Cassandra Hayne
@cassandrahayne.bsky.social
RNA Biochemist, leads the Hayne Lab at UChicago. https://haynelab.com/
R00 NIH/NIGMS MOSAIC scholar
Views are my own
(she/her)
R00 NIH/NIGMS MOSAIC scholar
Views are my own
(she/her)
Reposted by Cassandra Hayne
Job alert ‼️ UChicago Micro is hiring! Open to tenured/tenure track faculty at all levels in any area of microbiology. Come join our amazing and growing department. apply.interfolio.com/174404
October 4, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Job alert ‼️ UChicago Micro is hiring! Open to tenured/tenure track faculty at all levels in any area of microbiology. Come join our amazing and growing department. apply.interfolio.com/174404
Reposted by Cassandra Hayne
What are people using for calling m6A from pacbio revio data? This is for analysis of fiberseq library. Any suggestions appreciated, we are newbies with m6A analysis!
September 29, 2025 at 2:31 AM
What are people using for calling m6A from pacbio revio data? This is for analysis of fiberseq library. Any suggestions appreciated, we are newbies with m6A analysis!
Reposted by Cassandra Hayne
Listed are some of the many NIH research training programs that were terminated! Together, these programs supported thousands of trainees, whose careers are now in limbo. Such a great loss for discovery and innovation. We must protect our next generation of scientists!
#HandsOffNIH #ProtectScience
#HandsOffNIH #ProtectScience
We LOVE our trainees ! From @nihvigils.bsky.social today ❤️❤️
August 25, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Listed are some of the many NIH research training programs that were terminated! Together, these programs supported thousands of trainees, whose careers are now in limbo. Such a great loss for discovery and innovation. We must protect our next generation of scientists!
#HandsOffNIH #ProtectScience
#HandsOffNIH #ProtectScience
Reposted by Cassandra Hayne
It bears repeating that nearly the entire US enterprise in science and technology has been irreversibly gutted. This is shocking.
All this loss has occurred without any real benefit to the average US citizen. Except we now have the biggest, best funded secret police force perhaps ever.
Yay for us!
All this loss has occurred without any real benefit to the average US citizen. Except we now have the biggest, best funded secret police force perhaps ever.
Yay for us!
August 23, 2025 at 4:25 PM
It bears repeating that nearly the entire US enterprise in science and technology has been irreversibly gutted. This is shocking.
All this loss has occurred without any real benefit to the average US citizen. Except we now have the biggest, best funded secret police force perhaps ever.
Yay for us!
All this loss has occurred without any real benefit to the average US citizen. Except we now have the biggest, best funded secret police force perhaps ever.
Yay for us!
I’ve had a lab for less than 3yrs. In that time the costs of many science reagents have grown faster than inflation. I ordered an antibody today that I paid $383 for in 2023- today with a good promotion, I paid $467. Tariffs on top of that.
Other easy examples:
Grids are up about 30%
Gloves up 25%
Other easy examples:
Grids are up about 30%
Gloves up 25%
August 23, 2025 at 1:47 AM
I’ve had a lab for less than 3yrs. In that time the costs of many science reagents have grown faster than inflation. I ordered an antibody today that I paid $383 for in 2023- today with a good promotion, I paid $467. Tariffs on top of that.
Other easy examples:
Grids are up about 30%
Gloves up 25%
Other easy examples:
Grids are up about 30%
Gloves up 25%
Reposted by Cassandra Hayne
Hearing that all 27 NIH institutes have been instructed to stop using "paylines" in funding decisions starting Oct 1. Order issued in the last 48 hours.
Using paylines means scientific peer reviewers control funding decisions.
Removing them allows more political interference. 🧪
1/
Using paylines means scientific peer reviewers control funding decisions.
Removing them allows more political interference. 🧪
1/
August 21, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Hearing that all 27 NIH institutes have been instructed to stop using "paylines" in funding decisions starting Oct 1. Order issued in the last 48 hours.
Using paylines means scientific peer reviewers control funding decisions.
Removing them allows more political interference. 🧪
1/
Using paylines means scientific peer reviewers control funding decisions.
Removing them allows more political interference. 🧪
1/
Reposted by Cassandra Hayne
A joint statement with @savehealthresearch.bsky.social on the supreme courts decision today that will pave the way for hundreds of millions of dollars in NIH grant terminations. We are heartbroken and stand with the extramural community during this devastating time.
August 22, 2025 at 4:10 AM
A joint statement with @savehealthresearch.bsky.social on the supreme courts decision today that will pave the way for hundreds of millions of dollars in NIH grant terminations. We are heartbroken and stand with the extramural community during this devastating time.
Reposted by Cassandra Hayne
There is no solace for NIH funded researchers in this Supreme Court decision. Grants that were ripped away on dubious grounds, restored by a reasonable judge are now again terminated by an out-of-control Supreme Court. Labs will shutter, people will lose jobs. www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...
US Supreme Court lets Trump cut diversity-related NIH grants
The U.S. Supreme Court let President Donald Trump's administration on Thursday proceed with sweeping cuts to National Institutes of Health grants for research related to racial minorities or LGBT people, part of his crackdown on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and transgender identity.
www.reuters.com
August 21, 2025 at 9:12 PM
There is no solace for NIH funded researchers in this Supreme Court decision. Grants that were ripped away on dubious grounds, restored by a reasonable judge are now again terminated by an out-of-control Supreme Court. Labs will shutter, people will lose jobs. www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...
Reposted by Cassandra Hayne
Why would anyone want to be a scientist?
Check out our new Essay from Martin Schwartz: journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
Check out our new Essay from Martin Schwartz: journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
August 15, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Why would anyone want to be a scientist?
Check out our new Essay from Martin Schwartz: journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
Check out our new Essay from Martin Schwartz: journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
Reposted by Cassandra Hayne
I think a good rule of thumb is to spend at least as much time thinking about your data as you did obtaining it. It's common for people to spend a lot less time thinking than doing which gives rise to all kinds of problems.
August 8, 2025 at 1:29 PM
I think a good rule of thumb is to spend at least as much time thinking about your data as you did obtaining it. It's common for people to spend a lot less time thinking than doing which gives rise to all kinds of problems.
Reposted by Cassandra Hayne
There’s a nonzero chance you will die from a cancer that could have been curable because people who couldn’t pass 7th grade biology and are scared of things like “mRNA” and “riboflavin” and “walkable cities” decided to make their ignorance everybody else’s problem
Over 120 mRNA cancer trials are now at risk as the Trump admin cuts funding & tells researchers to scrub “mRNA” from grant proposals.
What started as COVID fearmongering is now derailing life-saving cancer research.
Hope remains - but scientists say time is running out.
zurl.co/YBGNy
What started as COVID fearmongering is now derailing life-saving cancer research.
Hope remains - but scientists say time is running out.
zurl.co/YBGNy
‘Tremendous uncertainty’ for cancer research as US officials target mRNA vaccines
Amid Trump cuts and state-level backlash, experts worry that progress in messenger RNA vaccines could stall
zurl.co
July 14, 2025 at 11:08 PM
There’s a nonzero chance you will die from a cancer that could have been curable because people who couldn’t pass 7th grade biology and are scared of things like “mRNA” and “riboflavin” and “walkable cities” decided to make their ignorance everybody else’s problem
Reposted by Cassandra Hayne
Grant terminations have grabbed the headlines and have seen legal action, but even more damaging to the US research enterprise has been the massive decrease in number of research grants issued by federal agencies
NIH has seen a decrease of 57% in the number of awards & 63% in value compared to FY24
NIH has seen a decrease of 57% in the number of awards & 63% in value compared to FY24
July 14, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Grant terminations have grabbed the headlines and have seen legal action, but even more damaging to the US research enterprise has been the massive decrease in number of research grants issued by federal agencies
NIH has seen a decrease of 57% in the number of awards & 63% in value compared to FY24
NIH has seen a decrease of 57% in the number of awards & 63% in value compared to FY24
Reposted by Cassandra Hayne
A big thanks to NC Sen. Thom Tillis for being the first signature on this bipartisan letter urging the Senate to maintain a strong commitment to funding for NIH in the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education FY 2026 Appropriations bill. Is your Senator here?
www.aamc.org/research/adh...
www.aamc.org/research/adh...
June 25, 2025 at 12:31 PM
A big thanks to NC Sen. Thom Tillis for being the first signature on this bipartisan letter urging the Senate to maintain a strong commitment to funding for NIH in the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education FY 2026 Appropriations bill. Is your Senator here?
www.aamc.org/research/adh...
www.aamc.org/research/adh...
Reposted by Cassandra Hayne
Please share widely with friends, family, and foes. You can read it for free without a subscription. www.nytimes.com/2025/06/03/u...
U.S. Scientists Warn That Trump’s Cuts Will Set Off a Brain Drain
www.nytimes.com
June 3, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Please share widely with friends, family, and foes. You can read it for free without a subscription. www.nytimes.com/2025/06/03/u...
Reposted by Cassandra Hayne
*International students represent about 15% of all higher ed students.
*They subsidize US students, so expect domestic student costs to increase
*Trump complains about tariffs but he is destroying an industry where the US is a huge net exporter
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/23/u...
*They subsidize US students, so expect domestic student costs to increase
*Trump complains about tariffs but he is destroying an industry where the US is a huge net exporter
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/23/u...
May 27, 2025 at 8:30 PM
*International students represent about 15% of all higher ed students.
*They subsidize US students, so expect domestic student costs to increase
*Trump complains about tariffs but he is destroying an industry where the US is a huge net exporter
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/23/u...
*They subsidize US students, so expect domestic student costs to increase
*Trump complains about tariffs but he is destroying an industry where the US is a huge net exporter
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/23/u...
Excited to be headed to San Diego for my first *in person* RNA Society meeting. ☀️
Looking forward to great science and time with great scientists.
See you there #RNASociety #RNASky
Looking forward to great science and time with great scientists.
See you there #RNASociety #RNASky
May 27, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Excited to be headed to San Diego for my first *in person* RNA Society meeting. ☀️
Looking forward to great science and time with great scientists.
See you there #RNASociety #RNASky
Looking forward to great science and time with great scientists.
See you there #RNASociety #RNASky
Reposted by Cassandra Hayne
Who's calling the shots at NIH?
Sworn testimonies and internal e-mails reveal for the first time the breadth of DOGE's control over the world's largest public biomedical funder.
DOGE has provided lists of hundreds of grants to cut, and DOGE is now reviewing ALL NIH awards before they're released
Sworn testimonies and internal e-mails reveal for the first time the breadth of DOGE's control over the world's largest public biomedical funder.
DOGE has provided lists of hundreds of grants to cut, and DOGE is now reviewing ALL NIH awards before they're released
NIH killed grants on orders from Elon Musk’s DOGE
Court documents and internal correspondence show the cost-cutting force has broad control over the world’s largest public biomedical funder.
www.nature.com
May 21, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Who's calling the shots at NIH?
Sworn testimonies and internal e-mails reveal for the first time the breadth of DOGE's control over the world's largest public biomedical funder.
DOGE has provided lists of hundreds of grants to cut, and DOGE is now reviewing ALL NIH awards before they're released
Sworn testimonies and internal e-mails reveal for the first time the breadth of DOGE's control over the world's largest public biomedical funder.
DOGE has provided lists of hundreds of grants to cut, and DOGE is now reviewing ALL NIH awards before they're released
Reposted by Cassandra Hayne
New Forbes story about the economic consequences of science cuts.
www.forbes.com/sites/johndr...
Thoughtful and thorough analysis.
1/n
www.forbes.com/sites/johndr...
Thoughtful and thorough analysis.
1/n
Trump’s NIH And NSF Cuts Estimated To Cost The U.S. Economy $10 Billion Annually
Economists find public R&D drives U.S. productivity growth — and pays for itself
www.forbes.com
May 20, 2025 at 8:28 PM
New Forbes story about the economic consequences of science cuts.
www.forbes.com/sites/johndr...
Thoughtful and thorough analysis.
1/n
www.forbes.com/sites/johndr...
Thoughtful and thorough analysis.
1/n
Congrats Max, Stephanie et al!
ISR alone won’t cut it: stalled ribosomes block stress granule formation despite ISR activation.
Mohammed Jalloh highlights a #preprint from the Moon lab.
#preLight ⬇️👀
prelights.biologists.com/highlights/t...
#translation #MolecularBiology #biochemistry
Mohammed Jalloh highlights a #preprint from the Moon lab.
#preLight ⬇️👀
prelights.biologists.com/highlights/t...
#translation #MolecularBiology #biochemistry
tRNA synthetase activity is required for stress granule and P-body assembly - preLights
ISR alone won’t cut it: stalled ribosomes block stress granule formation despite ISR activation.
prelights.biologists.com
May 21, 2025 at 4:31 AM
Congrats Max, Stephanie et al!
Reposted by Cassandra Hayne
ICYMI: The FDA wants to restrict access to Covid vaccines, even though they are safe, effective, and have saved millions of lives. Even ppl in high-risk jobs wouldn't get access. We can push back by submitting public comments here: www.regulations.gov/commenton/FD...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/20/h...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/20/h...
F.D.A. Poised to Restrict Access to Covid Vaccines
www.nytimes.com
May 21, 2025 at 2:48 AM
ICYMI: The FDA wants to restrict access to Covid vaccines, even though they are safe, effective, and have saved millions of lives. Even ppl in high-risk jobs wouldn't get access. We can push back by submitting public comments here: www.regulations.gov/commenton/FD...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/20/h...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/20/h...
Reposted by Cassandra Hayne
Thinking of this post today
Our universities are so good that our adversaries send their children to be educated here. We’re dismantling that unbelievable strategic advantage, hurting our own children and our own health in the process.
Shutting down medical research — not just within NIH, but everywhere that’s funded by NIH — will have long-term effects on medicine & short-term effects on state, higher education & hospital budgets. This affects all of us, not just researchers.
May 15, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Thinking of this post today
Reposted by Cassandra Hayne
HAPPY 75th, NSF!
We’re celebrating this milestone by highlighting some of NSF’s most transformative accomplishments—innovations that have shaped our world and continue to drive progress in health, technology, the environment, and beyond.
Read on 🧵(1/11):
We’re celebrating this milestone by highlighting some of NSF’s most transformative accomplishments—innovations that have shaped our world and continue to drive progress in health, technology, the environment, and beyond.
Read on 🧵(1/11):
May 10, 2025 at 8:19 PM
HAPPY 75th, NSF!
We’re celebrating this milestone by highlighting some of NSF’s most transformative accomplishments—innovations that have shaped our world and continue to drive progress in health, technology, the environment, and beyond.
Read on 🧵(1/11):
We’re celebrating this milestone by highlighting some of NSF’s most transformative accomplishments—innovations that have shaped our world and continue to drive progress in health, technology, the environment, and beyond.
Read on 🧵(1/11):
Reposted by Cassandra Hayne
I updated the Resources page of my blog, and made it easier to find, so that you can more easily find go-to content....
Resources
Skip to: Some key links • Key blog pages & uploads • Posts & videos by date & topic • Key database and software links • Techniques I use a lot • Downloadable guides • Laboratory cheat sheets • Other l...
thebumblingbiochemist.com
May 4, 2025 at 11:20 PM
I updated the Resources page of my blog, and made it easier to find, so that you can more easily find go-to content....
Reposted by Cassandra Hayne
Welp, it begins. Sigma Aldrich.
May 2, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Welp, it begins. Sigma Aldrich.