Rachel Romeo
@rachelromeo.bsky.social
Asst Prof @ UMaryland | early childhood experiences and brain/cognitive/academic development | learning variability | SLP & language nerd | she/her 🏳️🌈 #FGLI education.umd.edu/leadlab
Pinned
Rachel Romeo
@rachelromeo.bsky.social
· Jan 30
OSF
osf.io
Very excited to share a new preprint from the LEAD lab on Inclusive Practices for fNIRS Research with Participants with Afro-Textured Hair, an amazing mixed methods study by Abria Simmons, @gavkhar-a.bsky.social & @elliektaylor.bsky.social! Check it out and share! osf.io/preprints/ps...
The @umdleadlab.bsky.social and the world lost a bright star this week. Victoria was such a kind, dedicated, and passionate person. She was one of my first students, helping me set up my lab from scratch, and I am honored to have worked with her. There aren't words for how much we will miss her. ❤️
October 16, 2025 at 6:59 PM
The @umdleadlab.bsky.social and the world lost a bright star this week. Victoria was such a kind, dedicated, and passionate person. She was one of my first students, helping me set up my lab from scratch, and I am honored to have worked with her. There aren't words for how much we will miss her. ❤️
This is so concerning. I believe it is our responsibility as developmental scientists to warn about the dangers of AI with young children. (And no I'm not a luddite -- Claude is my buddy! But I deeply think this is alarming for developing brains.)
Thank you @amandahess.bsky.social & @nytimes.com for this critical commentary on AI toys marketed to young children. We have no evidence that these kinds of toys support healthy development, and so many reasons to be cautious. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/15/a...
They’re Stuffed Animals. They’re Also A.I. Chatbots.
www.nytimes.com
August 16, 2025 at 5:01 PM
This is so concerning. I believe it is our responsibility as developmental scientists to warn about the dangers of AI with young children. (And no I'm not a luddite -- Claude is my buddy! But I deeply think this is alarming for developing brains.)
Reposted by Rachel Romeo
Thrilled to share our new @NatureComms
paper: "Exploration is associated with socioeconomic disparities in learning and academic achievement in adolescence." www.nature.com/articles/s41... 🧵1/7
paper: "Exploration is associated with socioeconomic disparities in learning and academic achievement in adolescence." www.nature.com/articles/s41... 🧵1/7
Exploration is associated with socioeconomic disparities in learning and academic achievement in adolescence - Nature Communications
Children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds often show lower academic achievement, commonly linked to limited resources. Here, the authors show that reduced exploration–a behavior tuned for learning...
www.nature.com
July 31, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Thrilled to share our new @NatureComms
paper: "Exploration is associated with socioeconomic disparities in learning and academic achievement in adolescence." www.nature.com/articles/s41... 🧵1/7
paper: "Exploration is associated with socioeconomic disparities in learning and academic achievement in adolescence." www.nature.com/articles/s41... 🧵1/7
We are looking to hire a new post-bac MRI tech! Great opportunity pre grad school! umd.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/UMCP/job/Uni...
MRI Tech/Faculty Specialist
Job Description Summary Organization's Summary Statement: The Maryland Neuroimaging Center (MNC) is the home for neuroimaging research at the University of Maryland, www.mnc.umd.edu. The center brings...
umd.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com
July 24, 2025 at 8:55 PM
We are looking to hire a new post-bac MRI tech! Great opportunity pre grad school! umd.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/UMCP/job/Uni...
Reposted by Rachel Romeo
Alert! ... for the child development world!
@fluxsociety.bsky.social @fitngin.bsky.social
The Healthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study has released its first data wave - it’s massive.
Check here:
docs.hbcdstudy.org
and here:
nbdc-datahub.org
Here’s why it matters 🧠🍼
@fluxsociety.bsky.social @fitngin.bsky.social
The Healthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study has released its first data wave - it’s massive.
Check here:
docs.hbcdstudy.org
and here:
nbdc-datahub.org
Here’s why it matters 🧠🍼
June 29, 2025 at 2:18 AM
Alert! ... for the child development world!
@fluxsociety.bsky.social @fitngin.bsky.social
The Healthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study has released its first data wave - it’s massive.
Check here:
docs.hbcdstudy.org
and here:
nbdc-datahub.org
Here’s why it matters 🧠🍼
@fluxsociety.bsky.social @fitngin.bsky.social
The Healthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study has released its first data wave - it’s massive.
Check here:
docs.hbcdstudy.org
and here:
nbdc-datahub.org
Here’s why it matters 🧠🍼
Reposted by Rachel Romeo
@angelicaalonso.bsky.social, @rachelromeo.bsky.social, and I wrote one of the top 10 papers (by citations) published in Child Development Perspectives in 2023! 🎉✨ How parent-child brain-to-brain synchrony can inform the study of child development: doi.org/10.1111/cdep...
June 17, 2025 at 5:52 PM
@angelicaalonso.bsky.social, @rachelromeo.bsky.social, and I wrote one of the top 10 papers (by citations) published in Child Development Perspectives in 2023! 🎉✨ How parent-child brain-to-brain synchrony can inform the study of child development: doi.org/10.1111/cdep...
Reposted by Rachel Romeo
must be incredibly frustrating and disheartening to have federal funding that was promised to you for important work suddenly and arbitrarily ripped away
“In light of the President's statement about cancellation of my government contracts, @SpaceX will begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately”
June 5, 2025 at 8:15 PM
must be incredibly frustrating and disheartening to have federal funding that was promised to you for important work suddenly and arbitrarily ripped away
Yesterday I had the immense honor of hooding my first PhD graduate! I only cried twice. Somehow I think this will never get old. Congrats Dr. McDorman @alexamcd.bsky.social !!
May 23, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Yesterday I had the immense honor of hooding my first PhD graduate! I only cried twice. Somehow I think this will never get old. Congrats Dr. McDorman @alexamcd.bsky.social !!
Reposted by Rachel Romeo
🧪 Basic science boosts the economy:
"The proposed dismantling of NSF [and NIH] raises an urgent question: do these cuts actually save money or merely delay spending until the bill gets larger?
The answer is clear: these cuts will cost the economy billions."
"The proposed dismantling of NSF [and NIH] raises an urgent question: do these cuts actually save money or merely delay spending until the bill gets larger?
The answer is clear: these cuts will cost the economy billions."
Trump’s NIH And NSF Cuts Estimated To Cost The U.S. Economy $10 Billion Annually
Economists find public R&D drives a quarter of U.S. productivity growth — and pays for itself
www.forbes.com
May 19, 2025 at 4:33 PM
🧪 Basic science boosts the economy:
"The proposed dismantling of NSF [and NIH] raises an urgent question: do these cuts actually save money or merely delay spending until the bill gets larger?
The answer is clear: these cuts will cost the economy billions."
"The proposed dismantling of NSF [and NIH] raises an urgent question: do these cuts actually save money or merely delay spending until the bill gets larger?
The answer is clear: these cuts will cost the economy billions."
Reposted by Rachel Romeo
Today, our client Rümeysa Öztürk was released on bail from ICE detention in Louisiana, and she will return to New England to continue her studies.
📸 Giancarlo D’Agostaro
📸 Giancarlo D’Agostaro
May 9, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Today, our client Rümeysa Öztürk was released on bail from ICE detention in Louisiana, and she will return to New England to continue her studies.
📸 Giancarlo D’Agostaro
📸 Giancarlo D’Agostaro
Reposted by Rachel Romeo
Despite everything going on, I may have funds to hire a postdoc this year 😬🤞🧑🔬 Open to a wide variety of possible projects in social and cognitive neuroscience. Get in touch if you are interested! Reposts appreciated.
May 9, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Despite everything going on, I may have funds to hire a postdoc this year 😬🤞🧑🔬 Open to a wide variety of possible projects in social and cognitive neuroscience. Get in touch if you are interested! Reposts appreciated.
I had a great time sharing my work today at the @upenn.bsky.social Center for Neuroscience and Society! I forgot to take a picture so instead here’s my freshman dorm that I passed on my way over from the train station. 😂
May 9, 2025 at 2:31 AM
I had a great time sharing my work today at the @upenn.bsky.social Center for Neuroscience and Society! I forgot to take a picture so instead here’s my freshman dorm that I passed on my way over from the train station. 😂
Reposted by Rachel Romeo
I spend a lot of time disparaging those who are failing us in this moment - but today I want to shine a light on all of those who are helping to make the threats to science and universities legible for other scientists and the public🧪 1/
May 7, 2025 at 2:31 PM
I spend a lot of time disparaging those who are failing us in this moment - but today I want to shine a light on all of those who are helping to make the threats to science and universities legible for other scientists and the public🧪 1/
So proud of the @umdleadlab.bsky.social (and GARD lab adoptees) for crushing their #SRCD2025 presentations! I’m so lucky to work with this amazing team!!
May 3, 2025 at 4:07 PM
So proud of the @umdleadlab.bsky.social (and GARD lab adoptees) for crushing their #SRCD2025 presentations! I’m so lucky to work with this amazing team!!
Reposted by Rachel Romeo
Have been moving full steam ahead and trying to take action since the first round of NSF grant cancellations hit on April 18th and I just finally broke down in front of our dean of research when talking about the early career researchers affected by these terminations 😭
May 1, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Have been moving full steam ahead and trying to take action since the first round of NSF grant cancellations hit on April 18th and I just finally broke down in front of our dean of research when talking about the early career researchers affected by these terminations 😭
So good to see you!
Nice catch up with Rachel go terps ✌️ #SRCD25 @rachelromeo.bsky.social
May 1, 2025 at 9:11 PM
So good to see you!
Amidst all the turmoil, I’m excited to be heading to #SRCD2025 to see friends and share the joy and fascination of working in our field. Can’t wait to see folks!
April 30, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Amidst all the turmoil, I’m excited to be heading to #SRCD2025 to see friends and share the joy and fascination of working in our field. Can’t wait to see folks!
Reposted by Rachel Romeo
In 100 days in office, US President Donald Trump has destabilized eight decades of government support for science.
This has included terminating more than 1,000 grants in areas such as climate change, cancer, and HIV prevention.
Will US science survive Trump 2.0?
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
This has included terminating more than 1,000 grants in areas such as climate change, cancer, and HIV prevention.
Will US science survive Trump 2.0?
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
April 29, 2025 at 11:42 AM
In 100 days in office, US President Donald Trump has destabilized eight decades of government support for science.
This has included terminating more than 1,000 grants in areas such as climate change, cancer, and HIV prevention.
Will US science survive Trump 2.0?
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
This has included terminating more than 1,000 grants in areas such as climate change, cancer, and HIV prevention.
Will US science survive Trump 2.0?
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Rachel Romeo
Sending lots of support to the NSF and NIH program officers who have been serving the science community in so many ways. Thank you 🙏
April 27, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Sending lots of support to the NSF and NIH program officers who have been serving the science community in so many ways. Thank you 🙏
Reposted by Rachel Romeo
🧪 Tip: You have the right to contest a grant termination, even though NSF says you don't. 🧵
On Friday, NSF terminated 402 grants (per Musk's DOGE).
The notification letters had one of the most egregious violations of fed regulations I've seen so far in these cases:
"not subject to appeal"
On Friday, NSF terminated 402 grants (per Musk's DOGE).
The notification letters had one of the most egregious violations of fed regulations I've seen so far in these cases:
"not subject to appeal"
Here's a copy of an NSF grant termination notice that went out today. "NSF is issuing this termination to protect the interests of the government pursuant...on the basis that they no longer effectuate the program goals or agency priorities." Not subject to appeal. #HigherEd #AcademicSky
![Text of email: Dear [redacted],
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has undertaken a review of its award portfolio. Each award was carefully and individually reviewed, and the agency has determined that termination of certain awards is necessary because they are not in alignment with current NSF priorities. Effective immediately, the following are terminated: [redacted]
NSF is issuing this termination to protect the interests of the government pursuant to NSF Grant General Conditions (GC-1) term and condition entitled Termination and Enforcement; on the basis that they no longer effectuate the program goals or agency priorities. This is the final agency decision and not subject to appeal. Costs incurred as a result of this termination may be reimbursed, provided such costs would otherwise be allowable under the terms of the award and the governing cost principles. In accordance with your award terms and conditions, you have 30 days from the termination date to furnish a summary of progress under the award and an itemized accounting of allowable costs incurred prior to the termination date.
Sincerely, [redacted] Division Director
Office of Budget Finance and Award Management (BFA)
Division of Grants and Agreements (DGA)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:l3jbgdl7a5rtsfyrgjw7spkz/bafkreif3rmsl6htpibxg3loqsuazljaekd636abaavvfm4nkjplr5e6itu@jpeg)
April 20, 2025 at 4:33 PM
🧪 Tip: You have the right to contest a grant termination, even though NSF says you don't. 🧵
On Friday, NSF terminated 402 grants (per Musk's DOGE).
The notification letters had one of the most egregious violations of fed regulations I've seen so far in these cases:
"not subject to appeal"
On Friday, NSF terminated 402 grants (per Musk's DOGE).
The notification letters had one of the most egregious violations of fed regulations I've seen so far in these cases:
"not subject to appeal"
At 10pm Tuesday, I got notice that my 3yr IMLS grant was terminated. No reason given & termination *backdated* a week (I’m told the official termination is lost in the mail). This is absolutely devastating & totally meaningless. I can’t email my PO because the entire agency is on admin leave. 1/n
April 19, 2025 at 2:13 AM
At 10pm Tuesday, I got notice that my 3yr IMLS grant was terminated. No reason given & termination *backdated* a week (I’m told the official termination is lost in the mail). This is absolutely devastating & totally meaningless. I can’t email my PO because the entire agency is on admin leave. 1/n
But isn't "diversity" banned now? 🤔
The Trump demands to Harvard go much further than anything I had seen at Penn, Columbia, Johns Hopkins
In an astounding letter, one section stands out:
"Viewpoint Diversity in Admissions and Hiring"
1/N
In an astounding letter, one section stands out:
"Viewpoint Diversity in Admissions and Hiring"
1/N
April 15, 2025 at 4:35 PM
But isn't "diversity" banned now? 🤔
Reposted by Rachel Romeo
I'm offering a new advice/Q&A session to help support our newest colleagues facing extraordinary conditions:
How to start a lab during an (inter)national crisis?
I began in 2020 COVID, I believe I've learned some translational tips.
Please fill out if interested: forms.gle/6DPoZRWop1rY...
How to start a lab during an (inter)national crisis?
I began in 2020 COVID, I believe I've learned some translational tips.
Please fill out if interested: forms.gle/6DPoZRWop1rY...
a man is holding a cardboard box with a label that says business mix ltd.
ALT: a man is holding a cardboard box with a label that says business mix ltd.
media.tenor.com
April 6, 2025 at 1:55 PM
I'm offering a new advice/Q&A session to help support our newest colleagues facing extraordinary conditions:
How to start a lab during an (inter)national crisis?
I began in 2020 COVID, I believe I've learned some translational tips.
Please fill out if interested: forms.gle/6DPoZRWop1rY...
How to start a lab during an (inter)national crisis?
I began in 2020 COVID, I believe I've learned some translational tips.
Please fill out if interested: forms.gle/6DPoZRWop1rY...