Jetlag here: www.bioclocks.uk/factsheets
#chronobiology #scicomm 🧪
Check out our full factsheet on Jetlag here: www.bioclocks.uk/factsheets
#chronobiology #scicomm 🧪
Reposted by Steve Kay
Plant biologist Joanne Chory spent her career trying to grow plants that could sequester CO2 in their roots. Her wild ideas took hold.
Learn about her outstanding career and legacy in Ep. 4 of “The Leap" with @hypothesisfund.bsky.social. 🔊 Listen here: buff.ly/yLqDcDL
Learn about her outstanding career and legacy in Ep. 4 of “The Leap" with @hypothesisfund.bsky.social. 🔊 Listen here: buff.ly/yLqDcDL
June 2, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Plant biologist Joanne Chory spent her career trying to grow plants that could sequester CO2 in their roots. Her wild ideas took hold.
Learn about her outstanding career and legacy in Ep. 4 of “The Leap" with @hypothesisfund.bsky.social. 🔊 Listen here: buff.ly/yLqDcDL
Learn about her outstanding career and legacy in Ep. 4 of “The Leap" with @hypothesisfund.bsky.social. 🔊 Listen here: buff.ly/yLqDcDL
Reposted by Steve Kay
🧠📉 The 'pivot penalty' in science
A new study in @nature.com finds scientists get cited less after switching research fields – the bigger the shift, the steeper the drop.
🔗 doi.org/10.1038/d415...
#SciComm #AcademicSky 🧪
A new study in @nature.com finds scientists get cited less after switching research fields – the bigger the shift, the steeper the drop.
🔗 doi.org/10.1038/d415...
#SciComm #AcademicSky 🧪
The ‘pivot penalty’: scientists get cited less after switching fields, analysis finds
Massive study of nearly 26 million research papers measures the consequences of striking out in another research area.
doi.org
May 31, 2025 at 12:22 PM
🧠📉 The 'pivot penalty' in science
A new study in @nature.com finds scientists get cited less after switching research fields – the bigger the shift, the steeper the drop.
🔗 doi.org/10.1038/d415...
#SciComm #AcademicSky 🧪
A new study in @nature.com finds scientists get cited less after switching research fields – the bigger the shift, the steeper the drop.
🔗 doi.org/10.1038/d415...
#SciComm #AcademicSky 🧪
Reposted by Steve Kay
There are 2 previous historical cases of countries destroying their science and universities, crippling them for decades: Lysenkoism in the USSR and Nazi Germany. The Trump administration will be the 3rd.
It's not just budgets but research, institutions, expertise, and training the next generation.
It's not just budgets but research, institutions, expertise, and training the next generation.
May 31, 2025 at 4:43 AM
There are 2 previous historical cases of countries destroying their science and universities, crippling them for decades: Lysenkoism in the USSR and Nazi Germany. The Trump administration will be the 3rd.
It's not just budgets but research, institutions, expertise, and training the next generation.
It's not just budgets but research, institutions, expertise, and training the next generation.