Katherine Ritchie
@theritchielab.bsky.social
Biophysics PhD Student at UIUC
Grassroots science activist
Always down to make new friends :)
Grassroots science activist
Always down to make new friends :)
One fun fact about me is that I am 26 and my dad still pays for my car insurance and phone bill. If you think I should grow up and pay my own bills then, yeah, me too. That's why I'm voting to unionize today. 🗳️
July 10, 2025 at 2:57 PM
One fun fact about me is that I am 26 and my dad still pays for my car insurance and phone bill. If you think I should grow up and pay my own bills then, yeah, me too. That's why I'm voting to unionize today. 🗳️
Reposted by Katherine Ritchie
For the first time, scientists have filmed microscopic worms called nematodes in the wild as they glom together and form large wriggling masses.
Learn more: scim.ag/3FBwSx3
Learn more: scim.ag/3FBwSx3
June 11, 2025 at 6:21 PM
For the first time, scientists have filmed microscopic worms called nematodes in the wild as they glom together and form large wriggling masses.
Learn more: scim.ag/3FBwSx3
Learn more: scim.ag/3FBwSx3
How do other computational-ish labs handle data storage/sharing? The amount of times I have used scp to get stuff from a random machine in the past week is too many and it's ruining my life
May 21, 2025 at 3:20 PM
How do other computational-ish labs handle data storage/sharing? The amount of times I have used scp to get stuff from a random machine in the past week is too many and it's ruining my life
Reposted by Katherine Ritchie
New study reveals how M. tuberculosis PdtaS, a constitutively active kinase, senses both copper and nitric oxide by inhibiting dimerization, not binding.
A fresh twist on two-component signaling!
✍️ @michaelglickman.bsky.social and coll. 👏👏👏
📖 shorturl.at/DiWXp
#Tuberculosis #MicroSky
A fresh twist on two-component signaling!
✍️ @michaelglickman.bsky.social and coll. 👏👏👏
📖 shorturl.at/DiWXp
#Tuberculosis #MicroSky
May 20, 2025 at 1:38 AM
New study reveals how M. tuberculosis PdtaS, a constitutively active kinase, senses both copper and nitric oxide by inhibiting dimerization, not binding.
A fresh twist on two-component signaling!
✍️ @michaelglickman.bsky.social and coll. 👏👏👏
📖 shorturl.at/DiWXp
#Tuberculosis #MicroSky
A fresh twist on two-component signaling!
✍️ @michaelglickman.bsky.social and coll. 👏👏👏
📖 shorturl.at/DiWXp
#Tuberculosis #MicroSky
This cool paper shows which functional gene groups were enriched as fungi and animals diverged.
I like how animals gained a bunch of genes for signal transduction. Is complex signalling what makes us animals? 🤔
doi.org/10.1038/s415... (Ocaña-Pallarès,..., Ruiz-Trillo et al; Nature 2022)
I like how animals gained a bunch of genes for signal transduction. Is complex signalling what makes us animals? 🤔
doi.org/10.1038/s415... (Ocaña-Pallarès,..., Ruiz-Trillo et al; Nature 2022)
May 21, 2025 at 12:42 AM
This cool paper shows which functional gene groups were enriched as fungi and animals diverged.
I like how animals gained a bunch of genes for signal transduction. Is complex signalling what makes us animals? 🤔
doi.org/10.1038/s415... (Ocaña-Pallarès,..., Ruiz-Trillo et al; Nature 2022)
I like how animals gained a bunch of genes for signal transduction. Is complex signalling what makes us animals? 🤔
doi.org/10.1038/s415... (Ocaña-Pallarès,..., Ruiz-Trillo et al; Nature 2022)
Reposted by Katherine Ritchie
The US Constitution guarantees due process.
Donald Trump is eroding it in real time – we must fight back to restore the balance of power.
Today, I’m announcing a series of measures against El Salvador for aiding his unconstitutional deportation scheme.
Donald Trump is eroding it in real time – we must fight back to restore the balance of power.
Today, I’m announcing a series of measures against El Salvador for aiding his unconstitutional deportation scheme.
Democratic Governor Moves To Boycott El Salvador For Aiding Trump
Illinois Gov. J.B. Prtizker is ordering the state's pension funds and procurement agencies to review any investments in the Latin American country.
www.huffpost.com
April 23, 2025 at 8:52 PM
The US Constitution guarantees due process.
Donald Trump is eroding it in real time – we must fight back to restore the balance of power.
Today, I’m announcing a series of measures against El Salvador for aiding his unconstitutional deportation scheme.
Donald Trump is eroding it in real time – we must fight back to restore the balance of power.
Today, I’m announcing a series of measures against El Salvador for aiding his unconstitutional deportation scheme.
Brad Smith either does not understand how indirect costs work or is lying. (13:44)
A 40% indirect cost rate does not mean the money is split 60:40 to the researcher:university. It means the researcher gets 100%, and the university gets an extra 40% for infrastructure. NIH pays 140% total.
A 40% indirect cost rate does not mean the money is split 60:40 to the researcher:university. It means the researcher gets 100%, and the university gets an extra 40% for infrastructure. NIH pays 140% total.
Elon Musk, DOGE team offer unprecedented peek behind the curtain of Trump's cost-cutting department
Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) head Elon Musk and members of the cost-cutting organization sit down for an exclusive interview on 'Special Report.'
www.foxnews.com
March 28, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Brad Smith either does not understand how indirect costs work or is lying. (13:44)
A 40% indirect cost rate does not mean the money is split 60:40 to the researcher:university. It means the researcher gets 100%, and the university gets an extra 40% for infrastructure. NIH pays 140% total.
A 40% indirect cost rate does not mean the money is split 60:40 to the researcher:university. It means the researcher gets 100%, and the university gets an extra 40% for infrastructure. NIH pays 140% total.
From the bottom of my heart I wish you fierce, fierce competition for IL-09 ❤️ The people of IL deserve high quality options for representation and I am so happy to see someone MY AGE running for congress.
If you ever want to talk to grassroots science activists at various IL universities hmu :)
If you ever want to talk to grassroots science activists at various IL universities hmu :)
March 26, 2025 at 1:04 AM
From the bottom of my heart I wish you fierce, fierce competition for IL-09 ❤️ The people of IL deserve high quality options for representation and I am so happy to see someone MY AGE running for congress.
If you ever want to talk to grassroots science activists at various IL universities hmu :)
If you ever want to talk to grassroots science activists at various IL universities hmu :)
Reposted by Katherine Ritchie
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 7, 2025 at 8:25 PM
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!
Reposted by Katherine Ritchie
With his permission, I'm sharing Dean Treanor's response to Ed Martin's letter:
March 6, 2025 at 8:17 PM
With his permission, I'm sharing Dean Treanor's response to Ed Martin's letter:
Reposted by Katherine Ritchie
#StandUpForScience in Illinois
Stand up for Science rally at UIUC today. If you look closely @ecourtem.bsky.social is in the third photo holding up a sign that reads “Stop the GOP Attack on Science.”
March 7, 2025 at 10:26 PM
#StandUpForScience in Illinois
Spreading the word of this GEO townhall. The poster is very 'rah rah' but I think it's mostly going to be an information session followed by an open discussion about what to do (also some advertising for their research assistant unionization campaign). Bring your knowledge and opinions!
February 28, 2025 at 2:54 AM
Spreading the word of this GEO townhall. The poster is very 'rah rah' but I think it's mostly going to be an information session followed by an open discussion about what to do (also some advertising for their research assistant unionization campaign). Bring your knowledge and opinions!
I'm looking for people who have been affected by the anti-science executive orders to speak at UIUC's stand up for science rally on march 7 - if you or someone you know has a good story please DM me!
(it's also okay if you don't want to publicly speak <3, let's connect anyways and swap info)
(it's also okay if you don't want to publicly speak <3, let's connect anyways and swap info)
February 23, 2025 at 4:52 AM
I'm looking for people who have been affected by the anti-science executive orders to speak at UIUC's stand up for science rally on march 7 - if you or someone you know has a good story please DM me!
(it's also okay if you don't want to publicly speak <3, let's connect anyways and swap info)
(it's also okay if you don't want to publicly speak <3, let's connect anyways and swap info)
Extremely heartening to see industry step up in the wake of attacks on American research.... Every $1 spent by the NIH on research generates $2.46 in economic activity. Cutting NIH funding is stupid. We need more biotech companies saying this!!
Today, Recursion is announcing a new pre-seed venture fund – the Altitude Lab Fund – to address the #SBIR funding gap hitting early-stage #biotech startups. The fund is backed by Recursion co-founder & CEO Chris Gibson & biotech entrepreneur David Bearss. techcrunch.com/2025/02/19/n...
NIH funding uncertainty spurs new biotech venture fund | TechCrunch
Earlier this month, the Trump administration directed the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to impose limits on specific types of funding it provides to
techcrunch.com
February 21, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Extremely heartening to see industry step up in the wake of attacks on American research.... Every $1 spent by the NIH on research generates $2.46 in economic activity. Cutting NIH funding is stupid. We need more biotech companies saying this!!
So so so proud of my fellow grad students and friends in Chicago www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news...
Faculty at several Chicago universities protest planned cuts to federal research grants
Professors, researchers and faculty from at least four Chicago universities said, without grants from the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, everyon...
www.cbsnews.com
February 19, 2025 at 8:30 PM
So so so proud of my fellow grad students and friends in Chicago www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news...
Reposted by Katherine Ritchie
This is why I keep saying- if you are at a University, keep hounding your research office
Where Are the Lawsuits Over the Chainsawing of NIH and NCI? talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/where...
Where Are the Lawsuits Over the Chainsawing of NIH and NCI?
There’s one point that has come up, sometimes explicitly but more often...
talkingpointsmemo.com
February 19, 2025 at 10:17 AM
This is why I keep saying- if you are at a University, keep hounding your research office
I was impressed with the UIUC Physics Town Hall last night about the impacts of the federal government’s actions on the program. Here’s what I learned🧵(1/8)
February 14, 2025 at 5:02 PM
I was impressed with the UIUC Physics Town Hall last night about the impacts of the federal government’s actions on the program. Here’s what I learned🧵(1/8)
Just called my congressman and told him about the Good Science Project's idea for reducing the administrative burden on research goodscienceproject.org/articles/how...
This would improve "government efficiency" of NIH funds, AND actually help (not cripple) research universities.
This would improve "government efficiency" of NIH funds, AND actually help (not cripple) research universities.
How to Actually Reduce the Administrative Burden on Research – Good Science Project
goodscienceproject.org
February 10, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Just called my congressman and told him about the Good Science Project's idea for reducing the administrative burden on research goodscienceproject.org/articles/how...
This would improve "government efficiency" of NIH funds, AND actually help (not cripple) research universities.
This would improve "government efficiency" of NIH funds, AND actually help (not cripple) research universities.
Reposted by Katherine Ritchie
They're scrubbing health disparities information. This isn't "gender ideology." This is public health data. We need to be outraged and demand the assault on public health stops.
🚨CDC removes data on sexual orientation, gender identity from website. @theresagaff.bsky.social with the receipts. www.statnews.com/2025/01/31/c... via @statnews.com
CDC removes data on sexual orientation, gender identity from website
Data from an expansive federal survey on youth behavioral habits, including their sexual orientation and gender identity, have been removed from the website of the CDC.
www.statnews.com
January 31, 2025 at 6:16 PM
They're scrubbing health disparities information. This isn't "gender ideology." This is public health data. We need to be outraged and demand the assault on public health stops.