Jason Shepherd
@jasonsynaptic.bsky.social
🇿🇦🇳🇿🇺🇸Neuroscientist/amateur virologist. Professor, University of Utah. Molecular mechanisms of memory, repurposed transposons, and virus-like intercellular signaling. Personal views.
Photography, travel, sports.
www.shepherdlab.org
Photography, travel, sports.
www.shepherdlab.org
Pinned
Jason Shepherd
@jasonsynaptic.bsky.social
· Oct 20
For obvious reasons, I've become fascinated with retrotransposons. So we ( @alexwhiteley.bsky.social and I) wrote an article now out in Neuron @cellpress.bsky.social on how we think retrotransposons influence brain function and health! kwnsfk27.r.eu-west-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2F...
"The heart will break, but broken live on."
November 19, 2025 at 1:08 AM
"The heart will break, but broken live on."
Reposted by Jason Shepherd
🧪
Calling all rising juniors & seniors: Interested in biological or biomedical research? Applications for our ’26 Summer Undergraduate Research Experience Program are now open! Nine weeks, hands-on research, & mentorship from some of the nation’s top scientists — learn more: bit.ly/CechFellows
Summer Undergraduate Research Experience | HHMI
The Cech Fellows Program is a paid, nine-week summer research experience empowering the next generation of scientific leaders.
bit.ly
November 18, 2025 at 4:56 PM
🧪
Reposted by Jason Shepherd
A special edition of our Launch Newsletter, highlighting The Transmitter's State of Neuroscience 2025 report, features rising stars of neuroscience, 80 new neuroscience labs, how funding cuts have affected the careers of young scientists, and more. bit.ly/3K96Mna
#neuroskyence #StateOfNeuroscience
#neuroskyence #StateOfNeuroscience
Newsletters and alerts
The latest news and perspectives on the neuroscience topics that interest you most, direct to your inbox
www.thetransmitter.org
November 18, 2025 at 3:35 PM
A special edition of our Launch Newsletter, highlighting The Transmitter's State of Neuroscience 2025 report, features rising stars of neuroscience, 80 new neuroscience labs, how funding cuts have affected the careers of young scientists, and more. bit.ly/3K96Mna
#neuroskyence #StateOfNeuroscience
#neuroskyence #StateOfNeuroscience
Some sad news. What we thought was just an eye infection for Leo turned out to be a big mass behind his eye and the cancer had already spread throughout his body. Even though he’s only 11 months, there weren’t any good treatments for such an aggressive cancer and he declined quickly.
November 17, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Some sad news. What we thought was just an eye infection for Leo turned out to be a big mass behind his eye and the cancer had already spread throughout his body. Even though he’s only 11 months, there weren’t any good treatments for such an aggressive cancer and he declined quickly.
Our boy Leo has been sick the past week and stopped eating. A bad sign for a year old active pup. Turns out it’s some sort of aggressive cancer that’s spread 😢. Still waiting for more info but not looking good 💔
November 15, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Our boy Leo has been sick the past week and stopped eating. A bad sign for a year old active pup. Turns out it’s some sort of aggressive cancer that’s spread 😢. Still waiting for more info but not looking good 💔
Reposted by Jason Shepherd
Hearing a rumor that NIH/HHS may now plan to retaliate against other Bethesda Declaration signers.
I am one, but it’s not about me: we have been speaking out because of the ongoing damage to US medical research, cancer and Alzheimer’s research.
As @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social put well: 1/
I am one, but it’s not about me: we have been speaking out because of the ongoing damage to US medical research, cancer and Alzheimer’s research.
As @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social put well: 1/
November 14, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Hearing a rumor that NIH/HHS may now plan to retaliate against other Bethesda Declaration signers.
I am one, but it’s not about me: we have been speaking out because of the ongoing damage to US medical research, cancer and Alzheimer’s research.
As @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social put well: 1/
I am one, but it’s not about me: we have been speaking out because of the ongoing damage to US medical research, cancer and Alzheimer’s research.
As @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social put well: 1/
As per usual, “free speech” really means “don’t disagree with me” by this govt. This is total BS! @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social needs us to speak out about this clear retaliation!
NIH program officer @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social has been placed on admin leave, sources say.
Norton has been outspoken about the Trump administration's dismantling of science, and she signed the Bethesda Declaration.
Bhattacharya has said that "science is dead without free speech".
Norton has been outspoken about the Trump administration's dismantling of science, and she signed the Bethesda Declaration.
Bhattacharya has said that "science is dead without free speech".
November 14, 2025 at 2:41 AM
As per usual, “free speech” really means “don’t disagree with me” by this govt. This is total BS! @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social needs us to speak out about this clear retaliation!
Just got an email from my SRO for the study section that was missed in October. Good news is that they are trying to reschedule ASAP (Dec/Jan). The bad news is that CSR is mandating that only the the top third (not half) of applications will get discussed for the next 2 rounds.
November 13, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Just got an email from my SRO for the study section that was missed in October. Good news is that they are trying to reschedule ASAP (Dec/Jan). The bad news is that CSR is mandating that only the the top third (not half) of applications will get discussed for the next 2 rounds.
Thanks Maureen! Been a fun meeting.
A great meeting on #extracellularvesicles in nervous systems and reprieve to McGill/Montreal.
Thank you @jasonsynaptic.bsky.social and @isev.org organizers
Thank you @jasonsynaptic.bsky.social and @isev.org organizers
October 31, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Thanks Maureen! Been a fun meeting.
When the sky matches the Fall foliage 😍
October 26, 2025 at 5:31 PM
When the sky matches the Fall foliage 😍
Reposted by Jason Shepherd
I'm so excited to see this Perspective with @jasonsynaptic.bsky.social out in Neuron! About 8% of our genome is made up of the remnants of LTR-containing retroelements - here, Jason and I explore the activities of retroTEs in neurological health and disease!
authors.elsevier.com/c/1lzTx3BtfH...
authors.elsevier.com/c/1lzTx3BtfH...
authors.elsevier.com
October 23, 2025 at 3:15 PM
I'm so excited to see this Perspective with @jasonsynaptic.bsky.social out in Neuron! About 8% of our genome is made up of the remnants of LTR-containing retroelements - here, Jason and I explore the activities of retroTEs in neurological health and disease!
authors.elsevier.com/c/1lzTx3BtfH...
authors.elsevier.com/c/1lzTx3BtfH...
My NIH study section will not meet tomorrow because of the government shutdown. This may seem trivial but rescheduling these meetings will delay funding decisions for months to even a year! Let alone the uncertainty of what the FY26 budget will be. Awful for US scientists! 😓
October 22, 2025 at 10:31 PM
My NIH study section will not meet tomorrow because of the government shutdown. This may seem trivial but rescheduling these meetings will delay funding decisions for months to even a year! Let alone the uncertainty of what the FY26 budget will be. Awful for US scientists! 😓
For obvious reasons, I've become fascinated with retrotransposons. So we ( @alexwhiteley.bsky.social and I) wrote an article now out in Neuron @cellpress.bsky.social on how we think retrotransposons influence brain function and health! kwnsfk27.r.eu-west-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2F...
October 20, 2025 at 8:00 PM
For obvious reasons, I've become fascinated with retrotransposons. So we ( @alexwhiteley.bsky.social and I) wrote an article now out in Neuron @cellpress.bsky.social on how we think retrotransposons influence brain function and health! kwnsfk27.r.eu-west-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2F...
Awesome program (booklet and speaker list) organized by our students for our annual symposium at Snowbird!
October 17, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Awesome program (booklet and speaker list) organized by our students for our annual symposium at Snowbird!
Looking forward to visiting Emory Cell Biology dept tomorrow! @basselllab.bsky.social @angalus.bsky.social @katzlab.bsky.social
October 14, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Looking forward to visiting Emory Cell Biology dept tomorrow! @basselllab.bsky.social @angalus.bsky.social @katzlab.bsky.social
Growing up in a country where there wasn’t much of a season change…it never gets old! Winter is almost here in the ‘hood. 📷 🌲 ❄️
October 12, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Growing up in a country where there wasn’t much of a season change…it never gets old! Winter is almost here in the ‘hood. 📷 🌲 ❄️
Reposted by Jason Shepherd
Thoughtful and well-informed op-ed from @ianlmorgan.bsky.social
Definitely worth a read!
www.the-scientist.com/nih-leadersh...
1/2
Definitely worth a read!
www.the-scientist.com/nih-leadersh...
1/2
NIH Leadership Is Failing Early Career Researchers
Halted training programs, funding chaos, and hiring freezes jeopardize advancement options for early career researchers.
www.the-scientist.com
October 10, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Thoughtful and well-informed op-ed from @ianlmorgan.bsky.social
Definitely worth a read!
www.the-scientist.com/nih-leadersh...
1/2
Definitely worth a read!
www.the-scientist.com/nih-leadersh...
1/2
Reposted by Jason Shepherd
Today my @nytimes.com colleagues and I are launching a new series called Lost Science. We interview US scientists who can no longer discover something new about our world, thanks to this year‘s cuts. Here is my first interview with a scientist who studied bees and fires. Gift link: nyti.ms/3IWXbiE
nyti.ms
October 8, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Today my @nytimes.com colleagues and I are launching a new series called Lost Science. We interview US scientists who can no longer discover something new about our world, thanks to this year‘s cuts. Here is my first interview with a scientist who studied bees and fires. Gift link: nyti.ms/3IWXbiE
I love this year’s selection for many reasons. 2 are not on any list of expected awardees. Science has become an industry dominated by metrics and $$. Most do science for the love of discovery and fulfilling our curiosity, but this *love* is in conflict with hypercompetition and poor incentives!
October 8, 2025 at 6:02 PM
I love this year’s selection for many reasons. 2 are not on any list of expected awardees. Science has become an industry dominated by metrics and $$. Most do science for the love of discovery and fulfilling our curiosity, but this *love* is in conflict with hypercompetition and poor incentives!
WORD
If Harvard bows down to this lawless president, it will cover itself in shame and betray its motto “Veritas.”
Don’t pretend to stand for truth if you’re going to surrender to this bully. Appeasement only feeds the beast and puts us all at greater risk.
Don’t pretend to stand for truth if you’re going to surrender to this bully. Appeasement only feeds the beast and puts us all at greater risk.
Trump Says a Deal With Harvard Is Close
www.nytimes.com
October 2, 2025 at 3:32 AM
WORD
He’s not wrong!
"What is happening in this country is happening because science is bad for tyrants, and always has been"
This moment from our latest episode with science writer @edyong209.bsky.social is 🔥
We asked Ed — how do we talk up the benefits of science in the face of government cuts? He told us that's the wrong approach. 🧪
Listen wherever, or watch on Spotify 👇
open.spotify.com/episode/7Evh...
We asked Ed — how do we talk up the benefits of science in the face of government cuts? He told us that's the wrong approach. 🧪
Listen wherever, or watch on Spotify 👇
open.spotify.com/episode/7Evh...
October 2, 2025 at 3:22 AM
He’s not wrong!
Finally had some time to process a few camera shots! This was a magical morning on the #Normandy coast in France...📷 🌄 @sonyalpha.bsky.social
September 30, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Finally had some time to process a few camera shots! This was a magical morning on the #Normandy coast in France...📷 🌄 @sonyalpha.bsky.social