Joe Thornton
@joethorntonlab.bsky.social
Evolutionary biochemistry at UChicago. Reconstructing ancient proteins.
Reposted by Joe Thornton
Reporting live from Chicago, there’s no “hellscape” I’d rather be in.
October 10, 2025 at 4:19 AM
Reporting live from Chicago, there’s no “hellscape” I’d rather be in.
Reposted by Joe Thornton
New paper from the lab from Sriram Garg in my group. We introduce a general substitution matrix for structural phylogenetics. I think this is a big deal, so read on below if you think deep history is important. academic.oup.com/mbe/advance-...
A general substitution matrix for structural phylogenetics.
Abstract. Sequence-based maximum likelihood (ML) phylogenetics is a widely used method for inferring evolutionary relationships, which has illuminated the
academic.oup.com
June 11, 2025 at 2:01 PM
New paper from the lab from Sriram Garg in my group. We introduce a general substitution matrix for structural phylogenetics. I think this is a big deal, so read on below if you think deep history is important. academic.oup.com/mbe/advance-...
Reposted by Joe Thornton
Hey #Chicago science folks. It's time to get out there with everyone else fighting. @standupforscience.bsky.social stands together with @indivisiblechicago.bsky.social for No Kings Day this Saturday June 14.
Find your rally at
www.nokings.org #nokings 👑❌
Find your rally at
www.nokings.org #nokings 👑❌
June 11, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Hey #Chicago science folks. It's time to get out there with everyone else fighting. @standupforscience.bsky.social stands together with @indivisiblechicago.bsky.social for No Kings Day this Saturday June 14.
Find your rally at
www.nokings.org #nokings 👑❌
Find your rally at
www.nokings.org #nokings 👑❌
Reposted by Joe Thornton
Harvard will not comply.
“No government — regardless of which party is in power — should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue.”
— Harvard President Alan M. Garber
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
“No government — regardless of which party is in power — should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue.”
— Harvard President Alan M. Garber
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
Harvard Will Fight Trump’s Demands | News | The Harvard Crimson
Harvard will not comply with the Trump administration’s demands to dismantle its diversity programming and limit student protests in exchange for its federal funding, University President Alan M. Garb...
www.thecrimson.com
April 14, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Harvard will not comply.
“No government — regardless of which party is in power — should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue.”
— Harvard President Alan M. Garber
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
“No government — regardless of which party is in power — should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue.”
— Harvard President Alan M. Garber
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
Reposted by Joe Thornton
My OpEd in @elife.bsky.social
“It feels as if we are trying to fight a series of attacks on science with one arm tied behind our back and our lips half sewn shut.”
“Yet we are not beaten, and some of us are downright energized.”
elifesciences.org/articles/106...
“It feels as if we are trying to fight a series of attacks on science with one arm tied behind our back and our lips half sewn shut.”
“Yet we are not beaten, and some of us are downright energized.”
elifesciences.org/articles/106...
Science Under Threat in the United States: Feeling abandoned but energized
Many individual researchers are frustrated by the response - or the lack of a response - from universities to a growing crisis.
elifesciences.org
March 25, 2025 at 12:37 PM
My OpEd in @elife.bsky.social
“It feels as if we are trying to fight a series of attacks on science with one arm tied behind our back and our lips half sewn shut.”
“Yet we are not beaten, and some of us are downright energized.”
elifesciences.org/articles/106...
“It feels as if we are trying to fight a series of attacks on science with one arm tied behind our back and our lips half sewn shut.”
“Yet we are not beaten, and some of us are downright energized.”
elifesciences.org/articles/106...
The government’s attack on Columbia University has nothing to do with addressing antisemitism. The goal is to force universities to police and punish students and faculty to Trump’s liking — to use our universities against us to obliterate political protest and chill discourse.
March 8, 2025 at 1:07 PM
The government’s attack on Columbia University has nothing to do with addressing antisemitism. The goal is to force universities to police and punish students and faculty to Trump’s liking — to use our universities against us to obliterate political protest and chill discourse.
This attack on Columbia University is patently illegal, but the bully could still succeed by making other universities cower and pre-submit to the White House's climate of fear. Solidarity!
DOJ, HHS, ED, and GSA Announce Initial Cancellation of Grants and Contracts to Columbia University Worth $400 Million (government press release) www.gsa.gov/about-us/new...
DOJ, HHS, ED, and GSA Announce Initial Cancellation of Grants and Contracts to Columbia University Worth $400 Million
Today, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Department of Education (ED), and the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced that through their coordinated efforts they would i...
www.gsa.gov
March 8, 2025 at 12:05 AM
This attack on Columbia University is patently illegal, but the bully could still succeed by making other universities cower and pre-submit to the White House's climate of fear. Solidarity!
Reposted by Joe Thornton
Reposted by Joe Thornton
Letter from the SSE/SSB/ASN councils on the scientific understanding of sex and gender, pls RT
Letter to the US President and Congress on the Scientific Understanding of Sex and Gender
President Donald J Trump Washington, DC Members of the US Congress Washington, DC February 5, 2025 RE: Scientific Understanding of Sex and Gender Dear President Trump and Members of the US Congr...
www.evolutionsociety.org
February 7, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Letter from the SSE/SSB/ASN councils on the scientific understanding of sex and gender, pls RT
Reposted by Joe Thornton
I usually reserve this account for my personal views; but today I want to represent my position as President of @asn-amnat.bsky.social to post a message that will shortly go out to the membership of the American Society of Naturalists from the ASN Executive Council
February 6, 2025 at 4:28 PM
I usually reserve this account for my personal views; but today I want to represent my position as President of @asn-amnat.bsky.social to post a message that will shortly go out to the membership of the American Society of Naturalists from the ASN Executive Council
I see no other institution that has taken a position as unnecessarily restrictive of research, and as submissively precompliant, as that taken by the University of Chicago. bsky.app/profile/jere...
Academic Skyers: I am compiling a list of policies and statements from various universities about how they are handling the "pause" in terms of stopping expenditures (or not).
Please respond to this post with your institution and materials.
THANK YOU!
Please respond to this post with your institution and materials.
THANK YOU!
January 28, 2025 at 11:21 PM
I see no other institution that has taken a position as unnecessarily restrictive of research, and as submissively precompliant, as that taken by the University of Chicago. bsky.app/profile/jere...
Reposted by Joe Thornton
Guidance from Stanford leadership on the OMB memo.
January 28, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Guidance from Stanford leadership on the OMB memo.
The sword has now been brandished over civil society, including scientists, universities, and other NGOs. Who, including university presidents, will have any backbone in defending their jnstitutions’ missions? Or will they take on the Zuckerberg/ Bezos pose? www.nytimes.com/live/2025/01...
Trump Administration Live Updates: White House Orders Federal Grants Pause (Gift Article)
www.nytimes.com
January 28, 2025 at 2:22 PM
The sword has now been brandished over civil society, including scientists, universities, and other NGOs. Who, including university presidents, will have any backbone in defending their jnstitutions’ missions? Or will they take on the Zuckerberg/ Bezos pose? www.nytimes.com/live/2025/01...
Scientists at universities that have raised graduate student stipends: What have your administrations done to mitigate the costs to lab budgets so that the science itself doesn’t have to be curtailed? Examples of best practices would be appreciated.
February 27, 2024 at 1:34 PM
Scientists at universities that have raised graduate student stipends: What have your administrations done to mitigate the costs to lab budgets so that the science itself doesn’t have to be curtailed? Examples of best practices would be appreciated.
Midwest seasonal update
October 23, 2023 at 1:52 PM
Midwest seasonal update
Reposted by Joe Thornton
The Human Genetics and Genetics, Genomics & Systems Biology PhD programs at UChicago are hosting our second annual info session for prospective applicants.
Sign up at bit.ly/GeneticsInfo20… for application tips from a diverse panel of current PhD students and faculty!
And please repost! 🧪🧬🖥️
Sign up at bit.ly/GeneticsInfo20… for application tips from a diverse panel of current PhD students and faculty!
And please repost! 🧪🧬🖥️
October 16, 2023 at 9:35 PM
The Human Genetics and Genetics, Genomics & Systems Biology PhD programs at UChicago are hosting our second annual info session for prospective applicants.
Sign up at bit.ly/GeneticsInfo20… for application tips from a diverse panel of current PhD students and faculty!
And please repost! 🧪🧬🖥️
Sign up at bit.ly/GeneticsInfo20… for application tips from a diverse panel of current PhD students and faculty!
And please repost! 🧪🧬🖥️
Here’s a powerful and insightful critique of “protecting science from woke-ism” rhetoric and policy. Written for a UK context, it’s very relevant in the US and elsewhere. Please read and consider signing.
✉️ Some science 🧪 buddies and I have written an open letter to the UK government, strongly opposing their “kicking woke ideology out of science” sentiments, which stand to damage the UK’s scientific standing and ability to deliver for public good.
Please read and consider signing ✍🏻
t.co/H7rNzb0wGh
Please read and consider signing ✍🏻
t.co/H7rNzb0wGh
Letter to Secretary of State re EDI in science
Online survey BOS
t.co
October 6, 2023 at 1:01 PM
Here’s a powerful and insightful critique of “protecting science from woke-ism” rhetoric and policy. Written for a UK context, it’s very relevant in the US and elsewhere. Please read and consider signing.