Nicole Rust
@nicolecrust.bsky.social
Mood & Memory researcher with a computational bent. https://www.nicolecrust.com. Science advocate. Prof (UPenn Psych) - on leave as a Simons Pivot Fellow. Author: Elusive Cures. https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691243054/elusive-cures
Pinned
Nicole Rust
@nicolecrust.bsky.social
· May 10
Just look what was waiting for me when I came back from my run. Elusive Cures is now a REAL BOOK!!
press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
Reposted by Nicole Rust
Dive into the world of neuroscience with us at Little Bird Brewing for BrainFacts LIVE! Unravel brain disorders with Nicole Rust or enjoy a cold brew 🍺 while discussing latest neuroscience tech with Shrek Chalasani.
BrainFacts LIVE: Decoding Disorders
Eventbrite - BrainFacts LIVE: Decoding Disorders - Sunday, November 16, 2025 at Little Bird Brewing, San Diego, CA. Find event and ticket information.
www.eventbrite.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Dive into the world of neuroscience with us at Little Bird Brewing for BrainFacts LIVE! Unravel brain disorders with Nicole Rust or enjoy a cold brew 🍺 while discussing latest neuroscience tech with Shrek Chalasani.
Gratitude to these authors for raising awareness on an important topic, and for unpacking these complex issues with wisdom and grace.
Research in primate brains has been essential for the development of brain-computer interfaces and artificial neural networks. New funding and policy changes put future such advances at risk, write Cory Miller, @movshon.bsky.social and Doris Tsao.
#neuroskyence
bit.ly/47MXYLH
#neuroskyence
bit.ly/47MXYLH
Without monkeys, neuroscience has no future
Research in primate brains has been essential for the development of BCIs, ANNs. New funding and policy changes put future such advances at risk.
bit.ly
November 10, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Gratitude to these authors for raising awareness on an important topic, and for unpacking these complex issues with wisdom and grace.
Reposted by Nicole Rust
I periodically rewatch this clip. How he uses jargon, but explains it each time. Particularly his focus on HOW the evidence leads to a conclusion. Seems to give a good model for science, that it is the interpretation that matters, not the "evidence". youtu.be/G8cbIWMv0rI?...
Carl Sagan - Cosmos - Eratosthenes
YouTube video by carlsagandotcom
youtu.be
November 9, 2025 at 7:56 PM
I periodically rewatch this clip. How he uses jargon, but explains it each time. Particularly his focus on HOW the evidence leads to a conclusion. Seems to give a good model for science, that it is the interpretation that matters, not the "evidence". youtu.be/G8cbIWMv0rI?...
Reposted by Nicole Rust
I’m very allergic to the phrase “we know that” in science communication, especially when it extrapolates from limited evidence. Findings don’t equal facts.
November 9, 2025 at 5:29 PM
I’m very allergic to the phrase “we know that” in science communication, especially when it extrapolates from limited evidence. Findings don’t equal facts.
'Tis the season of flooded inboxes & time to reamplify this brilliant tip from @hannahrsnyder.bsky.social.
As semesters start and you find yourself repeatedly answering emails with the same questions from students, this is my annual reminder that you can make all your frequent responses email signatures and just select them from your signature list to respond. You're welcome. #academicsky
November 9, 2025 at 1:35 PM
'Tis the season of flooded inboxes & time to reamplify this brilliant tip from @hannahrsnyder.bsky.social.
Reposted by Nicole Rust
Conrad Hal Waddington was born OTD in 1905.
His “epigenetic landscape” is a diagrammatic representation of the constraints influencing embryonic development.
On his 50th birthday, his colleagues gave him a pinball machine on the model of the epigenetic landscape.
🧪 🦫🦋 🌱🐋 #HistSTM #philsci #evobio
His “epigenetic landscape” is a diagrammatic representation of the constraints influencing embryonic development.
On his 50th birthday, his colleagues gave him a pinball machine on the model of the epigenetic landscape.
🧪 🦫🦋 🌱🐋 #HistSTM #philsci #evobio
November 8, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Honest Q: Other fields more readily embrace basic research than mood researchers, ie the need lay foundations absent obvious translational connections. Why? Is it:
1) Failures of basic mood research (like the rodent forced swim test)
2) Harder problems / unmet needs focus ”eyes on the prize”
3) ???
1) Failures of basic mood research (like the rodent forced swim test)
2) Harder problems / unmet needs focus ”eyes on the prize”
3) ???
November 8, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Honest Q: Other fields more readily embrace basic research than mood researchers, ie the need lay foundations absent obvious translational connections. Why? Is it:
1) Failures of basic mood research (like the rodent forced swim test)
2) Harder problems / unmet needs focus ”eyes on the prize”
3) ???
1) Failures of basic mood research (like the rodent forced swim test)
2) Harder problems / unmet needs focus ”eyes on the prize”
3) ???
Reposted by Nicole Rust
I WON!! 😭❤️
Thanks so much to @womeninneurouk.bsky.social and the judges!
And thanks to @thetransmitter.bsky.social for sponsoring the award and providing some goodies and mentorship, both greatly appreciated 🥰
Thanks so much to @womeninneurouk.bsky.social and the judges!
And thanks to @thetransmitter.bsky.social for sponsoring the award and providing some goodies and mentorship, both greatly appreciated 🥰
Congratulations to @sciwithrach.bsky.social winner of @womeninneurouk.bsky.social's Communicator of the Year Award, sponsored by @thetransmitter.bsky.sociall. This award celebrates Honeyghan-Williams’ unwavering commitment to translating neuroscience to diverse audiences.
November 7, 2025 at 10:01 PM
I WON!! 😭❤️
Thanks so much to @womeninneurouk.bsky.social and the judges!
And thanks to @thetransmitter.bsky.social for sponsoring the award and providing some goodies and mentorship, both greatly appreciated 🥰
Thanks so much to @womeninneurouk.bsky.social and the judges!
And thanks to @thetransmitter.bsky.social for sponsoring the award and providing some goodies and mentorship, both greatly appreciated 🥰
Reposted by Nicole Rust
RIP Jim Watson. You inspired many of us to pursue a life in research. I wish you had made it easier for us to celebrate your legacy.
November 7, 2025 at 11:11 PM
RIP Jim Watson. You inspired many of us to pursue a life in research. I wish you had made it easier for us to celebrate your legacy.
Reposted by Nicole Rust
Sigh. NIH normally sends several hundred scientists to the SFN annual meeting to learn, exchange info, come up with new ideas, and advance science. (The exchange of ideas is the very core of the scientific enterprise.)
This year, no one from NIH will attend due to the gov't implosion.
This year, no one from NIH will attend due to the gov't implosion.
Enjoy a broad range of lectures and network with experts in the field at #SfN25! 🧠
Gain valuable insights and tools to enhance your research and career.
Browse through to lectures and build your itinerary in the 2025 Neuroscience Meeting Planner
🔗 vist.ly/4de72
#neurosky #neuroskyence
Gain valuable insights and tools to enhance your research and career.
Browse through to lectures and build your itinerary in the 2025 Neuroscience Meeting Planner
🔗 vist.ly/4de72
#neurosky #neuroskyence
November 7, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Sigh. NIH normally sends several hundred scientists to the SFN annual meeting to learn, exchange info, come up with new ideas, and advance science. (The exchange of ideas is the very core of the scientific enterprise.)
This year, no one from NIH will attend due to the gov't implosion.
This year, no one from NIH will attend due to the gov't implosion.
Reposted by Nicole Rust
Please help spread the word to all who will be in San Diego on Sunday, Nov. 16th. As part of SFN, SFN's scicomm arm is sponsoring an event.
It's me, Shrek Chalasani (Salk), Kumar Narayanan (UIowa) and the brainfacts.org team. Short talks; trivia; lots of fun. Join us!
It's free. Register here.
It's me, Shrek Chalasani (Salk), Kumar Narayanan (UIowa) and the brainfacts.org team. Short talks; trivia; lots of fun. Join us!
It's free. Register here.
Dive into the depths of the brain with neuroscientists from across the country at Little Bird Brewing on Sunday, November 16th from 6:30pm to 9pm.
BrainFacts LIVE: Decoding Disorders
Eventbrite - BrainFacts LIVE: Decoding Disorders - Sunday, November 16, 2025 at Little Bird Brewing, San Diego, CA. Find event and ticket information.
www.eventbrite.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Please help spread the word to all who will be in San Diego on Sunday, Nov. 16th. As part of SFN, SFN's scicomm arm is sponsoring an event.
It's me, Shrek Chalasani (Salk), Kumar Narayanan (UIowa) and the brainfacts.org team. Short talks; trivia; lots of fun. Join us!
It's free. Register here.
It's me, Shrek Chalasani (Salk), Kumar Narayanan (UIowa) and the brainfacts.org team. Short talks; trivia; lots of fun. Join us!
It's free. Register here.
I too am fascinated. Also excited, and worried. Whether you agree with the existence of this tool or not, I encourage you to try it so you are informed. It's surprising.
I predict it will be used a lot. And we will need to become more explicit about the bar we hold for project success. /1
I predict it will be used a lot. And we will need to become more explicit about the bar we hold for project success. /1
The reaction to this is fascinating. It's like a microcosm of all discussions around AI: lots of enthusiasm, lots of loathing (much of it reflexive), and some wise 'let's maybe try it and see' responses.
Excited to launch an openRxiv partnership with the scientist-run AI review service qed (@qedscience.bsky.social), the brainchild of @odedrechavi.bsky.social 1/n
openrxiv.org/enabling-rev...
openrxiv.org/enabling-rev...
November 7, 2025 at 3:35 PM
I too am fascinated. Also excited, and worried. Whether you agree with the existence of this tool or not, I encourage you to try it so you are informed. It's surprising.
I predict it will be used a lot. And we will need to become more explicit about the bar we hold for project success. /1
I predict it will be used a lot. And we will need to become more explicit about the bar we hold for project success. /1
Please help spread the word to all who will be in San Diego on Sunday, Nov. 16th. As part of SFN, SFN's scicomm arm is sponsoring an event.
It's me, Shrek Chalasani (Salk), Kumar Narayanan (UIowa) and the brainfacts.org team. Short talks; trivia; lots of fun. Join us!
It's free. Register here.
It's me, Shrek Chalasani (Salk), Kumar Narayanan (UIowa) and the brainfacts.org team. Short talks; trivia; lots of fun. Join us!
It's free. Register here.
Dive into the depths of the brain with neuroscientists from across the country at Little Bird Brewing on Sunday, November 16th from 6:30pm to 9pm.
BrainFacts LIVE: Decoding Disorders
Eventbrite - BrainFacts LIVE: Decoding Disorders - Sunday, November 16, 2025 at Little Bird Brewing, San Diego, CA. Find event and ticket information.
www.eventbrite.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Please help spread the word to all who will be in San Diego on Sunday, Nov. 16th. As part of SFN, SFN's scicomm arm is sponsoring an event.
It's me, Shrek Chalasani (Salk), Kumar Narayanan (UIowa) and the brainfacts.org team. Short talks; trivia; lots of fun. Join us!
It's free. Register here.
It's me, Shrek Chalasani (Salk), Kumar Narayanan (UIowa) and the brainfacts.org team. Short talks; trivia; lots of fun. Join us!
It's free. Register here.
Reposted by Nicole Rust
generating examples for my fall undergrad Perception students on why they should not use LLMs as study aides...
August 15, 2025 at 4:12 PM
generating examples for my fall undergrad Perception students on why they should not use LLMs as study aides...
Reposted by Nicole Rust
In March, our grant and the broader DoD Minerva social science initiative were terminated. I haven’t said much until now. Thank you to Tim Wilson for inviting me to share.
#research #socialscience #sciencepolicy #academia
#research #socialscience #sciencepolicy #academia
Another example of cancelled research from the What We'll Never Know series. Dr. Jennifer Kubota @jenikubota.bsky.social 🧪
November 6, 2025 at 9:09 PM
In March, our grant and the broader DoD Minerva social science initiative were terminated. I haven’t said much until now. Thank you to Tim Wilson for inviting me to share.
#research #socialscience #sciencepolicy #academia
#research #socialscience #sciencepolicy #academia
Reposted by Nicole Rust
Blown away after visiting INM-1 led by Katrin Amunts this Monday – Markus Axer and her showed us their setup of acquiring whole-brain slices (e.g. 7,000 of them to make up Bigbrain 1) – and the mesmerizing effects of polarized light on cryosectioned (raw) brain sections as can be seen in the video.
November 6, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Blown away after visiting INM-1 led by Katrin Amunts this Monday – Markus Axer and her showed us their setup of acquiring whole-brain slices (e.g. 7,000 of them to make up Bigbrain 1) – and the mesmerizing effects of polarized light on cryosectioned (raw) brain sections as can be seen in the video.
Testing! What’s up w/ this wikipedia link? You can see from the URL what it’s about. But clicking it brings you to a nonspecific webpage. 🤔
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betteri...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betteri...
Betteridge's law of headlines - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
November 4, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Testing! What’s up w/ this wikipedia link? You can see from the URL what it’s about. But clicking it brings you to a nonspecific webpage. 🤔
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betteri...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betteri...
Reposted by Nicole Rust
Friends (and friends-of-friends) in LA: Please help spread the word!
On Saturday, November 15th 2p, @mameister4.bsky.social and I will be in conversation at the Burbank Library discussing bottlenecks and next steps for brain research.
It's free! Register here:
burbank.libnet.info/event/14639190
On Saturday, November 15th 2p, @mameister4.bsky.social and I will be in conversation at the Burbank Library discussing bottlenecks and next steps for brain research.
It's free! Register here:
burbank.libnet.info/event/14639190
November 3, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Friends (and friends-of-friends) in LA: Please help spread the word!
On Saturday, November 15th 2p, @mameister4.bsky.social and I will be in conversation at the Burbank Library discussing bottlenecks and next steps for brain research.
It's free! Register here:
burbank.libnet.info/event/14639190
On Saturday, November 15th 2p, @mameister4.bsky.social and I will be in conversation at the Burbank Library discussing bottlenecks and next steps for brain research.
It's free! Register here:
burbank.libnet.info/event/14639190
Reposted by Nicole Rust
🔴 Funding opportunity! 🔴
science-foundation.org/what-ifs-2025/
What if… you had 10K in a gift fund at your institution for curiosity-driven #science?
Apply to “What Ifs…?” @sciencefoundation.bsky.social
Applications open 11/10, close 12/1
science-foundation.org/what-ifs-2025/
What if… you had 10K in a gift fund at your institution for curiosity-driven #science?
Apply to “What Ifs…?” @sciencefoundation.bsky.social
Applications open 11/10, close 12/1
What Ifs 2025 – Public Science, Public Good
science-foundation.org
November 3, 2025 at 9:58 PM
🔴 Funding opportunity! 🔴
science-foundation.org/what-ifs-2025/
What if… you had 10K in a gift fund at your institution for curiosity-driven #science?
Apply to “What Ifs…?” @sciencefoundation.bsky.social
Applications open 11/10, close 12/1
science-foundation.org/what-ifs-2025/
What if… you had 10K in a gift fund at your institution for curiosity-driven #science?
Apply to “What Ifs…?” @sciencefoundation.bsky.social
Applications open 11/10, close 12/1
Reposted by Nicole Rust
Nature suggests you use their "Manuscript Adviser" bot to get advice before submitting
I uploaded the classic Watson & Crick paper about DNA structure, and the Adviser had this to say about one of the greatest paper endings of the century:
I uploaded the classic Watson & Crick paper about DNA structure, and the Adviser had this to say about one of the greatest paper endings of the century:
November 3, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Nature suggests you use their "Manuscript Adviser" bot to get advice before submitting
I uploaded the classic Watson & Crick paper about DNA structure, and the Adviser had this to say about one of the greatest paper endings of the century:
I uploaded the classic Watson & Crick paper about DNA structure, and the Adviser had this to say about one of the greatest paper endings of the century:
YES!!! Big congrats @sjo09.bsky.social (also Josh Sanes, Alex Pouget & others). So tremendously well deserved; it's great to see it.
November 3, 2025 at 9:15 PM
YES!!! Big congrats @sjo09.bsky.social (also Josh Sanes, Alex Pouget & others). So tremendously well deserved; it's great to see it.
Friends (and friends-of-friends) in LA: Please help spread the word!
On Saturday, November 15th 2p, @mameister4.bsky.social and I will be in conversation at the Burbank Library discussing bottlenecks and next steps for brain research.
It's free! Register here:
burbank.libnet.info/event/14639190
On Saturday, November 15th 2p, @mameister4.bsky.social and I will be in conversation at the Burbank Library discussing bottlenecks and next steps for brain research.
It's free! Register here:
burbank.libnet.info/event/14639190
November 3, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Friends (and friends-of-friends) in LA: Please help spread the word!
On Saturday, November 15th 2p, @mameister4.bsky.social and I will be in conversation at the Burbank Library discussing bottlenecks and next steps for brain research.
It's free! Register here:
burbank.libnet.info/event/14639190
On Saturday, November 15th 2p, @mameister4.bsky.social and I will be in conversation at the Burbank Library discussing bottlenecks and next steps for brain research.
It's free! Register here:
burbank.libnet.info/event/14639190
Reposted by Nicole Rust
Behind every diagnosis, treatment, and cure are years of NIH-funded research.
When we limit scientists today, we delay tomorrow's breakthroughs.
Learn more about Americans for Medical Research and discover how you can become a more engaged advocate.
🔗 vist.ly/4aitv
#neurosky #neuroskyence
When we limit scientists today, we delay tomorrow's breakthroughs.
Learn more about Americans for Medical Research and discover how you can become a more engaged advocate.
🔗 vist.ly/4aitv
#neurosky #neuroskyence
October 15, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Behind every diagnosis, treatment, and cure are years of NIH-funded research.
When we limit scientists today, we delay tomorrow's breakthroughs.
Learn more about Americans for Medical Research and discover how you can become a more engaged advocate.
🔗 vist.ly/4aitv
#neurosky #neuroskyence
When we limit scientists today, we delay tomorrow's breakthroughs.
Learn more about Americans for Medical Research and discover how you can become a more engaged advocate.
🔗 vist.ly/4aitv
#neurosky #neuroskyence
Reposted by Nicole Rust
Funding uncertainty is driving away our next generation of researchers.
Your advocacy matters!
Review SfN’s advocacy best practices and consider hosting your member of Congress for a lab tour to show them what's at stake especially if the government remains shutdown.
🔗 vist.ly/4c52h
Your advocacy matters!
Review SfN’s advocacy best practices and consider hosting your member of Congress for a lab tour to show them what's at stake especially if the government remains shutdown.
🔗 vist.ly/4c52h
October 29, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Funding uncertainty is driving away our next generation of researchers.
Your advocacy matters!
Review SfN’s advocacy best practices and consider hosting your member of Congress for a lab tour to show them what's at stake especially if the government remains shutdown.
🔗 vist.ly/4c52h
Your advocacy matters!
Review SfN’s advocacy best practices and consider hosting your member of Congress for a lab tour to show them what's at stake especially if the government remains shutdown.
🔗 vist.ly/4c52h
Reposted by Nicole Rust
A funny conversation with a newcomer at the contra dance in Woods Hole last night:
Me: What brings you to Woods Hole?
He: I’m a neuroscientist, working on octopuses.
Me: I’m a neuroscientist too! I study patches of human cortex that do ridiculously specific things.
He: Oh like that Kanwisher stuff?
Me: What brings you to Woods Hole?
He: I’m a neuroscientist, working on octopuses.
Me: I’m a neuroscientist too! I study patches of human cortex that do ridiculously specific things.
He: Oh like that Kanwisher stuff?
November 2, 2025 at 1:09 PM
A funny conversation with a newcomer at the contra dance in Woods Hole last night:
Me: What brings you to Woods Hole?
He: I’m a neuroscientist, working on octopuses.
Me: I’m a neuroscientist too! I study patches of human cortex that do ridiculously specific things.
He: Oh like that Kanwisher stuff?
Me: What brings you to Woods Hole?
He: I’m a neuroscientist, working on octopuses.
Me: I’m a neuroscientist too! I study patches of human cortex that do ridiculously specific things.
He: Oh like that Kanwisher stuff?