Sarah Goetz
@sarahgoetz.bsky.social
Cell biologist, embryo aficionado, ciliavangelist. Associate professor at Duke University School of Medicine. Tweets and opinions are my own. She/her.
Lab website: goetzlabduke.com
Lab website: goetzlabduke.com
Gotta say I agree with Lady Catherine de Bourgh here…
I take no leave of you, 2025. I send no compliments to your mother. You deserve no such attention. I am most seriously displeased.
January 1, 2026 at 6:13 AM
Gotta say I agree with Lady Catherine de Bourgh here…
In the 8 years that NYC was my home, I don’t think I ever paid attention to a mayor being sworn in. But I’m truly excited that our largest (and best ❤️) city is on track to return to its long history of generous social programs and again be a beacon to the nation. Much luck to Mayor Mamdani!
January 1, 2026 at 5:49 AM
In the 8 years that NYC was my home, I don’t think I ever paid attention to a mayor being sworn in. But I’m truly excited that our largest (and best ❤️) city is on track to return to its long history of generous social programs and again be a beacon to the nation. Much luck to Mayor Mamdani!
This kinda sounds funny but it’s not. Larry Summers is one of, if not the biggest bully currently active in academia. Why in God’s name is he still there? Why has he been there for the 20+ years that we’ve all known what he is like? WTF y’all been doing up at Harvard???
Please don't bully Mr. Summers by quoting his own words.
"The students posted videos online showing Mr. Summers addressing students in a Harvard lecture hall...The complaints initially claimed that the two students in question violated the university’s anti-bullying policy."
Gift link
"The students posted videos online showing Mr. Summers addressing students in a Harvard lecture hall...The complaints initially claimed that the two students in question violated the university’s anti-bullying policy."
Gift link
Harvard Secretly Investigates Students Over Larry Summers Video on Epstein
www.nytimes.com
December 20, 2025 at 5:04 AM
This kinda sounds funny but it’s not. Larry Summers is one of, if not the biggest bully currently active in academia. Why in God’s name is he still there? Why has he been there for the 20+ years that we’ve all known what he is like? WTF y’all been doing up at Harvard???
I’m so tired of this. This one hits close to home, literally- I’m from RI, and I’ve spend a lot of time near Brown’s campus. I know well all of the places referenced in the media. When can we replace our leaders (in both parties) and end this?
December 14, 2025 at 4:10 AM
I’m so tired of this. This one hits close to home, literally- I’m from RI, and I’ve spend a lot of time near Brown’s campus. I know well all of the places referenced in the media. When can we replace our leaders (in both parties) and end this?
This. When my son was born, I tried so, so hard to exclusively breastfeed him. I had two different lactation consultants. Nothing really worked- I could not produce enough milk and he needed formula. Some people act like this isn't a real problem, but it is. Scare-mongering about formula is harmful
As with everything he says, this is wildly uninformed. Formula keeps getting better and saves lives. And modern research indicates that outcomes are roughly the same. There are reasons to breastfeed but your child isn’t suffering if you don’t
RFK Jr: "All of the ingenuity of corporate America has not produced an infant formula that is superior in nutrition and all the qualities that we want to the infant formula that God made, which is the infant formula in a mother's breast."
December 9, 2025 at 12:55 AM
This. When my son was born, I tried so, so hard to exclusively breastfeed him. I had two different lactation consultants. Nothing really worked- I could not produce enough milk and he needed formula. Some people act like this isn't a real problem, but it is. Scare-mongering about formula is harmful
It should have. But Summers’ extremely obvious misogynist views were never disqualifying because Democratic politicians loved his neoliberal economics far more than they cared about the misogyny. That includes Obama and very much the Clintons.
This should have been the end of Larry Summers.
Why women are poor at science, by Harvard president
The president of Harvard University has provoked a furore by arguing that men outperform women in maths and sciences because of biological difference, and discrimination is no longer a career barrier ...
www.theguardian.com
November 16, 2025 at 2:36 AM
It should have. But Summers’ extremely obvious misogynist views were never disqualifying because Democratic politicians loved his neoliberal economics far more than they cared about the misogyny. That includes Obama and very much the Clintons.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/s...
To me, reading “The Double Helix” many years ago as a grad student felt like getting hit in the face. His cruelty towards a talented colleague whose work his major discovery depended on and who had, and I can’t emphasize this enough, *DIED*, was immediately stunning.
To me, reading “The Double Helix” many years ago as a grad student felt like getting hit in the face. His cruelty towards a talented colleague whose work his major discovery depended on and who had, and I can’t emphasize this enough, *DIED*, was immediately stunning.
James D. Watson, Co-Discoverer of the Structure of DNA, Is Dead at 97
www.nytimes.com
November 8, 2025 at 4:54 AM
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/s...
To me, reading “The Double Helix” many years ago as a grad student felt like getting hit in the face. His cruelty towards a talented colleague whose work his major discovery depended on and who had, and I can’t emphasize this enough, *DIED*, was immediately stunning.
To me, reading “The Double Helix” many years ago as a grad student felt like getting hit in the face. His cruelty towards a talented colleague whose work his major discovery depended on and who had, and I can’t emphasize this enough, *DIED*, was immediately stunning.
@zohrankmamdani.bsky.social's victory this week (YAY!) in the NYC mayor’s race has had me thinking a lot about my own story of “affordability” in that city. NYC was my home for nearly 8 years (2007-2015) while I was a postdoc Sloan Kettering Institute. 🧵🧪 1/
November 7, 2025 at 3:58 PM
@zohrankmamdani.bsky.social's victory this week (YAY!) in the NYC mayor’s race has had me thinking a lot about my own story of “affordability” in that city. NYC was my home for nearly 8 years (2007-2015) while I was a postdoc Sloan Kettering Institute. 🧵🧪 1/
Absolutely! I did lots of tours in the 8 years I lived in NYC. They tended to be cheap and fun (Zohran’s was free!)And yeah, many/mist of the other folks tended to be residents. Zohran’s love for NYC is really palpable, and I think it’s another big reason for his success.
I worked for a few years as a guide for history-related walking tours in lower Manhattan. My *best* and most enthusiastic joiners were the residents, not the tourists. They tipped the best too.
A thing Zohran & his campaign have powerfully tapped into -- and that his scavenger hunt captures so perfectly -- is that a vast majority of the people who live here genuinely *love* New York City. We wouldn't stay here otherwise!
August 24, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Absolutely! I did lots of tours in the 8 years I lived in NYC. They tended to be cheap and fun (Zohran’s was free!)And yeah, many/mist of the other folks tended to be residents. Zohran’s love for NYC is really palpable, and I think it’s another big reason for his success.
I’m incredibly proud of this work, which is the product of years of effort, mostly by @loukillab.bsky.social when he was a postdoc in my lab. It started out as a “fantasy project” when I was a new PI, and it’s very much a testament to Halim’s hard work that it became a reality!
Thrilled to share our new paper on the in vivo BioID of neuronal cilia 🧬🌀
This is the first look at the signaling power of neuronal primary cilia in the mature mouse brain.
Huge thanks to @sarahgoetz.bsky.social and amazing collaborators for making this possible! 🙏
www.jneurosci.org/content/45/3...
This is the first look at the signaling power of neuronal primary cilia in the mature mouse brain.
Huge thanks to @sarahgoetz.bsky.social and amazing collaborators for making this possible! 🙏
www.jneurosci.org/content/45/3...
August 14, 2025 at 10:23 PM
I’m incredibly proud of this work, which is the product of years of effort, mostly by @loukillab.bsky.social when he was a postdoc in my lab. It started out as a “fantasy project” when I was a new PI, and it’s very much a testament to Halim’s hard work that it became a reality!
This is very much how I feel right now. Extending the metaphor- we are also in the middle of the desert, so it’s is unclear where we would go or what will happen when it stalls. It’s bleak.
Being an academic right now feels like riding in a car that has the check engine and low fuel light on, and you know you there isn't a gas station for at least the next three years.
How long before it stalls in the middle of the rode?
How long before you get off?
How long before we all get off.
How long before it stalls in the middle of the rode?
How long before you get off?
How long before we all get off.
July 27, 2025 at 10:34 PM
This is very much how I feel right now. Extending the metaphor- we are also in the middle of the desert, so it’s is unclear where we would go or what will happen when it stalls. It’s bleak.
This is a great piece and very helpful. One other problem I see among my colleagues is that we as scientists struggle to think and act collectively. Many people’s impulse and inclination is to focus even harder on the immediate needs of their own lab/career. But that will lose us precious time.
A Path Forward to Save American Bio-Medical Research talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/a-pat...
A Path Forward to Save American Bio-Medical Research
Over the past four months I’ve spoken to dozens of biomedical researchers...
talkingpointsmemo.com
May 17, 2025 at 3:09 PM
This is a great piece and very helpful. One other problem I see among my colleagues is that we as scientists struggle to think and act collectively. Many people’s impulse and inclination is to focus even harder on the immediate needs of their own lab/career. But that will lose us precious time.
What will happen is a few high profile people will move or return to Europe with much fanfare. But the rest us are just stuck. We will simply be forced out of our jobs and careers.
$500 million is… less than 1.25% of the NIH’s 2024 budget.
When I say there is no capacity to absorb the shock, I mean it.
When I say there is no capacity to absorb the shock, I mean it.
We will put forward a 500 million package for 2025-2027 to make Europe a magnet for researchers.
As well as ambitious proposals for R&I in the next EU budget.
We will also offer the best and brightest the right incentives to come to Europe ↓
As well as ambitious proposals for R&I in the next EU budget.
We will also offer the best and brightest the right incentives to come to Europe ↓
May 5, 2025 at 6:49 PM
What will happen is a few high profile people will move or return to Europe with much fanfare. But the rest us are just stuck. We will simply be forced out of our jobs and careers.
This is a great piece! It’s really refreshing to see scholars in the humanities subject the use of LLMs in education to serious scrutiny. Scrutiny and skepticism of “AI” is often in embarrassingly short supply in my own field (the biological sciences).
Love to refuse a prompt. static1.squarespace.com/static/53a4b...
March 22, 2025 at 10:12 PM
This is a great piece! It’s really refreshing to see scholars in the humanities subject the use of LLMs in education to serious scrutiny. Scrutiny and skepticism of “AI” is often in embarrassingly short supply in my own field (the biological sciences).
This stuff gets me every damn time. The level of credulity even otherwise smart ppl show about these chatbots is truly bonkers. Preschool age children are more skeptical than NYT reporters. At least they ask “why?” and “how do you know?” constantly. 🙄
March 18, 2025 at 1:05 AM
This stuff gets me every damn time. The level of credulity even otherwise smart ppl show about these chatbots is truly bonkers. Preschool age children are more skeptical than NYT reporters. At least they ask “why?” and “how do you know?” constantly. 🙄
This. But also we are up against the fact that academic scientists in particular are often unprepared to think of ourselves as workers, build solidarity, and take collective action. This moment is going to require a really big pivot!
With the attacks on science and academia by the current administration, if those of us who have tenure don't speak up, it's really hard to continue justifying the tenure system based on academic freedom.
March 15, 2025 at 3:35 PM
This. But also we are up against the fact that academic scientists in particular are often unprepared to think of ourselves as workers, build solidarity, and take collective action. This moment is going to require a really big pivot!
Reposted by Sarah Goetz
If your sources are willing to share specific details of cancelled grants publicly, please encourage them to share using the Google Sheet below👇
The current lack of transparency on cancelled grants is really limiting organizing efforts and advocacy.
bsky.app/profile/scot...
The current lack of transparency on cancelled grants is really limiting organizing efforts and advocacy.
bsky.app/profile/scot...
We need to organize--let’s help each other.
NIH is cancelling grants, but it's not clear exactly what they're cancelling and why. Without this information, we can't respond.
I've started a Google Sheet to track grant cancellations.
Please add any canceled grants you know of and spread the word!
NIH is cancelling grants, but it's not clear exactly what they're cancelling and why. Without this information, we can't respond.
I've started a Google Sheet to track grant cancellations.
Please add any canceled grants you know of and spread the word!
March 11, 2025 at 2:40 PM
If your sources are willing to share specific details of cancelled grants publicly, please encourage them to share using the Google Sheet below👇
The current lack of transparency on cancelled grants is really limiting organizing efforts and advocacy.
bsky.app/profile/scot...
The current lack of transparency on cancelled grants is really limiting organizing efforts and advocacy.
bsky.app/profile/scot...
Reposted by Sarah Goetz
Not a lawyer, but flagging for the lawyers: HHS just said they're rescinding the Richardson Waiver (the policy under which changes to HHS grants were subject to notice-and-comment rulemaking, by my read).
Sure seems like this is about NIH.
public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2025-03300.pdf
Sure seems like this is about NIH.
public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2025-03300.pdf
February 28, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Not a lawyer, but flagging for the lawyers: HHS just said they're rescinding the Richardson Waiver (the policy under which changes to HHS grants were subject to notice-and-comment rulemaking, by my read).
Sure seems like this is about NIH.
public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2025-03300.pdf
Sure seems like this is about NIH.
public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2025-03300.pdf
🧪It seems like we are now in the gaslighting phase of this crisis. For the past few days, there have been "official reports" that FR posts are going to resume, and every day they keep not resuming. And its crickets from our institutions.
Today, the study section I am a member of is one of 26 out of 26 canceled. No new post on the federal registry and councils are postponed indefinitely.
Universities focused on overhead cuts considering these a challenge to their survival. But *no grant at all* seems like the issue to battle first..
Universities focused on overhead cuts considering these a challenge to their survival. But *no grant at all* seems like the issue to battle first..
The NIH continues to be fully halted. 11/11 study sections canceled today, which includes the study section my grant was meant to be reviewed at. This is never ending and so damaging.
www.csr.nih.gov/RevPanelsAnd...
www.csr.nih.gov/RevPanelsAnd...
February 27, 2025 at 8:15 PM
🧪It seems like we are now in the gaslighting phase of this crisis. For the past few days, there have been "official reports" that FR posts are going to resume, and every day they keep not resuming. And its crickets from our institutions.
🧪Hi Scientists. Someone I know posted this on facebook, but I haven't seen it here yet. thewashingtonpost.formstack.com/forms/scient...
Are you a scientist who has lost funding or grants in recent weeks? - Formstack
thewashingtonpost.formstack.com
February 26, 2025 at 7:16 PM
🧪Hi Scientists. Someone I know posted this on facebook, but I haven't seen it here yet. thewashingtonpost.formstack.com/forms/scient...
The Onion is barely even satire anymore.
If you think the headline is good, you should read the copy.
Democratic Leaders Stand Real Still In Hopes No One Notices Them
WASHINGTON—With the elected officials trying their hardest not to move a muscle, reports confirmed Monday that top Democratic leaders in Congress were standing real still in hopes that the American pe...
theonion.com
February 24, 2025 at 11:19 PM
The Onion is barely even satire anymore.
Reposted by Sarah Goetz
If anyone has been in touch with press covering the NIH situation broadly (firings, funding freeze etc), please encourage them to cover the sinister way in which HHS is preventing grant review and funding from happening, by blocking posting to the Federal Register.
HHS blocked posting indefinitely. Not enough press is being given to this back door approach to blocking NIH grants. If and when it is lifted will still be 35 days before study sections can be held
Still no SS meetings being posted to the Federal Register. www.federalregister.gov/documents/se...
February 17, 2025 at 5:24 PM
If anyone has been in touch with press covering the NIH situation broadly (firings, funding freeze etc), please encourage them to cover the sinister way in which HHS is preventing grant review and funding from happening, by blocking posting to the Federal Register.
Finally, some coverage of this issue. I did not know what the Federal Register was until last week when I got an email that the study section I was set to serve on is postponed to an unspecified date. Most of my colleagues have no idea that study sections are going to start being cancelled this week
A large portion of grants awarded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health cannot be funded for the foreseeable future because of an indefinite hold on submissions to the Federal Register, according to an email reviewed by The Transmitter.
By @avaskham.bsky.social
bit.ly/3X8ngz8
By @avaskham.bsky.social
bit.ly/3X8ngz8
Federal Register hold makes ‘end run’ around court pause on NIH funding freeze
NIH-related updates to the Federal Register, which are required for the scheduling of study sections and advisory councils, are on hold indefinitely, according to an email reviewed by <i>The Transmitt...
www.thetransmitter.org
February 19, 2025 at 1:48 AM
Finally, some coverage of this issue. I did not know what the Federal Register was until last week when I got an email that the study section I was set to serve on is postponed to an unspecified date. Most of my colleagues have no idea that study sections are going to start being cancelled this week
This is exactly right- There has not been this kind of wholesale cancellation of study sections and other meetings during other transitions. And the fact that people in leadership roles say this when it isn't true is the opposite of reassuring.
I don’t know who is out there telling people that a pause in study sections is typical for a leadership transition, but please stop. That is factually incorrect. Pauses in some activities do happen, but a pause to this degree is unprecedented. Thankfully it should be short-lived 🙏🏾
January 24, 2025 at 10:51 PM
This is exactly right- There has not been this kind of wholesale cancellation of study sections and other meetings during other transitions. And the fact that people in leadership roles say this when it isn't true is the opposite of reassuring.
Reposted by Sarah Goetz
Academia??? Please!!!
November 29, 2024 at 2:04 PM
Academia??? Please!!!