Cassie Manrique
@cassiemanrique.bsky.social
Weill Cornell Ph.D. candidate | Mary Baylies Lab @ MSKCC | skeletal muscle, chromatin, & stem cell researcher | UChicago alum | #DisabledInSTEM
Pinned
Finally made it over from X and might as well introduce myself! I’m Cassie, a PhD candidate at Weill Cornell Grad School. I’m conducting research in Dr. Mary Baylies’ lab at Sloan Kettering studying the epigenetics of skeletal muscle development. Broadly interested in dev bio, chromatin, and cats!
If you see this, quote with the energy you bring to Bluesky.
(Like Freckles, I prefer lurking from the comfort of a pile of blankets)
(Like Freckles, I prefer lurking from the comfort of a pile of blankets)
September 16, 2025 at 11:59 PM
If you see this, quote with the energy you bring to Bluesky.
(Like Freckles, I prefer lurking from the comfort of a pile of blankets)
(Like Freckles, I prefer lurking from the comfort of a pile of blankets)
Initial reaction to MacOS Tahoe: not a fan. “Liquid glass”? I just want decently high contrast icons, etc., not a bunch of weird rounded edges and bubbles. It looks pretty, but I don’t need my computer to be pretty, I need it to be easy to use quickly and efficiently. /rant
September 16, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Initial reaction to MacOS Tahoe: not a fan. “Liquid glass”? I just want decently high contrast icons, etc., not a bunch of weird rounded edges and bubbles. It looks pretty, but I don’t need my computer to be pretty, I need it to be easy to use quickly and efficiently. /rant
Reposted by Cassie Manrique
I just got the notice that all the FlyBase people at Harvard, including me, will be laid off on October 12. I'm devastated.
August 11, 2025 at 6:12 PM
I just got the notice that all the FlyBase people at Harvard, including me, will be laid off on October 12. I'm devastated.
Reposted by Cassie Manrique
okay y'all, i'm compiling a list of suggested readings for students in my Biology, Society and Culture class to use as a starting point for choosing papers for our weekly discussions. i obvs have a long list, but always looking for more suggestions!
here's the weeks i need suggestions for:
here's the weeks i need suggestions for:
August 4, 2025 at 8:52 PM
okay y'all, i'm compiling a list of suggested readings for students in my Biology, Society and Culture class to use as a starting point for choosing papers for our weekly discussions. i obvs have a long list, but always looking for more suggestions!
here's the weeks i need suggestions for:
here's the weeks i need suggestions for:
Reposted by Cassie Manrique
1/ No, you do not always need single-cell RNA-seq.
Here's why bulk RNA-seq might still be the smarter move for your experiment.
Here's why bulk RNA-seq might still be the smarter move for your experiment.
July 20, 2025 at 1:15 PM
1/ No, you do not always need single-cell RNA-seq.
Here's why bulk RNA-seq might still be the smarter move for your experiment.
Here's why bulk RNA-seq might still be the smarter move for your experiment.
Happy Gotcha Day to my best feline friend, Freckles. 🍓 When I adopted her 4 years ago, the closest she would get is sitting on a designated pillow on the couch. Now, she’s my cuddle buddy; most nights she’s asleep on top of my head on “our” pillow, 💕 But she still yells at me if I’m home too late 😆
July 3, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Happy Gotcha Day to my best feline friend, Freckles. 🍓 When I adopted her 4 years ago, the closest she would get is sitting on a designated pillow on the couch. Now, she’s my cuddle buddy; most nights she’s asleep on top of my head on “our” pillow, 💕 But she still yells at me if I’m home too late 😆
Freckles has chosen to demonstrate a left-sided sleeping position! (She often alternates between sides)
July 2, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Freckles has chosen to demonstrate a left-sided sleeping position! (She often alternates between sides)
Reposted by Cassie Manrique
Cannot emphasize enough that, if you dislike doing the things academics do (reading, writing, developing and expressing opinions about things you've read) enough to try to make a chatbot do them for you, there are lots of actual humans who would be happy to take that unpleasant job off your hands
Got gossip from a managing editor pal of a journal that a few reviewers used ChatGPT to write their assessments for them, and didn't even conceal it. I'll say it again - it won't be the neoliberal administrators that take down the humanities. It'll be humanities professors who've stopped reading.
July 1, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Cannot emphasize enough that, if you dislike doing the things academics do (reading, writing, developing and expressing opinions about things you've read) enough to try to make a chatbot do them for you, there are lots of actual humans who would be happy to take that unpleasant job off your hands
Reposted by Cassie Manrique
PSA: around 5-8% of the population has a color vision impairment for red/green.
Many talks at #2025ICDB still use red-green LUTs on slides that are not accessible to everyone.
Changing to more accessible colors is doable and easy.
We can do better.
#devbio
#ICDB2025 #WeTheColorBlind
Many talks at #2025ICDB still use red-green LUTs on slides that are not accessible to everyone.
Changing to more accessible colors is doable and easy.
We can do better.
#devbio
#ICDB2025 #WeTheColorBlind
June 19, 2025 at 3:40 PM
PSA: around 5-8% of the population has a color vision impairment for red/green.
Many talks at #2025ICDB still use red-green LUTs on slides that are not accessible to everyone.
Changing to more accessible colors is doable and easy.
We can do better.
#devbio
#ICDB2025 #WeTheColorBlind
Many talks at #2025ICDB still use red-green LUTs on slides that are not accessible to everyone.
Changing to more accessible colors is doable and easy.
We can do better.
#devbio
#ICDB2025 #WeTheColorBlind
Freckles would like to remind everyone to VOTE in your local elections! 🗳️ They might not be as publicized as federal elections, but local and state elections influence your schools, taxes, infrastructure, and more.
June 9, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Freckles would like to remind everyone to VOTE in your local elections! 🗳️ They might not be as publicized as federal elections, but local and state elections influence your schools, taxes, infrastructure, and more.
Reposted by Cassie Manrique
My ongoing request:
If your NSF or NIH grant was terminated--whether at Harvard or elsewhere--please report it here.
NSF: grant-watch.us/submit-nsf.h...
NIH: grant-watch.us/submit-nih.h...
Our trackers are actively used in lawsuits and are often the only record that terminations ever occurred.
If your NSF or NIH grant was terminated--whether at Harvard or elsewhere--please report it here.
NSF: grant-watch.us/submit-nsf.h...
NIH: grant-watch.us/submit-nih.h...
Our trackers are actively used in lawsuits and are often the only record that terminations ever occurred.
NSF appears to be terminating hundreds of its grants to Harvard, per internal sources at NSF and at Harvard. At least one division has had all its grants cut.
May 14, 2025 at 2:22 PM
My ongoing request:
If your NSF or NIH grant was terminated--whether at Harvard or elsewhere--please report it here.
NSF: grant-watch.us/submit-nsf.h...
NIH: grant-watch.us/submit-nih.h...
Our trackers are actively used in lawsuits and are often the only record that terminations ever occurred.
If your NSF or NIH grant was terminated--whether at Harvard or elsewhere--please report it here.
NSF: grant-watch.us/submit-nsf.h...
NIH: grant-watch.us/submit-nih.h...
Our trackers are actively used in lawsuits and are often the only record that terminations ever occurred.
Reposted by Cassie Manrique
PSA: We just finished processing nearly all public ATAC-seq datasets from SRA (about 22,000 datasets). (Not?) Surprisingly, we had to throw-out nearly ~50% because they were low-quality (low signal-to-noise, duplicate rate, etc.). Check quality before analysis (TSS-enrichment is not sufficient!).
May 13, 2025 at 7:42 PM
PSA: We just finished processing nearly all public ATAC-seq datasets from SRA (about 22,000 datasets). (Not?) Surprisingly, we had to throw-out nearly ~50% because they were low-quality (low signal-to-noise, duplicate rate, etc.). Check quality before analysis (TSS-enrichment is not sufficient!).
The basic subunit of chromatin, the nucleosome, consists of a segment of DNA wrapped around eight HISStone proteins 🐱
May 6, 2025 at 12:29 AM
The basic subunit of chromatin, the nucleosome, consists of a segment of DNA wrapped around eight HISStone proteins 🐱
Reposted by Cassie Manrique
Which FDA-approved vaccines had randomized, placebo-controlled trials?
ALL OF THEM.
Polio?
Measles, mumps, rubella?
Haemophilus influenzae B?
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis?
Meningococcus?
Varicella?
Pneumococcus?
Rotavirus?
RSV?
Hepatitis B?
Influenza?
HPV?
COVID-19?
Shingles?
YEP.
A thread🧵
1/
ALL OF THEM.
Polio?
Measles, mumps, rubella?
Haemophilus influenzae B?
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis?
Meningococcus?
Varicella?
Pneumococcus?
Rotavirus?
RSV?
Hepatitis B?
Influenza?
HPV?
COVID-19?
Shingles?
YEP.
A thread🧵
1/
May 5, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Which FDA-approved vaccines had randomized, placebo-controlled trials?
ALL OF THEM.
Polio?
Measles, mumps, rubella?
Haemophilus influenzae B?
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis?
Meningococcus?
Varicella?
Pneumococcus?
Rotavirus?
RSV?
Hepatitis B?
Influenza?
HPV?
COVID-19?
Shingles?
YEP.
A thread🧵
1/
ALL OF THEM.
Polio?
Measles, mumps, rubella?
Haemophilus influenzae B?
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis?
Meningococcus?
Varicella?
Pneumococcus?
Rotavirus?
RSV?
Hepatitis B?
Influenza?
HPV?
COVID-19?
Shingles?
YEP.
A thread🧵
1/
Reposted by Cassie Manrique
The average American has 3 friends
May 2, 2025 at 12:20 AM
The average American has 3 friends
Reposted by Cassie Manrique
An important point getting overlooked:
When NIH cancels "diversity" grants (e.g., diversity supplements, Fs, Ks, etc), they aren't canceling the grants based on *what* the grant studies.
They're cancelling them based on *who* is doing the research. And that disallowed "who" is anyone not white.
When NIH cancels "diversity" grants (e.g., diversity supplements, Fs, Ks, etc), they aren't canceling the grants based on *what* the grant studies.
They're cancelling them based on *who* is doing the research. And that disallowed "who" is anyone not white.
April 4, 2025 at 1:24 PM
An important point getting overlooked:
When NIH cancels "diversity" grants (e.g., diversity supplements, Fs, Ks, etc), they aren't canceling the grants based on *what* the grant studies.
They're cancelling them based on *who* is doing the research. And that disallowed "who" is anyone not white.
When NIH cancels "diversity" grants (e.g., diversity supplements, Fs, Ks, etc), they aren't canceling the grants based on *what* the grant studies.
They're cancelling them based on *who* is doing the research. And that disallowed "who" is anyone not white.
Reposted by Cassie Manrique
Live thread on @60minutes.bsky.social coverage of #NIH.
First, it’s ironic that one of the first commercials was for Keytruda, the cancer therapy developed with heavy NIH investment over decades.
Without NIH, there would be no Keytruda. 1/ 🧵
First, it’s ironic that one of the first commercials was for Keytruda, the cancer therapy developed with heavy NIH investment over decades.
Without NIH, there would be no Keytruda. 1/ 🧵
April 27, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Live thread on @60minutes.bsky.social coverage of #NIH.
First, it’s ironic that one of the first commercials was for Keytruda, the cancer therapy developed with heavy NIH investment over decades.
Without NIH, there would be no Keytruda. 1/ 🧵
First, it’s ironic that one of the first commercials was for Keytruda, the cancer therapy developed with heavy NIH investment over decades.
Without NIH, there would be no Keytruda. 1/ 🧵
Reposted by Cassie Manrique
I'm sorry, but rich, privileged women going on a space fieldtrip is not inspiring. The people are who ARE inspiring are the hardworking women working in STEM. You know, the ones who are at risk of losing their jobs and grants. #SaveOurScience
April 15, 2025 at 5:09 PM
I'm sorry, but rich, privileged women going on a space fieldtrip is not inspiring. The people are who ARE inspiring are the hardworking women working in STEM. You know, the ones who are at risk of losing their jobs and grants. #SaveOurScience
Reposted by Cassie Manrique
Does anyone know what software/packages generate these nice color-coded visualizations of structural rearrangements (this one from Jeong et al. 2025 Nature Genetics)?
April 15, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Does anyone know what software/packages generate these nice color-coded visualizations of structural rearrangements (this one from Jeong et al. 2025 Nature Genetics)?
Reposted by Cassie Manrique
Petabytes of critical government research that is marked for possible deletion cannot be archived because of technical and legal restrictions, meaning it is very likely to be lost forever:
www.404media.co/nih-archives...
www.404media.co/nih-archives...
Massive, Unarchivable Datasets of Cancer, Covid, and Alzheimer's Research Could Be Lost Forever
Days before Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that 10,000 HHS staffers would lose their jobs, a message appeared on NIH research repository sites saying they were "under review."
www.404media.co
April 4, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Petabytes of critical government research that is marked for possible deletion cannot be archived because of technical and legal restrictions, meaning it is very likely to be lost forever:
www.404media.co/nih-archives...
www.404media.co/nih-archives...
Reposted by Cassie Manrique
All staff at the NIH Office of Pain Policy and Planning were let go due to today's cuts.
This devastating loss will have significant negative impacts on the health of millions.
Pain is the leading cause of disability and the top reason for seeking medical care.
This devastating loss will have significant negative impacts on the health of millions.
Pain is the leading cause of disability and the top reason for seeking medical care.
April 1, 2025 at 9:28 PM
All staff at the NIH Office of Pain Policy and Planning were let go due to today's cuts.
This devastating loss will have significant negative impacts on the health of millions.
Pain is the leading cause of disability and the top reason for seeking medical care.
This devastating loss will have significant negative impacts on the health of millions.
Pain is the leading cause of disability and the top reason for seeking medical care.
Reposted by Cassie Manrique
we need a totally revised constitution and I think we should call it the Consti2tion
April 3, 2025 at 11:31 PM
we need a totally revised constitution and I think we should call it the Consti2tion
Reposted by Cassie Manrique
I'm not a "we should teach every kid to code" person but dear lord can we at least teach basic computational concepts or something, this is *embarrassing*
March 17, 2025 at 11:12 PM
I'm not a "we should teach every kid to code" person but dear lord can we at least teach basic computational concepts or something, this is *embarrassing*