Nicole Rust
@nicolecrust.bsky.social
Mood & Memory researcher with a computational bent. https://www.nicolecrust.com. Science advocate. Prof (UPenn Psych) - on leave as a Simons Pivot Fellow. Author: Elusive Cures. https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691243054/elusive-cures
This is why we all should participate in @skypeascientist.bsky.social 💙. Sign-ups for spring are happening now.
December 19, 2025 at 9:03 PM
This is why we all should participate in @skypeascientist.bsky.social 💙. Sign-ups for spring are happening now.
But indeed, things are changing!
December 18, 2025 at 6:11 PM
But indeed, things are changing!
Attending the NSF BIO office hours for an important update (in these complex times). Starting with some reassurance (always nice).
December 18, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Attending the NSF BIO office hours for an important update (in these complex times). Starting with some reassurance (always nice).
The big jump there: from objective truth (about bar orientation) to subjective value (about whether to stay safe or task risks). Making that jump is so important for understanding psychiatric conditions! But it's hard. This work == progress!
December 17, 2025 at 3:41 PM
The big jump there: from objective truth (about bar orientation) to subjective value (about whether to stay safe or task risks). Making that jump is so important for understanding psychiatric conditions! But it's hard. This work == progress!
AKA: Don't do this (even in the face of perverse incentives).
www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/the...
www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/the...
December 16, 2025 at 10:35 PM
AKA: Don't do this (even in the face of perverse incentives).
www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/the...
www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/the...
Important summary of recent success stories by @alexkwan.bsky.social!
If you've heard me speak recently (or you've read Elusive Cures), you'll recognize that Alex's piece focuses on the right side of this slide. I want to highlight that he also does very important research focused on the left 👏.
If you've heard me speak recently (or you've read Elusive Cures), you'll recognize that Alex's piece focuses on the right side of this slide. I want to highlight that he also does very important research focused on the left 👏.
December 15, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Important summary of recent success stories by @alexkwan.bsky.social!
If you've heard me speak recently (or you've read Elusive Cures), you'll recognize that Alex's piece focuses on the right side of this slide. I want to highlight that he also does very important research focused on the left 👏.
If you've heard me speak recently (or you've read Elusive Cures), you'll recognize that Alex's piece focuses on the right side of this slide. I want to highlight that he also does very important research focused on the left 👏.
Victorious!
For me, our expense reimbursement system is a very effective negative mood induction paradigm.
But - ha! I got my report submitted on the last possible day 59/60. Now the admins and I will argue about all I did wrong. But! they can't deny me b/c I got it in by the deadline. 🎉
For me, our expense reimbursement system is a very effective negative mood induction paradigm.
But - ha! I got my report submitted on the last possible day 59/60. Now the admins and I will argue about all I did wrong. But! they can't deny me b/c I got it in by the deadline. 🎉
December 15, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Victorious!
For me, our expense reimbursement system is a very effective negative mood induction paradigm.
But - ha! I got my report submitted on the last possible day 59/60. Now the admins and I will argue about all I did wrong. But! they can't deny me b/c I got it in by the deadline. 🎉
For me, our expense reimbursement system is a very effective negative mood induction paradigm.
But - ha! I got my report submitted on the last possible day 59/60. Now the admins and I will argue about all I did wrong. But! they can't deny me b/c I got it in by the deadline. 🎉
To chime in on holiday manuscript review discourse: I rejected an invite for a 10 day deadline but noted in the comments that I would be happy to if the deadline was instead 1 month - the editor was pleased with my offer. Win-win!
December 13, 2025 at 3:07 PM
To chime in on holiday manuscript review discourse: I rejected an invite for a 10 day deadline but noted in the comments that I would be happy to if the deadline was instead 1 month - the editor was pleased with my offer. Win-win!
As a PhD student, there was a can in the lab labeled “danger: stochastic dots”. In it were hole punches. One of the regulatory agencies complained and it disappeared. I still think about the dangers of those dots and the world as 2AFC, eg Is this photo a face or a house? Hmm …
December 11, 2025 at 11:35 PM
As a PhD student, there was a can in the lab labeled “danger: stochastic dots”. In it were hole punches. One of the regulatory agencies complained and it disappeared. I still think about the dangers of those dots and the world as 2AFC, eg Is this photo a face or a house? Hmm …
This is worth violating Bsky norms for - worth a read to understand what this is 🤩
December 10, 2025 at 7:30 PM
This is worth violating Bsky norms for - worth a read to understand what this is 🤩
If you'd like to learn more about Elusive Cures, this webpage is the go-to, with a description at the top and links to excerpts, podcasts and reviews at the bottom.
www.nicolecrust.com/elusive-cures
www.nicolecrust.com/elusive-cures
December 10, 2025 at 2:08 PM
If you'd like to learn more about Elusive Cures, this webpage is the go-to, with a description at the top and links to excerpts, podcasts and reviews at the bottom.
www.nicolecrust.com/elusive-cures
www.nicolecrust.com/elusive-cures
What's next for me? Writing Elusive Cures inspired me to redirect my research focus (from memory to mood) and I'm ramping up that new research program. I'm a @simonsfoundation.org Pivot Fellow this year, learning from @yaelniv.bsky.social and her team.
www.simonsfoundation.org/2024/11/05/s...
www.simonsfoundation.org/2024/11/05/s...
December 10, 2025 at 2:01 PM
What's next for me? Writing Elusive Cures inspired me to redirect my research focus (from memory to mood) and I'm ramping up that new research program. I'm a @simonsfoundation.org Pivot Fellow this year, learning from @yaelniv.bsky.social and her team.
www.simonsfoundation.org/2024/11/05/s...
www.simonsfoundation.org/2024/11/05/s...
In terms of criticism, there's been that too, of course. Elusive Cures is too obvious; it's too sciencey. Someone doesn't like my voice. Another someone thinks I'm fabricating optimism to ensure that brain research has a future and I have a job (ha!). Overall, the + has vastly outweighted the -.
December 10, 2025 at 1:41 PM
In terms of criticism, there's been that too, of course. Elusive Cures is too obvious; it's too sciencey. Someone doesn't like my voice. Another someone thinks I'm fabricating optimism to ensure that brain research has a future and I have a job (ha!). Overall, the + has vastly outweighted the -.
It's been a busy 6 months! Tallying it up, I've done 41 book-related things; most since the book was published. That's a mix of talks, podcasts, essays, etc.
e.g. Last week I was grateful to visit Stanford, record a podcast (photo), and visit Yale. I've had *so many* amazing conversations. 🙏
e.g. Last week I was grateful to visit Stanford, record a podcast (photo), and visit Yale. I've had *so many* amazing conversations. 🙏
December 10, 2025 at 1:33 PM
It's been a busy 6 months! Tallying it up, I've done 41 book-related things; most since the book was published. That's a mix of talks, podcasts, essays, etc.
e.g. Last week I was grateful to visit Stanford, record a podcast (photo), and visit Yale. I've had *so many* amazing conversations. 🙏
e.g. Last week I was grateful to visit Stanford, record a podcast (photo), and visit Yale. I've had *so many* amazing conversations. 🙏
And I've been game to use whatever platform this book affords to help spread the word about science to the US public in these complex times. I'm grateful to the many individuals who have helped with that — here's a photo of @mameister4.bsky.social and I at the Burbank Public Library.
December 10, 2025 at 12:37 PM
And I've been game to use whatever platform this book affords to help spread the word about science to the US public in these complex times. I'm grateful to the many individuals who have helped with that — here's a photo of @mameister4.bsky.social and I at the Burbank Public Library.
Another audience is current and future scientists. Hearing that my book has been read and discussed by trainees across the world alone justifies my writing it. A book set me off on the path of brain research decades ago. I've been thrilled to pay that forward.
www.linkedin.com/posts/panagi...
www.linkedin.com/posts/panagi...
December 10, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Another audience is current and future scientists. Hearing that my book has been read and discussed by trainees across the world alone justifies my writing it. A book set me off on the path of brain research decades ago. I've been thrilled to pay that forward.
www.linkedin.com/posts/panagi...
www.linkedin.com/posts/panagi...
Elusive Cures has a few audiences. One is the public interested in understanding more about brain disorders — many b/c they or a loved one is afflicted. From them, I've received many deeply moving emails. Here's a review that captures that spirit (thanks, Anika!).
www.goodreads.com/en/book/show...
www.goodreads.com/en/book/show...
December 10, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Elusive Cures has a few audiences. One is the public interested in understanding more about brain disorders — many b/c they or a loved one is afflicted. From them, I've received many deeply moving emails. Here's a review that captures that spirit (thanks, Anika!).
www.goodreads.com/en/book/show...
www.goodreads.com/en/book/show...
When I set out to write this book, I was uncertain of how this project would unfold. On the other side, the reception has been tremendous. It's been a bit overwhelming, honestly (in a beautiful way). I share that in case anyone is thinking of doing something similar.
December 10, 2025 at 12:19 PM
When I set out to write this book, I was uncertain of how this project would unfold. On the other side, the reception has been tremendous. It's been a bit overwhelming, honestly (in a beautiful way). I share that in case anyone is thinking of doing something similar.
Elusive Cures is 6 months old today! In the post below, I told you about what was involved in making it happen (with gratitude to everyone involved). Here's an update about what's happened since. /1
bsky.app/profile/nico...
bsky.app/profile/nico...
December 10, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Elusive Cures is 6 months old today! In the post below, I told you about what was involved in making it happen (with gratitude to everyone involved). Here's an update about what's happened since. /1
bsky.app/profile/nico...
bsky.app/profile/nico...
I’m so excited to have Eva Dyer as a new colleague @upenn.edu!
Eva works with state-of-the-art machine learning to create large scale models of the brain that generalize across individuals, scales and species.
www.seas.upenn.edu/faculty-dire...
www.thetransmitter.org/contributor/...
Eva works with state-of-the-art machine learning to create large scale models of the brain that generalize across individuals, scales and species.
www.seas.upenn.edu/faculty-dire...
www.thetransmitter.org/contributor/...
December 9, 2025 at 5:10 PM
I’m so excited to have Eva Dyer as a new colleague @upenn.edu!
Eva works with state-of-the-art machine learning to create large scale models of the brain that generalize across individuals, scales and species.
www.seas.upenn.edu/faculty-dire...
www.thetransmitter.org/contributor/...
Eva works with state-of-the-art machine learning to create large scale models of the brain that generalize across individuals, scales and species.
www.seas.upenn.edu/faculty-dire...
www.thetransmitter.org/contributor/...
No! The opposite. Worth a read.
rdcu.be/eThTl
rdcu.be/eThTl
December 9, 2025 at 1:29 AM
No! The opposite. Worth a read.
rdcu.be/eThTl
rdcu.be/eThTl
There's been much talk about the "Just a Job" piece in Nature Human Behavior — absent an ability of many to read it. The author is here, @laraffington.bsky.social. In the post below, she shares a link available to all.
December 9, 2025 at 12:58 AM
There's been much talk about the "Just a Job" piece in Nature Human Behavior — absent an ability of many to read it. The author is here, @laraffington.bsky.social. In the post below, she shares a link available to all.
I’m happy to report that the Grand Plan for brain/mind research is in good hands at Yale with
@wutsaiyale.bsky.social & co. They offered up many inspired thoughts about the impactful next steps for brain research and I left optimistic about the next steps for the field.
@wutsaiyale.bsky.social & co. They offered up many inspired thoughts about the impactful next steps for brain research and I left optimistic about the next steps for the field.
December 8, 2025 at 11:48 PM
I’m happy to report that the Grand Plan for brain/mind research is in good hands at Yale with
@wutsaiyale.bsky.social & co. They offered up many inspired thoughts about the impactful next steps for brain research and I left optimistic about the next steps for the field.
@wutsaiyale.bsky.social & co. They offered up many inspired thoughts about the impactful next steps for brain research and I left optimistic about the next steps for the field.
Fun fact - that same Q led to Hopfield’s 2024 Nobel. This is a terrific read!
pni.princeton.edu/people/john-...
pni.princeton.edu/people/john-...
December 7, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Fun fact - that same Q led to Hopfield’s 2024 Nobel. This is a terrific read!
pni.princeton.edu/people/john-...
pni.princeton.edu/people/john-...
Congrats to Barnes Jannuzi, @catrinahacker.bsky.social, Simon Bohn and the rest of the team for this tremendous effort! This was one of those projects massively set back by the pandemic. They all stuck with it and saw it through to the finish line with awe inspiring grit and determination.
December 6, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Congrats to Barnes Jannuzi, @catrinahacker.bsky.social, Simon Bohn and the rest of the team for this tremendous effort! This was one of those projects massively set back by the pandemic. They all stuck with it and saw it through to the finish line with awe inspiring grit and determination.