Scott Rich, Ph.D.
@richcompneuro.bsky.social
Assistant Professor, UConn Department of Physiology and Neurobiology
Computational Neuroscientist studying neuronal heterogeneity | Proud Duke and Michigan alum | Views my own | richlab.pnb.uconn.edu
Occasionally shouts about college sports into the void
Computational Neuroscientist studying neuronal heterogeneity | Proud Duke and Michigan alum | Views my own | richlab.pnb.uconn.edu
Occasionally shouts about college sports into the void
Pinned
www.biorxiv.org
I interrupt your doomscrolling for some happier news: my lab’s first paper is on bioRxiv!!!
This study is our initial foray into describing the effects of time-varying cholinergic neuromodulation on neuronal microcircuit dynamics.
#NewPI #neuroskyence #compneurosky
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
This study is our initial foray into describing the effects of time-varying cholinergic neuromodulation on neuronal microcircuit dynamics.
#NewPI #neuroskyence #compneurosky
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
This is terrifying.
As university educators, if we can’t trust that students’ grades actually reflect their knowledge and understanding, where do we even start? How do we teach dozens (hundreds!) of students at a time if they don’t all have the appropriate foundation?
apple.news/ASXIhp9hAS1C...
As university educators, if we can’t trust that students’ grades actually reflect their knowledge and understanding, where do we even start? How do we teach dozens (hundreds!) of students at a time if they don’t all have the appropriate foundation?
apple.news/ASXIhp9hAS1C...
November 20, 2025 at 11:19 PM
This is terrifying.
As university educators, if we can’t trust that students’ grades actually reflect their knowledge and understanding, where do we even start? How do we teach dozens (hundreds!) of students at a time if they don’t all have the appropriate foundation?
apple.news/ASXIhp9hAS1C...
As university educators, if we can’t trust that students’ grades actually reflect their knowledge and understanding, where do we even start? How do we teach dozens (hundreds!) of students at a time if they don’t all have the appropriate foundation?
apple.news/ASXIhp9hAS1C...
One of the only recent time travel shows (spoiler alert for a years old show that’s spoiled in its own trailer?) that uses it as a proper storytelling device and not a gimmick. Plus, there’s an internal logic and rules that it sticks to for the whole run. Can’t recommend enough.
I’m glad Ricky Tiedemann made the Jays 40-man roster because when I see his name I think of the Netflix series Dark, and Dark was a great series, so now I’ll probably get tot think about it more if he earns a regular role the big leagues.
November 19, 2025 at 12:38 AM
One of the only recent time travel shows (spoiler alert for a years old show that’s spoiled in its own trailer?) that uses it as a proper storytelling device and not a gimmick. Plus, there’s an internal logic and rules that it sticks to for the whole run. Can’t recommend enough.
Grant resubmitted. With a four month old baby. Hallelujah!
I know I should feel some sense of pride/accomplishment/relief, but right now all I’m able to think about is what I would’ve improved if I had another month and/or a less sleep deprived brain.
#NewPI imposter syndrome at its finest!
I know I should feel some sense of pride/accomplishment/relief, but right now all I’m able to think about is what I would’ve improved if I had another month and/or a less sleep deprived brain.
#NewPI imposter syndrome at its finest!
November 17, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Grant resubmitted. With a four month old baby. Hallelujah!
I know I should feel some sense of pride/accomplishment/relief, but right now all I’m able to think about is what I would’ve improved if I had another month and/or a less sleep deprived brain.
#NewPI imposter syndrome at its finest!
I know I should feel some sense of pride/accomplishment/relief, but right now all I’m able to think about is what I would’ve improved if I had another month and/or a less sleep deprived brain.
#NewPI imposter syndrome at its finest!
Waiiiiit… does this apply to the resubmission in submitting Monday that is b 99.9% done?
I’m not sure if I appreciate the extra time or am bad I’ve worked so much to finish things this week only for it to be for naught.
It’s the latter 😡😡😡
I’m not sure if I appreciate the extra time or am bad I’ve worked so much to finish things this week only for it to be for naught.
It’s the latter 😡😡😡
NIH grant applicants:
October and November grant application submission *deadlines* will be rescheduled (🤯). Specific dates TBD.
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
October and November grant application submission *deadlines* will be rescheduled (🤯). Specific dates TBD.
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
NOT-OD-26-005: Interim Guidance on Reopening of NIH Extramural Activities
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts: Interim Guidance on Reopening of NIH Extramural Activities NOT-OD-26-005. NIH
grants.nih.gov
November 15, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Waiiiiit… does this apply to the resubmission in submitting Monday that is b 99.9% done?
I’m not sure if I appreciate the extra time or am bad I’ve worked so much to finish things this week only for it to be for naught.
It’s the latter 😡😡😡
I’m not sure if I appreciate the extra time or am bad I’ve worked so much to finish things this week only for it to be for naught.
It’s the latter 😡😡😡
Since the vibe around here has changed over the past 24 hours (wonder why?), let me add to the good news with my own:
After a long wait, the lab’s first paper received a very reasonable R&R!!!
After a long wait, the lab’s first paper received a very reasonable R&R!!!
November 5, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Since the vibe around here has changed over the past 24 hours (wonder why?), let me add to the good news with my own:
After a long wait, the lab’s first paper received a very reasonable R&R!!!
After a long wait, the lab’s first paper received a very reasonable R&R!!!
Can’t emphasize how good this is if it gets universally adopted.
I felt like such a burden on my (very supportive!) mentors every time I had to ask for another letter, or prod them about a deadline. It’s just an unnecessary extra stressor on everyone involved in the process.
I felt like such a burden on my (very supportive!) mentors every time I had to ask for another letter, or prod them about a deadline. It’s just an unnecessary extra stressor on everyone involved in the process.
The academic job market is doing something very good:
A lot of searches are *NO* longer asking for reference letters until applicants make the short list.
This makes is easier to apply for jobs, reduces the letter writing load for faculty, and makes the review process easier for committee members.
A lot of searches are *NO* longer asking for reference letters until applicants make the short list.
This makes is easier to apply for jobs, reduces the letter writing load for faculty, and makes the review process easier for committee members.
Dear academics
We could dramatically reduce our administrative workload if we all just agreed not to ask for reference letters until we made our list of finalists.
This is massive collective action problem has already been solved by…
*checks notes*
…every other industry on earth.
We could dramatically reduce our administrative workload if we all just agreed not to ask for reference letters until we made our list of finalists.
This is massive collective action problem has already been solved by…
*checks notes*
…every other industry on earth.
November 5, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Can’t emphasize how good this is if it gets universally adopted.
I felt like such a burden on my (very supportive!) mentors every time I had to ask for another letter, or prod them about a deadline. It’s just an unnecessary extra stressor on everyone involved in the process.
I felt like such a burden on my (very supportive!) mentors every time I had to ask for another letter, or prod them about a deadline. It’s just an unnecessary extra stressor on everyone involved in the process.
Umm… If KK Arnold has leveled up the way she seems to have nothing else matters, because everyone is going to be fighting for second behind UConn.
(Also: Hi fellow Chronicle alum! 😀)
(Also: Hi fellow Chronicle alum! 😀)
Janiah Barker's 3-ball looks so much cleaner than last year at UCLA
November 4, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Umm… If KK Arnold has leveled up the way she seems to have nothing else matters, because everyone is going to be fighting for second behind UConn.
(Also: Hi fellow Chronicle alum! 😀)
(Also: Hi fellow Chronicle alum! 😀)
Ummmm I think baseball is broken
November 2, 2025 at 3:41 AM
Ummmm I think baseball is broken
I’m at the #NewPI stage where I still respond to every email inquiry. It’s not sustainable, but I want to at least try.
But regularly getting emails addressed to “Dr. Scott” is going to burn that out of me quickly.
If you don’t take the time to know my name, do I need to take the time to reply?
But regularly getting emails addressed to “Dr. Scott” is going to burn that out of me quickly.
If you don’t take the time to know my name, do I need to take the time to reply?
October 29, 2025 at 12:11 AM
I’m at the #NewPI stage where I still respond to every email inquiry. It’s not sustainable, but I want to at least try.
But regularly getting emails addressed to “Dr. Scott” is going to burn that out of me quickly.
If you don’t take the time to know my name, do I need to take the time to reply?
But regularly getting emails addressed to “Dr. Scott” is going to burn that out of me quickly.
If you don’t take the time to know my name, do I need to take the time to reply?
There was a looooong time I was pushing to name our daughter Lyra, so when I say I’m excited for this it may be the understatement of the year.
(Aside: I hope all of us scientists are putting His Dark Materials in the hands of our children ASAP.)
apple.news/A6xaGr2gRTui...
(Aside: I hope all of us scientists are putting His Dark Materials in the hands of our children ASAP.)
apple.news/A6xaGr2gRTui...
‘I’m alive, but battered’: Philip Pullman’s new novel was a struggle — The Washington Post
After 30 years and two trilogies, Pullman reflects on the world of His Dark Materials.
apple.news
October 25, 2025 at 12:41 PM
There was a looooong time I was pushing to name our daughter Lyra, so when I say I’m excited for this it may be the understatement of the year.
(Aside: I hope all of us scientists are putting His Dark Materials in the hands of our children ASAP.)
apple.news/A6xaGr2gRTui...
(Aside: I hope all of us scientists are putting His Dark Materials in the hands of our children ASAP.)
apple.news/A6xaGr2gRTui...
Nearly a week and still stuck on a “Decision in Progress” status… I’ve never experienced a stall like this at this stage! By the time I get a decision it’ll be four full months, which seems unusually slow even for these unprecedented times 🫠🫠🫠
After 3+ months in review, the status on the lab’s first manuscript has finally progressed.
Cue the anxiety spike to every email until the decision comes. 😅🤔😂
🤞🤞🤞
Cue the anxiety spike to every email until the decision comes. 😅🤔😂
🤞🤞🤞
I interrupt your doomscrolling for some happier news: my lab’s first paper is on bioRxiv!!!
This study is our initial foray into describing the effects of time-varying cholinergic neuromodulation on neuronal microcircuit dynamics.
#NewPI #neuroskyence #compneurosky
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
This study is our initial foray into describing the effects of time-varying cholinergic neuromodulation on neuronal microcircuit dynamics.
#NewPI #neuroskyence #compneurosky
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
October 14, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Nearly a week and still stuck on a “Decision in Progress” status… I’ve never experienced a stall like this at this stage! By the time I get a decision it’ll be four full months, which seems unusually slow even for these unprecedented times 🫠🫠🫠
The first time my Dad duties have helped my work: my baby girl’s poop explosion just reset my brain enough to write the perfect sentence for an idea I had been agonizing over for the previous hour 😂😂😂
October 13, 2025 at 4:29 PM
The first time my Dad duties have helped my work: my baby girl’s poop explosion just reset my brain enough to write the perfect sentence for an idea I had been agonizing over for the previous hour 😂😂😂
Omg this worked back into happy anxiety mode GO TIGERS
In all my years of having my mental health disproportionately determined by sports (yes I’m aware of the problem!), I’ve never felt so… RESIGNED to the end of a once promising season like I am with these Detroit Tigers.
May this skeet anti-jinx them into playing actually competitive baseball.
May this skeet anti-jinx them into playing actually competitive baseball.
Watching the Tigers lose the way everyone knew for months they were going to lose, after being told it was fine, is frustrating, gotta say. No leadership.
October 8, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Omg this worked back into happy anxiety mode GO TIGERS
After 3+ months in review, the status on the lab’s first manuscript has finally progressed.
Cue the anxiety spike to every email until the decision comes. 😅🤔😂
🤞🤞🤞
Cue the anxiety spike to every email until the decision comes. 😅🤔😂
🤞🤞🤞
I interrupt your doomscrolling for some happier news: my lab’s first paper is on bioRxiv!!!
This study is our initial foray into describing the effects of time-varying cholinergic neuromodulation on neuronal microcircuit dynamics.
#NewPI #neuroskyence #compneurosky
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
This study is our initial foray into describing the effects of time-varying cholinergic neuromodulation on neuronal microcircuit dynamics.
#NewPI #neuroskyence #compneurosky
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org
October 8, 2025 at 8:43 PM
After 3+ months in review, the status on the lab’s first manuscript has finally progressed.
Cue the anxiety spike to every email until the decision comes. 😅🤔😂
🤞🤞🤞
Cue the anxiety spike to every email until the decision comes. 😅🤔😂
🤞🤞🤞
In all my years of having my mental health disproportionately determined by sports (yes I’m aware of the problem!), I’ve never felt so… RESIGNED to the end of a once promising season like I am with these Detroit Tigers.
May this skeet anti-jinx them into playing actually competitive baseball.
May this skeet anti-jinx them into playing actually competitive baseball.
Watching the Tigers lose the way everyone knew for months they were going to lose, after being told it was fine, is frustrating, gotta say. No leadership.
October 8, 2025 at 8:41 PM
In all my years of having my mental health disproportionately determined by sports (yes I’m aware of the problem!), I’ve never felt so… RESIGNED to the end of a once promising season like I am with these Detroit Tigers.
May this skeet anti-jinx them into playing actually competitive baseball.
May this skeet anti-jinx them into playing actually competitive baseball.
First grant as a Dad submitted!
Ok, it was an LOI.
But on newborn-addled levels of sleep and time to work, I’m still counting this as a big win… regardless of the outcome 😀
#AcademicSky #neurosky #compneurosky #NewPI
Ok, it was an LOI.
But on newborn-addled levels of sleep and time to work, I’m still counting this as a big win… regardless of the outcome 😀
#AcademicSky #neurosky #compneurosky #NewPI
October 1, 2025 at 4:35 PM
First grant as a Dad submitted!
Ok, it was an LOI.
But on newborn-addled levels of sleep and time to work, I’m still counting this as a big win… regardless of the outcome 😀
#AcademicSky #neurosky #compneurosky #NewPI
Ok, it was an LOI.
But on newborn-addled levels of sleep and time to work, I’m still counting this as a big win… regardless of the outcome 😀
#AcademicSky #neurosky #compneurosky #NewPI
Counterpoint: the never-ending gluten-free fad creates so many more options to those of us who ACTUALLY have Celiac 😂
apple.news/AGhFj5SStQb2...
apple.news/AGhFj5SStQb2...
Should You Be on a Gluten-Free Diet? — Scientific American
Unless you have celiac disease, there are few health benefits to a gluten-free diet This article was made possible by the support of Yakult and produced independently by Scientific American‘s board of...
apple.news
September 7, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Counterpoint: the never-ending gluten-free fad creates so many more options to those of us who ACTUALLY have Celiac 😂
apple.news/AGhFj5SStQb2...
apple.news/AGhFj5SStQb2...
This snippet is from an article on the “AI bubble” (apple.news/AYexgL6UdTrO...), but next time a University proposes slashing support staff in response to budget challenges we should all wave it in their faces.
September 7, 2025 at 2:54 PM
This snippet is from an article on the “AI bubble” (apple.news/AYexgL6UdTrO...), but next time a University proposes slashing support staff in response to budget challenges we should all wave it in their faces.
We're back with Episode 747 to recap a weekend of college football! @richcompneuro.bsky.social joins @blazindw.bsky.social to discuss #Duke and the rest of the big results from the weekend.
traffic.megaphone.fm/RRTET2036729...
traffic.megaphone.fm/RRTET2036729...
September 2, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Anti-jinxing this until the cows come home.
September 1, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Anti-jinxing this until the cows come home.
“That easy A’s would lead students to phone in their coursework should have been predictable. What’s surprising is that the system has also failed to reduce stress. The percentage of first-year students who have received counseling has nearly tripled in the past decade.”
apple.news/AlZopGWfBSL-...
apple.news/AlZopGWfBSL-...
The Perverse Consequences of the Easy A — The Atlantic
In the era of grade inflation, students at top colleges are more stressed than ever.
apple.news
August 29, 2025 at 1:17 AM
“That easy A’s would lead students to phone in their coursework should have been predictable. What’s surprising is that the system has also failed to reduce stress. The percentage of first-year students who have received counseling has nearly tripled in the past decade.”
apple.news/AlZopGWfBSL-...
apple.news/AlZopGWfBSL-...
The podcast I make semi-regular cameos hosting interviewed Jon Scheyer today. Not surreal at all.
We’ve teased it, and now here it is: on Episode 745, we sit down for an exclusive interview with #Duke head coach Jon Scheyer! Available now wherever you get your podcasts!
traffic.megaphone.fm/RRTET4918873...
@blazindw.bsky.social | @ffsn.bsky.social
traffic.megaphone.fm/RRTET4918873...
@blazindw.bsky.social | @ffsn.bsky.social
August 28, 2025 at 12:56 AM
The podcast I make semi-regular cameos hosting interviewed Jon Scheyer today. Not surreal at all.
If @mgoblog.bsky.social can be excited for college sports after this, then I feel so much less guilty about my plans to use football season to ignore the dismantling of American science for at least one day a week.
Worth a read by everyone, sports fan or no.
Go Blue.
mgoblog.com/content/stor...
Worth a read by everyone, sports fan or no.
Go Blue.
mgoblog.com/content/stor...
The Story 2025: Please Put The Car In Park
things fall apart; put them back together
mgoblog.com
August 22, 2025 at 8:14 PM
If @mgoblog.bsky.social can be excited for college sports after this, then I feel so much less guilty about my plans to use football season to ignore the dismantling of American science for at least one day a week.
Worth a read by everyone, sports fan or no.
Go Blue.
mgoblog.com/content/stor...
Worth a read by everyone, sports fan or no.
Go Blue.
mgoblog.com/content/stor...
Every mentor I ever had warned me about this, and I STILL wasn’t prepared for how much of my life is emails.
Especially when I’m lecturing to ~300 young premeds…
Especially when I’m lecturing to ~300 young premeds…
The thing about being a PI they never warn you about is how the email becomes a flood.
Just kidding they all warn you about that and guess what turns out it's true.
Just kidding they all warn you about that and guess what turns out it's true.
August 20, 2025 at 1:41 AM
Every mentor I ever had warned me about this, and I STILL wasn’t prepared for how much of my life is emails.
Especially when I’m lecturing to ~300 young premeds…
Especially when I’m lecturing to ~300 young premeds…