Raji Shyam
@shyamraji.bsky.social
Vision scientist | PI https://www.shyamlab.com/ | Proud mom of two humans and two dogs | personal opinions do not reflect those of my employer
Reposted by Raji Shyam
Trying to find some protocols for cone isolation from frogs that don't involve transgenics or freezing. There is a surprising dearth of information out there for cone isolation? Seems to be mostly rods. Is anyone familiar with any simple-ish protocols? 🧪 👀 #xenopus
December 5, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Trying to find some protocols for cone isolation from frogs that don't involve transgenics or freezing. There is a surprising dearth of information out there for cone isolation? Seems to be mostly rods. Is anyone familiar with any simple-ish protocols? 🧪 👀 #xenopus
Reposted by Raji Shyam
Are you an early-stage graduate student (2nd or 3rd year) or early-stage postdoc based in the US or Canada, working primarily in Drosophila? Would you like to help improve the experience of all trainees working in Drosophila research? If so, read on.
(Please repost to reach a broad audience.)
(Please repost to reach a broad audience.)
November 12, 2025 at 4:49 AM
Are you an early-stage graduate student (2nd or 3rd year) or early-stage postdoc based in the US or Canada, working primarily in Drosophila? Would you like to help improve the experience of all trainees working in Drosophila research? If so, read on.
(Please repost to reach a broad audience.)
(Please repost to reach a broad audience.)
New preprint from the lab in collaboration with @sherberg128.bsky.social. By only altering the stiffness of the substrate, we discovered changes in corneal endothelial cell health. This study indicates how physical changes to the Descemet's membrane can affect the endothelium.
Decreased substrate stiffness leads to mitochondrial dysfunctions and Endothelial to Mesenchymal transition through Focal Adhesion Kinase activity in corneal endothelial cells https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.08.687366v1
November 10, 2025 at 4:38 PM
New preprint from the lab in collaboration with @sherberg128.bsky.social. By only altering the stiffness of the substrate, we discovered changes in corneal endothelial cell health. This study indicates how physical changes to the Descemet's membrane can affect the endothelium.
Reposted by Raji Shyam
As a neuroscientist, I’d suggest there is a profound disconnect between what *some* computer scientists think is representative of “intelligence”, cognitive ability, or descriptions of consciousness from some in AI work.
LLMs are not how neural systems process information, nor how brains function.
LLMs are not how neural systems process information, nor how brains function.
November 6, 2025 at 5:19 PM
As a neuroscientist, I’d suggest there is a profound disconnect between what *some* computer scientists think is representative of “intelligence”, cognitive ability, or descriptions of consciousness from some in AI work.
LLMs are not how neural systems process information, nor how brains function.
LLMs are not how neural systems process information, nor how brains function.
Had an amazing time catching up with @eannemartin.bsky.social It is especially serendipitous to meet grad school friends as a PI!
October 28, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Had an amazing time catching up with @eannemartin.bsky.social It is especially serendipitous to meet grad school friends as a PI!
Proud to be a part of the 50 States, 50 Stories initiative organized by @arvoinfo.bsky.social
Read more about National Eye Institute funded work in my lab on Fuchs Dystrophy here - www.arvo.org/news/arvo-bl...
Read more about National Eye Institute funded work in my lab on Fuchs Dystrophy here - www.arvo.org/news/arvo-bl...
NIH’s role in advancing Fuchs dystrophy research
www.arvo.org
October 22, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Proud to be a part of the 50 States, 50 Stories initiative organized by @arvoinfo.bsky.social
Read more about National Eye Institute funded work in my lab on Fuchs Dystrophy here - www.arvo.org/news/arvo-bl...
Read more about National Eye Institute funded work in my lab on Fuchs Dystrophy here - www.arvo.org/news/arvo-bl...
This👇
You can do good work, and it is not limited to being at elite institutions. As you advance in your career, it becomes more about "what have you done?" not "where did you do it?"
You can do good work, and it is not limited to being at elite institutions. As you advance in your career, it becomes more about "what have you done?" not "where did you do it?"
There's some good advice in this thread, but I'm going to offer another take on #6 here:
The "best" (i.e. most prestigious) program you get into might not be the best fit for you, and you can still have a great career, even if you decide not to put status above everything else.
The "best" (i.e. most prestigious) program you get into might not be the best fit for you, and you can still have a great career, even if you decide not to put status above everything else.
6) If you are offered the opportunity to do a PhD or a master at Oxbridge, Harvard or Yale don’t thing twice. Go!
7) Smart work exists in academia as well. Just look for it.
8) Paradoxically the pace of innovation at work can be slower in academia than other
businesses.
7) Smart work exists in academia as well. Just look for it.
8) Paradoxically the pace of innovation at work can be slower in academia than other
businesses.
October 20, 2025 at 6:05 PM
This👇
You can do good work, and it is not limited to being at elite institutions. As you advance in your career, it becomes more about "what have you done?" not "where did you do it?"
You can do good work, and it is not limited to being at elite institutions. As you advance in your career, it becomes more about "what have you done?" not "where did you do it?"
Happy Diwali to all! Here is hoping a mighty force (democracy, collective will, whatever you want to call it) will light the path for all of us.
a greeting card for happy diwali with fireworks and candles
ALT: a greeting card for happy diwali with fireworks and candles
media.tenor.com
October 20, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Happy Diwali to all! Here is hoping a mighty force (democracy, collective will, whatever you want to call it) will light the path for all of us.
Hardest thing about moving to a new place as an adult is making new friends. Shamelessly approaching strangers, and asking if I can be their friend is my new strategy. My new friends (3 so far!) say they are charmed by my candor (read desperation). Onward..
October 20, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Hardest thing about moving to a new place as an adult is making new friends. Shamelessly approaching strangers, and asking if I can be their friend is my new strategy. My new friends (3 so far!) say they are charmed by my candor (read desperation). Onward..
Writing two manuscripts at the same time is not worth my sanity. Stating this on a public forum so I can be reminded to not pursue such lunacies anymore.
a cartoon dog is sitting at a table in front of a fire with the words it 's fine everything is fine
ALT: a cartoon dog is sitting at a table in front of a fire with the words it 's fine everything is fine
media.tenor.com
October 16, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Writing two manuscripts at the same time is not worth my sanity. Stating this on a public forum so I can be reminded to not pursue such lunacies anymore.
Reposted by Raji Shyam
Check this out! So nice!
Happy World Vision Day!
Our book "How We See" is now available! 🧠 👀 ✨ 🚀
thebraincolouringbook.com/order
@reseauvision.bsky.social @michelcayouette.bsky.social
Our book "How We See" is now available! 🧠 👀 ✨ 🚀
thebraincolouringbook.com/order
@reseauvision.bsky.social @michelcayouette.bsky.social
October 9, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Check this out! So nice!
Attending a grant writing seminar at the University. Its quite interesting how there is no mention of luck as an imperative in grant funding.
October 9, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Attending a grant writing seminar at the University. Its quite interesting how there is no mention of luck as an imperative in grant funding.
Lab goals
I don’t want to brag, but the institutional biosafety committee chair just said “your lab is the poster child for OCD.”
October 9, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Lab goals
Reposted by Raji Shyam
I'm so excited to be hiring my first postdoc! If you love retinal biology and developing new therapeutics to cure blindness, please apply! Thank you to the @brightfocus.bsky.social for supporting my research and enabling me to grow my research team! external-careers.jobs.unsw.edu.au/cw/en/job/53...
September 30, 2025 at 8:36 AM
I'm so excited to be hiring my first postdoc! If you love retinal biology and developing new therapeutics to cure blindness, please apply! Thank you to the @brightfocus.bsky.social for supporting my research and enabling me to grow my research team! external-careers.jobs.unsw.edu.au/cw/en/job/53...
A tree fell on my fence few months ago. Neither my spouse nor I are handy, and we left it in its unkempt state. My neighbor took it up on himself to buy the materials, and fix it (after he checked with us). Welcome to Iowa! People are way too nice here.
October 7, 2025 at 4:25 PM
A tree fell on my fence few months ago. Neither my spouse nor I are handy, and we left it in its unkempt state. My neighbor took it up on himself to buy the materials, and fix it (after he checked with us). Welcome to Iowa! People are way too nice here.
Attended the post-doc to PI panel organized by the University of Iowa post-doc association. Always fun to discuss career trajectories with PIs new to Iowa, including the awesome @kmulfaul.bsky.social
October 3, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Attended the post-doc to PI panel organized by the University of Iowa post-doc association. Always fun to discuss career trajectories with PIs new to Iowa, including the awesome @kmulfaul.bsky.social
One of those weeks where I am happy to bury myself in the science and tune the world out. Happy science-ing to all who can relate!
a kitten wearing headphones with its mouth open and its eyes closed .
ALT: a kitten wearing headphones with its mouth open and its eyes closed .
media.tenor.com
October 2, 2025 at 1:23 PM
One of those weeks where I am happy to bury myself in the science and tune the world out. Happy science-ing to all who can relate!
New paper from the lab! In collaboration with Patrice Tankam lab at Indiana University, we evaluated changes in the Descemet's membrane thickness in the double mutant FECD mice. Congrats to the co-first authors Hadiya Pattan and Subashree Murugan!
iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx...
iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx...
Enabling In Vivo Longitudinal Evaluation of Descemet's Membrane Thickness in Wild-type and FECD Mice Using Self-Referenced Optical Coherence Microscopy | IOVS | ARVO Journals
iovs.arvojournals.org
September 26, 2025 at 2:16 PM
New paper from the lab! In collaboration with Patrice Tankam lab at Indiana University, we evaluated changes in the Descemet's membrane thickness in the double mutant FECD mice. Congrats to the co-first authors Hadiya Pattan and Subashree Murugan!
iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx...
iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx...
Great talk by @wisemanlab.bsky.social at Anatomy and Cell Biology seminar at the University of Iowa yesterday! Lots of great science, and lots of laughs! Wish I took a better picture to share here!
September 25, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Great talk by @wisemanlab.bsky.social at Anatomy and Cell Biology seminar at the University of Iowa yesterday! Lots of great science, and lots of laughs! Wish I took a better picture to share here!
Reposted by Raji Shyam
UPDATE: At least two children, ages 8 and 10, were shot and killed and at least 17 more people, including 14 children, were wounded during a back-to-school mass at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis.
Schools & churches should be sanctuaries of safety for children, not where they go to die.
Schools & churches should be sanctuaries of safety for children, not where they go to die.
BREAKING: A gunman opened fire at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, Minnesota, while preschool classes were in session during the first week of school. Early reports indicate multiple victims, including children.
Live updates: Shooter contained after incident at Minneapolis church and school
The city of Minneapolis said that there is no active threat at this time after a Wednesday morning shooting at Annunciation Catholic School.
www.nbcnews.com
August 27, 2025 at 4:12 PM
UPDATE: At least two children, ages 8 and 10, were shot and killed and at least 17 more people, including 14 children, were wounded during a back-to-school mass at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis.
Schools & churches should be sanctuaries of safety for children, not where they go to die.
Schools & churches should be sanctuaries of safety for children, not where they go to die.
Reposted by Raji Shyam
Two children were killed and seventeen people were injured in a shooting at Annunciation Catholic School.
A Cracker Barrel logo change received far more scrutiny and attention than any fight against the epidemic of gun violence in this country.
Our priorities remain idiotic.
A Cracker Barrel logo change received far more scrutiny and attention than any fight against the epidemic of gun violence in this country.
Our priorities remain idiotic.
August 27, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Two children were killed and seventeen people were injured in a shooting at Annunciation Catholic School.
A Cracker Barrel logo change received far more scrutiny and attention than any fight against the epidemic of gun violence in this country.
Our priorities remain idiotic.
A Cracker Barrel logo change received far more scrutiny and attention than any fight against the epidemic of gun violence in this country.
Our priorities remain idiotic.
Reposted by Raji Shyam
The UI Department of Biology invites applications for a tenure-track assistant professor position in genetics, beginning in the academic year 2026. Review of applicants will begin on November 1, 2025. For more information about the position and to apply, please visit: jobs.uiowa.edu/faculty/view...
July 6, 2025 at 3:55 PM
The UI Department of Biology invites applications for a tenure-track assistant professor position in genetics, beginning in the academic year 2026. Review of applicants will begin on November 1, 2025. For more information about the position and to apply, please visit: jobs.uiowa.edu/faculty/view...
Reposted by Raji Shyam
The NIH was healthiest when pay lines were in the 20th percentile range.
We are headed into an environment where pay lines are in the 5% range.
In my entire career, I’ve only had 3 grants that scored better than 5%. And my lab is considered a successful one.
This is going to destroy science.
We are headed into an environment where pay lines are in the 5% range.
In my entire career, I’ve only had 3 grants that scored better than 5%. And my lab is considered a successful one.
This is going to destroy science.
July 28, 2025 at 8:12 PM
The NIH was healthiest when pay lines were in the 20th percentile range.
We are headed into an environment where pay lines are in the 5% range.
In my entire career, I’ve only had 3 grants that scored better than 5%. And my lab is considered a successful one.
This is going to destroy science.
We are headed into an environment where pay lines are in the 5% range.
In my entire career, I’ve only had 3 grants that scored better than 5%. And my lab is considered a successful one.
This is going to destroy science.
Reposted by Raji Shyam
While I’m a big fan of new technologies that help us study human biology…there’s still no replacement for animal research! See my article in Gen News. www.genengnews.com/topics/trans...
Why We Still Need Animal Research in a World of AI and Organoids
The portrayal of uncaring scientists without any thought for the animals being used in their research is far from the truth.
www.genengnews.com
July 12, 2025 at 2:56 AM
While I’m a big fan of new technologies that help us study human biology…there’s still no replacement for animal research! See my article in Gen News. www.genengnews.com/topics/trans...
Reposted by Raji Shyam
"Indiana University-Bloomington should not be turned into a trade school with Division One football and basketball."
The situation in Indiana is a red flag for all of higher ed. And I'm grateful to the @chicagotribune.com editorial board for taking a stand.
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/07/07/e...
The situation in Indiana is a red flag for all of higher ed. And I'm grateful to the @chicagotribune.com editorial board for taking a stand.
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/07/07/e...
Editorial: Indiana University, Ball State and Purdue are gutted without logic or thought
Taking an axe to degree programs at Indiana University makes no sense.
www.chicagotribune.com
July 8, 2025 at 1:36 PM
"Indiana University-Bloomington should not be turned into a trade school with Division One football and basketball."
The situation in Indiana is a red flag for all of higher ed. And I'm grateful to the @chicagotribune.com editorial board for taking a stand.
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/07/07/e...
The situation in Indiana is a red flag for all of higher ed. And I'm grateful to the @chicagotribune.com editorial board for taking a stand.
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/07/07/e...