Jenna Christensen
@christensenlab.bsky.social
PI of the Christensen Lab at Northwestern University, Molecular Biosciences Department. Studying intracellular transport diversity across fungi and other organisms - thechristensenlab.com
Reposted by Jenna Christensen
The Leading Edge Fellows gathered this week to celebrate Zara Weinberg, a beloved member of our community. Our 7th cohort of Leading Edge Fellows (2026) will be named in her honor.
The Zara Weinberg Leading Edge Cohort application is now open! Due Feb 2.
www.leadingedgesymposium.org/apply/
The Zara Weinberg Leading Edge Cohort application is now open! Due Feb 2.
www.leadingedgesymposium.org/apply/
November 5, 2025 at 5:48 PM
The Leading Edge Fellows gathered this week to celebrate Zara Weinberg, a beloved member of our community. Our 7th cohort of Leading Edge Fellows (2026) will be named in her honor.
The Zara Weinberg Leading Edge Cohort application is now open! Due Feb 2.
www.leadingedgesymposium.org/apply/
The Zara Weinberg Leading Edge Cohort application is now open! Due Feb 2.
www.leadingedgesymposium.org/apply/
Reposted by Jenna Christensen
Zara Weinberg passed away earlier this week. She joined my lab earlier this year when her postdoc lab formally closed.
She was a brilliant scientist, supportive mentor, dear friend, avid music fan, rabid believer in public transit, open science champion, and above all just an amazing human.
She was a brilliant scientist, supportive mentor, dear friend, avid music fan, rabid believer in public transit, open science champion, and above all just an amazing human.
October 31, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Zara Weinberg passed away earlier this week. She joined my lab earlier this year when her postdoc lab formally closed.
She was a brilliant scientist, supportive mentor, dear friend, avid music fan, rabid believer in public transit, open science champion, and above all just an amazing human.
She was a brilliant scientist, supportive mentor, dear friend, avid music fan, rabid believer in public transit, open science champion, and above all just an amazing human.
Reposted by Jenna Christensen
🚨 SCOTUS just issued a decision in the NIH grant termination cases. And it's awful.
In plain English, the likely result of this is that SCOTUS just re-terminated ~900 NIH grants worth over $1.9 billion in unspent funds
This is an atrocious decision by Justice Barrett & the right wing of the Court.
In plain English, the likely result of this is that SCOTUS just re-terminated ~900 NIH grants worth over $1.9 billion in unspent funds
This is an atrocious decision by Justice Barrett & the right wing of the Court.
Splitting 5-4 (with Chief Justice Roberts joining the three Democratic appointees in dissent), #SCOTUS grants *partial* stay to Trump administration in NIH funding case; holds that challenges to grant terminations (but *not* the underlying guidance) need to be filed in the Court of Federal Claims:
www.supremecourt.gov
August 21, 2025 at 8:52 PM
🚨 SCOTUS just issued a decision in the NIH grant termination cases. And it's awful.
In plain English, the likely result of this is that SCOTUS just re-terminated ~900 NIH grants worth over $1.9 billion in unspent funds
This is an atrocious decision by Justice Barrett & the right wing of the Court.
In plain English, the likely result of this is that SCOTUS just re-terminated ~900 NIH grants worth over $1.9 billion in unspent funds
This is an atrocious decision by Justice Barrett & the right wing of the Court.
Reposted by Jenna Christensen
Retweet to save a life
Teaching this fall?
Here is a handy webpage that will help you generate a list of the days your course(s) meet:
wcaleb.rice.edu/syllabusmake...
Here is a handy webpage that will help you generate a list of the days your course(s) meet:
wcaleb.rice.edu/syllabusmake...
Generic Syllabus Maker
wcaleb.rice.edu
August 4, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Retweet to save a life
Reposted by Jenna Christensen
I NEED to tell you the story of Tae Heung “William” Kim.
He's a graduate student at Texas A&M where he's working on a vaccine for Lyme disease.
He's a *legal permanent resident* of the United States.
And he's been in ICE detention for 12 days & counting, transferred Tuesday to South Texas.
He's a graduate student at Texas A&M where he's working on a vaccine for Lyme disease.
He's a *legal permanent resident* of the United States.
And he's been in ICE detention for 12 days & counting, transferred Tuesday to South Texas.
July 31, 2025 at 11:35 AM
I NEED to tell you the story of Tae Heung “William” Kim.
He's a graduate student at Texas A&M where he's working on a vaccine for Lyme disease.
He's a *legal permanent resident* of the United States.
And he's been in ICE detention for 12 days & counting, transferred Tuesday to South Texas.
He's a graduate student at Texas A&M where he's working on a vaccine for Lyme disease.
He's a *legal permanent resident* of the United States.
And he's been in ICE detention for 12 days & counting, transferred Tuesday to South Texas.
Reposted by Jenna Christensen
As stressful as it is to run a laboratory in the US right now, my thoughts are often with the NIH staff living in the awful chaos trying to preserve the whole enterprise. I’m grateful for every moment they choose not to give up. These people are the only thing keeping it from entirely collapsing.
July 31, 2025 at 12:15 AM
As stressful as it is to run a laboratory in the US right now, my thoughts are often with the NIH staff living in the awful chaos trying to preserve the whole enterprise. I’m grateful for every moment they choose not to give up. These people are the only thing keeping it from entirely collapsing.
Reposted by Jenna Christensen
My second NCR was awarded, one day early.
NIH staff must be working around the clock to push funding out.
Let's thank our POs and SROs and all NIH staff for working selflessly to keep science progressing in this sh*tshow.
NIH staff must be working around the clock to push funding out.
Let's thank our POs and SROs and all NIH staff for working selflessly to keep science progressing in this sh*tshow.
Here is the graph for non-competitive renewals.
After slowing, the rate for FY2025 is picking up slightly but still lags behind that for FY2024.
3/n
After slowing, the rate for FY2025 is picking up slightly but still lags behind that for FY2024.
3/n
July 30, 2025 at 4:50 PM
My second NCR was awarded, one day early.
NIH staff must be working around the clock to push funding out.
Let's thank our POs and SROs and all NIH staff for working selflessly to keep science progressing in this sh*tshow.
NIH staff must be working around the clock to push funding out.
Let's thank our POs and SROs and all NIH staff for working selflessly to keep science progressing in this sh*tshow.
Reposted by Jenna Christensen
Jenna Christensen, molecular biologist and Missouri native, writes: “The message that this sends to young people is clear – science is not a stable career.” Cuts to federal research risk losing the next generation of scientists.🧪🏠
@christensenlab.bsky.social
www.mycouriertribune.com/cuts-to-scie...
@christensenlab.bsky.social
www.mycouriertribune.com/cuts-to-scie...
Cuts to science funding jeopardize next generation of scientists - Courier-Tribune
My research advisor Tara Allen helped me apply for summer research programs funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), where I got my first taste of scientific research by working full-time in a...
www.mycouriertribune.com
July 15, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Jenna Christensen, molecular biologist and Missouri native, writes: “The message that this sends to young people is clear – science is not a stable career.” Cuts to federal research risk losing the next generation of scientists.🧪🏠
@christensenlab.bsky.social
www.mycouriertribune.com/cuts-to-scie...
@christensenlab.bsky.social
www.mycouriertribune.com/cuts-to-scie...
Reposted by Jenna Christensen
This perspective highlights why federal research opportunities (e.g. NSF REU internships, NSF GRFP fellowships and grant-supported technician positions) were fundamental for me to advance in the academic research ranks. Without them, I wouldn’t have been able to afford to become a scientist
#saveNSF
#saveNSF
'The myth of meritocracy in science collapses under the financial sacrifices expected at every career stage. From unpaid internships and self-funded conferences to underpaid graduate and postdoctoral positions, the hidden costs of ‘doing science’ are profound.'
journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
Too poor to science: How wealth determines who succeeds in STEM
From student to researcher, a career in science can come with a high price tag. This Perspective explores how persistent financial barriers limit who can succeed in science, revealing how wealth shape...
journals.plos.org
July 9, 2025 at 12:05 PM
This perspective highlights why federal research opportunities (e.g. NSF REU internships, NSF GRFP fellowships and grant-supported technician positions) were fundamental for me to advance in the academic research ranks. Without them, I wouldn’t have been able to afford to become a scientist
#saveNSF
#saveNSF
Reposted by Jenna Christensen
Every academic has an angel on one shoulder saying "wow this is a brilliant proposal" and a devil on the other saying "yea, no this is crap".
The devil likes to be particularly loud...
The devil likes to be particularly loud...
July 8, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Every academic has an angel on one shoulder saying "wow this is a brilliant proposal" and a devil on the other saying "yea, no this is crap".
The devil likes to be particularly loud...
The devil likes to be particularly loud...
Reposted by Jenna Christensen
This is exactly what I was describing yesterday. So much very questionable verbal guidance.
If you get a verbal order that you believe is illegal or unethical, don’t act on it.
Instead, summarize it by email back to the person who spoke it to you and ask for confirmation.
If you get a verbal order that you believe is illegal or unethical, don’t act on it.
Instead, summarize it by email back to the person who spoke it to you and ask for confirmation.
June 30, 2025 at 12:58 AM
This is exactly what I was describing yesterday. So much very questionable verbal guidance.
If you get a verbal order that you believe is illegal or unethical, don’t act on it.
Instead, summarize it by email back to the person who spoke it to you and ask for confirmation.
If you get a verbal order that you believe is illegal or unethical, don’t act on it.
Instead, summarize it by email back to the person who spoke it to you and ask for confirmation.
Reposted by Jenna Christensen
Jay, please stop gaslighting early career researchers.
June 20, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Jay, please stop gaslighting early career researchers.
Reposted by Jenna Christensen
Today I’m leading 152 House Democrats in challenging Trump's devastating cuts to life-saving NIH research grants. Congress—not Trump—controls federal spending.
Trump must do his job, “faithfully execute” the laws and stop violating the Constitution to undercut public health.
Trump must do his job, “faithfully execute” the laws and stop violating the Constitution to undercut public health.
June 17, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Today I’m leading 152 House Democrats in challenging Trump's devastating cuts to life-saving NIH research grants. Congress—not Trump—controls federal spending.
Trump must do his job, “faithfully execute” the laws and stop violating the Constitution to undercut public health.
Trump must do his job, “faithfully execute” the laws and stop violating the Constitution to undercut public health.
Reposted by Jenna Christensen
BREAKING: A federal judge in Massachusetts (the Reagan-appointed William Young) has declared the Trump administration's cuts to NIH grants — ostensibly over Trump's EOs on gender ideology and DEI — are "illegal" and "void." He's ordering many grants restored.
June 16, 2025 at 6:23 PM
BREAKING: A federal judge in Massachusetts (the Reagan-appointed William Young) has declared the Trump administration's cuts to NIH grants — ostensibly over Trump's EOs on gender ideology and DEI — are "illegal" and "void." He's ordering many grants restored.
Reposted by Jenna Christensen
The Trump administration’s freezing in April of $790 million in federal research funding for Northwestern University has left concerned lab directors without key grant money from the National Institutes of Health.
Worried Northwestern lab directors describe ‘bleak’ atmosphere in wake of Trump research funding freeze
The Trump administration’s freezing of $790 million in federal research funding for Northwestern University has left concerned lab directors without key grants and forced the university to spend mi…
www.chicagotribune.com
June 7, 2025 at 11:30 PM
The Trump administration’s freezing in April of $790 million in federal research funding for Northwestern University has left concerned lab directors without key grant money from the National Institutes of Health.
Reposted by Jenna Christensen
Proud to be a signatory on this letter in support of the courageous staff at the NIH who penned the Bethesda Declaration to decry the ongoing politicization and damage to the US biomedical research infrastructure which has been the envy of the world.
I wanted to show support for these brave public servants and to allow others, including the scientific community, to join me. In partnership with @standupforscience.bsky.social, we have a way for you to do that... www.standupforscience.net/bethesda-dec...
Bethesda Declaration — STAND UP FOR SCIENCE
Support NIH Staff Now!
www.standupforscience.net
June 9, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Proud to be a signatory on this letter in support of the courageous staff at the NIH who penned the Bethesda Declaration to decry the ongoing politicization and damage to the US biomedical research infrastructure which has been the envy of the world.
Reposted by Jenna Christensen
How is this supposed to happen when institutional training grants are being terminated and delayed, fewer individual fellowships are being funded and the directorate that funds STEM education is being dismantled?
It is so disappointing to see this doublespeak from scientific leaders
It is so disappointing to see this doublespeak from scientific leaders
June 4, 2025 at 2:09 PM
How is this supposed to happen when institutional training grants are being terminated and delayed, fewer individual fellowships are being funded and the directorate that funds STEM education is being dismantled?
It is so disappointing to see this doublespeak from scientific leaders
It is so disappointing to see this doublespeak from scientific leaders
Reposted by Jenna Christensen
If you burn down a forest, you don't miss out on lumber for just that season. You have to replant all the trees, nurture them, and wait for them to grow.
The science and research budget cuts happening now are wanton, senseless arson. Recovery, if it ever happens, will take generations.
The science and research budget cuts happening now are wanton, senseless arson. Recovery, if it ever happens, will take generations.
June 3, 2025 at 9:02 PM
If you burn down a forest, you don't miss out on lumber for just that season. You have to replant all the trees, nurture them, and wait for them to grow.
The science and research budget cuts happening now are wanton, senseless arson. Recovery, if it ever happens, will take generations.
The science and research budget cuts happening now are wanton, senseless arson. Recovery, if it ever happens, will take generations.
Reposted by Jenna Christensen
My mom, who was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2000, passed away Friday at the age of 93. She took a chemo regimen called R-CHOP, which allowed her to celebrate 5 more birthdays and hold her great-grandchild. Thank you to scientists giving us those extra years with her. #ThanksNIH
June 2, 2025 at 12:36 PM
My mom, who was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2000, passed away Friday at the age of 93. She took a chemo regimen called R-CHOP, which allowed her to celebrate 5 more birthdays and hold her great-grandchild. Thank you to scientists giving us those extra years with her. #ThanksNIH
Reposted by Jenna Christensen
Principal Investigator submitting grant proposals for federal funding
Circa June 2025
Circa June 2025
June 2, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Principal Investigator submitting grant proposals for federal funding
Circa June 2025
Circa June 2025
Reposted by Jenna Christensen
HMMER is crucial to our modern understanding of protein biochemistry and has almost certainly generated at least a 10-fold return on investment for every dollar the US government has spent on funding it.
NIH funding supporting the HMMER and Infernal software projects has been terminated. NIH states that our work, as well as all other federally funded research at Harvard, is of no benefit to the US.
May 28, 2025 at 4:26 PM
HMMER is crucial to our modern understanding of protein biochemistry and has almost certainly generated at least a 10-fold return on investment for every dollar the US government has spent on funding it.
Reposted by Jenna Christensen
Open Letter in Support of Science — STAND UP FOR SCIENCE
www.standupforscience.net
May 26, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Reposted by Jenna Christensen
I’ve seen some academic presentations over the last few weeks that I was surprised to find myself genuinely moved by. I don’t know, there’s something beautiful about people thinking hard and honestly about things they care about, and trying to explain why, in a world that manifestly DGAF.
May 24, 2025 at 5:07 PM
I’ve seen some academic presentations over the last few weeks that I was surprised to find myself genuinely moved by. I don’t know, there’s something beautiful about people thinking hard and honestly about things they care about, and trying to explain why, in a world that manifestly DGAF.
Reposted by Jenna Christensen
All of NIH funding to Northwestern University is frozen. This pause includes noncompeting approved funding, new and competing grants with fundable scores. No reimbursements for money already spent have been received since March. This situation is rarely reported so please Please get the word out!
May 23, 2025 at 5:56 PM
All of NIH funding to Northwestern University is frozen. This pause includes noncompeting approved funding, new and competing grants with fundable scores. No reimbursements for money already spent have been received since March. This situation is rarely reported so please Please get the word out!