Sean Eddy
@cryptogenomicon.bsky.social
Professor, Molecular & Cellular Biology, Harvard University
A thoughtful and impressive proposal to recalibrate grading at Harvard. (Sometimes committees work!) I'm going to support this.
www.thecrimson.com/article/2026...
www.thecrimson.com/article/2026...
Faculty Committee Proposes Cap on A Grades, New Internal Ranking System | News | The Harvard Crimson
A faculty committee proposed a sweeping overhaul of Harvard College grading that would sharply limit A grades and introduce a new internal ranking system — changes that could nearly halve the percenta...
www.thecrimson.com
February 7, 2026 at 7:10 PM
A thoughtful and impressive proposal to recalibrate grading at Harvard. (Sometimes committees work!) I'm going to support this.
www.thecrimson.com/article/2026...
www.thecrimson.com/article/2026...
Apropos of nothing: after West Point and the Naval Academy, the civilian university with the most US Medal of Honor recipients is Harvard University.
February 7, 2026 at 1:10 PM
Apropos of nothing: after West Point and the Naval Academy, the civilian university with the most US Medal of Honor recipients is Harvard University.
Reposted by Sean Eddy
Welcome to the Institute, Stern Lab! @hhmi-science.bsky.social Investigator David Stern studies how insects hijack plant development. His lab’s discoveries could reshape how we think about pest control and food security. He & his team arrived from HHMI’s Janelia Research Campus.
bit.ly/4np96Fb
bit.ly/4np96Fb
Stowers Institute recruits renowned developmental and evolutionary…
David Stern, Ph.D., brings groundbreaking research on insect–plant interactions for next-generation pest control to the Institute.
bit.ly
February 3, 2026 at 8:51 PM
Welcome to the Institute, Stern Lab! @hhmi-science.bsky.social Investigator David Stern studies how insects hijack plant development. His lab’s discoveries could reshape how we think about pest control and food security. He & his team arrived from HHMI’s Janelia Research Campus.
bit.ly/4np96Fb
bit.ly/4np96Fb
We need more of this. Glad there's still people like this in Congress.
If you want to FINALLY watch Scott Bessent get pinned down on specifics about the illegal money laundering operation being conducted by the Trump admin from someone who knows WTF he’s talking about, this clip is your chance. Bessent gets destroyed.
February 4, 2026 at 9:57 PM
We need more of this. Glad there's still people like this in Congress.
This guy is an American hero. All of us need to listen and act.
Highlighting the speaker who stood in front of the Surprise mayor and told him to consider what the Mayor of Ohrdruf must’ve thought before he died by suicide: “He might have thought ‘how is this my fault I had no jurisdiction over this’ maybe he said ‘this site was not subject to local zoning.’”
February 4, 2026 at 9:49 PM
This guy is an American hero. All of us need to listen and act.
Reposted by Sean Eddy
Neil H. Shubin has been elected as the next NAS President! A leading evolutionary biologist and science communicator, Shubin will succeed Marcia McNutt on July 1. The Academy also named Cherry Murray as International Secretary and elected new councilors. Read more: www.nasonline.org/news/2026_pr...
February 4, 2026 at 5:35 PM
Neil H. Shubin has been elected as the next NAS President! A leading evolutionary biologist and science communicator, Shubin will succeed Marcia McNutt on July 1. The Academy also named Cherry Murray as International Secretary and elected new councilors. Read more: www.nasonline.org/news/2026_pr...
Less than a day after the extortion demand was reportedly at $0, now it swings back up to $1B. Never imagined the US government could act like this.
www.thecrimson.com/article/2026...
www.thecrimson.com/article/2026...
Trump Calls for $1 Billion Settlement From Harvard | News | The Harvard Crimson
U.S. President Donald Trump demanded Harvard pay $1 billion in a settlement in a Truth Social post Monday night, pushing back against reports that the White House would no longer demand a cash payment...
www.thecrimson.com
February 3, 2026 at 12:51 PM
Less than a day after the extortion demand was reportedly at $0, now it swings back up to $1B. Never imagined the US government could act like this.
www.thecrimson.com/article/2026...
www.thecrimson.com/article/2026...
Even the NYT can't keep up with this chaos. In NYT's own reporting, the original demand wasn't $200M, it was $500M. Then it was $500M for a trade school or AI school or something. Then it had to have some cash so it was $300M+$200M. Then it was $200M.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/u...
Trump Drops Demand for Cash From Harvard After Stiff Resistance
www.nytimes.com
February 2, 2026 at 11:51 PM
Even the NYT can't keep up with this chaos. In NYT's own reporting, the original demand wasn't $200M, it was $500M. Then it was $500M for a trade school or AI school or something. Then it had to have some cash so it was $300M+$200M. Then it was $200M.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/u...
Reposted by Sean Eddy
I have been watching this Livestream.
Lots of interesting topics with loads of misinformation, poor policy development, and evidence of selection bias.
Here is a minor, insignificant point that still drove me nuts.
1/14
Lots of interesting topics with loads of misinformation, poor policy development, and evidence of selection bias.
Here is a minor, insignificant point that still drove me nuts.
1/14
January 30, 2026 at 7:58 PM
I have been watching this Livestream.
Lots of interesting topics with loads of misinformation, poor policy development, and evidence of selection bias.
Here is a minor, insignificant point that still drove me nuts.
1/14
Lots of interesting topics with loads of misinformation, poor policy development, and evidence of selection bias.
Here is a minor, insignificant point that still drove me nuts.
1/14
Reposted by Sean Eddy
on Holocaust Remembrance Day
January 28, 2026 at 2:59 AM
on Holocaust Remembrance Day
Reposted by Sean Eddy
We are thrilled to announce Francis S. Collins, former director of the NIH, as the 2026 NAS Public Welfare Medalist for his pioneering research in human genetics and critical contributions to public welfare as the leader of the Human Genome Project! www.nasonline.org/news/francis... #NASaward
January 27, 2026 at 3:04 PM
We are thrilled to announce Francis S. Collins, former director of the NIH, as the 2026 NAS Public Welfare Medalist for his pioneering research in human genetics and critical contributions to public welfare as the leader of the Human Genome Project! www.nasonline.org/news/francis... #NASaward
Reposted by Sean Eddy
Biochemist/molecular biologist Joan Steitz was born #OTD in 1941.
She (& team) figured out how our cells read/use genetic instructions to make proteins. A key person who helped crack the code on RNA—the molecule that acts like a messenger between DNA & and the proteins our bodies need. #WomenInSTEM
She (& team) figured out how our cells read/use genetic instructions to make proteins. A key person who helped crack the code on RNA—the molecule that acts like a messenger between DNA & and the proteins our bodies need. #WomenInSTEM
January 26, 2026 at 7:08 PM
Biochemist/molecular biologist Joan Steitz was born #OTD in 1941.
She (& team) figured out how our cells read/use genetic instructions to make proteins. A key person who helped crack the code on RNA—the molecule that acts like a messenger between DNA & and the proteins our bodies need. #WomenInSTEM
She (& team) figured out how our cells read/use genetic instructions to make proteins. A key person who helped crack the code on RNA—the molecule that acts like a messenger between DNA & and the proteins our bodies need. #WomenInSTEM
Reposted by Sean Eddy
Jane Richardson was born #OTD in 1941
+ Developed the Richardson (ribbon) diagram to represent proteins' 3D structure (becoming a standard representation for protein structures)
+ MacArthur Fellow, 1985
+ Elected, Nat'l Academy of Sciences, 1991
+ President, Biophysical Society, 2012
#WomenInSTEM
+ Developed the Richardson (ribbon) diagram to represent proteins' 3D structure (becoming a standard representation for protein structures)
+ MacArthur Fellow, 1985
+ Elected, Nat'l Academy of Sciences, 1991
+ President, Biophysical Society, 2012
#WomenInSTEM
January 26, 2026 at 12:06 AM
Jane Richardson was born #OTD in 1941
+ Developed the Richardson (ribbon) diagram to represent proteins' 3D structure (becoming a standard representation for protein structures)
+ MacArthur Fellow, 1985
+ Elected, Nat'l Academy of Sciences, 1991
+ President, Biophysical Society, 2012
#WomenInSTEM
+ Developed the Richardson (ribbon) diagram to represent proteins' 3D structure (becoming a standard representation for protein structures)
+ MacArthur Fellow, 1985
+ Elected, Nat'l Academy of Sciences, 1991
+ President, Biophysical Society, 2012
#WomenInSTEM
Reposted by Sean Eddy
Congratulations to Cynthia Dwork, Harvard CS Professor and Harvard Stats Affiliate for being award the 2026 Japan Prize. In statistics her most celebrated work is on founding differential privacy.
www.japanprize.jp/en/prize_pas...
www.japanprize.jp/en/prize_pas...
The Japan Prize Foundation
The Japan Prize Foundation , Japan Prize , OFFICIAL
www.japanprize.jp
January 23, 2026 at 9:16 PM
Congratulations to Cynthia Dwork, Harvard CS Professor and Harvard Stats Affiliate for being award the 2026 Japan Prize. In statistics her most celebrated work is on founding differential privacy.
www.japanprize.jp/en/prize_pas...
www.japanprize.jp/en/prize_pas...
Reposted by Sean Eddy
🚨 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 🧵
Exclusive: key NIH review panels due to lose all members by the end of 2026
Thirteen of the agency’s advisory councils, which must review grant applications before funding is awarded, are on track to have no voting members.
www.nature.com
January 22, 2026 at 7:46 PM
🚨 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 🧵
Reposted by Sean Eddy
Join us in congratulating Philip J. Kranzusch (@kranzuschlab.bsky.social) of @danafarber.bsky.social and @harvardmed.bsky.social, winner of the 2026 NAS Award in Molecular Biology for his groundbreaking work advancing understanding of innate immunity! www.nasonline.org/award/nas-aw... #NASaward
January 22, 2026 at 4:04 PM
Join us in congratulating Philip J. Kranzusch (@kranzuschlab.bsky.social) of @danafarber.bsky.social and @harvardmed.bsky.social, winner of the 2026 NAS Award in Molecular Biology for his groundbreaking work advancing understanding of innate immunity! www.nasonline.org/award/nas-aw... #NASaward
Reposted by Sean Eddy
It was fun digging into the bioinformatics on the four Sri hibernation factors! They bind the ribosome in pairs and similarly co-occur with their binding partner across the archaeal phylogeny. Across Sri, Dri, and Hib, it appears that CBS domain-containing factors mediate hibernation in most archaea
"Use it or lose it." This is great advice for exercise, but when cells need to slow down or go dormant, they need to store ribosomes to recover growth in the future. They use hibernation factors to do this. Here is our latest story on how archaea hibernate ribosomes (1/7):
doi.org/10.64898/202...
doi.org/10.64898/202...
doi.org
January 20, 2026 at 10:45 PM
It was fun digging into the bioinformatics on the four Sri hibernation factors! They bind the ribosome in pairs and similarly co-occur with their binding partner across the archaeal phylogeny. Across Sri, Dri, and Hib, it appears that CBS domain-containing factors mediate hibernation in most archaea
Reposted by Sean Eddy
very sad news. Peer Bork was one of the leaders of our field, a wonderful scientist, and he's much too young to be gone. www.embl.org/news/embl-an...
In remembrance of Peer Bork | EMBL
EMBL and its community are deeply saddened by the death of Peer Bork, the organisation’s Interim Director General.
www.embl.org
January 16, 2026 at 6:33 PM
very sad news. Peer Bork was one of the leaders of our field, a wonderful scientist, and he's much too young to be gone. www.embl.org/news/embl-an...
Reposted by Sean Eddy
I am looking for a postdoc to develop high-performance algorithms in computational genomics. Email or DM me if interested. For more information, see hlilab.github.io/vacancies. RTs appreciated!
HLi Lab - Vacancies
Openings
hlilab.github.io
January 14, 2026 at 3:44 PM
I am looking for a postdoc to develop high-performance algorithms in computational genomics. Email or DM me if interested. For more information, see hlilab.github.io/vacancies. RTs appreciated!
Reposted by Sean Eddy
In 2012 the ENCODE project claimed that most of our genome 🧬 wasn't junk after all on the basis that most of it was active in some way 🧪
In response, @cryptogenomicon.bsky.social proposed the random genome project - even random DNA would be mostly active, he suggested 1/2
doi.org/10.1016/j.cu...
In response, @cryptogenomicon.bsky.social proposed the random genome project - even random DNA would be mostly active, he suggested 1/2
doi.org/10.1016/j.cu...
Redirecting
doi.org
December 31, 2025 at 12:50 PM
In 2012 the ENCODE project claimed that most of our genome 🧬 wasn't junk after all on the basis that most of it was active in some way 🧪
In response, @cryptogenomicon.bsky.social proposed the random genome project - even random DNA would be mostly active, he suggested 1/2
doi.org/10.1016/j.cu...
In response, @cryptogenomicon.bsky.social proposed the random genome project - even random DNA would be mostly active, he suggested 1/2
doi.org/10.1016/j.cu...
Reposted by Sean Eddy
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a… mouse? Check out our latest piece on the X-Mens, a genetically inducible mouse model for the study of menstruation that was recently developed by researchers at Harvard University. #scicomm 🐁
The X-Men(s): A New Model for the Study of Menstruation
A new mouse model called X-Mens opens the doors for more detailed study of mammalian menstruation.
isabellacisneros.substack.com
December 15, 2025 at 3:11 PM
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a… mouse? Check out our latest piece on the X-Mens, a genetically inducible mouse model for the study of menstruation that was recently developed by researchers at Harvard University. #scicomm 🐁
Reposted by Sean Eddy
Nancy Kleckner Recognized for Pioneering Work in Chromosome Dynamics 🧪🧬 #AcademicSky #higherEd
www.mcb.harvard.edu/department/n... @rachellegaudet.bsky.social
www.mcb.harvard.edu/department/n... @rachellegaudet.bsky.social
Nancy Kleckner Recognized for Pioneering Work in Chromosome Dynamics - Harvard University - Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology
Nancy Kleckner, the Herchel Smith Professor of Molecular Biology, has been awarded the 2025 Charles E. Helmstetter Prize Lifetime Achievement Award (PDF) in recognition of her groundbreaking research ...
www.mcb.harvard.edu
December 15, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Nancy Kleckner Recognized for Pioneering Work in Chromosome Dynamics 🧪🧬 #AcademicSky #higherEd
www.mcb.harvard.edu/department/n... @rachellegaudet.bsky.social
www.mcb.harvard.edu/department/n... @rachellegaudet.bsky.social
Reposted by Sean Eddy
The Faculty of Arts and Sciences announced that it would reduce the number of Ph.D. admissions slots for the Science division by 50 percent this year, walking back plans for even steeper cuts.
William Mao and Veronica Paulus report.
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
William Mao and Veronica Paulus report.
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
Harvard To Admit 50% Fewer Ph.D. Students in Science, Walking Back Deeper Cuts | News | The Harvard Crimson
The Faculty of Arts and Sciences announced Wednesday that it would reduce the number of Ph.D. admissions slots for the Science division by 50 percent for the current admissions cycle, walking back…
www.thecrimson.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:17 PM
The Faculty of Arts and Sciences announced that it would reduce the number of Ph.D. admissions slots for the Science division by 50 percent this year, walking back plans for even steeper cuts.
William Mao and Veronica Paulus report.
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
William Mao and Veronica Paulus report.
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
Reposted by Sean Eddy
Congratulations to Joe Felsenstein on being awarded the 2026 Mendel Medal!
November 14, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Congratulations to Joe Felsenstein on being awarded the 2026 Mendel Medal!
Reposted by Sean Eddy
Congratulations to Richard Durbin on being awarded our Genetics Society Medal!
November 14, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Congratulations to Richard Durbin on being awarded our Genetics Society Medal!