Kendall Powell
@kendallsciwrite.bsky.social
Senior editor @Nature.com's Careers team. Word nerd and chronicler of the geekosphere. Flip-turner at 5am. Opinions are just mine. she/her
Reporter @virginiagewin.bsky.social interviewed 19 current and former US federal agency scientists about the science being dismantled at EPA, NOAA, NASA, CDC, NIH, & USGS.
They say it's making America unprepared for environmental and public health crises.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
They say it's making America unprepared for environmental and public health crises.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Dismantling of US federal agencies will ‘destroy science’
From NASA to the National Institutes of Health, federal agencies conduct research that universities cannot. Agency scientists speak out about the irreplaceable facilities, institutional knowledge and ...
www.nature.com
November 4, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Reporter @virginiagewin.bsky.social interviewed 19 current and former US federal agency scientists about the science being dismantled at EPA, NOAA, NASA, CDC, NIH, & USGS.
They say it's making America unprepared for environmental and public health crises.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
They say it's making America unprepared for environmental and public health crises.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Where are the happiest PhD students on Earth? We combed through the 4,000 PhD student responses from across the globe in @nature.com's 2025 PhD student survey to find out.
It's probably not where you think! And no, PhD stipends are *not* the key to happiness here.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
It's probably not where you think! And no, PhD stipends are *not* the key to happiness here.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Are these the happiest PhD students in the world?
Brazil, Australia and Italy have the highest satisfaction scores in Nature’s global 2025 PhD survey — but are these nations really the best places to do a doctorate?
www.nature.com
October 21, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Where are the happiest PhD students on Earth? We combed through the 4,000 PhD student responses from across the globe in @nature.com's 2025 PhD student survey to find out.
It's probably not where you think! And no, PhD stipends are *not* the key to happiness here.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
It's probably not where you think! And no, PhD stipends are *not* the key to happiness here.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
New or starting a #STEM #PhD soon? Soak up the hindsight from those who've gone before. The best pieces of advice from @nature.com 's 2025 global PhD student survey. Expertly curated by @lindanordling.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
27 things we wish we’d known when we started our PhDs
Nature’s survey of PhD candidates reveals hard-won wisdom on choosing supervisors, managing mental health and surviving academic culture.
www.nature.com
October 7, 2025 at 5:39 PM
New or starting a #STEM #PhD soon? Soak up the hindsight from those who've gone before. The best pieces of advice from @nature.com 's 2025 global PhD student survey. Expertly curated by @lindanordling.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
My colleague Jack Leeming curated this list of 99 lab hacks for handy tips for researchers of all kinds. My fave is the 'cut glove hair tie' - priceless for those with long locks in lab!
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
These 99 'lab hacks' will make your scientific work easier
Nature asked contributors, editors and working researchers to share their best advice for scientists.
www.nature.com
October 2, 2025 at 4:23 PM
My colleague Jack Leeming curated this list of 99 lab hacks for handy tips for researchers of all kinds. My fave is the 'cut glove hair tie' - priceless for those with long locks in lab!
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
At long last, the 2025 @nature.com global PhD Survey is out! This first article by @lindanordling.bsky.social charts the state of the PhD experience in 2025. Good news: satisfaction is high. Bad news: so is harassment and discrimination.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
How money, politics and technology are redefining the PhD experience in 2025
Nature’s global survey of 3,785 doctoral students shows satisfaction has recovered from pandemic lows, but harassment and inadequate supervision remain widespread.
www.nature.com
September 30, 2025 at 9:54 PM
At long last, the 2025 @nature.com global PhD Survey is out! This first article by @lindanordling.bsky.social charts the state of the PhD experience in 2025. Good news: satisfaction is high. Bad news: so is harassment and discrimination.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Have I mentioned that I love it when scientists speak so directly about #DEI in #STEM that you can pull their words up to the headline? Here, @widowweb.bsky.social tells @ljevanso.bsky.social how she leads anti-bias workshops that focus on action, not guilt.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
It’s not wokeness — it’s human rights
Maydianne Andrade focuses on action and support, not guilt, when helping people to recognize biases and identify ways to change unfair outcomes.
www.nature.com
September 26, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Have I mentioned that I love it when scientists speak so directly about #DEI in #STEM that you can pull their words up to the headline? Here, @widowweb.bsky.social tells @ljevanso.bsky.social how she leads anti-bias workshops that focus on action, not guilt.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Enviro sci and author Jessica Hernandez tells @nature.com why she spends much of her career advocating for Indigenous knowledge to be integrated into science studies and curricula. As told to @vanesadelacruz.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
‘Communities already have the solutions’: why I advocate for Indigenous knowledge
Environmental scientist and global advocate Jessica Hernandez works to secure women’s rights and to integrate Indigenous science into environmental policy.
www.nature.com
September 9, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Enviro sci and author Jessica Hernandez tells @nature.com why she spends much of her career advocating for Indigenous knowledge to be integrated into science studies and curricula. As told to @vanesadelacruz.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
In the last episode of the #Changemaker @nature.com podcast series, biochemist Babita Paudel describes why there is still a glass ceiling for women scientists in Nepal - and what might help to break it.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Five reasons why Nepal struggles to attract women into science
Biochemist Babita Paudel urges her female colleagues to dream big, work hard, take risks and embrace challenges.
www.nature.com
August 27, 2025 at 7:59 PM
In the last episode of the #Changemaker @nature.com podcast series, biochemist Babita Paudel describes why there is still a glass ceiling for women scientists in Nepal - and what might help to break it.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Banking biological samples from endangered species on the Moon? It's not a crazy as it sounds when you hear cryobiologist Mary Hagedorn tell it to @ljevanso.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
My moonshot to preserve endangered species
Coral cryobiologist Mary Hagedorn wants to bank biological samples at the frozen lunar south pole.
www.nature.com
August 27, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Banking biological samples from endangered species on the Moon? It's not a crazy as it sounds when you hear cryobiologist Mary Hagedorn tell it to @ljevanso.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Who doesn't love a good sit in the sauna?
The world needs more practical solutions like this one for endangered species that can be literally built in your own backyard - and more enterprising 'out of the box' scientists like @anthonywaddle.bsky.social.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
The world needs more practical solutions like this one for endangered species that can be literally built in your own backyard - and more enterprising 'out of the box' scientists like @anthonywaddle.bsky.social.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
A sit in the sauna can save endangered frogs
Anthony Waddle’s unconventional approach resulted in a stunningly practical solution to fight a deadly fungal infection.
www.nature.com
August 20, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Who doesn't love a good sit in the sauna?
The world needs more practical solutions like this one for endangered species that can be literally built in your own backyard - and more enterprising 'out of the box' scientists like @anthonywaddle.bsky.social.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
The world needs more practical solutions like this one for endangered species that can be literally built in your own backyard - and more enterprising 'out of the box' scientists like @anthonywaddle.bsky.social.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Brazilian physicist @soniaguimaraes.bsky.social has a lot of 'firsts' to her name as a pioneering Black woman in #STEM, but she is also first and foremost an advocate for Black girls and young people to pursue science.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
‘Computing is a Black people’s thing’
Passionate about making smaller and more efficient semiconductors, physicist Sonia Guimarães is a relentless voice for equity in Brazilian science.
www.nature.com
August 20, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Brazilian physicist @soniaguimaraes.bsky.social has a lot of 'firsts' to her name as a pioneering Black woman in #STEM, but she is also first and foremost an advocate for Black girls and young people to pursue science.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Next up in our @nature.com Careers podcast series on #Changemakers is an interview with @joann-trejo.bsky.social. Her career journey really epitomizes why we need these #Changemakers and good mentors in academic science.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Why strong mentorship was essential for my career success in science
JoAnn Trejo has turned mentoring into an evidence-based science, driven by her own exposure to inspiring mentors.
www.nature.com
August 20, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Next up in our @nature.com Careers podcast series on #Changemakers is an interview with @joann-trejo.bsky.social. Her career journey really epitomizes why we need these #Changemakers and good mentors in academic science.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
In this @nature.com Careers article, 4 Latin American researchers share how they cope with studying and working abroad, far from extended family and the culture they grew up in. As told to @vanesadelacruz.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
How to thrive as a Latin American researcher abroad
Four scientists share the emotional toll of pursuing science far from home — and the strategies that help them to protect their mental health.
www.nature.com
August 13, 2025 at 4:27 PM
In this @nature.com Careers article, 4 Latin American researchers share how they cope with studying and working abroad, far from extended family and the culture they grew up in. As told to @vanesadelacruz.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Anti-immigration sentiment is making it harder for international graduate student and postdoc researchers to obtain visas in many countries (hint: it's not just the US). Excellent reporting by @virginiagewin.bsky.social.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
How researcher visa curbs threaten science careers
Anti-immigration sentiment is fuelling a drive to slash international student and worker numbers, but at what cost to researchers and countries leading the charge?
www.nature.com
August 8, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Anti-immigration sentiment is making it harder for international graduate student and postdoc researchers to obtain visas in many countries (hint: it's not just the US). Excellent reporting by @virginiagewin.bsky.social.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Next up in the @nature.com Careers podcast #Changemakers series: Azeroo Khodayari speaks about her own first-generation journey to becoming a professor and why she co-designed an internship for first-gen students in LA.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Why I co-developed a research career launchpad for first generation students
Arezoo Khodayari and a colleague at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory provide paid internships aimed at under-represented groups in science.
www.nature.com
August 6, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Next up in the @nature.com Careers podcast #Changemakers series: Azeroo Khodayari speaks about her own first-generation journey to becoming a professor and why she co-designed an internship for first-gen students in LA.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
In the last article in @nature.com's series on a 20-year push by the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory to increase the numbers of African astronomers, Brenda Namumba chronicles her switch from schoolteacher to postdoctoral astronomer.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
I could not have become an astronomer on my own
An astronomy conference changed the course of Brenda Namumba’s career and taught her the importance of networks.
www.nature.com
August 5, 2025 at 6:43 PM
In the last article in @nature.com's series on a 20-year push by the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory to increase the numbers of African astronomers, Brenda Namumba chronicles her switch from schoolteacher to postdoctoral astronomer.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
A few weeks ago I had the distinct pleasure to make my @nature.com Careers podcast debut to introduce our #Changemakers series.
These scientists describe their own career journeys and how and why they work to make the scientific enterprise more inclusive.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
These scientists describe their own career journeys and how and why they work to make the scientific enterprise more inclusive.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Celebrating researchers who make the scientific workplace more inclusive
Eight scientists who appeared in Nature's Changemaker series are to feature in a forthcoming podcast series. Kendall Powell and Deborah Daley introduce them.
www.nature.com
July 30, 2025 at 9:27 PM
A few weeks ago I had the distinct pleasure to make my @nature.com Careers podcast debut to introduce our #Changemakers series.
These scientists describe their own career journeys and how and why they work to make the scientific enterprise more inclusive.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
These scientists describe their own career journeys and how and why they work to make the scientific enterprise more inclusive.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
This piece was a wild ride with reporter @virginiagewin.bsky.social b/c of the chaos that is happening right now with US scientists' federal grants. It's terminated, it's reinstated, it's frozen...
Tips, advice & solidarity from researchers navigating it 👇🏻
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Tips, advice & solidarity from researchers navigating it 👇🏻
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
How your research can survive a US federal grant termination
Researchers in the United States are filing appeals, seeking court remedies, turning to philanthropy and starting GoFundMe campaigns.
www.nature.com
July 25, 2025 at 6:41 PM
This piece was a wild ride with reporter @virginiagewin.bsky.social b/c of the chaos that is happening right now with US scientists' federal grants. It's terminated, it's reinstated, it's frozen...
Tips, advice & solidarity from researchers navigating it 👇🏻
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Tips, advice & solidarity from researchers navigating it 👇🏻
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Tough PhD timing - the cohort that started in 2020 (Covid) and finished by 2025 (waves hands) speaks out about their career high's and low's, how they coped and what they are doing to navigate the chaotic job market. Reporting by @scattercushion.bsky.social.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Class of 2025: five PhD students reveal realigned priorities in wake of COVID and cuts
Scientists who began their doctoral studies in 2020 found their feet during a global pandemic and are graduating into an uncertain and chaotic future.
www.nature.com
July 25, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Tough PhD timing - the cohort that started in 2020 (Covid) and finished by 2025 (waves hands) speaks out about their career high's and low's, how they coped and what they are doing to navigate the chaotic job market. Reporting by @scattercushion.bsky.social.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Next up in our #Changemaker podcast series @nature.com: @tatsuya-amano.bsky.social addresses the deep inequities experienced by non-native English speakers in science and science publishing and the research he's doing to try to change it.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
How AI can deepen inequities for non-native English speakers in science
Journals and conference organizers could do more to help researchers overcome language barriers, but artificial intelligence might widen inequalities, warns Tatsuya Amano.
www.nature.com
July 25, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Next up in our #Changemaker podcast series @nature.com: @tatsuya-amano.bsky.social addresses the deep inequities experienced by non-native English speakers in science and science publishing and the research he's doing to try to change it.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
ICYMI: @ranadajani.bsky.social in a @nature.com Careers podcast on why she's driven to help women and children scarred by war and trauma and why she's a big supporter of women in the Arab world pursuing science careers.
Why I study trauma's genetic legacy www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Why I study trauma's genetic legacy www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Why I study trauma's genetic legacy
Rana Dajani's research includes identifying risk factors for type 2 diabetes, and genetic links to trauma.
www.nature.com
July 25, 2025 at 6:27 PM
ICYMI: @ranadajani.bsky.social in a @nature.com Careers podcast on why she's driven to help women and children scarred by war and trauma and why she's a big supporter of women in the Arab world pursuing science careers.
Why I study trauma's genetic legacy www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Why I study trauma's genetic legacy www.nature.com/articles/d41...
These parents wanted to find a cure for their kids, so they started up biotech firms to address their diseases. As reported by @rachelbrazil.bsky.social.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Meet the biotech-company founders driven by their child’s rare disease
For some parents, finding a cure for their child’s illness is the ultimate motivation to start a company.
www.nature.com
July 22, 2025 at 10:33 PM
These parents wanted to find a cure for their kids, so they started up biotech firms to address their diseases. As reported by @rachelbrazil.bsky.social.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Help a reporter (and her editor) out?
If you've dealt with #AcademicBullying during #PeerReview, please reach out to Katya👇🏻
If you've dealt with #AcademicBullying during #PeerReview, please reach out to Katya👇🏻
Hi! I’m a freelance reporter writing a story for Nature Careers
about bullying during peer review & solutions to the issue, and am looking to speak with folks who have personal experiences. If you have a story you'd like to share, please write to me at katarinaszimmer@gmail.com. Thanks so much!
about bullying during peer review & solutions to the issue, and am looking to speak with folks who have personal experiences. If you have a story you'd like to share, please write to me at katarinaszimmer@gmail.com. Thanks so much!
July 15, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Help a reporter (and her editor) out?
If you've dealt with #AcademicBullying during #PeerReview, please reach out to Katya👇🏻
If you've dealt with #AcademicBullying during #PeerReview, please reach out to Katya👇🏻
Next in the #Changemaker series @nature.com, chemist @drdaisyrosasv.bsky.social says at a time when US programs are pulling back on #DEI, Latinx researchers need to be even louder about the supports they need to succeed in #STEM. As told to @becroldan.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
I help to build support systems for Latina researchers
After leaving academia, chemist Daisy Rosas Vargas starting leading outreach to encourage Latina people in pursuit of science careers.
www.nature.com
July 7, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Next in the #Changemaker series @nature.com, chemist @drdaisyrosasv.bsky.social says at a time when US programs are pulling back on #DEI, Latinx researchers need to be even louder about the supports they need to succeed in #STEM. As told to @becroldan.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
In this profile of virologist Amadou Sall, on the ground reporting by @sciwriabdul.bsky.social Tsanni reveals how Sall's diplomacy and persuasion have made his vision of 'homegrown' vaccine manufacturing a reality in #Senegal.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Africa’s chief diplomat for vaccine manufacturing
Virologist Amadou Sall is the driving force behind a world-class manufacturing hub in Senegal.
www.nature.com
June 23, 2025 at 1:29 AM
In this profile of virologist Amadou Sall, on the ground reporting by @sciwriabdul.bsky.social Tsanni reveals how Sall's diplomacy and persuasion have made his vision of 'homegrown' vaccine manufacturing a reality in #Senegal.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...