Rachel Henderson, PhD
@rachelhenderson.bsky.social
Freelance science writer with expertise in neuroscience, biology, university communications, higher ed teaching & student support. She/her #scicomm
https://www.rachelhendersonscience.com/
https://www.rachelhendersonscience.com/
Reposted by Rachel Henderson, PhD
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:39 PM
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Reposted by Rachel Henderson, PhD
Today my @nytimes.com colleagues and I are launching a new series called Lost Science. We interview US scientists who can no longer discover something new about our world, thanks to this year‘s cuts. Here is my first interview with a scientist who studied bees and fires. Gift link: nyti.ms/3IWXbiE
nyti.ms
October 8, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Today my @nytimes.com colleagues and I are launching a new series called Lost Science. We interview US scientists who can no longer discover something new about our world, thanks to this year‘s cuts. Here is my first interview with a scientist who studied bees and fires. Gift link: nyti.ms/3IWXbiE
Reposted by Rachel Henderson, PhD
(1/2) Dana VP of Neuroscience & Society Khara Ramos explains why the Foundation has launched an RFP for rapid response bridge funding for scholars, practitioners, and teams doing work in neuroscience and society and impacted by recent shifts in federal funding. #neurosociety #neuroscience #neurosky
Now Open: Dana Foundation Rapid Response Bridge Funding
dana.org
October 7, 2025 at 5:30 PM
(1/2) Dana VP of Neuroscience & Society Khara Ramos explains why the Foundation has launched an RFP for rapid response bridge funding for scholars, practitioners, and teams doing work in neuroscience and society and impacted by recent shifts in federal funding. #neurosociety #neuroscience #neurosky
Reposted by Rachel Henderson, PhD
Ohio State just advised all staff and students not to attend the SACNAS (Society for the advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science) annual meeting of 6000+ scientists -- which is in Columbus, OH this year! -- saying it may be exclusionary, even though it is open to all.
September 29, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Ohio State just advised all staff and students not to attend the SACNAS (Society for the advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science) annual meeting of 6000+ scientists -- which is in Columbus, OH this year! -- saying it may be exclusionary, even though it is open to all.
Free, open to the public webinar aimed at university science communicators, Sept 26:
Meeting the moment: Communicating the importance of university research during challenging times
www.nasw.org/events/sciwr...
Meeting the moment: Communicating the importance of university research during challenging times
www.nasw.org/events/sciwr...
SciWriSpotlight: Meeting the moment
All interested professionals and students are invited to register for the upcoming, free #SciWriSpotlight webinar “Meeting the Moment: Communicating the importance of university research during challe...
www.nasw.org
September 16, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Free, open to the public webinar aimed at university science communicators, Sept 26:
Meeting the moment: Communicating the importance of university research during challenging times
www.nasw.org/events/sciwr...
Meeting the moment: Communicating the importance of university research during challenging times
www.nasw.org/events/sciwr...
Reposted by Rachel Henderson, PhD
6 STEM Scholars have been offered funding (20 hrs/wk) this summer from the ISU program.
It is unclear if they will allowed to do paid summer research now.
It is unclear if they will allowed to do paid summer research now.
NSF's EES division includes programs **required by law** like the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP), mandated by Congress since the 1990s.
So far, over 70% of active LSAMP grants have already been terminated. Today's news on EES staff firings only heightens the illegality.
So far, over 70% of active LSAMP grants have already been terminated. Today's news on EES staff firings only heightens the illegality.
May 9, 2025 at 8:54 PM
6 STEM Scholars have been offered funding (20 hrs/wk) this summer from the ISU program.
It is unclear if they will allowed to do paid summer research now.
It is unclear if they will allowed to do paid summer research now.
My latest little news summary of cool research from UC Berkeley 👁️---🧠
Scientists develop technique that allows people to see new color ‘olo’ | Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute
hwni.berkeley.edu
April 26, 2025 at 12:41 AM
My latest little news summary of cool research from UC Berkeley 👁️---🧠
Reposted by Rachel Henderson, PhD
My PhD student's NSF grant was terminated today. Her dissertation investigates why air pollution monitoring, metrics, and regulations don't properly capture the harms experienced by marginalized communities--esp in the most polluted Detroit neighborhoods. She and I are happy to talk with press etc.
NSF Award Search: Award # 2240343 - Constructing Credible Knowledge and Expertise in Air Pollution Regulation and Monitoring: The Problem of Quantification Lock
www.nsf.gov
April 21, 2025 at 8:41 PM
My PhD student's NSF grant was terminated today. Her dissertation investigates why air pollution monitoring, metrics, and regulations don't properly capture the harms experienced by marginalized communities--esp in the most polluted Detroit neighborhoods. She and I are happy to talk with press etc.
Reposted by Rachel Henderson, PhD
Yapping today about two decades of @berkeleyscirev.bsky.social science journalism excellence.
Consider donating! The BSR is written, edited, designed, and led by graduate student volunteers. We want to keep making Berkeley research accessible 4ever!
berkeleysciencereview.com/donate-and-s...
Consider donating! The BSR is written, edited, designed, and led by graduate student volunteers. We want to keep making Berkeley research accessible 4ever!
berkeleysciencereview.com/donate-and-s...
April 19, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Yapping today about two decades of @berkeleyscirev.bsky.social science journalism excellence.
Consider donating! The BSR is written, edited, designed, and led by graduate student volunteers. We want to keep making Berkeley research accessible 4ever!
berkeleysciencereview.com/donate-and-s...
Consider donating! The BSR is written, edited, designed, and led by graduate student volunteers. We want to keep making Berkeley research accessible 4ever!
berkeleysciencereview.com/donate-and-s...
Reposted by Rachel Henderson, PhD
I was asked what accomplishment I was most proud of recently 🥹 this. Learn more about the lived experience of #TGCT - from symptom onset, diagnosis, treatment, & thereafter. TGCT is a debilitating and impactful disease from the voice of patients. Read:
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Localized and diffuse tenosynovial giant cell tumor: real-world results from a patient observational registry
Tenosynovial Giant Cell Tumor (TGCT) is a rare, locally aggressive neoplasm that adversely impact patients’ physical function and quality of life (QoL). This cross-sectional analysis leverages real...
www.tandfonline.com
April 8, 2025 at 12:39 PM
I was asked what accomplishment I was most proud of recently 🥹 this. Learn more about the lived experience of #TGCT - from symptom onset, diagnosis, treatment, & thereafter. TGCT is a debilitating and impactful disease from the voice of patients. Read:
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Rachel Henderson, PhD
If you had a U-RISE or MARC grant cancelled this week (I'm hearing the MARC programs, which are similar but at research intensive unis, were also cancelled), please be sure to update the information here: forms.gle/81iLikdBtmCP... 🧪 #AcademicSky
March 29, 2025 at 7:17 PM
If you had a U-RISE or MARC grant cancelled this week (I'm hearing the MARC programs, which are similar but at research intensive unis, were also cancelled), please be sure to update the information here: forms.gle/81iLikdBtmCP... 🧪 #AcademicSky
Reposted by Rachel Henderson, PhD
PLEASE SHARE: We're excited to be offering the NASW Summer Diversity Fellowship for the ninth year in a row. $3,000 in funding to supplement summer internship pay. Applications due Tuesday April 1: www.nasw.org/2025Div... 🧪📰
Apply by April 1 for the 2025 NASW Diversity Summer Fellowship
Making ends meet on an intern’s salary can be hard. Stipends don’t always cover the full costs of temporarily relocating to a new city or making ends meet while working remotely. Sometimes, prioritizing steps to advance your career can mean putting off other income opportunities that would otherwise serve more immediate financial needs.
www.nasw.org
March 14, 2025 at 4:31 PM
PLEASE SHARE: We're excited to be offering the NASW Summer Diversity Fellowship for the ninth year in a row. $3,000 in funding to supplement summer internship pay. Applications due Tuesday April 1: www.nasw.org/2025Div... 🧪📰
Reposted by Rachel Henderson, PhD
CALLS ARE WORKING - it has bought us precious time, but we NEED to keep the pressure up.
Tomorrow is the cloture vote.
KEEP CALLING: (202) 224-3121 ☎️☎️☎️
Tell your Dem Senator to vote NO on Cloture and NO on the Republican spending bill.
Do NOT assume your Senator will be good on this. Trust me.
Tomorrow is the cloture vote.
KEEP CALLING: (202) 224-3121 ☎️☎️☎️
Tell your Dem Senator to vote NO on Cloture and NO on the Republican spending bill.
Do NOT assume your Senator will be good on this. Trust me.
🚨 Everyone needs to call their Dem Senator right now. They are starting to cave.
Tell them:
1. Vote NO on Cloture
AND
2. Vote NO on the Republican spending bill.
Don’t let them pivot to reconciliation. GOP doesn’t need Dem votes on that and they know it.
TODAY is the showdown.
🤳🏽: (202) 224-3121
Tell them:
1. Vote NO on Cloture
AND
2. Vote NO on the Republican spending bill.
Don’t let them pivot to reconciliation. GOP doesn’t need Dem votes on that and they know it.
TODAY is the showdown.
🤳🏽: (202) 224-3121
March 13, 2025 at 6:54 PM
CALLS ARE WORKING - it has bought us precious time, but we NEED to keep the pressure up.
Tomorrow is the cloture vote.
KEEP CALLING: (202) 224-3121 ☎️☎️☎️
Tell your Dem Senator to vote NO on Cloture and NO on the Republican spending bill.
Do NOT assume your Senator will be good on this. Trust me.
Tomorrow is the cloture vote.
KEEP CALLING: (202) 224-3121 ☎️☎️☎️
Tell your Dem Senator to vote NO on Cloture and NO on the Republican spending bill.
Do NOT assume your Senator will be good on this. Trust me.
One of my favorite speeches from today. Thank you fdoperez.bsky.social
That felt good! Great speeches from the Berkeley community, ranging from Nobel Laureate Jennifer Doudna to undergraduate student leaders.
Amazing energy in defense of science, and it felt good to do something positive, even if it's just a small step.
Below is the text I read. #StandUpForScience !
Amazing energy in defense of science, and it felt good to do something positive, even if it's just a small step.
Below is the text I read. #StandUpForScience !
March 8, 2025 at 1:27 AM
One of my favorite speeches from today. Thank you fdoperez.bsky.social
#standupforscience at UC Berkeley! Speakers pictured are Vincent Medina & Louis Trevino, leaders of the 'ottoy Initative.
March 7, 2025 at 10:38 PM
#standupforscience at UC Berkeley! Speakers pictured are Vincent Medina & Louis Trevino, leaders of the 'ottoy Initative.
Reposted by Rachel Henderson, PhD
How weakly tumor cells adhere to their environment may be a way to predict which #breastcancer patients are at higher risk of metastasis. A powerful example of impactful, interdisciplinary research at @ucsandiego.bsky.social, made possible by NIH funding. today.ucsd.edu/story/a-new-...
A New Way to Predict Cancer’s Spread? Scientists Look at ‘Stickiness’ of Tumor Cells
By assessing how “sticky” tumor cells are, UC San Diego researchers have found a potential way to predict whether a patient’s early-stage breast cancer is likely to spread. The discovery could help do...
today.ucsd.edu
March 5, 2025 at 5:26 PM
How weakly tumor cells adhere to their environment may be a way to predict which #breastcancer patients are at higher risk of metastasis. A powerful example of impactful, interdisciplinary research at @ucsandiego.bsky.social, made possible by NIH funding. today.ucsd.edu/story/a-new-...
Stand Up for Science at UC Berkeley on Friday at 12!
Speakers include Nobel laureate Jennifer Doudna,
Albany Mayor Robin Lopez, Professor of Economics Edward Miguel, Director of the Lawrence Hall of Science Rena Dorph, and UCB Planetarium Director Bryan Méndez.
www.standup4scienceberkeley.com
Speakers include Nobel laureate Jennifer Doudna,
Albany Mayor Robin Lopez, Professor of Economics Edward Miguel, Director of the Lawrence Hall of Science Rena Dorph, and UCB Planetarium Director Bryan Méndez.
www.standup4scienceberkeley.com
March 4, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Stand Up for Science at UC Berkeley on Friday at 12!
Speakers include Nobel laureate Jennifer Doudna,
Albany Mayor Robin Lopez, Professor of Economics Edward Miguel, Director of the Lawrence Hall of Science Rena Dorph, and UCB Planetarium Director Bryan Méndez.
www.standup4scienceberkeley.com
Speakers include Nobel laureate Jennifer Doudna,
Albany Mayor Robin Lopez, Professor of Economics Edward Miguel, Director of the Lawrence Hall of Science Rena Dorph, and UCB Planetarium Director Bryan Méndez.
www.standup4scienceberkeley.com
This #RareDiseaseDay, I'm grateful to the scientists who discovered a treatment for my rare disease. Just 12 years ago there was no FDA-approved treatment, and it would've been life-threatening for me. Federal funding is CRITICAL for science in the US, and it benefits us all. Please fight for it.
February 28, 2025 at 4:23 PM
This #RareDiseaseDay, I'm grateful to the scientists who discovered a treatment for my rare disease. Just 12 years ago there was no FDA-approved treatment, and it would've been life-threatening for me. Federal funding is CRITICAL for science in the US, and it benefits us all. Please fight for it.
Reposted by Rachel Henderson, PhD
As a rare disease patient, I made great friends through patient support groups. We were so excited to meet at the annual FDA-NIH Rare Disease Day tomorrow. But it’s cancelled.
udnf.org/udnf-stateme...
udnf.org/udnf-stateme...
Statement on Rare Disease Day, Research and Funding - UDNF
UDNF Statement on Rare Disease Day 2025 Cancellation, Research Funding, and Policy Impacts on the Ultra-Rare and Undiagnosed Community
udnf.org
February 27, 2025 at 3:10 AM
As a rare disease patient, I made great friends through patient support groups. We were so excited to meet at the annual FDA-NIH Rare Disease Day tomorrow. But it’s cancelled.
udnf.org/udnf-stateme...
udnf.org/udnf-stateme...
Reposted by Rachel Henderson, PhD
Once again, these include a host of individual and institutional training grants that broaden participation in biomedical research: IMSD, MARC, U-RISE, G-RISE, Bridges to Doctorates, MOSAIC, etc.
This strategy is nefarious and in direct conflict with the recent injunction against Trump anti-DEI EOs
This strategy is nefarious and in direct conflict with the recent injunction against Trump anti-DEI EOs
More Friday night villainy: many NIH grant opportunities that disappeared two weeks ago and then reappeared last week have now disappeared again 🤬
Search grants.gov with close date in ascending order - 2 pages with closing dates now today (2/21/25), many with archive date tomorrow (2/22/25)
Search grants.gov with close date in ascending order - 2 pages with closing dates now today (2/21/25), many with archive date tomorrow (2/22/25)
Home | Grants.govLock
grants.gov
February 22, 2025 at 2:01 AM
Once again, these include a host of individual and institutional training grants that broaden participation in biomedical research: IMSD, MARC, U-RISE, G-RISE, Bridges to Doctorates, MOSAIC, etc.
This strategy is nefarious and in direct conflict with the recent injunction against Trump anti-DEI EOs
This strategy is nefarious and in direct conflict with the recent injunction against Trump anti-DEI EOs
Reposted by Rachel Henderson, PhD
Several good things are happening according r/fednews so I am going to drop them here. If federal workers are fighting back, how much more us?
A thread/
A thread/
February 22, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Several good things are happening according r/fednews so I am going to drop them here. If federal workers are fighting back, how much more us?
A thread/
A thread/
Reposted by Rachel Henderson, PhD
NEW: Trump actions on science may affect a generation as pauses + cuts in graduate admissions begin. “We had just flown them out, we told them we love you, we want to admit you, and then everything just stopped." "It's freezing everybody into inaction."
www.statnews.com/2025/02/19/t...
www.statnews.com/2025/02/19/t...
Graduate student admissions paused and cut back as universities react to Trump orders on research
In response to Trump science policies, universities are accepting fewer graduate students than normal and freezing positions, STAT has learned.
www.statnews.com
February 19, 2025 at 8:17 PM
NEW: Trump actions on science may affect a generation as pauses + cuts in graduate admissions begin. “We had just flown them out, we told them we love you, we want to admit you, and then everything just stopped." "It's freezing everybody into inaction."
www.statnews.com/2025/02/19/t...
www.statnews.com/2025/02/19/t...
Reposted by Rachel Henderson, PhD
Just saw an email sent to a student of mine from a REU canceling their program due to staffing & federal research funding uncertainties.
A REU was when I internalized my science ID & applying to grad school.
If this continues, it will devastate my students #1 pathway to STEM careers.
A REU was when I internalized my science ID & applying to grad school.
If this continues, it will devastate my students #1 pathway to STEM careers.
February 19, 2025 at 5:19 AM
Just saw an email sent to a student of mine from a REU canceling their program due to staffing & federal research funding uncertainties.
A REU was when I internalized my science ID & applying to grad school.
If this continues, it will devastate my students #1 pathway to STEM careers.
A REU was when I internalized my science ID & applying to grad school.
If this continues, it will devastate my students #1 pathway to STEM careers.
Reposted by Rachel Henderson, PhD
Yes. “People are doing things. You will meet them when YOU start doing things.”
Lots of information and resources in this one.
open.substack.com/pub/sherrily...
Lots of information and resources in this one.
open.substack.com/pub/sherrily...
Democracy is Crumbling. Is Anybody Doing Anything?
Yes. And You Can Too.
open.substack.com
February 10, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Yes. “People are doing things. You will meet them when YOU start doing things.”
Lots of information and resources in this one.
open.substack.com/pub/sherrily...
Lots of information and resources in this one.
open.substack.com/pub/sherrily...