Chrystal Starbird
@drstarbird.bsky.social
Scientist, mother, perpetual learner. Assistant Professor, Structural Biologist, Advocate, and Speaker. Views my own.
signal @starbic.01
www.starbirdlab.com
signal @starbic.01
www.starbirdlab.com
Pinned
Chrystal Starbird
@drstarbird.bsky.social
· Nov 11
Hi All! I’m a structural biologist who studies the structural basis of signaling via RTKs. I’m a new Assistant Professor at UNC and a #firstgen scholar who fights to make science accessible! I’m a bit spicy 😁, but try my best to lead with kindness. A recent lab outing:
Reposted by Chrystal Starbird
I received this email about Democrats caving to end the shutdown from one of the SNAP recipients I spoke to:
November 10, 2025 at 2:17 PM
I received this email about Democrats caving to end the shutdown from one of the SNAP recipients I spoke to:
Must be nice to have the Supreme Court on speed dial
November 8, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Must be nice to have the Supreme Court on speed dial
Reposted by Chrystal Starbird
When people celebrate the individual genius of folks in science, they should also
mourn the collective loss of genius of folks who were actively discouraged or disadvantaged from a career in science because of the same person(s)
mourn the collective loss of genius of folks who were actively discouraged or disadvantaged from a career in science because of the same person(s)
November 7, 2025 at 11:43 PM
When people celebrate the individual genius of folks in science, they should also
mourn the collective loss of genius of folks who were actively discouraged or disadvantaged from a career in science because of the same person(s)
mourn the collective loss of genius of folks who were actively discouraged or disadvantaged from a career in science because of the same person(s)
Camila Arango ( @biophysgal.bsky.social ), a 3rd year graduate student in our lab, did a great job presenting part of her work to investigate how TAM receptor structures are changed by ligand activation at the annual Carolina Biophysics Symposium! 🤩
November 7, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Camila Arango ( @biophysgal.bsky.social ), a 3rd year graduate student in our lab, did a great job presenting part of her work to investigate how TAM receptor structures are changed by ligand activation at the annual Carolina Biophysics Symposium! 🤩
Wow. Just trying to make things as inaccessible as possible. Less than a week before the deadline should be absolutely inexcusable.
Warning. ⚠️ If you are writing an NSF GRFP, new this year, you need official transcripts to apply. Beware. They will not review applications without official transcripts. ‼️
November 7, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Wow. Just trying to make things as inaccessible as possible. Less than a week before the deadline should be absolutely inexcusable.
Reposted by Chrystal Starbird
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/
Our rotation student, Maria Lopez Vasquez, did an excellent job presenting her research on a new TAM ligand at the BBSP fall poster session! 👏🏾
November 6, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Our rotation student, Maria Lopez Vasquez, did an excellent job presenting her research on a new TAM ligand at the BBSP fall poster session! 👏🏾
🥹🥹🥹 This one left me speechless. What a beautiful tribute.
Information on applying 👇🏾
Information on applying 👇🏾
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 11:21 PM
🥹🥹🥹 This one left me speechless. What a beautiful tribute.
Information on applying 👇🏾
Information on applying 👇🏾
Reposted by Chrystal Starbird
We are all better because of the energy, inspiration, brilliance, and tenacity that Zara was. A bright light, role model, advocate & snarky tweeter... everything I needed in a person when I was navigating dark times when we met in 2021. You will be missed deeply, Zara, but never forgotten ❤️
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 5:20 PM
We are all better because of the energy, inspiration, brilliance, and tenacity that Zara was. A bright light, role model, advocate & snarky tweeter... everything I needed in a person when I was navigating dark times when we met in 2021. You will be missed deeply, Zara, but never forgotten ❤️
Reposted by Chrystal Starbird
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.
Just as with real science, we were scooped by the @krishnamudumbi.bsky.social lab, but there were 10 Chrystal Starbird’s in lab today. I mean, down to the tattoos, the glasses, and the luggage (since I’m always traveling), they committed!
Happy Halloween! 🎃
Happy Halloween! 🎃
October 31, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Just as with real science, we were scooped by the @krishnamudumbi.bsky.social lab, but there were 10 Chrystal Starbird’s in lab today. I mean, down to the tattoos, the glasses, and the luggage (since I’m always traveling), they committed!
Happy Halloween! 🎃
Happy Halloween! 🎃
A kid just jumped out of their car as the Lorax while dropping my son off to school, and I am here for it 👏🏾
a person in a red costume is walking down a hallway with a caption that says povs lorax goin crazy
ALT: a person in a red costume is walking down a hallway with a caption that says povs lorax goin crazy
media.tenor.com
October 31, 2025 at 12:04 PM
A kid just jumped out of their car as the Lorax while dropping my son off to school, and I am here for it 👏🏾
About 35% of people receiving SNAP are working. Sounds like a low number, but not so much when you break it down. For example, of households with non-disabled, working adults, 86% of these households are working.
I just saw a commentary on how SNAP has gotten out of control and made people lazy.
I just saw a commentary on how SNAP has gotten out of control and made people lazy.
October 31, 2025 at 10:36 AM
About 35% of people receiving SNAP are working. Sounds like a low number, but not so much when you break it down. For example, of households with non-disabled, working adults, 86% of these households are working.
I just saw a commentary on how SNAP has gotten out of control and made people lazy.
I just saw a commentary on how SNAP has gotten out of control and made people lazy.
Truly one of the best. We worked on various initiatives/wrote a paper together, and had the best conference meet ups. She was a bold and tireless advocate for change. Last time we met, we had a great time trying new cuisine and imagining a future that’s so different for trainees than we experienced.
Zara Weinberg was a brilliant, loving, and beautiful woman. She inspired everyone who she interacted with, and always strived to make the world a better place for everyone. Tho the world is a little less bright today without her, her memory will always be a blessing.
She was truly one of the best.
She was truly one of the best.
October 30, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Truly one of the best. We worked on various initiatives/wrote a paper together, and had the best conference meet ups. She was a bold and tireless advocate for change. Last time we met, we had a great time trying new cuisine and imagining a future that’s so different for trainees than we experienced.
Reposted by Chrystal Starbird
Another great piece from @aniloza.bsky.social on how cutting words harms science and erases human beings.
Every day I am heartened by the community of NIH people who are pushing back. @nihvigils.bsky.social @27unihted.bsky.social @savehealthresearch.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2025/10/29/n...
Every day I am heartened by the community of NIH people who are pushing back. @nihvigils.bsky.social @27unihted.bsky.social @savehealthresearch.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2025/10/29/n...
Scientists had to change more than 700 grant titles to receive NIH funding. Health disparities researchers fear what’s next
The titles of more than 700 multi-year NIH grants have been changed this year, according to an analysis by Jeremy Berg, a former agency official
www.statnews.com
October 30, 2025 at 1:51 AM
Another great piece from @aniloza.bsky.social on how cutting words harms science and erases human beings.
Every day I am heartened by the community of NIH people who are pushing back. @nihvigils.bsky.social @27unihted.bsky.social @savehealthresearch.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2025/10/29/n...
Every day I am heartened by the community of NIH people who are pushing back. @nihvigils.bsky.social @27unihted.bsky.social @savehealthresearch.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2025/10/29/n...
Reposted by Chrystal Starbird
🧵Thread of cafes, restaurants, bars, bagel joints, etc offering free meals to SNAP recipients, for those who might need it, & so those who don't can give 'em their business.
If you know of such offers in your area & don't see them here, please tell us in @'s.
Here's one! toastedseattle.com
If you know of such offers in your area & don't see them here, please tell us in @'s.
Here's one! toastedseattle.com
October 29, 2025 at 10:44 PM
🧵Thread of cafes, restaurants, bars, bagel joints, etc offering free meals to SNAP recipients, for those who might need it, & so those who don't can give 'em their business.
If you know of such offers in your area & don't see them here, please tell us in @'s.
Here's one! toastedseattle.com
If you know of such offers in your area & don't see them here, please tell us in @'s.
Here's one! toastedseattle.com
I literally just told my son we should pick up some of those doomsday buckets from Costco this weekend. At this point, there’s not even any fear because we’ve accepted our fate 🤷🏾♀️
October 28, 2025 at 11:39 PM
I literally just told my son we should pick up some of those doomsday buckets from Costco this weekend. At this point, there’s not even any fear because we’ve accepted our fate 🤷🏾♀️
I had to miss it being out sick, but the Starbird lab Fall outing couldn’t be stopped! Our amazing undergrads weren’t able to join, but here is everyone else that makes it all worth it! 🤩
October 28, 2025 at 9:01 PM
I had to miss it being out sick, but the Starbird lab Fall outing couldn’t be stopped! Our amazing undergrads weren’t able to join, but here is everyone else that makes it all worth it! 🤩
Reposted by Chrystal Starbird
Prime Minister Andrew Holness of Jamaica issued dire safety warnings and ordered mandatory evacuations as Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, made a turn toward his country’s coast. Three people were killed and 13 others injured during preparations for the storm, the health minister said.
Hurricane Melissa Live Updates: Storm Churns Toward Jamaica With 175 M.P.H. Winds
The prime minister ordered mandatory evacuations as officials braced for tens of thousands to be displaced. Three people were killed and 13 others injured during preparations for the storm, the health minister said.
nyti.ms
October 28, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Prime Minister Andrew Holness of Jamaica issued dire safety warnings and ordered mandatory evacuations as Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, made a turn toward his country’s coast. Three people were killed and 13 others injured during preparations for the storm, the health minister said.
Everyone deserves food, but I do want to point this out because I keep mentioning students on food stamps and people keep acting surprised:
“An estimated 23 percent of college students (3.8 million) experienced food insecurity in 2020”…that’s almost 1/4 of US students
www.gao.gov/products/gao...
“An estimated 23 percent of college students (3.8 million) experienced food insecurity in 2020”…that’s almost 1/4 of US students
www.gao.gov/products/gao...
October 28, 2025 at 3:26 AM
Everyone deserves food, but I do want to point this out because I keep mentioning students on food stamps and people keep acting surprised:
“An estimated 23 percent of college students (3.8 million) experienced food insecurity in 2020”…that’s almost 1/4 of US students
www.gao.gov/products/gao...
“An estimated 23 percent of college students (3.8 million) experienced food insecurity in 2020”…that’s almost 1/4 of US students
www.gao.gov/products/gao...
Reposted by Chrystal Starbird
They say imitation is the sincerest form of flatter, but what does it mean that my lab is imitating me for Halloween, historically a time where you're supposed to be dressed up as someone scary? 🤔
October 27, 2025 at 7:29 PM
They say imitation is the sincerest form of flatter, but what does it mean that my lab is imitating me for Halloween, historically a time where you're supposed to be dressed up as someone scary? 🤔
It still amazes me that the ER is such a terrible place. We really could do better at taking care of patients at their worst 🤦🏾♀️
October 27, 2025 at 5:20 PM
It still amazes me that the ER is such a terrible place. We really could do better at taking care of patients at their worst 🤦🏾♀️
Reposted by Chrystal Starbird
My institution---the Sloan Kettering Institute, the basic science arm of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center---is hiring new faculty this cycle! Applications close Nov 15.
www.mskcc.org/research/ski...
www.mskcc.org/research/ski...
Faculty Positions
The Sloan Kettering Institute is seeking innovative scientists to join our faculty.
www.mskcc.org
October 27, 2025 at 2:45 PM
My institution---the Sloan Kettering Institute, the basic science arm of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center---is hiring new faculty this cycle! Applications close Nov 15.
www.mskcc.org/research/ski...
www.mskcc.org/research/ski...
Reposted by Chrystal Starbird
This stresses me out the most. I already donate to 3 food pantries. I started donating $25 each a month back in 2019. I am going to start donating to 2 more. It’s gonna be bad, and it breaks my fucking heart. I was one of those kids on it. I remember the hunger.
Americans brace for food stamps to run out: ‘the greatest hunger catastrophe since the Great Depression’
Americans brace for food stamps to run out: ‘the greatest hunger catastrophe since the Great Depression’
Nearly 42 million people in danger as federal government shutdown continues and Snap funding to end 1 November
www.theguardian.com
October 26, 2025 at 11:51 PM
This stresses me out the most. I already donate to 3 food pantries. I started donating $25 each a month back in 2019. I am going to start donating to 2 more. It’s gonna be bad, and it breaks my fucking heart. I was one of those kids on it. I remember the hunger.
Ok, bloodwork came back looking horrible, so now they are taking it seriously. Have to go back…
Sick for 5 days, severe nasal congestion, headache, light sensitivity, and nausea/vomiting, and the doctor prescribes steroids for a migraine (don’t have migraines). I was too tired to fight, but pretty sure a sinus infection and/or other things make more sense 🤦🏾♀️
October 26, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Ok, bloodwork came back looking horrible, so now they are taking it seriously. Have to go back…