ChemKritzer
@chemkritzer.bsky.social
dad, professor, chemistry, biology
Chemical biologist at Tufts University working on small molecules, peptides, and biotechnology.
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2878-6781
https://chem.tufts.edu/kritzer-lab
Chemical biologist at Tufts University working on small molecules, peptides, and biotechnology.
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2878-6781
https://chem.tufts.edu/kritzer-lab
(when I see “Nature, in preparation” on someone’s CV)
I have searched the depths of Scientific Ideas not yet articulated or vetted on this subject, and will be submitting an irrefutable Nature paper in the near future
February 14, 2026 at 12:32 AM
(when I see “Nature, in preparation” on someone’s CV)
I have searched the depths of Scientific Ideas not yet articulated or vetted on this subject, and will be submitting an irrefutable Nature paper in the near future
February 14, 2026 at 12:30 AM
I have searched the depths of Scientific Ideas not yet articulated or vetted on this subject, and will be submitting an irrefutable Nature paper in the near future
Reposted by ChemKritzer
Hey #ChemSky. I'm wondering what PhD applicants are experiencing this year. I have a student with essentially a 4.0, 3 years of research experience in my group, 1 summer (another pending) interning at Pfizer who currently has no offers. IMO this is complete nonsense. He's getting antsy.
February 13, 2026 at 5:50 PM
Hey #ChemSky. I'm wondering what PhD applicants are experiencing this year. I have a student with essentially a 4.0, 3 years of research experience in my group, 1 summer (another pending) interning at Pfizer who currently has no offers. IMO this is complete nonsense. He's getting antsy.
Reposted by ChemKritzer
In terms of what cures are being lost:
- Epstein-Barr virus is perhaps the major trigger for multiple sclerosis
- herpes simplex virus causes cold sores, genital herpes, infections in babies, deadly meningitis
- shingles virus causes an intensely painful disease
- Epstein-Barr virus is perhaps the major trigger for multiple sclerosis
- herpes simplex virus causes cold sores, genital herpes, infections in babies, deadly meningitis
- shingles virus causes an intensely painful disease
February 13, 2026 at 5:44 AM
In terms of what cures are being lost:
- Epstein-Barr virus is perhaps the major trigger for multiple sclerosis
- herpes simplex virus causes cold sores, genital herpes, infections in babies, deadly meningitis
- shingles virus causes an intensely painful disease
- Epstein-Barr virus is perhaps the major trigger for multiple sclerosis
- herpes simplex virus causes cold sores, genital herpes, infections in babies, deadly meningitis
- shingles virus causes an intensely painful disease
Reposted by ChemKritzer
You can't... repeal... a scientific finding. At that point it's just called lying about it.
Breaking News: The Trump administration repealed the bedrock scientific finding that greenhouse gases threaten human life and well being, meaning that the EPA can no longer regulate them. nyti.ms/4rSszQu
February 12, 2026 at 8:38 PM
You can't... repeal... a scientific finding. At that point it's just called lying about it.
Reposted by ChemKritzer
WSJ editorial board hits FDA: It’s hard to recall a regulator who has done as much damage to medical innovation in as little time as Vinay Prasad who rejected Moderna’s mRNA flu vaccine without even a cursory review.
www.wsj.com/opinion/vina...
www.wsj.com/opinion/vina...
Opinion | Vinay Prasad’s Vaccine Kill Shot
Does the White House know the harm he’s doing to public health?
www.wsj.com
February 12, 2026 at 4:49 AM
WSJ editorial board hits FDA: It’s hard to recall a regulator who has done as much damage to medical innovation in as little time as Vinay Prasad who rejected Moderna’s mRNA flu vaccine without even a cursory review.
www.wsj.com/opinion/vina...
www.wsj.com/opinion/vina...
Reposted by ChemKritzer
It's astonishing to see this data in chart form:
February 12, 2026 at 5:17 PM
It's astonishing to see this data in chart form:
Reposted by ChemKritzer
Top FDA official Vinay Prasad overruled the agency’s reviewers--career scientists--when he refused to accept Moderna’s application for a new influenza vaccine www.statnews.com/2026/02/11/m...
Prasad overruled FDA staff to reject Moderna's flu vaccine application
The rejection is the latest instance of Vinay Prasad overruling career FDA scientists to place vaccines under harsher scrutiny.
www.statnews.com
February 11, 2026 at 9:52 PM
Top FDA official Vinay Prasad overruled the agency’s reviewers--career scientists--when he refused to accept Moderna’s application for a new influenza vaccine www.statnews.com/2026/02/11/m...
Reposted by ChemKritzer
Students and faculty have been baffled (and frustrated) as NSF turns back applications for its prestigious Graduate Research Fellowship Research Fellowship Program (GRFP). Those affected seem to mainly be in the life sciences. My latest for @statnews.com
www.statnews.com/2026/02/11/n...
www.statnews.com/2026/02/11/n...
Students, faculty mystified as NSF turns back applications for prestigious fellowship program
Applicants to a prestigious National Science Foundation fellowship program say many submissions have been mysteriously “returned without review.”
www.statnews.com
February 11, 2026 at 6:47 PM
Students and faculty have been baffled (and frustrated) as NSF turns back applications for its prestigious Graduate Research Fellowship Research Fellowship Program (GRFP). Those affected seem to mainly be in the life sciences. My latest for @statnews.com
www.statnews.com/2026/02/11/n...
www.statnews.com/2026/02/11/n...
Reposted by ChemKritzer
We are hiring an Editor‑in‑Chief for our in-house chemistry portfolio to lead journals in the wider field of phytochemistry, medicinal chemistry, and natural products.
Please like, share, and apply!
wiley.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/wiley_career...
Please like, share, and apply!
wiley.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/wiley_career...
Editor-in-Chief - Physical Sciences
Job Description: Editor-in-Chief - Physical Sciences Location: Remote, GBR Our mission is to unlock human potential. We welcome you for who you are, the background you bring, and we embrace individual...
wiley.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com
February 10, 2026 at 4:42 PM
We are hiring an Editor‑in‑Chief for our in-house chemistry portfolio to lead journals in the wider field of phytochemistry, medicinal chemistry, and natural products.
Please like, share, and apply!
wiley.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/wiley_career...
Please like, share, and apply!
wiley.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/wiley_career...
Reposted by ChemKritzer
It is absolutely outrageous that Moderna’s flu vaccine was met with a “refusal-to-file” even after their approved their protocol with FDA and carried out the trial as agreed. This vaccine works better in older adults than the current flu vaccines.
apnews.com/article/mode...
apnews.com/article/mode...
Moderna says FDA refuses its application for new mRNA flu vaccine
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is refusing to consider Moderna’s application for a new flu vaccine made with mRNA technology.
apnews.com
February 11, 2026 at 12:13 AM
It is absolutely outrageous that Moderna’s flu vaccine was met with a “refusal-to-file” even after their approved their protocol with FDA and carried out the trial as agreed. This vaccine works better in older adults than the current flu vaccines.
apnews.com/article/mode...
apnews.com/article/mode...
Reposted by ChemKritzer
Excited to share our new paper and lipid- and protein-directed photocatalytic labeling method (POCA) just out in @natchembio.nature.com. tinyurl.com/2kcxuvvv. Big congrats to first author Andrew Becker and the whole team for launching our lab into the wild world of singlet oxygen interactomics.
February 6, 2026 at 8:18 PM
Excited to share our new paper and lipid- and protein-directed photocatalytic labeling method (POCA) just out in @natchembio.nature.com. tinyurl.com/2kcxuvvv. Big congrats to first author Andrew Becker and the whole team for launching our lab into the wild world of singlet oxygen interactomics.
Reposted by ChemKritzer
💯 “Science isn’t a gut feeling.
If you can’t defend your decision with evidence, don’t subject our kids to it.”
~ @standupforscience.bsky.social
If you can’t defend your decision with evidence, don’t subject our kids to it.”
~ @standupforscience.bsky.social
February 6, 2026 at 7:55 AM
💯 “Science isn’t a gut feeling.
If you can’t defend your decision with evidence, don’t subject our kids to it.”
~ @standupforscience.bsky.social
If you can’t defend your decision with evidence, don’t subject our kids to it.”
~ @standupforscience.bsky.social
Reposted by ChemKritzer
BREAKING: Over 680 members of the National Academy of Sciences, Medicine, and Engineering have endorsed articles of impeachment against RFK Jr.
(1/2 🧵)
(1/2 🧵)
February 5, 2026 at 9:08 PM
BREAKING: Over 680 members of the National Academy of Sciences, Medicine, and Engineering have endorsed articles of impeachment against RFK Jr.
(1/2 🧵)
(1/2 🧵)
Reposted by ChemKritzer
When research is halted and scientists are sidelined, people suffer, discoveries are delayed, and public trust is eroded. That is why, on Monday, I brought this complaint to the Office of Special Counsel.
katzbanks.com/news/nih-sci...
katzbanks.com/news/nih-sci...
NIH Scientist Files Whistleblower Complaint Alleging Retaliation by HHS and NIH for Speaking Out Against Politicization of Science and Unlawful Grant Terminations - Katz Banks Kumin LLP
In Complaint Filed with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, Career NIH Program Director Alleges Unlawful Retaliation for Protected Whistleblowing Activity (Washington, D.C.) – Dr. Jenna Norton, a care...
katzbanks.com
February 4, 2026 at 7:01 PM
When research is halted and scientists are sidelined, people suffer, discoveries are delayed, and public trust is eroded. That is why, on Monday, I brought this complaint to the Office of Special Counsel.
katzbanks.com/news/nih-sci...
katzbanks.com/news/nih-sci...
Reposted by ChemKritzer
Academics vying for a spot in Epstein‘s world. There are so many. I feel the need to make a thread, so I don’t keep confusing them. 1/
January 31, 2026 at 9:02 PM
Academics vying for a spot in Epstein‘s world. There are so many. I feel the need to make a thread, so I don’t keep confusing them. 1/
Reposted by ChemKritzer
Of course--Sabatini had to be there
January 31, 2026 at 4:51 PM
Of course--Sabatini had to be there
Reposted by ChemKritzer
Proximity labeling users: check out this study by @zhixingchen2.bsky.social and Peng Zou, which establishes how much contact-dependence vs. diffusion is responsible for biotinylation — tl;dr TurboID has a much smaller effective radius! www.nature.com/articles/s41... 1/2
Spatial barcoding reveals reaction radii and contact-dependent mechanism of proximity labeling - Nature Chemical Biology
A DNA nanoruler platform enables precise measurement of the labeling radii of TurboID and APEX2, uncovering their contact-dependent mechanisms. These findings redefine the enzymology of proximity labe...
www.nature.com
December 31, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Proximity labeling users: check out this study by @zhixingchen2.bsky.social and Peng Zou, which establishes how much contact-dependence vs. diffusion is responsible for biotinylation — tl;dr TurboID has a much smaller effective radius! www.nature.com/articles/s41... 1/2
Reposted by ChemKritzer
Top NIH leaders addressed my scoop that advisory councils are running out of voting members at the Reclaiming Science event (I'm now watching live stream).
Memoli says NIH was 3 years behind in filling slots when he came in (but neglects to say NIH disinvited dozens of people about to join them).
Memoli says NIH was 3 years behind in filling slots when he came in (but neglects to say NIH disinvited dozens of people about to join them).
An NIH source tells me that after this story was published, agency leadership held an emergency meeting about Council approval and is looking for ways to speed up the pipeline.
"Better late than never?" the source says.
"Better late than never?" the source says.
🚨 New from me: Grant review at more than half of NIH's institutes could be frozen by the end of the year.
That's because crucial NIH grant-review panels are slated to be empty at those institutes by Jan 2027.
A wonky bureaucratic problem with big implications.
A short 🧵
That's because crucial NIH grant-review panels are slated to be empty at those institutes by Jan 2027.
A wonky bureaucratic problem with big implications.
A short 🧵
January 30, 2026 at 7:23 PM
Top NIH leaders addressed my scoop that advisory councils are running out of voting members at the Reclaiming Science event (I'm now watching live stream).
Memoli says NIH was 3 years behind in filling slots when he came in (but neglects to say NIH disinvited dozens of people about to join them).
Memoli says NIH was 3 years behind in filling slots when he came in (but neglects to say NIH disinvited dozens of people about to join them).
Reposted by ChemKritzer
Really excited to share our new paper in @nature.com! We uncovered how a physical instability of the cytoplasm coupled with the cell cycle drives cytoplasmic partitioning in early embryos #zebrafish #drosophila. Read more in this🧵 www.nature.com/articles/s41... 🤩
@poldresden.bsky.social @mpi-cbg.de
@poldresden.bsky.social @mpi-cbg.de
January 28, 2026 at 4:10 PM
Really excited to share our new paper in @nature.com! We uncovered how a physical instability of the cytoplasm coupled with the cell cycle drives cytoplasmic partitioning in early embryos #zebrafish #drosophila. Read more in this🧵 www.nature.com/articles/s41... 🤩
@poldresden.bsky.social @mpi-cbg.de
@poldresden.bsky.social @mpi-cbg.de
Reposted by ChemKritzer
The college at which I'm employed, which has signed a contract with the AI firm that stole books from 131 colleagues & me, paid a student to write an op-ed for the student paper promoting AI, guided the writing of it, and did not disclose this to the paper. www.thedartmouth.com/article/2026...
College approached and paid student to write op-ed in The Dartmouth
The Dartmouth ran the article on Nov. 17 without knowledge that the College had been involved.
www.thedartmouth.com
January 29, 2026 at 10:40 PM
The college at which I'm employed, which has signed a contract with the AI firm that stole books from 131 colleagues & me, paid a student to write an op-ed for the student paper promoting AI, guided the writing of it, and did not disclose this to the paper. www.thedartmouth.com/article/2026...
Reposted by ChemKritzer
Reposted by ChemKritzer
Now out in Nature! We visualize infection of the RNA virus RSV in real-time with single-vRNP resolution to understand how RSV establishes viral factories, biomolecular condensates that act as sites of viral replication. A huge collaborative effort led by Dhanushika Ratnayake!
rdcu.be/e1bBW
rdcu.be/e1bBW
Pre-assembly of biomolecular condensate seeds drives RSV replication
Nature - Viral ribonucleoprotein–viral protein networks form pre-replication centres that nucleate viral factories and drive respiratory syncytial virus replication.
rdcu.be
January 28, 2026 at 8:38 PM
Now out in Nature! We visualize infection of the RNA virus RSV in real-time with single-vRNP resolution to understand how RSV establishes viral factories, biomolecular condensates that act as sites of viral replication. A huge collaborative effort led by Dhanushika Ratnayake!
rdcu.be/e1bBW
rdcu.be/e1bBW
Reposted by ChemKritzer
I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
Stay free
Stay free
Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Minneapolis (Official Audio)
YouTube video by Bruce Springsteen
youtu.be
January 28, 2026 at 5:02 PM
I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
Stay free
Stay free
Reposted by ChemKritzer
Jew in Amsterdam here. Please use Anne Frank as a comparison point to explain how state persecution of scapegoats impacts children, that is the point of her example, thanks
The Minnesota governor is getting widespread criticism for comparing children dealing with immigration enforcement to Holocaust victim Anne Frank.
Tim Walz condemned for comparing Minnesota children to Anne Frank
The Minnesota governor is getting widespread criticism for comparing children dealing with immigration enforcement to Holocaust victim Anne Frank.
bit.ly
January 28, 2026 at 8:10 AM
Jew in Amsterdam here. Please use Anne Frank as a comparison point to explain how state persecution of scapegoats impacts children, that is the point of her example, thanks