Joy Franco, PhD
@engineeringjoy.bsky.social
Sensory neuroscientist and biomeasurements engineer obsessing over calcium regulation in neurons and therapies for sensorineural hearing loss. NIH DSPAN fellow. NIA K00 Awardee. Bike racer. About me -> Neurojoy.net
And of course, special thanks to my host Michael Krieg & his wonderful lab for making me feel so welcome.
November 4, 2025 at 6:12 PM
And of course, special thanks to my host Michael Krieg & his wonderful lab for making me feel so welcome.
Very grateful to @icfo.eu MINDLAB workshop organizers for inviting me to share my research & visit the institute. I may have gone more bio for my postdoc, but my love of engineering has yet to fade & my passion for photons grows with every experiment. Feeling very inspired by this community 🔬 💗
November 4, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Very grateful to @icfo.eu MINDLAB workshop organizers for inviting me to share my research & visit the institute. I may have gone more bio for my postdoc, but my love of engineering has yet to fade & my passion for photons grows with every experiment. Feeling very inspired by this community 🔬 💗
Video of the system in action. I found this great MEMS microphone from SparkFun, rigged it to the Arduino, and used ArduinoFFT and FastLED to make the audio visualizer thanks to the open source maker community. Will def pay it forward by writing up the project details soon!
October 31, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Video of the system in action. I found this great MEMS microphone from SparkFun, rigged it to the Arduino, and used ArduinoFFT and FastLED to make the audio visualizer thanks to the open source maker community. Will def pay it forward by writing up the project details soon!
It was such a Happy Halloween. Elated that, thanks to an awesome team effort, the Goodrich Lab took home the win in the "Super Scientist" category for our "Gourdier Transform." The best part was getting to see others in the depart share the excitement for our science.
#CochleaLove #AuditoryScience
#CochleaLove #AuditoryScience
October 31, 2025 at 11:26 PM
It was such a Happy Halloween. Elated that, thanks to an awesome team effort, the Goodrich Lab took home the win in the "Super Scientist" category for our "Gourdier Transform." The best part was getting to see others in the depart share the excitement for our science.
#CochleaLove #AuditoryScience
#CochleaLove #AuditoryScience
Even after 18 yrs of bike racing, it never ceases to amaze me what the human heart 🫀 can achieve. Oh, I guess I should also say thanks 🫁 .
October 19, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Even after 18 yrs of bike racing, it never ceases to amaze me what the human heart 🫀 can achieve. Oh, I guess I should also say thanks 🫁 .
It’s not easy coming back from vacationing in the best parts of Europe, but Boston’s automnal beauty certainly softens the blow.
October 15, 2025 at 12:48 PM
It’s not easy coming back from vacationing in the best parts of Europe, but Boston’s automnal beauty certainly softens the blow.
One final vacation day before heading back home & it’s a big one: racing UCI Gravel World Championships. The course traverses some of the most beautiful farmland I’ve ever seen through Zuid-Limburg. Today is 100% all about just pushing myself to the absolute limit to see how hard & fast I can go.
October 11, 2025 at 6:58 AM
One final vacation day before heading back home & it’s a big one: racing UCI Gravel World Championships. The course traverses some of the most beautiful farmland I’ve ever seen through Zuid-Limburg. Today is 100% all about just pushing myself to the absolute limit to see how hard & fast I can go.
Was given a very special chance to present our work at the Institut de l’Audition in Paris. It felt like such a magical experience & I don’t fully have the words to describe my gratitude other than to say: bless the PIs that give lil ole trainees like me big ole opportunities like this 😭.
October 8, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Was given a very special chance to present our work at the Institut de l’Audition in Paris. It felt like such a magical experience & I don’t fully have the words to describe my gratitude other than to say: bless the PIs that give lil ole trainees like me big ole opportunities like this 😭.
Sharing some #auditory highlights from my visit to the Natural History Museum in Paris for all my fellow inner ear enthusiasts out there 🐌.
I’m especially taken with the how they managed to show « les labryinthes osseux »
I’m especially taken with the how they managed to show « les labryinthes osseux »
October 6, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Sharing some #auditory highlights from my visit to the Natural History Museum in Paris for all my fellow inner ear enthusiasts out there 🐌.
I’m especially taken with the how they managed to show « les labryinthes osseux »
I’m especially taken with the how they managed to show « les labryinthes osseux »
Une obligatoire Américaine dans Paris truc.
October 4, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Une obligatoire Américaine dans Paris truc.
Les vacances commence maintenant. Happy to report that everyone has been very kind and welcoming of my desire to practice speaking. Ce n’est pas facile et je suis très timide mais je l’aime vraiment beaucoup. Alors, j’essaie d’être courageuse 😇.
October 3, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Les vacances commence maintenant. Happy to report that everyone has been very kind and welcoming of my desire to practice speaking. Ce n’est pas facile et je suis très timide mais je l’aime vraiment beaucoup. Alors, j’essaie d’être courageuse 😇.
And since we’re chatting MBL, #MyMBLMoment was getting to see a hair cell dance thanks to Dr. Jonathan Ashmore at the Biology of the Inner Course… also fitting for #MicroscopyMonday
September 29, 2025 at 3:14 PM
And since we’re chatting MBL, #MyMBLMoment was getting to see a hair cell dance thanks to Dr. Jonathan Ashmore at the Biology of the Inner Course… also fitting for #MicroscopyMonday
Applications for the Grass Fellowships at @mblscience.bsky.social are open! This is such a cool opportunity to work on an independent project at what is effectively the best science camp in the world. Something I wish I’d known about earlier. Reposting from the other place grassfoundation.org
September 29, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Applications for the Grass Fellowships at @mblscience.bsky.social are open! This is such a cool opportunity to work on an independent project at what is effectively the best science camp in the world. Something I wish I’d known about earlier. Reposting from the other place grassfoundation.org
Looks like @dacolon.bsky.social is hiring a postdoc. Reposting here from the other place because this is truly a great opportunity to do very exciting work with a renowned mentor.
September 27, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Looks like @dacolon.bsky.social is hiring a postdoc. Reposting here from the other place because this is truly a great opportunity to do very exciting work with a renowned mentor.
#NewKitDay
Just 15 days till gravel world championships.
Want to support my journey? Help me reach my PMC fundraising commitment by donating before October 1st -> profile.pmc.org/JF0546
Just 15 days till gravel world championships.
Want to support my journey? Help me reach my PMC fundraising commitment by donating before October 1st -> profile.pmc.org/JF0546
September 26, 2025 at 8:59 PM
#NewKitDay
Just 15 days till gravel world championships.
Want to support my journey? Help me reach my PMC fundraising commitment by donating before October 1st -> profile.pmc.org/JF0546
Just 15 days till gravel world championships.
Want to support my journey? Help me reach my PMC fundraising commitment by donating before October 1st -> profile.pmc.org/JF0546
Funding op for grad students copied from the other place. Non X link to the app info: bit.ly/HF-application
September 26, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Funding op for grad students copied from the other place. Non X link to the app info: bit.ly/HF-application
Ok one more for #MicroscopyMonday b/c it was a very fun afternoon. This is from live tissue. Auditory neurons in magenta & their friends (including satellite cells) in green. Big thx to @jessdixonneuro.bsky.social for being generous w/ reagents #ScienceSisters Imaged on FLIMmer @ HMS MicRoN core.
September 22, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Ok one more for #MicroscopyMonday b/c it was a very fun afternoon. This is from live tissue. Auditory neurons in magenta & their friends (including satellite cells) in green. Big thx to @jessdixonneuro.bsky.social for being generous w/ reagents #ScienceSisters Imaged on FLIMmer @ HMS MicRoN core.
Something different for today’s #MicroscopyMonday. Learning about VKH (a rare autoimmune disorder in which immune cells attack melanocytes) reminded me of this. VKH causes hearing loss because there are melanocytes in the cochlea! You can see them as the dark speckles in this pic from my iPhone
September 22, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Something different for today’s #MicroscopyMonday. Learning about VKH (a rare autoimmune disorder in which immune cells attack melanocytes) reminded me of this. VKH causes hearing loss because there are melanocytes in the cochlea! You can see them as the dark speckles in this pic from my iPhone
The phrase « a-t-elle » has stumped me for awhile so I finally dug into it a bit and learned something very cool about grammar that perfectly addressed the issue bothering me: why the extra t?
Because it’s an "ephelcystic nu." It exists purely to make the words sound better & easier to say 😍
Because it’s an "ephelcystic nu." It exists purely to make the words sound better & easier to say 😍
September 17, 2025 at 1:44 AM
The phrase « a-t-elle » has stumped me for awhile so I finally dug into it a bit and learned something very cool about grammar that perfectly addressed the issue bothering me: why the extra t?
Because it’s an "ephelcystic nu." It exists purely to make the words sound better & easier to say 😍
Because it’s an "ephelcystic nu." It exists purely to make the words sound better & easier to say 😍
I sadly rejoined X b/c it remains one of the easiest ways to find job opportunites. I still like Bluesky better and would rather be here, so I’m going to do my best to bring over some of those job postings. Starting now! t.co/NsZS1X7iPo
September 8, 2025 at 8:28 PM
I sadly rejoined X b/c it remains one of the easiest ways to find job opportunites. I still like Bluesky better and would rather be here, so I’m going to do my best to bring over some of those job postings. Starting now! t.co/NsZS1X7iPo
Je sais que Duolingo n’est pas le meilleur pour apprendre le français mais c’est toujours très amusant et drôle à moi.
Moi, «championne des expériences» 😇
Moi, «championne des expériences» 😇
September 6, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Je sais que Duolingo n’est pas le meilleur pour apprendre le français mais c’est toujours très amusant et drôle à moi.
Moi, «championne des expériences» 😇
Moi, «championne des expériences» 😇
(Mitochondria + Microscopy)Monday =2M^2?
Still feeling those miles from Saturday but getting to fly solo on FLIMmer @ the Micron core the first time was a nice analgesic 🥰.
Primary somatosensory neurons expressing mito-targeted RCaMP1h (plasmid c/o Yellen Lab).
Pls pardon the lack of scale bar 😬
Still feeling those miles from Saturday but getting to fly solo on FLIMmer @ the Micron core the first time was a nice analgesic 🥰.
Primary somatosensory neurons expressing mito-targeted RCaMP1h (plasmid c/o Yellen Lab).
Pls pardon the lack of scale bar 😬
August 4, 2025 at 8:25 PM
(Mitochondria + Microscopy)Monday =2M^2?
Still feeling those miles from Saturday but getting to fly solo on FLIMmer @ the Micron core the first time was a nice analgesic 🥰.
Primary somatosensory neurons expressing mito-targeted RCaMP1h (plasmid c/o Yellen Lab).
Pls pardon the lack of scale bar 😬
Still feeling those miles from Saturday but getting to fly solo on FLIMmer @ the Micron core the first time was a nice analgesic 🥰.
Primary somatosensory neurons expressing mito-targeted RCaMP1h (plasmid c/o Yellen Lab).
Pls pardon the lack of scale bar 😬
Side note about the ride gear: I’m training for Gravel Master’s World Championships so I decided to do PMC on my gravel bike. I’ve been way overloaded by paper writing so didn’t have time to swap out my knobby front tire for a proper file tread so I’m very pleased with my >17mph average moving time
August 2, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Side note about the ride gear: I’m training for Gravel Master’s World Championships so I decided to do PMC on my gravel bike. I’ve been way overloaded by paper writing so didn’t have time to swap out my knobby front tire for a proper file tread so I’m very pleased with my >17mph average moving time
I did it! Pan Mass Challenge is in the books. 93 miles from Brookline to Bourne (I decided to up the ante by riding to the Wellesley start from home). 5h18m. Absolutely stoked.
Fundraiser is still going if you’re able to donate-> profile.pmc.org/JF0546 Why I Ride ...
Fundraiser is still going if you’re able to donate-> profile.pmc.org/JF0546 Why I Ride ...
August 2, 2025 at 4:55 PM
I did it! Pan Mass Challenge is in the books. 93 miles from Brookline to Bourne (I decided to up the ante by riding to the Wellesley start from home). 5h18m. Absolutely stoked.
Fundraiser is still going if you’re able to donate-> profile.pmc.org/JF0546 Why I Ride ...
Fundraiser is still going if you’re able to donate-> profile.pmc.org/JF0546 Why I Ride ...
With so much sadness in the world, we have to really celebrate the things that bring us joy. Like finally getting a FLIM-based experiment going to measure mitochondrial function after years of dreaming, thx to support from the Yellen Lab & MICRON core at HMS. Absolutely over the moon about this 🥹
July 1, 2025 at 9:42 PM
With so much sadness in the world, we have to really celebrate the things that bring us joy. Like finally getting a FLIM-based experiment going to measure mitochondrial function after years of dreaming, thx to support from the Yellen Lab & MICRON core at HMS. Absolutely over the moon about this 🥹