Shannon Farris
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shannonfarris.bsky.social
Shannon Farris
@shannonfarris.bsky.social
Neurobiologist, boy mom, new here.
Assistant Professor @ Virginia Tech.
We study the molecular basis of memory.
Synaptic localization of mitochondria and RNA.
http://labs.vtc.vt.edu/farris/
Pinned
#sfn25 Come say in the late break poster section! Showing live mito calcium imaging data from our new collab with Sharon Swangers lab! #keepCA2weird 🧪
Reposted by Shannon Farris
It used to be that NIH grant review panels had detailed discussions on about half of the grants submitted. The bottom 50% were triaged and not reviewed.

It’s rumored that now only 1/3 of grants will be discussed. Grants take so much time to write. This is going to be hard for researchers.
DrugMonkey
biomedical research, just another job...
drugmonkey.wordpress.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Reposted by Shannon Farris
Just got an email from the SRO of my study section and trying to reschedule the missed October study section to early- or mid-January 2026.
November 17, 2025 at 2:50 PM
🤣🤣
Introducing the 𝐏𝐈-𝐚𝐭-𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐒𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐞! 🤯

When activated, it will auto-reply to your PI's frantic ideas for new experiments, analyses, and projects with "Great suggestion! Saving this for later" (aka: let's talk when you’re back and got some sleep)

#sfn2025 #sfn25
November 18, 2025 at 4:35 AM
#sfn25 Come say in the late break poster section! Showing live mito calcium imaging data from our new collab with Sharon Swangers lab! #keepCA2weird 🧪
November 16, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Reposted by Shannon Farris
At Sfn? Join us at the Cajal Club Social! Sunday, Nov. 16th, 6:30PM–8:30PM. Salt & Whiskey bar@Horton Grand Hotel, www.hortongrand.com/dine-bar. We will learn about an exhibition on Cajal's Work and give out this year's awards to outstanding trainees and established scientists in our community!
Salt & Whiskey - Horton Grand Hotel
Serving elevated comfort foods and classic handcrafted cocktails, Salt & Whiskey at the Horton Grand Hotel pays homage to grandeur of the Victorian era.
www.hortongrand.com
November 15, 2025 at 5:49 AM
Reposted by Shannon Farris
If it’s your dream job to map the brain using light microscopy we should talk at #sfn25. Multiple opportunities. DMs open.
November 14, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Reposted by Shannon Farris
This has gotten surprisingly little attention — it's not even on the front page of @science.org right now — but it's really hard to describe what the SAFE Research Act would do to US science and scientists without sounding insane

www.science.org/content/arti...
November 14, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Reposted by Shannon Farris
Are you at #SfN25 and want VIP access to the Cai-Tye Collective event on Nov 17?

Come by my lab members' posters for a bracelet!

Hailey Rosenblum: Nov 15, 1-5pm PSTR040.05/BB6
Zoé Christenson Wick: Nov 17, 8am-12pm PSTR192.01/RR13
Zach Pennington: Nov 17, 1-5pm PSTR234.05/CC7
November 14, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Reposted by Shannon Farris
Reposted by Shannon Farris
Have questions about application submissions and missed peer review meetings due to the shutdown??? Check out this notice.

grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
NOT-OD-26-005: Interim Guidance on Reopening of NIH Extramural Activities
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts: Interim Guidance on Reopening of NIH Extramural Activities NOT-OD-26-005. NIH
grants.nih.gov
November 14, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Reposted by Shannon Farris
New paper with @statsepi.bsky.social and @deevybee.bsky.social in which we show there's really no evidence for a link between the gut microbiome and autism www.cell.com/neuron/fullt...
Conceptual and methodological flaws undermine claims of a link between the gut microbiome and autism
Claims that the gut microbiome causally contributes to autism regularly appear in the scientific literature and popular press. Mitchell et al. critically examine influential studies underpinning these...
www.cell.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Reposted by Shannon Farris
A bad thing is unfolding at NIH this week: It looks like the Trump administration is trying to replace key civil servant scientific leaders, the Institute Directors, with political hires. These directors control the NIH budget, tens of billions.

A bit of a video explainer here: 1/ 🧪
November 13, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Reposted by Shannon Farris
Oof this is going to be rough for NIH-funded folks who’ve already been set back. And another shutdown in January on the way just in time for council
Just got an email from my SRO for the study section that was missed in October. Good news is that they are trying to reschedule ASAP (Dec/Jan). The bad news is that CSR is mandating that only the the top third (not half) of applications will get discussed for the next 2 rounds.
November 14, 2025 at 1:22 AM
Reposted by Shannon Farris
Can confirm.
Just got an email from my SRO for the study section that was missed in October. Good news is that they are trying to reschedule ASAP (Dec/Jan). The bad news is that CSR is mandating that only the the top third (not half) of applications will get discussed for the next 2 rounds.
November 14, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Reposted by Shannon Farris
I got a similar message. My study section is being rescheduled for 2 partial days in January. Only 1/3 of grants will be discussed.
Just got an email from my SRO for the study section that was missed in October. Good news is that they are trying to reschedule ASAP (Dec/Jan). The bad news is that CSR is mandating that only the the top third (not half) of applications will get discussed for the next 2 rounds.
November 14, 2025 at 3:49 AM
Reposted by Shannon Farris
I’m begging institutions not to outsource your judgment of faculty to this ridiculous and useless scheme
Just got an email from my SRO for the study section that was missed in October. Good news is that they are trying to reschedule ASAP (Dec/Jan). The bad news is that CSR is mandating that only the the top third (not half) of applications will get discussed for the next 2 rounds.
November 14, 2025 at 2:59 AM
Reposted by Shannon Farris
Just got an email from my SRO for the study section that was missed in October. Good news is that they are trying to reschedule ASAP (Dec/Jan). The bad news is that CSR is mandating that only the the top third (not half) of applications will get discussed for the next 2 rounds.
November 13, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Reposted by Shannon Farris
How did I miss this? It's insane!
“The prohibited activities would include joint research, co-authorship on papers, and advising a foreign graduate student or postdoctoral fellow. The language is retroactive, meaning any interactions during the previous 5 years could make a scientist ineligible for future federal funding.”
U.S. Congress considers sweeping ban on Chinese collaborations
Researchers speak out against proposal that would bar funding for U.S. scientists working with Chinese partners or training Chinese students
www.science.org
November 14, 2025 at 3:06 AM
Reposted by Shannon Farris
🧪🔭🧬🔬🦠🌎😡👇
A bad thing is unfolding at NIH this week: It looks like the Trump administration is trying to replace key civil servant scientific leaders, the Institute Directors, with political hires. These directors control the NIH budget, tens of billions.

A bit of a video explainer here: 1/ 🧪
November 14, 2025 at 2:19 AM
Reposted by Shannon Farris
We wrote the Strain on scientific publishing to highlight the problems of time & trust. With a fantastic group of co-authors, we present The Drain of Scientific Publishing:

a 🧵 1/n

Drain: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Strain: direct.mit.edu/qss/article/...
Oligopoly: direct.mit.edu/qss/article/...
November 11, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Reposted by Shannon Farris
1 week to go! 💬 The ALBA-IBRO Social at #SfN2025 — where inclusion meets connection.
📅 16 Nov
⏰ 7:00 PM
📍Rancho Santa Fe, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina
👉🏾 https://loom.ly/3zJXoqE
🍢 Snacks & drinks
🤝 Supported by @ibroorg.bsky.social
#Neuroscience2025
November 9, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Reposted by Shannon Farris
If you're attending #SfN2025, don’t miss Dr. Sheena A. Josselyn, Program Co-Chair of #IBRO2027, in her Special Lecture on how memories are formed, stored & transformed over time
📅 15 Nov | 1–2 PM
📍 Ballroom 20

Discover all IBRO's activities at #SfN2025: https://ibro.org/meet-ibro-at-sfn-2025/
November 11, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Reposted by Shannon Farris
#WorldWomenNeuro is excited to host a Professional Development Workshop, ' Leadership at Every Step of the Journey', at this year’s Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting in San Diego!

See you at #SfN2025 on Nov 17, 3:00–5:00 PM EST

👉 Learn more: https://shorturl.at/cSJ7R

#WWNevents 

October 6, 2025 at 6:30 AM
Reposted by Shannon Farris
@sfn.org and neuro peeps! For 10+ years, you have honored us w/your attending our Psychopharmacology Social. #SfN2025 will be the last time I and @jaredwyoung.bsky.social will host this event (Tues, Nov 18, 7-9 pm, Marriott Marquis-Grand Ballroom Salon 5). Drink, groove and mingle one last time-AND-
November 11, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Reposted by Shannon Farris
The real bummer about no one from NIH being able to attend SfN is all the postbacs that would be applying to graduate school this year won’t have the opportunity to network with potential faculty mentors at their posters or attend the graduate school fair.
November 10, 2025 at 6:32 PM