Ceci Vollbrecht
@cvollbrecht.bsky.social
Assistant physical chemistry prof at Kalamazoo College. Advocate for public engagement with science. When not scienc-ing, outside enjoying the sunshine. Previously at UW-Madison.
https://ceciliavollbrecht.wixsite.com/mysite
https://ceciliavollbrecht.wixsite.com/mysite
Thrilled to have receive this fellowship to help add new skills to the chemistry curriculum that will help my students become better scientists! And thanks to the college for highlighting it! www.kzoo.edu/news/faculty...
That Computes: Faculty Member's Fellowship to Benefit Students
Cecilia Vollbrecht is one of just 10 faculty members from around the country to earn a fellowship that will help students learn new skills.
www.kzoo.edu
July 11, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Thrilled to have receive this fellowship to help add new skills to the chemistry curriculum that will help my students become better scientists! And thanks to the college for highlighting it! www.kzoo.edu/news/faculty...
Reposted by Ceci Vollbrecht
I gotta say I find a lot of AI discourse around higher ed very confusing. "if ChatGPT can write your essays is college even worth it?" did people think math teachers were assigning problem sets because *they* couldn't figure out the answers?
June 30, 2025 at 2:15 PM
I gotta say I find a lot of AI discourse around higher ed very confusing. "if ChatGPT can write your essays is college even worth it?" did people think math teachers were assigning problem sets because *they* couldn't figure out the answers?
I am happy and tired after an awesome week of learning with the MolSSI Act-CMS group. And I regret nothing 🤣
Lesson learned from the MolSSI ACT-CMS workshop: If @cvollbrecht.bsky.social invites you to the hotel lobby for an evening 'work' session after dinner, don't bother bringing your laptop and be ready to be up past your bedtime
June 27, 2025 at 7:21 PM
I am happy and tired after an awesome week of learning with the MolSSI Act-CMS group. And I regret nothing 🤣
Reposted by Ceci Vollbrecht
Lesson learned from the MolSSI ACT-CMS workshop: If @cvollbrecht.bsky.social invites you to the hotel lobby for an evening 'work' session after dinner, don't bother bringing your laptop and be ready to be up past your bedtime
June 27, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Lesson learned from the MolSSI ACT-CMS workshop: If @cvollbrecht.bsky.social invites you to the hotel lobby for an evening 'work' session after dinner, don't bother bringing your laptop and be ready to be up past your bedtime
Reposted by Ceci Vollbrecht
Two possible reasons for this are:
1.) Women, POC and/or disabled people are more likely to do equity oriented work
2.) Women, POC and/or disabled people have been marked as DEI regardless of what they do
The government will try to point to the former reason when it is in reality the latter
1.) Women, POC and/or disabled people are more likely to do equity oriented work
2.) Women, POC and/or disabled people have been marked as DEI regardless of what they do
The government will try to point to the former reason when it is in reality the latter
NSF grant terminations are disproportionately affecting underrepresented scientists. 58% of canceled grants have women PIs, despite making up only 34% of awards. 17% of canceled grants have Black PIs (versus 4% of the pool). Hispanic and disabled PIs are twice as likely to have NSF grants canceled.
Trump officials take steps toward a radically different NSF
Efforts to shrink staff, budget, and focus have alarmed members of Congress
www.science.org
May 14, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Two possible reasons for this are:
1.) Women, POC and/or disabled people are more likely to do equity oriented work
2.) Women, POC and/or disabled people have been marked as DEI regardless of what they do
The government will try to point to the former reason when it is in reality the latter
1.) Women, POC and/or disabled people are more likely to do equity oriented work
2.) Women, POC and/or disabled people have been marked as DEI regardless of what they do
The government will try to point to the former reason when it is in reality the latter
Reposted by Ceci Vollbrecht
📣🧪
$25k grants for those who:
1. are working on research on STEM and education (including AI and CS, graduate education and MSIs, and scholarship that aims to reduce inequality), and
2. have had a recently terminated or cancelled grant from NSF.
Early-career scholars prioritized
$25k grants for those who:
1. are working on research on STEM and education (including AI and CS, graduate education and MSIs, and scholarship that aims to reduce inequality), and
2. have had a recently terminated or cancelled grant from NSF.
Early-career scholars prioritized
🧪 funding alert! www.spencer.org/grant_types/...
Rapid Response Bridge Funding Program
In the face of recent abrupt shifts in federal funding for education research, including large-scale terminations of National Science Foundation (NSF) research grant awards, we have developed a rap...
www.spencer.org
May 3, 2025 at 5:56 PM
📣🧪
$25k grants for those who:
1. are working on research on STEM and education (including AI and CS, graduate education and MSIs, and scholarship that aims to reduce inequality), and
2. have had a recently terminated or cancelled grant from NSF.
Early-career scholars prioritized
$25k grants for those who:
1. are working on research on STEM and education (including AI and CS, graduate education and MSIs, and scholarship that aims to reduce inequality), and
2. have had a recently terminated or cancelled grant from NSF.
Early-career scholars prioritized
A lot is wrong in the world, but a student told me they look forward to office hours every week and I'm holding that close for the day.
May 2, 2025 at 5:32 PM
A lot is wrong in the world, but a student told me they look forward to office hours every week and I'm holding that close for the day.
Reposted by Ceci Vollbrecht
This is a new image from #JWST.
The bright points with spikes are stars in the Milky Way.
Everything else is a galaxy.
Everything. Else. Is. A. Galaxy.
The bright points with spikes are stars in the Milky Way.
Everything else is a galaxy.
Everything. Else. Is. A. Galaxy.
April 29, 2025 at 6:47 PM
This is a new image from #JWST.
The bright points with spikes are stars in the Milky Way.
Everything else is a galaxy.
Everything. Else. Is. A. Galaxy.
The bright points with spikes are stars in the Milky Way.
Everything else is a galaxy.
Everything. Else. Is. A. Galaxy.
Reposted by Ceci Vollbrecht
It's really ok to say "I am not well-informed enough about this news item that people are discussing to feel like my opinion will contribute meaningfully to the discussion, and therefore I will choose to say nothing."
April 21, 2025 at 7:40 PM
It's really ok to say "I am not well-informed enough about this news item that people are discussing to feel like my opinion will contribute meaningfully to the discussion, and therefore I will choose to say nothing."
Reposted by Ceci Vollbrecht
Students often talk with friends & fam about climate, @lizbarnes.bsky.social + colleagues find. But they tend to go heavy on the stats & facts, and don't know how to bring up solutions. They rarely learn how to have effective conversations, and would love training & practice.
Well, guess what! 🧵
Well, guess what! 🧵
Undergraduate Biology Students’ Climate Change Communication Experiences Indicate a Need for Discipline-Based Education Research on Science Communication Education about Culturally Controversial Scien...
Science communication is a key skill for undergraduates, but little research explores how biology students communicate about societally important, yet controversial topics like climate change. In this...
www.lifescied.org
April 15, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Students often talk with friends & fam about climate, @lizbarnes.bsky.social + colleagues find. But they tend to go heavy on the stats & facts, and don't know how to bring up solutions. They rarely learn how to have effective conversations, and would love training & practice.
Well, guess what! 🧵
Well, guess what! 🧵
Reposted by Ceci Vollbrecht
If you visit the Upper Peninsula of Michigan & go to the shores of Lake Superior at night, be sure to bring a long-wave UV light source so you can hunt for fluorescent Yooper Stones.
"Yooper" here is a play on 'U.P.' (Upper Peninsula), but they're rocks that contain a fluorescent mineral, sodalite.
"Yooper" here is a play on 'U.P.' (Upper Peninsula), but they're rocks that contain a fluorescent mineral, sodalite.
April 14, 2025 at 11:18 PM
If you visit the Upper Peninsula of Michigan & go to the shores of Lake Superior at night, be sure to bring a long-wave UV light source so you can hunt for fluorescent Yooper Stones.
"Yooper" here is a play on 'U.P.' (Upper Peninsula), but they're rocks that contain a fluorescent mineral, sodalite.
"Yooper" here is a play on 'U.P.' (Upper Peninsula), but they're rocks that contain a fluorescent mineral, sodalite.
Reposted by Ceci Vollbrecht
Hi all, I'm hiring a junior specialist/research technician for my lab at UCSC. An ideal applicant would be an undergraduate who would like more research experience before applying for grad school but all are welcome to apply 🧪
recruit.ucsc.edu/JPF01882
recruit.ucsc.edu/JPF01882
Bhalla Lab - Research Specialist (Junior Specialist)
University of California, Santa Cruz is hiring. Apply now!
recruit.ucsc.edu
April 1, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Hi all, I'm hiring a junior specialist/research technician for my lab at UCSC. An ideal applicant would be an undergraduate who would like more research experience before applying for grad school but all are welcome to apply 🧪
recruit.ucsc.edu/JPF01882
recruit.ucsc.edu/JPF01882
Reposted by Ceci Vollbrecht
For any REI members who may not realize there is a Board election, or that it is contentious, see this. I ended up supporting one and not supporting the other two. do your research, make your call and VOTE.
If you're an REI member, you can vote to toss out the board that's endorsed Trump's candidate for Dept. of Interior and has worked to stop REI unions. Vote runs until May 2nd. Spread the word. vote.escvote.com/REI/
March 4, 2025 at 10:08 PM
For any REI members who may not realize there is a Board election, or that it is contentious, see this. I ended up supporting one and not supporting the other two. do your research, make your call and VOTE.
Reposted by Ceci Vollbrecht
Does anyone have a running list of universities that have paused or slashed graduate admissions?
We’ll add it to ours if it doesn’t exist
We’ll add it to ours if it doesn’t exist
Another consequence from Trump's attack on science : Vanderbilt has temporarily paused graduate student admissions. Current graduate students and faculty raised alarm about research funding, doctoral stipends, visas and career opportunities vanderbilthustler.com/2025/02/15/g...
Graduate student admissions temporarily paused as university monitors federal funding
In the wake of fears about significant reductions in federal funding, Vanderbilt has temporarily paused graduate student admissions. Current graduate students and faculty also raised alarm about resea...
vanderbilthustler.com
February 17, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Does anyone have a running list of universities that have paused or slashed graduate admissions?
We’ll add it to ours if it doesn’t exist
We’ll add it to ours if it doesn’t exist
Reposted by Ceci Vollbrecht
Hey folks--
If you're a recent (or soon-to-be) analytical chem PhD, or if you know of one...
We're hiring a 1-year VAP as sabbatical replacement. We don't do a national search for 1-year positions; it's completely word of mouth. DM me if you want details.
#ChemSky
If you're a recent (or soon-to-be) analytical chem PhD, or if you know of one...
We're hiring a 1-year VAP as sabbatical replacement. We don't do a national search for 1-year positions; it's completely word of mouth. DM me if you want details.
#ChemSky
February 13, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Hey folks--
If you're a recent (or soon-to-be) analytical chem PhD, or if you know of one...
We're hiring a 1-year VAP as sabbatical replacement. We don't do a national search for 1-year positions; it's completely word of mouth. DM me if you want details.
#ChemSky
If you're a recent (or soon-to-be) analytical chem PhD, or if you know of one...
We're hiring a 1-year VAP as sabbatical replacement. We don't do a national search for 1-year positions; it's completely word of mouth. DM me if you want details.
#ChemSky
Reposted by Ceci Vollbrecht
Reposted by Ceci Vollbrecht
Extremely disappointed to see HHMI decide to kill their Inclusive Excellence program, including terminating the current IE3 awards to over a hundred institutions effective this year in the middle of a 6-year grant. I was hoping HHMI (and other private funders) would continue to lead the way.
February 5, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Extremely disappointed to see HHMI decide to kill their Inclusive Excellence program, including terminating the current IE3 awards to over a hundred institutions effective this year in the middle of a 6-year grant. I was hoping HHMI (and other private funders) would continue to lead the way.
Way too much going on in the world. So here’s a #funnyfriday from our dept hallway where we put up a new chemistry joke each week. And yes there is a backstory to the crepe paper horse
January 31, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Way too much going on in the world. So here’s a #funnyfriday from our dept hallway where we put up a new chemistry joke each week. And yes there is a backstory to the crepe paper horse
Another day of checking the news post-coffee and wanting to scream.
January 30, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Another day of checking the news post-coffee and wanting to scream.
Reposted by Ceci Vollbrecht
I used to work for an elected official as the person who answered their emails. I can tell you from personal experience, if even twenty or thirty people all call an official in a day, they start panicking. This stuff does help.
I know you hate this advice. I know you hear it all the time, but for gods sake you need to be calling your congressperson. Now. Today.
If you have a GOP representative, you need to call and ask if they approve of stripping congress of its constitutional authority. If they like being powerless.
If you have a GOP representative, you need to call and ask if they approve of stripping congress of its constitutional authority. If they like being powerless.
January 28, 2025 at 9:29 PM
I used to work for an elected official as the person who answered their emails. I can tell you from personal experience, if even twenty or thirty people all call an official in a day, they start panicking. This stuff does help.
Reposted by Ceci Vollbrecht
What can you do? Talk loudly about what government actually does for you. Call your reps and tell them to protect federal research and to make government work for all Americans. Write op-eds. Talk about the medical research that saved your life. Share your stories. Help people make the connections.
January 23, 2025 at 12:15 AM
What can you do? Talk loudly about what government actually does for you. Call your reps and tell them to protect federal research and to make government work for all Americans. Write op-eds. Talk about the medical research that saved your life. Share your stories. Help people make the connections.
Reposted by Ceci Vollbrecht
Fellow scientists, please consider speaking w/ media about what this means for "regular Americans." The link below is to contact a reporter who's collecting stories about the unfolding NIH situation - pls share anonymously or on record. @anniewaldman.bsky.social www.propublica.org/people/annie...
January 22, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Fellow scientists, please consider speaking w/ media about what this means for "regular Americans." The link below is to contact a reporter who's collecting stories about the unfolding NIH situation - pls share anonymously or on record. @anniewaldman.bsky.social www.propublica.org/people/annie...
Reposted by Ceci Vollbrecht
Saw people posting on this and was hoping they were isolated incidents… but nope, it’s real and it’s bad www.science.org/content/arti...
Trump hits NIH with ‘devastating’ freezes on meetings, travel, communications, and hiring
Researchers facing
www.science.org
January 23, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Saw people posting on this and was hoping they were isolated incidents… but nope, it’s real and it’s bad www.science.org/content/arti...