Amanda Therrien
@amandastherrien.bsky.social
Sensorimotor neuroscientist @ TJU | Co-lead organizer @ Philadelphia Science Action | she/her | Opinions are mine, not my employer's.
Reposted by Amanda Therrien
"Each concession leaves institutions more entangled with the federal government and more vulnerable to future coercion. Resistance must be strong, early, and sustained, or the space for resistance will vanish."
Read our latest blog post by @dramandar.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/philadel...
Read our latest blog post by @dramandar.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/philadel...
Why Penn Must Reject Trump’s Higher Ed Compact
By Amanda Rabinowitz Ph.D.
open.substack.com
October 5, 2025 at 2:31 PM
"Each concession leaves institutions more entangled with the federal government and more vulnerable to future coercion. Resistance must be strong, early, and sustained, or the space for resistance will vanish."
Read our latest blog post by @dramandar.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/philadel...
Read our latest blog post by @dramandar.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/philadel...
Reposted by Amanda Therrien
This Friday! 🍻🔬
Join us at National Mechanics for a science happy hour!
📅 Friday, Oct 3
⏰ 4:30–6:00 PM
🎉 10% off drinks
🤝 Connect with Philly’s science community
Then head to the FREE First Friday poster session at the Science History Institute!
🔗 tinyurl.com/3z8sh4ax
Join us at National Mechanics for a science happy hour!
📅 Friday, Oct 3
⏰ 4:30–6:00 PM
🎉 10% off drinks
🤝 Connect with Philly’s science community
Then head to the FREE First Friday poster session at the Science History Institute!
🔗 tinyurl.com/3z8sh4ax
October 1, 2025 at 2:19 PM
This Friday! 🍻🔬
Join us at National Mechanics for a science happy hour!
📅 Friday, Oct 3
⏰ 4:30–6:00 PM
🎉 10% off drinks
🤝 Connect with Philly’s science community
Then head to the FREE First Friday poster session at the Science History Institute!
🔗 tinyurl.com/3z8sh4ax
Join us at National Mechanics for a science happy hour!
📅 Friday, Oct 3
⏰ 4:30–6:00 PM
🎉 10% off drinks
🤝 Connect with Philly’s science community
Then head to the FREE First Friday poster session at the Science History Institute!
🔗 tinyurl.com/3z8sh4ax
Reposted by Amanda Therrien
🍻 Join us for the Philly Science Action Social!
📍 National Mechanics | 📅 Fri Oct 3 | ⏰ 4:30–6pm
10% off drinks + connect with Philly’s science community.
Then head to the FREE First Friday poster session at the Science History Institute!
🔗 www.sciencehistory.org/visit/events...
📍 National Mechanics | 📅 Fri Oct 3 | ⏰ 4:30–6pm
10% off drinks + connect with Philly’s science community.
Then head to the FREE First Friday poster session at the Science History Institute!
🔗 www.sciencehistory.org/visit/events...
September 26, 2025 at 3:52 PM
🍻 Join us for the Philly Science Action Social!
📍 National Mechanics | 📅 Fri Oct 3 | ⏰ 4:30–6pm
10% off drinks + connect with Philly’s science community.
Then head to the FREE First Friday poster session at the Science History Institute!
🔗 www.sciencehistory.org/visit/events...
📍 National Mechanics | 📅 Fri Oct 3 | ⏰ 4:30–6pm
10% off drinks + connect with Philly’s science community.
Then head to the FREE First Friday poster session at the Science History Institute!
🔗 www.sciencehistory.org/visit/events...
Reposted by Amanda Therrien
PSA was honored to speak at the Parlee Center for Science and the Common Good at Ursinus College.
@amandastherrien.bsky.social and @dramandar.bsky.social had an inspiring day speaking with and learning from students about the threats facing biomedical science—and what we can do to protect it.
@amandastherrien.bsky.social and @dramandar.bsky.social had an inspiring day speaking with and learning from students about the threats facing biomedical science—and what we can do to protect it.
September 25, 2025 at 1:27 PM
PSA was honored to speak at the Parlee Center for Science and the Common Good at Ursinus College.
@amandastherrien.bsky.social and @dramandar.bsky.social had an inspiring day speaking with and learning from students about the threats facing biomedical science—and what we can do to protect it.
@amandastherrien.bsky.social and @dramandar.bsky.social had an inspiring day speaking with and learning from students about the threats facing biomedical science—and what we can do to protect it.
Reposted by Amanda Therrien
Cuts to NIH & NCI would stall life-saving discoveries, devastate, patients, and harm Philly’s economy.
That’s why we joined @americancancersoc.bsky.social and a coalition of survivors, researchers, providers and advocates at Independence Hall to urge Congress: protect cancer research funding.
That’s why we joined @americancancersoc.bsky.social and a coalition of survivors, researchers, providers and advocates at Independence Hall to urge Congress: protect cancer research funding.
August 26, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Cuts to NIH & NCI would stall life-saving discoveries, devastate, patients, and harm Philly’s economy.
That’s why we joined @americancancersoc.bsky.social and a coalition of survivors, researchers, providers and advocates at Independence Hall to urge Congress: protect cancer research funding.
That’s why we joined @americancancersoc.bsky.social and a coalition of survivors, researchers, providers and advocates at Independence Hall to urge Congress: protect cancer research funding.
Reposted by Amanda Therrien
Congratulations to Postdoctoral Fellow, @jonathanwood603.bsky.social, & mentors @aaronlwong.bsky.social & @amandastherrien.bsky.social on receiving a prestigious NIH/NICHD F32 award for their project, “The role of subjective values and dopamine availability in incentive-based motor learning”!
August 25, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Congratulations to Postdoctoral Fellow, @jonathanwood603.bsky.social, & mentors @aaronlwong.bsky.social & @amandastherrien.bsky.social on receiving a prestigious NIH/NICHD F32 award for their project, “The role of subjective values and dopamine availability in incentive-based motor learning”!
Reposted by Amanda Therrien
🚨 Cancer research funding is under threat. Congress is considering cuts that would stall lifesaving progress.
📢 Join @americancancersoc.bsky.social + PSA at Independence Hall – People’s Plaza to oppose cuts & protect cancer cures.
🗓 Tues 8/26 | 10–11am
📍 530 Market St, Philadelphia
📢 Join @americancancersoc.bsky.social + PSA at Independence Hall – People’s Plaza to oppose cuts & protect cancer cures.
🗓 Tues 8/26 | 10–11am
📍 530 Market St, Philadelphia
August 17, 2025 at 10:11 AM
🚨 Cancer research funding is under threat. Congress is considering cuts that would stall lifesaving progress.
📢 Join @americancancersoc.bsky.social + PSA at Independence Hall – People’s Plaza to oppose cuts & protect cancer cures.
🗓 Tues 8/26 | 10–11am
📍 530 Market St, Philadelphia
📢 Join @americancancersoc.bsky.social + PSA at Independence Hall – People’s Plaza to oppose cuts & protect cancer cures.
🗓 Tues 8/26 | 10–11am
📍 530 Market St, Philadelphia
Reposted by Amanda Therrien
People 👏 power 👏 works 👏
“We’re particularly encouraged by the bipartisan nature of the recent actions. It does tell us we have support, that our advocacy efforts are working,” said Amanda Therrien of Philly Science Action
@amandastherrien.bsky.social
share.inquirer.com/x6FlEh
“We’re particularly encouraged by the bipartisan nature of the recent actions. It does tell us we have support, that our advocacy efforts are working,” said Amanda Therrien of Philly Science Action
@amandastherrien.bsky.social
share.inquirer.com/x6FlEh
Senators are pushing back against Trump’s NIH cuts. Philly scientists say their advocacy is working.
A Senate committee rejected Trump's proposed 40% cut to NIH funding. Philadelphia's medical research community says it means advocacy efforts are having an impact on Capitol Hill.
share.inquirer.com
August 1, 2025 at 7:20 PM
People 👏 power 👏 works 👏
“We’re particularly encouraged by the bipartisan nature of the recent actions. It does tell us we have support, that our advocacy efforts are working,” said Amanda Therrien of Philly Science Action
@amandastherrien.bsky.social
share.inquirer.com/x6FlEh
“We’re particularly encouraged by the bipartisan nature of the recent actions. It does tell us we have support, that our advocacy efforts are working,” said Amanda Therrien of Philly Science Action
@amandastherrien.bsky.social
share.inquirer.com/x6FlEh
Reposted by Amanda Therrien
Let's please keep the remaining staff at NIH, NSF, etc in our thoughts even as you lose sleep over your own lab and scientific career.
They are enduring pure chaos to try to hold the fort.
See snapshot from wapo.st/4feKKuu (gift 🔗) saying they are "barely holding it together"
They are enduring pure chaos to try to hold the fort.
See snapshot from wapo.st/4feKKuu (gift 🔗) saying they are "barely holding it together"
July 30, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Let's please keep the remaining staff at NIH, NSF, etc in our thoughts even as you lose sleep over your own lab and scientific career.
They are enduring pure chaos to try to hold the fort.
See snapshot from wapo.st/4feKKuu (gift 🔗) saying they are "barely holding it together"
They are enduring pure chaos to try to hold the fort.
See snapshot from wapo.st/4feKKuu (gift 🔗) saying they are "barely holding it together"
Reposted by Amanda Therrien
Happy to announce that my lab @ Yale Psychology (actcompthink.org) will be accepting PhD applications this year (for start in Fall '26)!
Come for the fun experiments on human learning, memory, & skilled behavior, stay for the best 🍕 in the US.
Please reach out if you have any questions!
Come for the fun experiments on human learning, memory, & skilled behavior, stay for the best 🍕 in the US.
Please reach out if you have any questions!
Homepage of the Action, Computation, & Thinking (ACT) Lab, Yale department of psychology
actcompthink.org
July 24, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Happy to announce that my lab @ Yale Psychology (actcompthink.org) will be accepting PhD applications this year (for start in Fall '26)!
Come for the fun experiments on human learning, memory, & skilled behavior, stay for the best 🍕 in the US.
Please reach out if you have any questions!
Come for the fun experiments on human learning, memory, & skilled behavior, stay for the best 🍕 in the US.
Please reach out if you have any questions!
Reposted by Amanda Therrien
well put.
Bowing down to authoritarianism is a fundamental betrayal of the fundamental mission of higher ed. Shame on Columbia. abcnews.go.com/US/columbia-...
Columbia University to pay $200M in settlement with Trump administration
Columbia University has agreed to pay $200 million over the next three years to resolve claims it discriminated against Jewish students.
abcnews.go.com
July 24, 2025 at 2:15 PM
well put.
Reposted by Amanda Therrien
The case for investing in biomedical science is so clear it shouldn’t need defending. Yet here we are.
Read and share our latest blog from @amandastherrien.bsky.social & @dramandar.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/philadel...
Read and share our latest blog from @amandastherrien.bsky.social & @dramandar.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/philadel...
A case so obvious it shouldn’t even need to be made: Biomedical research is an excellent investment
By Amanda S. Therrien Ph.D. and Amanda Rabinowitz Ph.D.
open.substack.com
July 20, 2025 at 12:12 PM
The case for investing in biomedical science is so clear it shouldn’t need defending. Yet here we are.
Read and share our latest blog from @amandastherrien.bsky.social & @dramandar.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/philadel...
Read and share our latest blog from @amandastherrien.bsky.social & @dramandar.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/philadel...
Reposted by Amanda Therrien
Dr. Francis Collins speaks to the dire state of affairs at our government agencies.
"Predictions are that since the plug was pulled on USAID, 90,000 children have died unnecessarily... And yet, where is the outrage?..Where is our compassion?"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW9c...
"Predictions are that since the plug was pulled on USAID, 90,000 children have died unnecessarily... And yet, where is the outrage?..Where is our compassion?"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW9c...
A Scientific Brain Drain Has Followed Trump’s Gutting Of The NIH - Dr. Francis Collins
YouTube video by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
www.youtube.com
July 17, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Dr. Francis Collins speaks to the dire state of affairs at our government agencies.
"Predictions are that since the plug was pulled on USAID, 90,000 children have died unnecessarily... And yet, where is the outrage?..Where is our compassion?"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW9c...
"Predictions are that since the plug was pulled on USAID, 90,000 children have died unnecessarily... And yet, where is the outrage?..Where is our compassion?"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW9c...
Reposted by Amanda Therrien
Hey you! 👋
Are you a scientist with something to say? We want to hear from you!
The @philadelphiascienceaction.substack.com Substack is looking for contributors!
Bring your voice — let’s defend science together. 🧬✊
DM us if you’d like to write for us!
Are you a scientist with something to say? We want to hear from you!
The @philadelphiascienceaction.substack.com Substack is looking for contributors!
Bring your voice — let’s defend science together. 🧬✊
DM us if you’d like to write for us!
8/ 💌 DM us if you’d like to share your perspective, story or project. We want to hear from you — students, researchers, public health workers, climate activists, educators, neighbors.
July 16, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Hey you! 👋
Are you a scientist with something to say? We want to hear from you!
The @philadelphiascienceaction.substack.com Substack is looking for contributors!
Bring your voice — let’s defend science together. 🧬✊
DM us if you’d like to write for us!
Are you a scientist with something to say? We want to hear from you!
The @philadelphiascienceaction.substack.com Substack is looking for contributors!
Bring your voice — let’s defend science together. 🧬✊
DM us if you’d like to write for us!
Reposted by Amanda Therrien
if you know someone who has been really active in speaking out against the Trump regime, and you've been wondering if they want your help or if they have it all handled, please go help them however you can. they are exhausted. I am exhausted.
July 16, 2025 at 1:32 PM
if you know someone who has been really active in speaking out against the Trump regime, and you've been wondering if they want your help or if they have it all handled, please go help them however you can. they are exhausted. I am exhausted.
Reposted by Amanda Therrien
House FY26 Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Bill proposes a 23% cut to funding for the National Science Foundation.
Call your legislators and tell them no cuts to science funding!
appropriations.house.gov/sites/evo-su...
Call your legislators and tell them no cuts to science funding!
appropriations.house.gov/sites/evo-su...
July 14, 2025 at 6:51 PM
House FY26 Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Bill proposes a 23% cut to funding for the National Science Foundation.
Call your legislators and tell them no cuts to science funding!
appropriations.house.gov/sites/evo-su...
Call your legislators and tell them no cuts to science funding!
appropriations.house.gov/sites/evo-su...
Reposted by Amanda Therrien
1/ ✊🔬 Introducing the Philadelphia Science Action Substack — your local hub for scientists & science activists fighting for truth, transparency & inclusivity in Philly and beyond. 🧵 philadelphiascienceaction.substack.com
July 16, 2025 at 11:08 AM
1/ ✊🔬 Introducing the Philadelphia Science Action Substack — your local hub for scientists & science activists fighting for truth, transparency & inclusivity in Philly and beyond. 🧵 philadelphiascienceaction.substack.com
Reposted by Amanda Therrien
A reminder from Mister Rogers we might all need right now.
“Some days, doing ‘the best we can’ may still fall short of what we would like to be able to do, but life isn’t perfect on any front — and doing what we can with what we have is the most we should expect of ourselves or anyone else.”
“Some days, doing ‘the best we can’ may still fall short of what we would like to be able to do, but life isn’t perfect on any front — and doing what we can with what we have is the most we should expect of ourselves or anyone else.”
July 14, 2025 at 9:05 PM
A reminder from Mister Rogers we might all need right now.
“Some days, doing ‘the best we can’ may still fall short of what we would like to be able to do, but life isn’t perfect on any front — and doing what we can with what we have is the most we should expect of ourselves or anyone else.”
“Some days, doing ‘the best we can’ may still fall short of what we would like to be able to do, but life isn’t perfect on any front — and doing what we can with what we have is the most we should expect of ourselves or anyone else.”
Reposted by Amanda Therrien
Sign our open letter to Penn condemning this capitulation and standing up for transgender athletes and truly inclusive sport. Add your name here:
open.substack.com/pub/philadel...
open.substack.com/pub/philadel...
July 14, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Sign our open letter to Penn condemning this capitulation and standing up for transgender athletes and truly inclusive sport. Add your name here:
open.substack.com/pub/philadel...
open.substack.com/pub/philadel...
Reposted by Amanda Therrien
IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT
Please watch the workshop video and COMMENT by 5:00 Monday 7/14
This is the source of the "no more model organism only grants in NIH-funded research" decree.
Please watch the workshop video and COMMENT by 5:00 Monday 7/14
This is the source of the "no more model organism only grants in NIH-funded research" decree.
Dear all, PLEASE add comments on the importance of model organism research at this link:
July 12, 2025 at 12:11 AM
IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT
Please watch the workshop video and COMMENT by 5:00 Monday 7/14
This is the source of the "no more model organism only grants in NIH-funded research" decree.
Please watch the workshop video and COMMENT by 5:00 Monday 7/14
This is the source of the "no more model organism only grants in NIH-funded research" decree.
Reposted by Amanda Therrien
We should be wary of scientific priorities that frame disability as a problem to “cure” instead of a reality to support.
Read more on our Substack from @dramandar.bsky.social:
open.substack.com/pub/philadel...
Read more on our Substack from @dramandar.bsky.social:
open.substack.com/pub/philadel...
The Dubious Promise of Disability “Cures”
By Amanda Rabinowitz Ph.D.
open.substack.com
July 13, 2025 at 12:48 PM
We should be wary of scientific priorities that frame disability as a problem to “cure” instead of a reality to support.
Read more on our Substack from @dramandar.bsky.social:
open.substack.com/pub/philadel...
Read more on our Substack from @dramandar.bsky.social:
open.substack.com/pub/philadel...
Reposted by Amanda Therrien
Tapping the sign that says “NSF, NIH, and public investment into basic research are the real engines of US innovation”
Silicon Valley VCs sit atop a system where federal and state governments spent more on basic research of all kinds than most other countries in the world combined, and then take the ideas that come out of that and take it the last mile. An important function, but they disproportionately benefit.
July 12, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Tapping the sign that says “NSF, NIH, and public investment into basic research are the real engines of US innovation”
Reposted by Amanda Therrien
Penn’s acquiescence to the Trump Admin last week is troubling. It condones scapegoating, revisionism, & transphobia.
It also condones an interpretation of biological sex that flies in the face of current biological science.
Here, @amandastherrien.bsky.social discusses the actual biological truth.
It also condones an interpretation of biological sex that flies in the face of current biological science.
Here, @amandastherrien.bsky.social discusses the actual biological truth.
The Biological Truth Is That There Is No Simple Dichotomy Between Male and Female
By Amanda S. Therrien Ph.D.
open.substack.com
July 6, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Penn’s acquiescence to the Trump Admin last week is troubling. It condones scapegoating, revisionism, & transphobia.
It also condones an interpretation of biological sex that flies in the face of current biological science.
Here, @amandastherrien.bsky.social discusses the actual biological truth.
It also condones an interpretation of biological sex that flies in the face of current biological science.
Here, @amandastherrien.bsky.social discusses the actual biological truth.
Reposted by Amanda Therrien
In June, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) proposed a rule to implement a federal hiring classification that would reintroduce parts of “Schedule F,” a controversial hiring scheme. UCS’s Joseph Reed explains why we joined a group of orgs to submit a comment urging OPM to withdraw the rule.
Schedule F by Another Name Is Still a Threat to Science
Should this rule take effect, civil service protections would be stripped from much of the federal workforce, all but dismantling the merit-based system we’ve had for more than a century.
blog.ucs.org
July 1, 2025 at 3:10 PM
In June, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) proposed a rule to implement a federal hiring classification that would reintroduce parts of “Schedule F,” a controversial hiring scheme. UCS’s Joseph Reed explains why we joined a group of orgs to submit a comment urging OPM to withdraw the rule.
Reposted by Amanda Therrien
Extreme weather events, like heat domes, will become more frequent & dangerous with climate change. The Big Bad Bill includes severe roll backs of clean energy initiatives, which will worsen this trend.
Keep calling your Senators! Tell them to vote no TODAY!! 📞 202-224-3121.
Keep calling your Senators! Tell them to vote no TODAY!! 📞 202-224-3121.
Surprise Tax in G.O.P. Bill Could Cripple Wind and Solar Power
www.nytimes.com
July 1, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Extreme weather events, like heat domes, will become more frequent & dangerous with climate change. The Big Bad Bill includes severe roll backs of clean energy initiatives, which will worsen this trend.
Keep calling your Senators! Tell them to vote no TODAY!! 📞 202-224-3121.
Keep calling your Senators! Tell them to vote no TODAY!! 📞 202-224-3121.