Megan
@meganbutler.bsky.social
BCMB PhD candidate in the Cochella Lab at Hopkins. NSF GRFP. my past: UNC Biology and the Duronio Lab. passionate about inclusive science education & developmental chromatin biology. she/they 🏳️🌈
Reposted by Megan
When people celebrate the individual genius of folks in science, they should also
mourn the collective loss of genius of folks who were actively discouraged or disadvantaged from a career in science because of the same person(s)
mourn the collective loss of genius of folks who were actively discouraged or disadvantaged from a career in science because of the same person(s)
November 7, 2025 at 11:43 PM
When people celebrate the individual genius of folks in science, they should also
mourn the collective loss of genius of folks who were actively discouraged or disadvantaged from a career in science because of the same person(s)
mourn the collective loss of genius of folks who were actively discouraged or disadvantaged from a career in science because of the same person(s)
Reposted by Megan
Finally! 🤩 Our position piece: Against the Uncritical Adoption of 'AI' Technologies in Academia:
doi.org/10.5281/zeno...
We unpick the tech industry’s marketing, hype, & harm; and we argue for safeguarding higher education, critical
thinking, expertise, academic freedom, & scientific integrity.
1/n
doi.org/10.5281/zeno...
We unpick the tech industry’s marketing, hype, & harm; and we argue for safeguarding higher education, critical
thinking, expertise, academic freedom, & scientific integrity.
1/n
September 6, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Finally! 🤩 Our position piece: Against the Uncritical Adoption of 'AI' Technologies in Academia:
doi.org/10.5281/zeno...
We unpick the tech industry’s marketing, hype, & harm; and we argue for safeguarding higher education, critical
thinking, expertise, academic freedom, & scientific integrity.
1/n
doi.org/10.5281/zeno...
We unpick the tech industry’s marketing, hype, & harm; and we argue for safeguarding higher education, critical
thinking, expertise, academic freedom, & scientific integrity.
1/n
Reposted by Megan
FlyBase needs your help! We ask that European labs continue to contribute to Cambridge, UK FlyBase, whereas US and other non-European labs can contribute to US FlyBase. For more information and how to donate: wiki.flybase.org/wiki/FlyBase...
FlyBase:Contribute to FlyBase - FlyBase Wiki
wiki.flybase.org
August 15, 2025 at 12:45 PM
FlyBase needs your help! We ask that European labs continue to contribute to Cambridge, UK FlyBase, whereas US and other non-European labs can contribute to US FlyBase. For more information and how to donate: wiki.flybase.org/wiki/FlyBase...
Reposted by Megan
Wonderful (and humble) essay on mentorship by Brandon Gaut, on occasion of Brandon receiving the inaugural Mentorship Award of @genetics-gsa.bsky.social. I hope this will be widely read!
academic.oup.com/genetics/art...
academic.oup.com/genetics/art...
August 10, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Wonderful (and humble) essay on mentorship by Brandon Gaut, on occasion of Brandon receiving the inaugural Mentorship Award of @genetics-gsa.bsky.social. I hope this will be widely read!
academic.oup.com/genetics/art...
academic.oup.com/genetics/art...
Reposted by Megan
First copies of my book are here!! As a new faculty member, I realized that in addition to my research job, I also had a leadership job…and I wasn’t prepared for that.
This book is the guide I wish I’d had then, with the goal of helping others now.
jenheemstra.com/book
This book is the guide I wish I’d had then, with the goal of helping others now.
jenheemstra.com/book
July 26, 2025 at 5:35 PM
First copies of my book are here!! As a new faculty member, I realized that in addition to my research job, I also had a leadership job…and I wasn’t prepared for that.
This book is the guide I wish I’d had then, with the goal of helping others now.
jenheemstra.com/book
This book is the guide I wish I’d had then, with the goal of helping others now.
jenheemstra.com/book
Reposted by Megan
The #GENETICS Primers section is expanding, with Beth De Stasio as Senior Editor and six new Associate Editors joining the team. These guides help bring real research into the classroom. 📢
Browse existing Primers: buff.ly/gOac8h6
Browse existing Primers: buff.ly/gOac8h6
July 17, 2025 at 1:03 PM
The #GENETICS Primers section is expanding, with Beth De Stasio as Senior Editor and six new Associate Editors joining the team. These guides help bring real research into the classroom. 📢
Browse existing Primers: buff.ly/gOac8h6
Browse existing Primers: buff.ly/gOac8h6
My first worm meeting was a resounding success! Such great scientific feedback and inspiration, and it was an absolute joy to spend time with the Cochella lab and new friends.
Fly meeting needs to step up their dancing game because the worm people know how to have fun in a big way… #worm25
Fly meeting needs to step up their dancing game because the worm people know how to have fun in a big way… #worm25
July 3, 2025 at 8:48 PM
My first worm meeting was a resounding success! Such great scientific feedback and inspiration, and it was an absolute joy to spend time with the Cochella lab and new friends.
Fly meeting needs to step up their dancing game because the worm people know how to have fun in a big way… #worm25
Fly meeting needs to step up their dancing game because the worm people know how to have fun in a big way… #worm25
Reposted by Megan
Huge thanks to Cathy Savage-Dunn @cswormlab.bsky.social and Baris Tursun @baristursun.bsky.social for an amazing #worm25 !!
I want to call out the OUTSTANDING meeting they created! Talks and posters were A+++. Most of all they brought us together in one of the most challenging times we've had.
I want to call out the OUTSTANDING meeting they created! Talks and posters were A+++. Most of all they brought us together in one of the most challenging times we've had.
July 2, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Huge thanks to Cathy Savage-Dunn @cswormlab.bsky.social and Baris Tursun @baristursun.bsky.social for an amazing #worm25 !!
I want to call out the OUTSTANDING meeting they created! Talks and posters were A+++. Most of all they brought us together in one of the most challenging times we've had.
I want to call out the OUTSTANDING meeting they created! Talks and posters were A+++. Most of all they brought us together in one of the most challenging times we've had.
Reposted by Megan
Congrats to all, including Lo-Yu Chang from our lab 😁
Congrats to the winners of the #Worm25 poster competition!
Thanks to all students who entered (285) — such great research!
Thanks to all poster judge volunteers who judged presenters (220 postdocs and faculty!)
Given >1200 attendees, that’s a high % who participated in this competition!
Thanks to all students who entered (285) — such great research!
Thanks to all poster judge volunteers who judged presenters (220 postdocs and faculty!)
Given >1200 attendees, that’s a high % who participated in this competition!
July 3, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Congrats to all, including Lo-Yu Chang from our lab 😁
Reposted by Megan
"The plaintiffs did not accuse the NIH of racial discrimination, but Judge Young raised the issue. “I have never seen racial discrimination by the government like this,” in his 40 years on the bench he said, to which there was an audible gasp in the courtroom."
www.statnews.com/2025/06/16/n...
www.statnews.com/2025/06/16/n...
Hundreds of NIH grant terminations are 'void and illegal,' federal judge rules
A federal judge ruled that some of the grant terminations by the National Institutes of Health on DEI grounds are “void and illegal.”
www.statnews.com
June 16, 2025 at 6:55 PM
"The plaintiffs did not accuse the NIH of racial discrimination, but Judge Young raised the issue. “I have never seen racial discrimination by the government like this,” in his 40 years on the bench he said, to which there was an audible gasp in the courtroom."
www.statnews.com/2025/06/16/n...
www.statnews.com/2025/06/16/n...
To say I’m grateful feels insufficient — but thank you to everyone who got me here 🥳
The precipitous drop in NSF GRFP awards is just one of the many ways the next generation of scientists is hurting right now. Call your reps, especially if they are on this subcommittee that determines NSF budget.
The precipitous drop in NSF GRFP awards is just one of the many ways the next generation of scientists is hurting right now. Call your reps, especially if they are on this subcommittee that determines NSF budget.
April 9, 2025 at 1:23 AM
To say I’m grateful feels insufficient — but thank you to everyone who got me here 🥳
The precipitous drop in NSF GRFP awards is just one of the many ways the next generation of scientists is hurting right now. Call your reps, especially if they are on this subcommittee that determines NSF budget.
The precipitous drop in NSF GRFP awards is just one of the many ways the next generation of scientists is hurting right now. Call your reps, especially if they are on this subcommittee that determines NSF budget.
Reposted by Megan
Congratulations to the NSF GRFP awardees! This was an especially competitive year because the number of awardees was down by 51%.
To the students who didn't get it: my heart goes out to you. This was an especially competitive year. I hope this doesn't deter you from research.
To the students who didn't get it: my heart goes out to you. This was an especially competitive year. I hope this doesn't deter you from research.
🚨 Not a drill: NSF GRFP results are NOW OUT!!!!!
But...good news and bad news.
👍 I'm *thrilled* for the grad students for whom getting this award will be life-changing, esp now.
👎 # of fellowships went down by 51%
(1000 this year vs. 2036 last year)
See here: www.research.gov/grfp/Awardee...
But...good news and bad news.
👍 I'm *thrilled* for the grad students for whom getting this award will be life-changing, esp now.
👎 # of fellowships went down by 51%
(1000 this year vs. 2036 last year)
See here: www.research.gov/grfp/Awardee...
Research.gov :: GRFP
www.research.gov
April 8, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Congratulations to the NSF GRFP awardees! This was an especially competitive year because the number of awardees was down by 51%.
To the students who didn't get it: my heart goes out to you. This was an especially competitive year. I hope this doesn't deter you from research.
To the students who didn't get it: my heart goes out to you. This was an especially competitive year. I hope this doesn't deter you from research.
Reposted by Megan
Ripping a student from their home, challenging their immigration status, and detaining them solely based on political viewpoint will chill student speech and advocacy across campuses nationwide.
Political speech should never be a basis of punishment or lead to deportation.
Political speech should never be a basis of punishment or lead to deportation.
The Trump administration’s detention of Mahmoud Khalil — a green card holder studying in this country legally — is targeted, retaliatory, and an extreme attack on his First Amendment rights.
apnews.com/article/colu...
apnews.com/article/colu...
ICE arrests Palestinian activist who helped lead Columbia University protests, his lawyer says
A prominent Palestinian activist who helped lead last spring's protests at Columbia University has been arrested by federal immigration agents.
apnews.com
March 9, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Ripping a student from their home, challenging their immigration status, and detaining them solely based on political viewpoint will chill student speech and advocacy across campuses nationwide.
Political speech should never be a basis of punishment or lead to deportation.
Political speech should never be a basis of punishment or lead to deportation.
While I sadly can’t be in DC on Friday, I am confident JP (and the whole team) has an epic afternoon in store for everyone. If you need connections to people attending, help with gas/train ticket money, or any encouragement that collective demonstration = power, hit me up!
Quick shoutout to the labs, departments, and scientists cancelling / rescheduling lab meetings, seminars and more to give students and others the chance to defend science for @standupforscience.bsky.social
March 5, 2025 at 11:34 PM
While I sadly can’t be in DC on Friday, I am confident JP (and the whole team) has an epic afternoon in store for everyone. If you need connections to people attending, help with gas/train ticket money, or any encouragement that collective demonstration = power, hit me up!
Reposted by Megan
Preliminary injunction in nationwide indirect cost rate case.
This means that the judge found that the plaintiffs (AAMC, et al.) are likely to win on the merits when the ruling is finalized.
www.statnews.com/2025/03/05/n...
This means that the judge found that the plaintiffs (AAMC, et al.) are likely to win on the merits when the ruling is finalized.
www.statnews.com/2025/03/05/n...
Judge issues preliminary injunction blocking Trump cuts to NIH research overhead payments
A federal judge issued a nationwide preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration from slashing NIH payments for research overhead
www.statnews.com
March 5, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Preliminary injunction in nationwide indirect cost rate case.
This means that the judge found that the plaintiffs (AAMC, et al.) are likely to win on the merits when the ruling is finalized.
www.statnews.com/2025/03/05/n...
This means that the judge found that the plaintiffs (AAMC, et al.) are likely to win on the merits when the ruling is finalized.
www.statnews.com/2025/03/05/n...
Reposted by Megan
Heartbreaking chats this week with students thinking of giving up on their dreams of getting a PhD. They worry about getting in PhD programs and careers post PhD. My suggestions: don’t be hasty, think broadly incl EU & Canada, & careers beyond traditional academia. What’re you telling your students?
March 1, 2025 at 3:53 AM
Heartbreaking chats this week with students thinking of giving up on their dreams of getting a PhD. They worry about getting in PhD programs and careers post PhD. My suggestions: don’t be hasty, think broadly incl EU & Canada, & careers beyond traditional academia. What’re you telling your students?
Reposted by Megan
my first bsky post!
scientific societies are advocating as hard as we can right now to preserve and protect science & researchers. your individual (and collective) voices matter.
raise 'em.
scientific societies are advocating as hard as we can right now to preserve and protect science & researchers. your individual (and collective) voices matter.
raise 'em.
A Call to Action: Learn what you can do now to protect science
A message to the GSA Community from The Executive Committee of the Genetics Society of America
genestogenomes.org
February 19, 2025 at 9:51 PM
my first bsky post!
scientific societies are advocating as hard as we can right now to preserve and protect science & researchers. your individual (and collective) voices matter.
raise 'em.
scientific societies are advocating as hard as we can right now to preserve and protect science & researchers. your individual (and collective) voices matter.
raise 'em.
they won’t be able to toss out my GRFP app fast enough with all the banned words I used <3 proud
Happy International Day of Women in Science. The National Science Foundation’s list of flagged words includes both “Women” and “Female.”
February 12, 2025 at 1:15 AM
they won’t be able to toss out my GRFP app fast enough with all the banned words I used <3 proud
Reposted by Megan
If you were hoping private funders like @hhmi.bsky.social would step in to fill the gaps that gutting the NIH will leave…think again.
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 7:16 PM
If you were hoping private funders like @hhmi.bsky.social would step in to fill the gaps that gutting the NIH will leave…think again.
Reposted by Megan
If you have been affected by the fires in LA, or are concerned about your ability to keep precious Drosophila strains going during the latest funding crisis, we will host your strains as a backup. Please email me.
Please amplify. If you are also able to host fly strains, add your name as well.
Please amplify. If you are also able to host fly strains, add your name as well.
January 28, 2025 at 9:45 PM
If you have been affected by the fires in LA, or are concerned about your ability to keep precious Drosophila strains going during the latest funding crisis, we will host your strains as a backup. Please email me.
Please amplify. If you are also able to host fly strains, add your name as well.
Please amplify. If you are also able to host fly strains, add your name as well.
Reposted by Megan
A soft, small, hopeful thing.
January 27, 2025 at 11:12 PM
A soft, small, hopeful thing.
Reposted by Megan
Academic workers across the country are organizing to call on our congressional representatives on Thursday, 1/30, at 3pm ET / 12pm PT to demand these restrictions be lifted immediately.
There will be a training over zoom at the beginning of the event.
Join us!
form.jotform.com/250226137228...
There will be a training over zoom at the beginning of the event.
Join us!
form.jotform.com/250226137228...
Join researchers across the country in fighting restrictions on the NIH
Please click the link to complete this form.
form.jotform.com
January 28, 2025 at 3:49 AM
Academic workers across the country are organizing to call on our congressional representatives on Thursday, 1/30, at 3pm ET / 12pm PT to demand these restrictions be lifted immediately.
There will be a training over zoom at the beginning of the event.
Join us!
form.jotform.com/250226137228...
There will be a training over zoom at the beginning of the event.
Join us!
form.jotform.com/250226137228...
theme of the week: life is hard enough — let’s all be gentler to ourselves and each other. everything else is secondary to how you show up for the people around you. that’s what’s going to get us through these darker than usual days.
January 27, 2025 at 12:16 PM
theme of the week: life is hard enough — let’s all be gentler to ourselves and each other. everything else is secondary to how you show up for the people around you. that’s what’s going to get us through these darker than usual days.
Reposted by Megan
Meet the recipients of the Fall 2024 DeLill Nasser Award for Professional Development in Genetics & join us in congratulating them👏
These grad students & postdocs receive support to attend a conference or complete lab courses.
Read about their research: buff.ly/3Wyb36H
@genetics-gsa.bsky.social
These grad students & postdocs receive support to attend a conference or complete lab courses.
Read about their research: buff.ly/3Wyb36H
@genetics-gsa.bsky.social
January 24, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Meet the recipients of the Fall 2024 DeLill Nasser Award for Professional Development in Genetics & join us in congratulating them👏
These grad students & postdocs receive support to attend a conference or complete lab courses.
Read about their research: buff.ly/3Wyb36H
@genetics-gsa.bsky.social
These grad students & postdocs receive support to attend a conference or complete lab courses.
Read about their research: buff.ly/3Wyb36H
@genetics-gsa.bsky.social
Reposted by Megan
Gentle reminder that if you truly value diversity in the workforce, top down executive orders may/will change implementation but it shouldn’t change your dedication to building the best possible team/group/cohort/generation of researchers
January 23, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Gentle reminder that if you truly value diversity in the workforce, top down executive orders may/will change implementation but it shouldn’t change your dedication to building the best possible team/group/cohort/generation of researchers