Nika Shakiba
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nikashakiba.bsky.social
Nika Shakiba
@nikashakiba.bsky.social
61 followers 19 following 1 posts
Asst Professor, School of Biomedical Engineering, UBC; stem cell engineer and synthetic biologist with a passion for science outreach and communication.

https://shakiba.bme.ubc.ca/
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Reposted by Nika Shakiba
nzmyachie.bsky.social
Please 🔁! #MASSIV will be held in Vancouver from January 19-22, 2026. 4-day meeting on #synbio x #tissueengineering.

Some trainee-focused events. >50 talks (10 from abstracts), posters, panel & publishing insights sessions.

www.massivconference.com

Abstract deadline: Nov 14
October 25, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Reposted by Nika Shakiba
mlithopoulos.bsky.social
🚨THIS WEEK!!! 🔥Only a few tickets left here: bit.ly/sciencestanduptickets

@sbmeubc.bsky.social
@nikashakiba.bsky.social
@canacn.bsky.social
@scienceinvancouver.com

#Vancouver #scicomm
October 14, 2025 at 4:39 AM
Reposted by Nika Shakiba
mlithopoulos.bsky.social
Join us for Science, Stand-Up, & Song on Oct 16th @sbmeubc.bsky.social !🙌 This one-of-a-kind variety show includes expert stem cell scientists, amazing comedians, and music throughout! 👩‍🔬🎤🎵 🎟 bit.ly/sciencestanduptickets

@nikashakiba.bsky.social
@scienceinvancouver.com
September 22, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Reposted by Nika Shakiba
carlbergstrom.com
1. What does a Cold War-era game theory problem known as the silent duel have to do with high-risk research strategies, publication in Cell/Nature/Science glamor journals, and the academic job market?

Kevin Gross and I tackle these questions in our latest arXiv preprint: arxiv.org/abs/2509.06718
How competition propels scientific risk-taking Kevin Gross∗ Department of Statistics North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC USA Carl T. Bergstrom† Department of Biology University of Washington Seattle, WA USA (Dated: September 9, 2025) In science as elsewhere, attention is a limited resource and scientists compete with one another to produce the most exciting, novel and impactful results. We develop a game-theoretic model to explore how such competition influences the degree of risk that scientists are willing to embrace in their research endeavors. We find that competition for scarce resources—for example, publications in elite journals, prestigious prizes, and faculty jobs—motivates scientific risk-taking and may be important in counterbalancing other incentives that favor cautious, incremental science. Even small amounts of competition induce substantial risk-taking. Moreover, we find that in an “opt-in” contest, increasing the stakes induces increased participation—which crowds the contest and further impels entrants to pursue higher-risk, higher-return investigations. The model also illuminates a source of tension in academic training and collaboration. Researchers at different career stages differ in their need to amass accomplishments that distinguish them from their peers, and therefore may not agree on what degree of risk to accept.
September 14, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Reposted by Nika Shakiba
scienceinvancouver.com
🎉 @ubcmedicine.bsky.social scientists have been awarded >$1.8 million from the @stemcellnetwork.ca for projects advancing #StemCell and #RegenerativeMedicine.

Congratulations Drs. Timothy Kieffer, Fabio Rossi, Kelly McNagny, Megan Levings, Peter Zandstra, & @nikashakiba.bsky.social! bit.ly/3IiXjs1
June 27, 2025 at 10:25 PM
nikashakiba.bsky.social
Do you think about cellular heterogeneity? We can relate! Excited to share our latest review @cp-cellsystems.bsky.social on the topic, brought together by an amazing team that debated key definitions to bring this together. #wheeloffate 🧫 @sbmeubc.bsky.social

www.cell.com/cell-systems...
A systems view of cellular heterogeneity: Unlocking the “wheel of fate”
Movasat et al. explore cellular heterogeneity through a systems biology lens, conceptualizing it from the cell’s perspective and summarizing systems and synthetic biology tools for capturing heterogen...
www.cell.com
June 6, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Reposted by Nika Shakiba
carldeboer.bsky.social
Last call for a postdoc position in single cell analysis/perturb-seq with @nikashakiba.bsky.social at UBC in beautiful Vancouver Canada!
ubc.wd10.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/ubcfac...
Sunset on UBC campus
March 20, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Reposted by Nika Shakiba
mlithopoulos.bsky.social
Science, Stand-Up, & Song March 26th at Chill x Studio👩‍🔬

Dr. Nika Shakiba is working towards the development of new engineered cell therapies! 🙌

Tickets: sciencestandupandsong.eventbrite.ca

@nikashakiba.bsky.social @sbmeubc.bsky.social

Please share!😊

#Vancouver #scicomm #LiveMusic #comedy
March 13, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Reposted by Nika Shakiba
mlithopoulos.bsky.social
Science, Stand-Up, & Song March 26th at Chill x Studio👩‍🔬

Meet one of the awesome scientists on the panel- Dr. Nika Shakiba! 🙌

Tickets: sciencestandupandsong.eventbrite.ca

@nikashakiba.bsky.social @sbmeubc.bsky.social

Please share!😊

#Vancouver #scicomm #LiveMusic #comedy
Science, Stand-Up, & Song
Science Education Fundraiser: 5 hilarious comedians, 3 brilliant scientists, & 1 host to provide music along the way!
sciencestandupandsong.eventbrite.ca
March 11, 2025 at 3:16 PM