Kirstie Cummings
@kacummings.bsky.social
Assistant Professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham studying the circuit mechanisms of learning and memory. Lover of interneurons 🥰. Displaced New Yorker. First-gen college grad. Above all else, be kind. She/her.
Cummingslab.com
Cummingslab.com
Pinned
Kirstie Cummings
@kacummings.bsky.social
· Nov 24
The mouse dorsal peduncular cortex encodes fear memory
Campos-Cardoso et al. employ a series of multimodal analyses to demonstrate that the
mouse dorsal peduncular cortex encodes fear but not extinction memory. These findings
redefine the principles of th...
www.cell.com
In the spirit of a fresh start on 🦋, I'm happy to share our lab's first paper, published earlier this year!
We are starting to interview some ✨️spectacular✨️ candidates! Don't miss this opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research in a highly supportive and nurturing training environment! Apply now!
The Cummings Lab is hiring a postdoc to work in the areas of reward and addiction! Please see the ad below:
November 13, 2025 at 2:12 PM
We are starting to interview some ✨️spectacular✨️ candidates! Don't miss this opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research in a highly supportive and nurturing training environment! Apply now!
Congratulations to Cummings lab PhD student (now candidate), Hunter Franks, on a very successful candidacy exam! So proud of him and all Cummings Lab members!
November 12, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Congratulations to Cummings lab PhD student (now candidate), Hunter Franks, on a very successful candidacy exam! So proud of him and all Cummings Lab members!
Reposted by Kirstie Cummings
Oh, how I miss you so. Especially on nights like this. 🥹
November 5, 2025 at 2:42 AM
Oh, how I miss you so. Especially on nights like this. 🥹
Reposted by Kirstie Cummings
Disturbing news out of Auburn University, where the admin is pressuring professors to sign a statement saying they're complying with an "anti-DEI" law and TPUSA is holding a rally and trying to record classes.
I hear faculty are terrified to sign, worried this is a pretense for mass firings.
I hear faculty are terrified to sign, worried this is a pretense for mass firings.
Auburn University requires faculty to review courses to comply with anti-DEI law
Auburn's provost office posted a web site on how to comply with state and federal DEI mandates on Oct. 31.
www.al.com
November 5, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Disturbing news out of Auburn University, where the admin is pressuring professors to sign a statement saying they're complying with an "anti-DEI" law and TPUSA is holding a rally and trying to record classes.
I hear faculty are terrified to sign, worried this is a pretense for mass firings.
I hear faculty are terrified to sign, worried this is a pretense for mass firings.
Reposted by Kirstie Cummings
You are not a schmuck. You cared enough about your colleagues to do everything in your power to get them a fair and thorough review. Because when the SROs return, we can only move to reschedule as quickly as we have all scores to know what will be discussed. You value your community. Thank you.
Did the reviews, like a schmuck. Only about 1/4 of the reviews were submitted. lolsob
November 3, 2025 at 7:09 PM
You are not a schmuck. You cared enough about your colleagues to do everything in your power to get them a fair and thorough review. Because when the SROs return, we can only move to reschedule as quickly as we have all scores to know what will be discussed. You value your community. Thank you.
Reposted by Kirstie Cummings
What an exciting program for GRC Frontal Cortex in 2026! www.grc.org/frontal-cort...
2026 Frontal Cortex Conference GRC
The 2026 Gordon Research Conference on Frontal Cortex will be held in Holderness, New Hampshire. Apply today to reserve your spot.
www.grc.org
November 3, 2025 at 7:18 PM
What an exciting program for GRC Frontal Cortex in 2026! www.grc.org/frontal-cort...
Reposted by Kirstie Cummings
Mechanism of conductance control and neurosteroid binding in NMDA receptors
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Mechanism of conductance control and neurosteroid binding in NMDA receptors - Nature
Ion-channel conductance levels are controlled by the bending patterns of pore-forming transmembrane helices in the heterotetrameric neuronal channel GluN1a-2B N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor.
www.nature.com
October 29, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Mechanism of conductance control and neurosteroid binding in NMDA receptors
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Kirstie Cummings
You probably already know this, but today was the first full missed pay check for most of your friends, colleagues, POs and SROs at the NIH.
Stay strong out there folks. If you need help, ask for it. As always, try to be kind.
Stay strong out there folks. If you need help, ask for it. As always, try to be kind.
October 24, 2025 at 1:02 PM
You probably already know this, but today was the first full missed pay check for most of your friends, colleagues, POs and SROs at the NIH.
Stay strong out there folks. If you need help, ask for it. As always, try to be kind.
Stay strong out there folks. If you need help, ask for it. As always, try to be kind.
The Cummings Lab is hiring a postdoc to work in the areas of reward and addiction! Please see the ad below:
October 23, 2025 at 6:22 PM
The Cummings Lab is hiring a postdoc to work in the areas of reward and addiction! Please see the ad below:
Reposted by Kirstie Cummings
Welp. Thanks to the Republican gov shutdown I have a bunch of hours back in my week due to a NIH study section not meeting.
These poor applicants. They will be waiting week by week for government to reopen and to find out what will happen to their grant application.
These poor applicants. They will be waiting week by week for government to reopen and to find out what will happen to their grant application.
October 20, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Welp. Thanks to the Republican gov shutdown I have a bunch of hours back in my week due to a NIH study section not meeting.
These poor applicants. They will be waiting week by week for government to reopen and to find out what will happen to their grant application.
These poor applicants. They will be waiting week by week for government to reopen and to find out what will happen to their grant application.
Reposted by Kirstie Cummings
Excited to share that I landed my dream job!🎉🎉🎉 The Pennington Lab will be opening at the University of British Columbia in January 2026!
@ubcpsych.bsky.social @dmcbrainhealth.bsky.social
@ubcpsych.bsky.social @dmcbrainhealth.bsky.social
September 29, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Excited to share that I landed my dream job!🎉🎉🎉 The Pennington Lab will be opening at the University of British Columbia in January 2026!
@ubcpsych.bsky.social @dmcbrainhealth.bsky.social
@ubcpsych.bsky.social @dmcbrainhealth.bsky.social
Reposted by Kirstie Cummings
With 2 postdocs moving on to faculty positions🥳, we're looking to hire someone new. If you're interested in norepinephrine and neural circuits, please apply! tinyurl.com/42bfe24k
Postdoctoral Research Associate - Developmental Neurobiology
A postdoctoral research associate position is available in the laboratory of Dr. Lindsay Schwarz in the Department of Developmental Neurobiology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The Schwarz l...
tinyurl.com
September 24, 2025 at 3:41 PM
With 2 postdocs moving on to faculty positions🥳, we're looking to hire someone new. If you're interested in norepinephrine and neural circuits, please apply! tinyurl.com/42bfe24k
Reposted by Kirstie Cummings
Excited to share this new work from the lab, in collaboration with @jtuscher.bsky.social & Rob Sorge! Here, we used single cell transcriptional profiling to define molecular adaptations induced by chronic pain and opioid experience, which often occur in conjunction.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
September 23, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Excited to share this new work from the lab, in collaboration with @jtuscher.bsky.social & Rob Sorge! Here, we used single cell transcriptional profiling to define molecular adaptations induced by chronic pain and opioid experience, which often occur in conjunction.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Kirstie Cummings
Honored by this spotlight 😊 Grew up in the ACNP: from baby PD 👶, to early career faculty member chairing the Experience and Resilience Committee💪🇵🇷
Grateful for a community that develops careers alongside science🧠 Looking forward to seeing all y'all at the E&R events in the Bahamas! 🌴☀️🌊🇧🇸
Grateful for a community that develops careers alongside science🧠 Looking forward to seeing all y'all at the E&R events in the Bahamas! 🌴☀️🌊🇧🇸
This year marks 10 years since Dr. Millie Rincón-Cortés first joined ACNP as a postdoctoral trainee. Over the past decade, she has contributed significantly through her service and leadership. 👏 Click here to learn more about her impact: tinyurl.com/ys92eamk
September 22, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Honored by this spotlight 😊 Grew up in the ACNP: from baby PD 👶, to early career faculty member chairing the Experience and Resilience Committee💪🇵🇷
Grateful for a community that develops careers alongside science🧠 Looking forward to seeing all y'all at the E&R events in the Bahamas! 🌴☀️🌊🇧🇸
Grateful for a community that develops careers alongside science🧠 Looking forward to seeing all y'all at the E&R events in the Bahamas! 🌴☀️🌊🇧🇸
Reposted by Kirstie Cummings
One of my favorite events that we @uabneuro.bsky.social host each year, and excited to have @ishmailsaboor.bsky.social here for the keynote!
The annual UAB CNC retreat starts tomorrow in our beautiful new Heersink Institute for Biomedical Innovation Conference Center! Join us for trainee and faculty science as well as a keynote presentation from @ishmailsaboor.bsky.social! Link to program below.
www.uab.edu/medicine/cnc...
www.uab.edu/medicine/cnc...
September 16, 2025 at 5:36 PM
One of my favorite events that we @uabneuro.bsky.social host each year, and excited to have @ishmailsaboor.bsky.social here for the keynote!
Reposted by Kirstie Cummings
Good morning everyone!
So, I wrote a book (!!) and it’s coming out November 4th in physical and audiobook form. It’s called *How to Change a Memory*
www.amazon.com/How-Change-M...
So, I wrote a book (!!) and it’s coming out November 4th in physical and audiobook form. It’s called *How to Change a Memory*
www.amazon.com/How-Change-M...
How to Change a Memory: One Neuroscientist’s Quest to Alter the Past
Buy How to Change a Memory: One Neuroscientist’s Quest to Alter the Past on Amazon.com ✓ FREE SHIPPING on qualified orders
www.amazon.com
September 8, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Good morning everyone!
So, I wrote a book (!!) and it’s coming out November 4th in physical and audiobook form. It’s called *How to Change a Memory*
www.amazon.com/How-Change-M...
So, I wrote a book (!!) and it’s coming out November 4th in physical and audiobook form. It’s called *How to Change a Memory*
www.amazon.com/How-Change-M...
Reposted by Kirstie Cummings
I've noticed a trend in requests for tenure reviews, asking letter writers to compare candidates to other "top" scholars at the same career stage. Can we please not do this?!?
Making tenure a moving and competitive target risks ratcheting up increasingly untenable expectations for productivity.
Making tenure a moving and competitive target risks ratcheting up increasingly untenable expectations for productivity.
August 29, 2025 at 10:22 AM
I've noticed a trend in requests for tenure reviews, asking letter writers to compare candidates to other "top" scholars at the same career stage. Can we please not do this?!?
Making tenure a moving and competitive target risks ratcheting up increasingly untenable expectations for productivity.
Making tenure a moving and competitive target risks ratcheting up increasingly untenable expectations for productivity.
Reposted by Kirstie Cummings
Happy Alabama Slamma Day to those who celebrate
August 5, 2025 at 5:06 AM
Happy Alabama Slamma Day to those who celebrate
Reposted by Kirstie Cummings
Sneak peak before they're cleaned up. Psychedelic rainbow with dendrites + spines.
Is it perfect? no. Was a rainbow with a custom 3D printed embed a bit ambitious for someone who has only made 4 batches of soap? Yes. Definitely.
Is it perfect? no. Was a rainbow with a custom 3D printed embed a bit ambitious for someone who has only made 4 batches of soap? Yes. Definitely.
July 20, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Sneak peak before they're cleaned up. Psychedelic rainbow with dendrites + spines.
Is it perfect? no. Was a rainbow with a custom 3D printed embed a bit ambitious for someone who has only made 4 batches of soap? Yes. Definitely.
Is it perfect? no. Was a rainbow with a custom 3D printed embed a bit ambitious for someone who has only made 4 batches of soap? Yes. Definitely.
Reposted by Kirstie Cummings
🔥🔥 those from low income backgrounds are also our parent's primary source of financial relief, and that there are usually no $$ retirement plans
'The myth of meritocracy in science collapses under the financial sacrifices expected at every career stage. From unpaid internships and self-funded conferences to underpaid graduate and postdoctoral positions, the hidden costs of ‘doing science’ are profound.'
journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
Too poor to science: How wealth determines who succeeds in STEM
From student to researcher, a career in science can come with a high price tag. This Perspective explores how persistent financial barriers limit who can succeed in science, revealing how wealth shape...
journals.plos.org
July 6, 2025 at 1:12 AM
🔥🔥 those from low income backgrounds are also our parent's primary source of financial relief, and that there are usually no $$ retirement plans
Reposted by Kirstie Cummings
For ESIs dealing with grants being rescinded: if an investigator’s 1st substantial independent research award is terminated within the first 3 years of the project period (not due to scientific misconduct ) they can request the reinstatement of ESI status
grants.nih.gov/news-events/...
grants.nih.gov/news-events/...
July 2, 2025 at 7:27 PM
For ESIs dealing with grants being rescinded: if an investigator’s 1st substantial independent research award is terminated within the first 3 years of the project period (not due to scientific misconduct ) they can request the reinstatement of ESI status
grants.nih.gov/news-events/...
grants.nih.gov/news-events/...
Reposted by Kirstie Cummings
#AltPride #AltGov
To close out Pride Month, we are recognizing neuroscientist Ben Barres. Beyond making seminal discoveries related to glial cell function, he was also a staunch advocate for equality in science for both women and the LGBTQIA+ community. 1/n
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
To close out Pride Month, we are recognizing neuroscientist Ben Barres. Beyond making seminal discoveries related to glial cell function, he was also a staunch advocate for equality in science for both women and the LGBTQIA+ community. 1/n
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Ben Barres (1954–2017)
Neurobiologist who advocated for gender equality in science.
www.nature.com
July 1, 2025 at 12:56 AM
#AltPride #AltGov
To close out Pride Month, we are recognizing neuroscientist Ben Barres. Beyond making seminal discoveries related to glial cell function, he was also a staunch advocate for equality in science for both women and the LGBTQIA+ community. 1/n
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
To close out Pride Month, we are recognizing neuroscientist Ben Barres. Beyond making seminal discoveries related to glial cell function, he was also a staunch advocate for equality in science for both women and the LGBTQIA+ community. 1/n
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Kirstie Cummings
SIGHING WHILE PULLING UP TOMMY T AND KATIE B'S CONTACTS IN MY PHONE
If you have a Republican Senator or Rep and you are opposed to this bill, you should call them.
June 30, 2025 at 3:52 AM
SIGHING WHILE PULLING UP TOMMY T AND KATIE B'S CONTACTS IN MY PHONE
