Rachael Kramp
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rayinscience.bsky.social
Rachael Kramp
@rayinscience.bsky.social
80 followers 66 following 2 posts
PhD candidate at the University of Pittsburgh. Studying how the microbiome influences infection dynamics. Catch me in the woods finding toads or netting guppies 🎣
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Reposted by Rachael Kramp
davidimiller.bsky.social
4/4 But please don't stop with social media.

The NSF union letter has some great messaging tips for making calls & media outreach too (see below).

And don't underestimate the importance of engaging your local communities and media, esp representatives.

The time for action is RIGHT NOW!!
NSF programming keeps America’s youth ahead in securing the jobs of the future. • We fund programs that integrate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) into early learning. Structured activities help children learn and be curious or interested in these areas at an early age. We fund programs that train teachers to deliver best-in-class STEM education to K-12 students, making STEM relevant and engaging to kids of all ages. • NSF programs often provide support for teachers in terms of teaching aids but also offering increased competency, impact and quality of teaching through training, access to curricula, and supplementing salaries. • NSF’s support to K-12 schools, community colleges, and other postsecondary training opportunities helps produce talented and skilled job seekers that are needed by leading American industries (many of which currently report a lack of qualified applicants). NSF programs create jobs and fuel the economy in all 50 states. • The overwhelming majority of the funding that Congress allocates to NSF is redistributed via awards to organizations around the USA. Operating costs consume only a small percentage of the budget. • Local communities are benefactors of the jobs created by organizations receiving funding through NSF grants. This includes programs that support small businesses, and startups. • As a result of the ongoing attacks on science, millions of hard-working Americans will potentially lose their livelihoods, health insurance, and slide into poverty. Sample Call Script: Hi, my name is _______________ and I am calling about recent cuts to NSF grants. These cuts were made by political appointees, without input from the non-political scientists and program staff. I strongly oppose cuts to programs that are critical to American innovation, national security, and leadership. I urge/demand Congressman/Senator ____________________ to do everything in his/her power to protect NSF funding and stop the politicization of science. For use with outreach to local reporters (print, TV, radio) Good Morning, National Science Foundation grants in [our area] are under attack. [My organization] is at risk of losing/recently received notice that we lost $X in funding. The funds we receive from NSF allow us to [brief program description, in layman’s terms]. [Include 2-3 sentences about how the local community benefits from your work]. I would be happy to tell you more about how our work impacts our community and the effect loss of funding will have on [Community Name]. Please let me know if I can provide you with more information or if you would like to talk. Sincerely, Name Sample Letter to the Editor Dear Editor, I am writing to express concern about the politicization of science in our nation. For almost 75 years, the National Science Foundation has funded scientific research, national security, innovation and leadership across our nation. It has helped ensure global dominance and drive the American economy. Recently, NSF grants have been cut with no warning and no rationale other than “to protect the interests of the government.” Even more troubling, canceled programs are being deleted from databases as if they never existed. The American people take tremendous pride in our scientific leadership. Science should inspire wonder, expand our economy, and position our nation as the global leader. It should not be used as a political weapon. Sincerely, Name
May 1, 2025 at 5:26 PM
rayinscience.bsky.social
Check out our exciting new paper!
February 17, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Reposted by Rachael Kramp
faithrovenolt.bsky.social
New paper out in @animalecology.bsky.social led by the awesome Izabelle Weiler and @rayinscience.bsky.social on how parental infection affects offspring quantity and quality. Spoiler: previously infected fathers had more offspring but mothers' had more resistant offspring doi.org/10.1111/1365...
Sex‐dependent effects of infection on guppy reproductive fitness and offspring parasite resistance
We infected offspring of guppy, Poecilia reticulata, pairs in which either the father or the mother had previously been infected. We found that, in accordance with parental investment theory, fathers...
doi.org
February 17, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Reposted by Rachael Kramp
napaaqtuk.bsky.social
Long layover on my way back to CT meant I had time to visit my favorite used bookstore in Anchorage, Tidal wave, and grab dinner and boba tea with former undergrad in my lab, now PhD student at the University of Pittsburgh, Rachael Kramp @rayinscience.bsky.social
Two smiling people in a parking lot with mountains in the background
July 6, 2024 at 2:51 AM
Reposted by Rachael Kramp
biorxiv-ecology.bsky.social
Infection affects guppy reproductive fitness and offspring parasite resistance https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.10.29.564622v1
Infection affects guppy reproductive fitness and offspring parasite resistance https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.10.29.564622v1
Infection imposes energetic costs on hosts. Hosts typically respond by shifting resources, potential
www.biorxiv.org
November 2, 2023 at 3:32 AM