Monica Ohnsorg, Ph.D.
@monicaohnsorg.bsky.social
Bottlebrush polymers and bioengineering!
🦡 Incoming Assistant Prof, UW-Madison BME • January 2026
🥼 Postdoc, CU Boulder • Anseth Lab •
🎓PhD, UMN • Reineke/Bates •
📚BS, Hope College •
http://monicaohnsorg.com
Hobbies: ☕️ 🖼️ 👩🎨⛷️🏕️🏔️🪴🍁🥾
🦡 Incoming Assistant Prof, UW-Madison BME • January 2026
🥼 Postdoc, CU Boulder • Anseth Lab •
🎓PhD, UMN • Reineke/Bates •
📚BS, Hope College •
http://monicaohnsorg.com
Hobbies: ☕️ 🖼️ 👩🎨⛷️🏕️🏔️🪴🍁🥾
Pinned
Calling all polymer scientists! Let’s re-find each other as people continue to migrate over!
Please tag people in the comments and share! I’ll continue updating as we find more people. #polymers
go.bsky.app/AgjxzFa
Please tag people in the comments and share! I’ll continue updating as we find more people. #polymers
go.bsky.app/AgjxzFa
Reposted by Monica Ohnsorg, Ph.D.
first Loo Lab paper is out now in @pubs.acs.org! here we show how polymer blends can tune Li ion solvation site and enhance ion transport
read it here: pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
read it here: pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
pubs.acs.org
June 16, 2025 at 11:59 AM
first Loo Lab paper is out now in @pubs.acs.org! here we show how polymer blends can tune Li ion solvation site and enhance ion transport
read it here: pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
read it here: pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
Reposted by Monica Ohnsorg, Ph.D.
I am incredibly excited to share that I will be starting as an Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering in the CBE Department at FAMU-FSU College of Engineering this fall! Ready for some Florida sunshine 😁
May 19, 2025 at 10:03 PM
I am incredibly excited to share that I will be starting as an Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering in the CBE Department at FAMU-FSU College of Engineering this fall! Ready for some Florida sunshine 😁
I am THRILLED to officially announce that I have accepted a position as an Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison starting January 2026! My lab will use expertise in polymer science, biomaterials, and ECM engineering study osteochondral disease! 🦡 🔬🧪🧫 🦴
May 20, 2025 at 12:34 AM
I am THRILLED to officially announce that I have accepted a position as an Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison starting January 2026! My lab will use expertise in polymer science, biomaterials, and ECM engineering study osteochondral disease! 🦡 🔬🧪🧫 🦴
Reposted by Monica Ohnsorg, Ph.D.
This is incredible. This is the kind of stuff that's why we do science.
Gene-editing therapy made in just 6 months helps baby with life-threatening disease | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti... 🧪
Gene-editing therapy made in just 6 months helps baby with life-threatening disease
Custom CRISPR paves the way for treating genetic disorders in tailormade ways
www.science.org
May 16, 2025 at 5:47 PM
This is incredible. This is the kind of stuff that's why we do science.
Reposted by Monica Ohnsorg, Ph.D.
This is so demoralizing. We are losing critical ECR funding from all sources..and in doing so, losing the future of science. Who will stand up for these vulnerable communities?!
May 16, 2025 at 5:46 PM
This is so demoralizing. We are losing critical ECR funding from all sources..and in doing so, losing the future of science. Who will stand up for these vulnerable communities?!
It’s graduation season! 🎓I am incredibly proud of Kayla Mash, double major in Biochem and Applied Math with a minor in Biomedical Engineering who has conducted research with me the past 3 years!
Today she graduates with honors and was awarded Outstanding Biochemistry Student Award at graduation!
Today she graduates with honors and was awarded Outstanding Biochemistry Student Award at graduation!
May 9, 2025 at 4:28 PM
It’s graduation season! 🎓I am incredibly proud of Kayla Mash, double major in Biochem and Applied Math with a minor in Biomedical Engineering who has conducted research with me the past 3 years!
Today she graduates with honors and was awarded Outstanding Biochemistry Student Award at graduation!
Today she graduates with honors and was awarded Outstanding Biochemistry Student Award at graduation!
Reposted by Monica Ohnsorg, Ph.D.
The Human Genome Project cost taxpayers $3 Billion.
Two decades on, it has generated a staggering return on investment of $1 Trillion, with benefits in medicine, agriculture, energy, the environment, & more.
If you want to boost the economy, funding science is one of the best things you could do.
Two decades on, it has generated a staggering return on investment of $1 Trillion, with benefits in medicine, agriculture, energy, the environment, & more.
If you want to boost the economy, funding science is one of the best things you could do.
May 2, 2025 at 7:00 PM
The Human Genome Project cost taxpayers $3 Billion.
Two decades on, it has generated a staggering return on investment of $1 Trillion, with benefits in medicine, agriculture, energy, the environment, & more.
If you want to boost the economy, funding science is one of the best things you could do.
Two decades on, it has generated a staggering return on investment of $1 Trillion, with benefits in medicine, agriculture, energy, the environment, & more.
If you want to boost the economy, funding science is one of the best things you could do.
Reposted by Monica Ohnsorg, Ph.D.
Tell me how tariffs are good?
May 2, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Tell me how tariffs are good?
Reposted by Monica Ohnsorg, Ph.D.
180 higher education leaders from US colleges & universities released a joint statement condemning Trump’s efforts to control universities.
The government’s “political interference” and “overreach” is “now endangering higher education in America,”
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/22/u...
The government’s “political interference” and “overreach” is “now endangering higher education in America,”
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/22/u...
More Than 180 Academic Leaders Condemn Trump’s ‘Overreach’
The statement came a day after Harvard University sued the administration over its decision to freeze billions of dollars in federal funding, following the schoo’s refusal to submit to a list of deman...
www.nytimes.com
April 22, 2025 at 4:39 PM
180 higher education leaders from US colleges & universities released a joint statement condemning Trump’s efforts to control universities.
The government’s “political interference” and “overreach” is “now endangering higher education in America,”
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/22/u...
The government’s “political interference” and “overreach” is “now endangering higher education in America,”
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/22/u...
Reposted by Monica Ohnsorg, Ph.D.
The NSF cut the number of graduate research fellowships awarded this year by about half, further eroding US grad students' opportunities to secure career-boosting $$$ for 🧪⚛️🔬
Words by me + Data analysis by @leighkboerner.bsky.social now online @cenmag.bsky.social
cen.acs.org/policy/resea...
Words by me + Data analysis by @leighkboerner.bsky.social now online @cenmag.bsky.social
cen.acs.org/policy/resea...
NSF halves graduate fellowship awards
Students from all fields lose out on tens of millions of dollars in career-boosting funds this year
cen.acs.org
April 18, 2025 at 7:58 PM
The NSF cut the number of graduate research fellowships awarded this year by about half, further eroding US grad students' opportunities to secure career-boosting $$$ for 🧪⚛️🔬
Words by me + Data analysis by @leighkboerner.bsky.social now online @cenmag.bsky.social
cen.acs.org/policy/resea...
Words by me + Data analysis by @leighkboerner.bsky.social now online @cenmag.bsky.social
cen.acs.org/policy/resea...
Reposted by Monica Ohnsorg, Ph.D.
Sharing all my research via a tutorial website was the most unique idea I had during my PhD. I took advantage of my years of blogging experience via Wordpress, but it still took a lot of work. I'm glad it has connected me to scientists across the globe. Visit hydrogeldesign.org to learn more!
Hydrogel Design - Make better hydrogels.
A scientific communication platform for hydrogel design by Nate Richbourg
hydrogeldesign.org
April 17, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Sharing all my research via a tutorial website was the most unique idea I had during my PhD. I took advantage of my years of blogging experience via Wordpress, but it still took a lot of work. I'm glad it has connected me to scientists across the globe. Visit hydrogeldesign.org to learn more!
Reposted by Monica Ohnsorg, Ph.D.
April 14, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Reposted by Monica Ohnsorg, Ph.D.
I am excited to share that the final paper from my graduate work has now been published! Thank you to everyone at UM who helped me push this over the finish line! This work focuses on the development of vascularizing PEG-based microgels! Check it our here: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
Biofabrication and Characterization of Vascularizing PEG‐Norbornene Microgels
Establishing a robust, functional microvascular network remains a critical challenge for both the revascularization of damaged or diseased tissues and the development of engineered biological materia....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
April 11, 2025 at 4:45 PM
I am excited to share that the final paper from my graduate work has now been published! Thank you to everyone at UM who helped me push this over the finish line! This work focuses on the development of vascularizing PEG-based microgels! Check it our here: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Monica Ohnsorg, Ph.D.
Several thoughts about this very helpful interview on NYT w Chris Eisgruber, president of Princeton, about existential attacks on higher ed, how and what solidarity among American universities looks like. And why it's worth the listen. (Also a dopey headline.) 1/ www.nytimes.com/2025/04/09/p...
The University President Willing to Fight Trump
Christopher L. Eisgruber of Princeton University talks about the administration’s move to freeze billions of dollars in funding to higher education institutions.
www.nytimes.com
April 10, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Several thoughts about this very helpful interview on NYT w Chris Eisgruber, president of Princeton, about existential attacks on higher ed, how and what solidarity among American universities looks like. And why it's worth the listen. (Also a dopey headline.) 1/ www.nytimes.com/2025/04/09/p...
Reposted by Monica Ohnsorg, Ph.D.
Since starting as a #NewPI, I've been feeling the weight of my impact on the future of my students.
Which makes it so difficult to empathize with the people that have so much more power than me when they don't appear to be affected by the weight of the people whose lives they directly alter.
Which makes it so difficult to empathize with the people that have so much more power than me when they don't appear to be affected by the weight of the people whose lives they directly alter.
April 9, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Since starting as a #NewPI, I've been feeling the weight of my impact on the future of my students.
Which makes it so difficult to empathize with the people that have so much more power than me when they don't appear to be affected by the weight of the people whose lives they directly alter.
Which makes it so difficult to empathize with the people that have so much more power than me when they don't appear to be affected by the weight of the people whose lives they directly alter.
Reposted by Monica Ohnsorg, Ph.D.
Congratulations to the NSF GRFP awardees! This was an especially competitive year because the number of awardees was down by 51%.
To the students who didn't get it: my heart goes out to you. This was an especially competitive year. I hope this doesn't deter you from research.
To the students who didn't get it: my heart goes out to you. This was an especially competitive year. I hope this doesn't deter you from research.
🚨 Not a drill: NSF GRFP results are NOW OUT!!!!!
But...good news and bad news.
👍 I'm *thrilled* for the grad students for whom getting this award will be life-changing, esp now.
👎 # of fellowships went down by 51%
(1000 this year vs. 2036 last year)
See here: www.research.gov/grfp/Awardee...
But...good news and bad news.
👍 I'm *thrilled* for the grad students for whom getting this award will be life-changing, esp now.
👎 # of fellowships went down by 51%
(1000 this year vs. 2036 last year)
See here: www.research.gov/grfp/Awardee...
Research.gov :: GRFP
www.research.gov
April 8, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Congratulations to the NSF GRFP awardees! This was an especially competitive year because the number of awardees was down by 51%.
To the students who didn't get it: my heart goes out to you. This was an especially competitive year. I hope this doesn't deter you from research.
To the students who didn't get it: my heart goes out to you. This was an especially competitive year. I hope this doesn't deter you from research.
Reposted by Monica Ohnsorg, Ph.D.
just started watching and he's talking about the importance of NIH funded research: "let me repeat 99.4% of FDA approved drugs were funded by NIH research" 🧪
I’ve taken the Senate floor and will speak for as long as I’m physically able to lift the voices of Americans who are being harmed and not being heard in this moment of crisis. Watch here:
Live: Speaking on Trump, Musk, and America’s Moral Moment on the Senate Floor | Senator Cory Booker
YouTube video by Senator Cory Booker
youtube.com
April 1, 2025 at 3:05 AM
just started watching and he's talking about the importance of NIH funded research: "let me repeat 99.4% of FDA approved drugs were funded by NIH research" 🧪
Reposted by Monica Ohnsorg, Ph.D.
Welp. It happened. Our NIH training grant was terminated on Friday.
Just highlighting this incredibly derisive language used in our termination notice.
To focus on the positives, see some of the great things our undergraduates have done over the last couple of years: web.uri.edu/esteemed/
Just highlighting this incredibly derisive language used in our termination notice.
To focus on the positives, see some of the great things our undergraduates have done over the last couple of years: web.uri.edu/esteemed/
March 26, 2025 at 1:34 AM
Welp. It happened. Our NIH training grant was terminated on Friday.
Just highlighting this incredibly derisive language used in our termination notice.
To focus on the positives, see some of the great things our undergraduates have done over the last couple of years: web.uri.edu/esteemed/
Just highlighting this incredibly derisive language used in our termination notice.
To focus on the positives, see some of the great things our undergraduates have done over the last couple of years: web.uri.edu/esteemed/
Reposted by Monica Ohnsorg, Ph.D.
A pie graph worth keeping in mind as the NIH budget plummets jamanetwork.com/journals/jam... for 356 new FDA drugs approved
March 23, 2025 at 4:17 PM
A pie graph worth keeping in mind as the NIH budget plummets jamanetwork.com/journals/jam... for 356 new FDA drugs approved
Reposted by Monica Ohnsorg, Ph.D.
From 2010 to 2016 (latest data I have ), NIH research contributed to EVERY drug approved by the FDA
March 22, 2025 at 10:44 AM
From 2010 to 2016 (latest data I have ), NIH research contributed to EVERY drug approved by the FDA
Reposted by Monica Ohnsorg, Ph.D.
University of California announced a systemwide hiring freeze. This affects not 1 but 10 campuses (including UCLA, UC Berkeley, UC San Francisco, UC San Diego among others) plus 3 national labs with impact on medical and scientific research and local economies.
www.reuters.com/world/us/uni...
www.reuters.com/world/us/uni...
University of California sets hiring freeze in anticipation of Trump cuts
The University of California has imposed a system-wide hiring freeze and made additional cuts, its president said on Wednesday, as part of efforts to try to mitigate the impact of sharp cuts in federal funding.
www.reuters.com
March 19, 2025 at 10:13 PM
University of California announced a systemwide hiring freeze. This affects not 1 but 10 campuses (including UCLA, UC Berkeley, UC San Francisco, UC San Diego among others) plus 3 national labs with impact on medical and scientific research and local economies.
www.reuters.com/world/us/uni...
www.reuters.com/world/us/uni...
Reposted by Monica Ohnsorg, Ph.D.
There are days in life that shake you.
I’m shattered 💔 to share that I just found out that the US Government terminated my 2024 NIH Director’s Early Independence Award (~$2 million), threatening my long-promised assistant professor job at Columbia University
& academic career... 1/🧵
I’m shattered 💔 to share that I just found out that the US Government terminated my 2024 NIH Director’s Early Independence Award (~$2 million), threatening my long-promised assistant professor job at Columbia University
& academic career... 1/🧵
March 18, 2025 at 11:27 PM
There are days in life that shake you.
I’m shattered 💔 to share that I just found out that the US Government terminated my 2024 NIH Director’s Early Independence Award (~$2 million), threatening my long-promised assistant professor job at Columbia University
& academic career... 1/🧵
I’m shattered 💔 to share that I just found out that the US Government terminated my 2024 NIH Director’s Early Independence Award (~$2 million), threatening my long-promised assistant professor job at Columbia University
& academic career... 1/🧵
Reposted by Monica Ohnsorg, Ph.D.
I'll be at the Stand Up for Science Rally in DC tomorrow! #ChemSky #SciSky Feel free to ping me on here or on Signal (bribarbu.95) if you want to chat about your motivations for being there & what standing up for science means for you! Particularly interested in basic chem research!
March 6, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Reposted by Monica Ohnsorg, Ph.D.
Reposted by Monica Ohnsorg, Ph.D.
Biomedical research uses a lot of chemicals. Essentially every procedure in molecular biology, biochemistry, or genomics involves the use of chemicals including solvents, toxins, and carcinogens. You can't just dump these things down the sink when you're done with them!!!
February 14, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Biomedical research uses a lot of chemicals. Essentially every procedure in molecular biology, biochemistry, or genomics involves the use of chemicals including solvents, toxins, and carcinogens. You can't just dump these things down the sink when you're done with them!!!