Selina A. Ruzi, PhD
@ruzimyrmex.bsky.social
IRB Application Analyst @ UIowa| Former postdoc at @NCState and @naturalsciences | PhD from UIUC | Reposts do not necessarily = endorsements | She/her l 🐜 🌱 🐝 and science of scicomm
website: https://selinaaruzi.weebly.com/
Etsy: whisperwoodyarns.etsy.com
website: https://selinaaruzi.weebly.com/
Etsy: whisperwoodyarns.etsy.com
Reposted by Selina A. Ruzi, PhD
We think there is a lot of room for natural history museums to produce interesting, unique, and informative content made for online audiences. A lot of those stories could be from the unique collections and research happening at these institutions. (research project led by @ruzimyrmex.bsky.social !)
September 23, 2025 at 3:27 PM
We think there is a lot of room for natural history museums to produce interesting, unique, and informative content made for online audiences. A lot of those stories could be from the unique collections and research happening at these institutions. (research project led by @ruzimyrmex.bsky.social !)
Reposted by Selina A. Ruzi, PhD
in short, there is an opportunity gap for natural history museums in the US to use YouTube better! In particular, research and collections functions of natural history museums are often not featured in what they communicate via YouTube. We show this via surveying 400+ videos from 28 US museums.
September 23, 2025 at 3:23 PM
in short, there is an opportunity gap for natural history museums in the US to use YouTube better! In particular, research and collections functions of natural history museums are often not featured in what they communicate via YouTube. We show this via surveying 400+ videos from 28 US museums.
Our preprint is now up! We found that natural science museums are not often posting about their research and collections on YouTube by categorizing posts made by 28 museums in two time frames.
We put out some social science research via preprint: "Natural history museums are missing an opportunity to present research and collections on YouTube" doi.org/10.1101/2025...
Natural history museums are missing an opportunity to present research and collections on YouTube
There have been repeated calls in the US for scientists to communicate the importance of biological collections to both a general public audience and to policy makers. Natural history museums that hou...
doi.org
September 23, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Our preprint is now up! We found that natural science museums are not often posting about their research and collections on YouTube by categorizing posts made by 28 museums in two time frames.
Reposted by Selina A. Ruzi, PhD
We put out some social science research via preprint: "Natural history museums are missing an opportunity to present research and collections on YouTube" doi.org/10.1101/2025...
Natural history museums are missing an opportunity to present research and collections on YouTube
There have been repeated calls in the US for scientists to communicate the importance of biological collections to both a general public audience and to policy makers. Natural history museums that hou...
doi.org
September 23, 2025 at 3:18 PM
We put out some social science research via preprint: "Natural history museums are missing an opportunity to present research and collections on YouTube" doi.org/10.1101/2025...
Reposted by Selina A. Ruzi, PhD
Marshall Shepherd is a remarkable scientist, past AMS president, and science communicator. This piece explains why we all need basic science in easy to understand terms. 🧪💡🔌☀️💨🔋 www.forbes.com/sites/marsha...
Scientific Research Makes Life Better Even If You Don’t Understand It
Basic science research can seem complex, frivolous, and meaningless, but it makes our daily lives better even we don't understand it all.
www.forbes.com
March 23, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Marshall Shepherd is a remarkable scientist, past AMS president, and science communicator. This piece explains why we all need basic science in easy to understand terms. 🧪💡🔌☀️💨🔋 www.forbes.com/sites/marsha...
Reposted by Selina A. Ruzi, PhD
Today, a broad coalition of scientific professional societies who represent over 92,000 scientists are speaking out against the politicization and demonization of Federally funded science and government scientist jobs.
It was an honor to help the Union of Concerned Scientists with this! 🧪🌎
It was an honor to help the Union of Concerned Scientists with this! 🧪🌎
48 Scientific Societies Representing Almost 100,000 Scientists Ask Congress to Protect the Future of Science
48 scientific societies representing almost 100,000 scientists signed on to a letter asking Congress to protect the future of science
www.ucsusa.org
March 3, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Today, a broad coalition of scientific professional societies who represent over 92,000 scientists are speaking out against the politicization and demonization of Federally funded science and government scientist jobs.
It was an honor to help the Union of Concerned Scientists with this! 🧪🌎
It was an honor to help the Union of Concerned Scientists with this! 🧪🌎
Reposted by Selina A. Ruzi, PhD
Upon learning that yesterday would be my last day as a program officer at the National Science Foundation, I shared this parting message with my colleagues. The next few months will be frenetic and stressful for them. Here are some things that you can do to help them with the mission ahead. (1)
February 19, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Upon learning that yesterday would be my last day as a program officer at the National Science Foundation, I shared this parting message with my colleagues. The next few months will be frenetic and stressful for them. Here are some things that you can do to help them with the mission ahead. (1)
Reposted by Selina A. Ruzi, PhD
To probationary federal employees who have been terminated:
Democracy Forward has filed a first-of-its-kind class-wide complaint with the Office of Special Counsel. If civil servants want to join in the complaint, you can email info@civilservicestrong.org
Democracy Forward has filed a first-of-its-kind class-wide complaint with the Office of Special Counsel. If civil servants want to join in the complaint, you can email info@civilservicestrong.org
Civil Service Strong: Resources for Civil Servants
Effective. Impartial. Resilient. The civil service comprises dedicated, nonpartisan federal employees who work tirelessly across the country and around the world to ensure the effective delivery of go...
www.civilservicestrong.org
February 16, 2025 at 1:37 AM
To probationary federal employees who have been terminated:
Democracy Forward has filed a first-of-its-kind class-wide complaint with the Office of Special Counsel. If civil servants want to join in the complaint, you can email info@civilservicestrong.org
Democracy Forward has filed a first-of-its-kind class-wide complaint with the Office of Special Counsel. If civil servants want to join in the complaint, you can email info@civilservicestrong.org
Reposted by Selina A. Ruzi, PhD
Well just received this email regarding a paper under review:
February 4, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Well just received this email regarding a paper under review:
Reposted by Selina A. Ruzi, PhD
It would be fantastic if major federal institutions would acknowledge that the executive branch cannot legally unilaterally cancel or redistribute congressionally appropriated funding on ideological grounds and thus they have no legal obligation to comply with such directives
Trump funding freeze a blatant violation of Constitution, federal law: Legal experts
The Constitution, federal law and court decisions make it clear: President Donald Trump's order to pause federal funding is against the law, legal experts tell ABC News.
abcnews.go.com
January 31, 2025 at 4:54 AM
It would be fantastic if major federal institutions would acknowledge that the executive branch cannot legally unilaterally cancel or redistribute congressionally appropriated funding on ideological grounds and thus they have no legal obligation to comply with such directives
Reposted by Selina A. Ruzi, PhD
Yes, this is the lab that hosts “drag and tag,” shark tagging research with drag queens that raises money for Florida LGBTQ youth.
We could sure use your support, and you get an amazing adventure out of it!
www.scientificamerican.com/article/drag...
We could sure use your support, and you get an amazing adventure out of it!
www.scientificamerican.com/article/drag...
January 31, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Yes, this is the lab that hosts “drag and tag,” shark tagging research with drag queens that raises money for Florida LGBTQ youth.
We could sure use your support, and you get an amazing adventure out of it!
www.scientificamerican.com/article/drag...
We could sure use your support, and you get an amazing adventure out of it!
www.scientificamerican.com/article/drag...
Reposted by Selina A. Ruzi, PhD
LAWLESS NSF:
Every NSF employee who is following the director on this funding freeze and fishing expedition is in violation of US code.
per the post below, this language has been reauthorized twice, most recently by Biden in 2022 as the CHIPS Act.
www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/...
🧪
Every NSF employee who is following the director on this funding freeze and fishing expedition is in violation of US code.
per the post below, this language has been reauthorized twice, most recently by Biden in 2022 as the CHIPS Act.
www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/...
🧪
January 31, 2025 at 12:23 AM
LAWLESS NSF:
Every NSF employee who is following the director on this funding freeze and fishing expedition is in violation of US code.
per the post below, this language has been reauthorized twice, most recently by Biden in 2022 as the CHIPS Act.
www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/...
🧪
Every NSF employee who is following the director on this funding freeze and fishing expedition is in violation of US code.
per the post below, this language has been reauthorized twice, most recently by Biden in 2022 as the CHIPS Act.
www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/...
🧪
Reposted by Selina A. Ruzi, PhD
I wonder if any lawyers are willing to take this on? Because I think a lot of us scientists would be willing to challenge these attacks directly with the right representation.
LAWLESS NSF:
Every NSF employee who is following the director on this funding freeze and fishing expedition is in violation of US code.
per the post below, this language has been reauthorized twice, most recently by Biden in 2022 as the CHIPS Act.
www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/...
🧪
Every NSF employee who is following the director on this funding freeze and fishing expedition is in violation of US code.
per the post below, this language has been reauthorized twice, most recently by Biden in 2022 as the CHIPS Act.
www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/...
🧪
January 31, 2025 at 2:52 PM
I wonder if any lawyers are willing to take this on? Because I think a lot of us scientists would be willing to challenge these attacks directly with the right representation.
Reposted by Selina A. Ruzi, PhD
We have to protect the most vulnerable. Because people are people and so we care about them. (I was going to say that also fascism starts with the most vulnerable and then comes for the rest of us, but really the first point is enough.)
Hey, I know there are lots of things to be angry, activated, and/or scared about right now. But I am noticing that coverage of the executive orders that are specifically harmful to trans children and adults are barely being discussed by anyone except trans journalists.
Stop this shit.
Stop this shit.
January 31, 2025 at 2:05 PM
We have to protect the most vulnerable. Because people are people and so we care about them. (I was going to say that also fascism starts with the most vulnerable and then comes for the rest of us, but really the first point is enough.)
Reposted by Selina A. Ruzi, PhD
This is not business as usual.
It’s not just a change in funding priorities going forward; it is the reneging on funding agreements and is profoundly disruptive for even those grants that will be found to be compliant.
Meanwhile, trainees who often live paycheck to paycheck are going unpaid.
It’s not just a change in funding priorities going forward; it is the reneging on funding agreements and is profoundly disruptive for even those grants that will be found to be compliant.
Meanwhile, trainees who often live paycheck to paycheck are going unpaid.
EXCLUSIVE: NSF starts vetting all grants to comply with Trump’s orders
Grantee accounts remain frozen, while union accuses NSF of ignoring rules governing peer review
www.science.org
January 31, 2025 at 12:35 PM
This is not business as usual.
It’s not just a change in funding priorities going forward; it is the reneging on funding agreements and is profoundly disruptive for even those grants that will be found to be compliant.
Meanwhile, trainees who often live paycheck to paycheck are going unpaid.
It’s not just a change in funding priorities going forward; it is the reneging on funding agreements and is profoundly disruptive for even those grants that will be found to be compliant.
Meanwhile, trainees who often live paycheck to paycheck are going unpaid.
Reposted by Selina A. Ruzi, PhD
It is simply not enough for universities to say, “Our grants & research offices are looking into how research will be affected by the latest directive.”
University leaders must actively and very publicly make the case for the kind of work many of us do. The silence on this front is deafening.
University leaders must actively and very publicly make the case for the kind of work many of us do. The silence on this front is deafening.
January 31, 2025 at 3:16 AM
It is simply not enough for universities to say, “Our grants & research offices are looking into how research will be affected by the latest directive.”
University leaders must actively and very publicly make the case for the kind of work many of us do. The silence on this front is deafening.
University leaders must actively and very publicly make the case for the kind of work many of us do. The silence on this front is deafening.
Reposted by Selina A. Ruzi, PhD
It’s official: all funding requests made on Tuesday by postdocs for their salaries have been unilaterally rejected by NSF.
January 30, 2025 at 7:51 PM
It’s official: all funding requests made on Tuesday by postdocs for their salaries have been unilaterally rejected by NSF.
Reposted by Selina A. Ruzi, PhD
Make them tell you, specifically, what you're not allowed to do. Don't make changes you guess that they want. Don't offer them a menu of things that you infer they might be telling you not to do. Do the work you proposed, and received funding to do, unless instructed otherwise in specific detail.
January 29, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Make them tell you, specifically, what you're not allowed to do. Don't make changes you guess that they want. Don't offer them a menu of things that you infer they might be telling you not to do. Do the work you proposed, and received funding to do, unless instructed otherwise in specific detail.
Reposted by Selina A. Ruzi, PhD
The National Science Foundation has canceled all grant review panels this week. It's unclear how long the pause could last.
National Science Foundation freezes grant review in response to Trump executive orders
The National Science Foundation has canceled all grant review panels this week. It's unclear how long the pause could last.
www.npr.org
January 28, 2025 at 1:32 PM
The National Science Foundation has canceled all grant review panels this week. It's unclear how long the pause could last.
Reposted by Selina A. Ruzi, PhD
If you’re in the US and you’d like to know what projects and vital services federal grants currently fund in your state, you can search here: www.usaspending.gov
And you can find the contact information for your elected representatives here: www.usa.gov/elected-offi...
They need to hear from you.
And you can find the contact information for your elected representatives here: www.usa.gov/elected-offi...
They need to hear from you.
USAspending.gov
www.usaspending.gov
January 28, 2025 at 4:59 AM
If you’re in the US and you’d like to know what projects and vital services federal grants currently fund in your state, you can search here: www.usaspending.gov
And you can find the contact information for your elected representatives here: www.usa.gov/elected-offi...
They need to hear from you.
And you can find the contact information for your elected representatives here: www.usa.gov/elected-offi...
They need to hear from you.
The PRFB funded my first postdoc position. Very sad to see it get archived.
Looks like the following programs in #NSF BIO have been 'archived':
BRC-BIO - new.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
BIO-LEAPS - new.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
PRFB - new.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
BRC-BIO - new.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
BIO-LEAPS - new.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
PRFB - new.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
Building Research Capacity of New Faculty in Biology (BRC-BIO)
new.nsf.gov
January 23, 2025 at 9:16 PM
The PRFB funded my first postdoc position. Very sad to see it get archived.
Reposted by Selina A. Ruzi, PhD
NIH and other federal health agencies have been instructed to cease external communications indefinitely. This means that grant programs—the money that funds life-saving university and hospital research—are currently in limbo. This includes VA research on veterans’ health.
January 23, 2025 at 12:03 AM
NIH and other federal health agencies have been instructed to cease external communications indefinitely. This means that grant programs—the money that funds life-saving university and hospital research—are currently in limbo. This includes VA research on veterans’ health.
Reposted by Selina A. Ruzi, PhD
Communications shutdown. Travel ban. Canceled study sections. Now a hiring freeze?
Shutting down the NIH indefinitely without stated cause is literally an act of sabotage.
Left: yesterday. Right: today.
Shutting down the NIH indefinitely without stated cause is literally an act of sabotage.
Left: yesterday. Right: today.
January 22, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Communications shutdown. Travel ban. Canceled study sections. Now a hiring freeze?
Shutting down the NIH indefinitely without stated cause is literally an act of sabotage.
Left: yesterday. Right: today.
Shutting down the NIH indefinitely without stated cause is literally an act of sabotage.
Left: yesterday. Right: today.
Why not :)
This is a pleasing meme. I will talk about nice things and I’d love to hear about yours.
1 like=1 thing I love
This is a pleasing meme. I will talk about nice things and I’d love to hear about yours.
1 like=1 thing I love
This is a pleasing meme. I will talk about nice things and I'd love to hear about yours.
1 like=1 thing I love
1 like=1 thing I love
January 22, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Why not :)
This is a pleasing meme. I will talk about nice things and I’d love to hear about yours.
1 like=1 thing I love
This is a pleasing meme. I will talk about nice things and I’d love to hear about yours.
1 like=1 thing I love
Reposted by Selina A. Ruzi, PhD
We've opened registration for our annual BugShot insect photography workshop! This summer we'll be in Portal, Arizona for the start of the monsoon.
And for the first time, slo-motion video guy @dradriansmith.bsky.social is on board as an instructor.
www.bugshot.net/bugshot-port...
And for the first time, slo-motion video guy @dradriansmith.bsky.social is on board as an instructor.
www.bugshot.net/bugshot-port...
BugShot Portal Arizona — BugShot
4 days in Portal, Arizona photographing cool bugs with Adrian Smith, Alex Wild, and John Abbott!
www.bugshot.net
January 21, 2025 at 9:18 PM
We've opened registration for our annual BugShot insect photography workshop! This summer we'll be in Portal, Arizona for the start of the monsoon.
And for the first time, slo-motion video guy @dradriansmith.bsky.social is on board as an instructor.
www.bugshot.net/bugshot-port...
And for the first time, slo-motion video guy @dradriansmith.bsky.social is on board as an instructor.
www.bugshot.net/bugshot-port...