Dr. Brenna Levine
@biobrenna.bsky.social
Assistant Professor of Bio. Proud NSF grant recipient. Bugs, snakes, urban evolution, and sexual selection.
🚨 Disturbing #urban nature fact: Invasive spotted lanternflies are BIGGER in cities! 😱🏙️
Yes -- Urban #SLF are super-sized, and that might help them survive hot city temps🔥.
Science by my amazing student researchers, not possible #withoutNSF support.
Read More📖: academic.oup.com/icb/advance-...
Yes -- Urban #SLF are super-sized, and that might help them survive hot city temps🔥.
Science by my amazing student researchers, not possible #withoutNSF support.
Read More📖: academic.oup.com/icb/advance-...
Invasive Spotted Lanternflies (Lycorma delicatula) Are Larger in More Urban Areas
Synopsis. Urbanization promotes the formation of heat islands. For ectothermic animals in cities, the urban heat island effect can increase developmental r
academic.oup.com
May 20, 2025 at 5:19 PM
🚨 Disturbing #urban nature fact: Invasive spotted lanternflies are BIGGER in cities! 😱🏙️
Yes -- Urban #SLF are super-sized, and that might help them survive hot city temps🔥.
Science by my amazing student researchers, not possible #withoutNSF support.
Read More📖: academic.oup.com/icb/advance-...
Yes -- Urban #SLF are super-sized, and that might help them survive hot city temps🔥.
Science by my amazing student researchers, not possible #withoutNSF support.
Read More📖: academic.oup.com/icb/advance-...
Reposted by Dr. Brenna Levine
Read more in @biobrenna.bsky.social's thread, including the link to the article in Scientific Data! 🧪
Remember this little monster? We just published the first annotated, chromosome-scale, haplotype-phased genome assembly for the spotted lanternfly! 🧵
April 7, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Read more in @biobrenna.bsky.social's thread, including the link to the article in Scientific Data! 🧪
Remember this little monster? We just published the first annotated, chromosome-scale, haplotype-phased genome assembly for the spotted lanternfly! 🧵
April 7, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Remember this little monster? We just published the first annotated, chromosome-scale, haplotype-phased genome assembly for the spotted lanternfly! 🧵
Reposted by Dr. Brenna Levine
"It is absurd to mindlessly decimate the workforce that has led the world in science over the past 75 years, and to willingly give up excellent scientists and talent," Beyer wrote.
www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...
www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...
US science agency reclassifies hundreds of workers as probationary, US lawmaker says
National Science Foundation administrators reclassified hundreds of employees from permanent to probationary status in violation of labor contracts, according to a U.S. lawmaker and agency employee.
www.reuters.com
February 22, 2025 at 2:18 PM
"It is absurd to mindlessly decimate the workforce that has led the world in science over the past 75 years, and to willingly give up excellent scientists and talent," Beyer wrote.
www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...
www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...
Reposted by Dr. Brenna Levine
Thinking about my US Forest Service partners and research collaborators. You are all so fantastic.
February 14, 2025 at 3:28 AM
Thinking about my US Forest Service partners and research collaborators. You are all so fantastic.
Reposted by Dr. Brenna Levine
Ted Cruz’s “woke” science list contains a lot of basic, fundamental research that got flagged for simply addressing broader impacts (as Congress requires).
As absurd as the list seems, it’s making scientists uneasy.
My latest:
www.npr.org/2025/02/13/n...
As absurd as the list seems, it’s making scientists uneasy.
My latest:
www.npr.org/2025/02/13/n...
Sen. Ted Cruz's list of "woke" science includes self-driving cars, solar eclipses
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, says the National Science Foundation has given money to thousands of "Woke DEI" studies. Researchers say that's misrepresenting science and disparaging important research.
www.npr.org
February 13, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Ted Cruz’s “woke” science list contains a lot of basic, fundamental research that got flagged for simply addressing broader impacts (as Congress requires).
As absurd as the list seems, it’s making scientists uneasy.
My latest:
www.npr.org/2025/02/13/n...
As absurd as the list seems, it’s making scientists uneasy.
My latest:
www.npr.org/2025/02/13/n...
Reposted by Dr. Brenna Levine
My friend's grant is on this list among 3,483 NSF grants, for the "woke" research of examining what factors shape microbial communities.
www.commerce.senate.gov/2025/2/cruz-...
www.commerce.senate.gov/2025/2/cruz-...
Cruz-Led Investigation Uncovers $2 Billion in Woke DEI Grants at NSF, Releases Full Database
www.commerce.senate.gov
February 12, 2025 at 11:53 AM
My friend's grant is on this list among 3,483 NSF grants, for the "woke" research of examining what factors shape microbial communities.
www.commerce.senate.gov/2025/2/cruz-...
www.commerce.senate.gov/2025/2/cruz-...
If you have a moment today, please call your congress-people about this list in support of people you know, like me.
www.commerce.senate.gov/2025/2/cruz-...
www.commerce.senate.gov/2025/2/cruz-...
Cruz-Led Investigation Uncovers $2 Billion in Woke DEI Grants at NSF, Releases Full Database
www.commerce.senate.gov
February 12, 2025 at 2:51 PM
If you have a moment today, please call your congress-people about this list in support of people you know, like me.
www.commerce.senate.gov/2025/2/cruz-...
www.commerce.senate.gov/2025/2/cruz-...
They really could have used a scientist to design these methods.
Did you see the report this originates from? The "methods" are in an appendix and they are truly atrocious and arbitrary
www.commerce.senate.gov/services/fil...
www.commerce.senate.gov/services/fil...
www.commerce.senate.gov
February 12, 2025 at 12:14 PM
They really could have used a scientist to design these methods.
Reposted by Dr. Brenna Levine
Did you see the report this originates from? The "methods" are in an appendix and they are truly atrocious and arbitrary
www.commerce.senate.gov/services/fil...
www.commerce.senate.gov/services/fil...
www.commerce.senate.gov
February 12, 2025 at 4:39 AM
Did you see the report this originates from? The "methods" are in an appendix and they are truly atrocious and arbitrary
www.commerce.senate.gov/services/fil...
www.commerce.senate.gov/services/fil...
Reposted by Dr. Brenna Levine
I made the Woke list of NSF grants. Yea, science doesn't really matter. 🤯 @calstatefullerton.bsky.social
www.commerce.senate.gov/2025/2/cruz-...
www.commerce.senate.gov/2025/2/cruz-...
Cruz-Led Investigation Uncovers $2 Billion in Woke DEI Grants at NSF, Releases Full Database
www.commerce.senate.gov
February 11, 2025 at 7:02 PM
I made the Woke list of NSF grants. Yea, science doesn't really matter. 🤯 @calstatefullerton.bsky.social
www.commerce.senate.gov/2025/2/cruz-...
www.commerce.senate.gov/2025/2/cruz-...
Reposted by Dr. Brenna Levine
NIH cuts billions of dollars in biomedical funding, effective immediately. The move halts a large slice of money for most universities and research institutions virtually overnight, imperiling vital research in everything from cancer to heart disease. www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
NIH cuts billions of dollars in biomedical funding, effective immediately
The move halts a large slice of money for most universities and research institutions virtually overnight, imperiling vital research in everything from cancer to heart disease.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 8, 2025 at 4:15 PM
NIH cuts billions of dollars in biomedical funding, effective immediately. The move halts a large slice of money for most universities and research institutions virtually overnight, imperiling vital research in everything from cancer to heart disease. www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
Reposted by Dr. Brenna Levine
For every dollar of federal research funding in the United States, universities generate between $2.30 and $3.00 of economy activity, much of that in local communities.
That doesn’t even include the return on investment of getting a college or graduate degree, which research also dollars support.
That doesn’t even include the return on investment of getting a college or graduate degree, which research also dollars support.
February 8, 2025 at 7:32 PM
For every dollar of federal research funding in the United States, universities generate between $2.30 and $3.00 of economy activity, much of that in local communities.
That doesn’t even include the return on investment of getting a college or graduate degree, which research also dollars support.
That doesn’t even include the return on investment of getting a college or graduate degree, which research also dollars support.
Reposted by Dr. Brenna Levine
NIH plans to slash support for indirect research costs, sending shockwaves through science www.statnews.com/2025/02/07/n...
NIH plans to slash support for indirect research costs, sending shockwaves through science
The NIH said Friday night that it would slash support for indirect costs on all existing and future grants to 15%
www.statnews.com
February 8, 2025 at 3:30 AM
NIH plans to slash support for indirect research costs, sending shockwaves through science www.statnews.com/2025/02/07/n...
Reposted by Dr. Brenna Levine
The Trump Administration's list of censored scientific terms that get NSF grant proposals flagged contains "women” and “female”, but no mention of “men” or “male.” There is “black” and “indigenous” on this list, but no “white.” The only identity not censored is mine.
youtu.be/dHXbpj1Z3UU
youtu.be/dHXbpj1Z3UU
Don Beyer Speaks About Trump's NSF Censorship on the House Floor
YouTube video by Congressman Don Beyer
youtu.be
February 7, 2025 at 1:56 PM
The Trump Administration's list of censored scientific terms that get NSF grant proposals flagged contains "women” and “female”, but no mention of “men” or “male.” There is “black” and “indigenous” on this list, but no “white.” The only identity not censored is mine.
youtu.be/dHXbpj1Z3UU
youtu.be/dHXbpj1Z3UU
Reposted by Dr. Brenna Levine
“White House budget proposal could shatter the National Science Foundation”
"This kind of cut would kill American science and boost China."
#science #nsf #academicsky
arstechnica.com/science/2025...
"This kind of cut would kill American science and boost China."
#science #nsf #academicsky
arstechnica.com/science/2025...
White House budget proposal could shatter the National Science Foundation
“This kind of cut would kill American science and boost China.”…
arstechnica.com
February 7, 2025 at 2:00 PM
“White House budget proposal could shatter the National Science Foundation”
"This kind of cut would kill American science and boost China."
#science #nsf #academicsky
arstechnica.com/science/2025...
"This kind of cut would kill American science and boost China."
#science #nsf #academicsky
arstechnica.com/science/2025...
Reposted by Dr. Brenna Levine
What NSF does and why it matters by J. Weitz.
Cutting the National Science Foundation in half will undermine American leadership in science & innovation.
Long-form take on the long-term consequences:
open.substack.com/pub/joshuasw...
Long-form take on the long-term consequences:
open.substack.com/pub/joshuasw...
February 6, 2025 at 5:41 AM
What NSF does and why it matters by J. Weitz.
Reposted by Dr. Brenna Levine
I have an active NSF award. The day that my PO called to tell me I won the grant was one of the best days of my adult life. I have since served on two panels and I have so much respect for NSF’s staff. So much so that I had a goal of being a rotating PO myself one day. Perhaps that dream is dashed.
National Science Foundation "is planning to lay off between a quarter and a half of its staff in the next two months," Politico reports. www.politico.com/news/2025/02...
Science funding agency threatened with mass layoffs
National Science Foundation staff heard the plans at a meeting Tuesday.
www.politico.com
February 5, 2025 at 4:15 PM
I have an active NSF award. The day that my PO called to tell me I won the grant was one of the best days of my adult life. I have since served on two panels and I have so much respect for NSF’s staff. So much so that I had a goal of being a rotating PO myself one day. Perhaps that dream is dashed.
Reposted by Dr. Brenna Levine
National Science Foundation "is planning to lay off between a quarter and a half of its staff in the next two months," Politico reports. www.politico.com/news/2025/02...
Science funding agency threatened with mass layoffs
National Science Foundation staff heard the plans at a meeting Tuesday.
www.politico.com
February 5, 2025 at 2:56 PM
National Science Foundation "is planning to lay off between a quarter and a half of its staff in the next two months," Politico reports. www.politico.com/news/2025/02...
Reposted by Dr. Brenna Levine
NEW: We obtained the directions NSF program officers are following to review all grants for compliance with the Trump EOs and the turmoil it has created in an agency mandated to broaden STEM participation. Our story: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Exclusive: how NSF is scouring research grants for violations of Trump’s orders
The US National Science Foundation has unfrozen grant funding, but it continues to scrutinize research projects, sowing turmoil.
www.nature.com
February 3, 2025 at 11:05 PM
NEW: We obtained the directions NSF program officers are following to review all grants for compliance with the Trump EOs and the turmoil it has created in an agency mandated to broaden STEM participation. Our story: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Dr. Brenna Levine
The best thing that scientists can do right this moment is organize with each other. Form networks, do coordinated communications: comms to the public, comms to media outlets, comms to Congress. That's the most urgent need.
#philsci #scicomm #neuroskyence #evodevo #publichealth
#philsci #scicomm #neuroskyence #evodevo #publichealth
February 4, 2025 at 7:13 AM
Reposted by Dr. Brenna Levine
Exclusive: NSF this week began to search through billions of dollars of grants the agency has already awarded for anything touching on topics that President Donald Trump has criticized. And NSF has blocked grantees and trainees from accessing funds while the review is underway. scim.ag/3El0NZh
EXCLUSIVE: NSF starts vetting all grants to comply with Trump’s orders
Grantee accounts remain frozen, while union accuses NSF of ignoring rules governing peer review
scim.ag
January 30, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Exclusive: NSF this week began to search through billions of dollars of grants the agency has already awarded for anything touching on topics that President Donald Trump has criticized. And NSF has blocked grantees and trainees from accessing funds while the review is underway. scim.ag/3El0NZh
Reposted by Dr. Brenna Levine
Here's some reporting on what is going on at NSF: www.science.org/content/arti...
EXCLUSIVE: NSF starts vetting all grants to comply with Trump’s orders
Grantee accounts remain frozen, while union accuses NSF of ignoring rules governing peer review
www.science.org
January 30, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Here's some reporting on what is going on at NSF: www.science.org/content/arti...