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katie, phd!

@sciencekatie.bsky.social

360 followers 670 following 32 posts

neuroscience phd | first-gen college grad

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katie, phd!

@sciencekatie.bsky.social

April 29, 2025 at 7:37 PM

katie, phd!

@sciencekatie.bsky.social

5/5
And thanks @laurakwhite.bsky.social for the amazing presentation, and this list of action items.

And in the longer term, people will stop pursuing PhDs and other research-based degrees or positions. Universities research revenue will plummet, which they will have to make up for. This could lead to tuition increases. Education in the US will become increasingly expensive, and therefore increasingly inaccessible. Great scientists will migrate away from the US, which will no longer be the research capital of the world.

NIH funded research makes America great. What action can you take this week to stand up for science?
Can you call your representatives? Look then up at reps.fyi
Are you part of a union? Can you be?
Do you have a contact with local media?
Can you educate others?
Can you connect with organizers for state capitol or DC-based protests in support of science funding on March 7? (see @cdelawalla.bsky.social)
Can you volunteer your graphic design or data analysis skills to those doing outreach?
Can you share with your students?
Do you know any generous billionaires?

This list is taken from Laura White's presentation, The War On Science (@laurakwhite.bsky.social)

February 10, 2025 at 8:57 PM

katie, phd!

@sciencekatie.bsky.social

4/5

This change will devastate biomedical research in the United States of America.

Here's what that will look like in the immediate term. Your loved ones enrolled in clinical trials to treat their cancers, mental health crises, and other ailments will lose their treatment. Hundreds of thousands of University employees will lose their jobs. Drug development in the US will slow to a crawl, and currently untreatable diseases will remain that way. University-affiliated hospitals and medical centers will have to significantly reduce capacity, and you may be refused care.

February 10, 2025 at 8:57 PM

katie, phd!

@sciencekatie.bsky.social

3/5

While it is difficult to quantify exactly who is spending the indirect costs, and how they contribute to research, everyone agrees that they serve an essential purpose: allowing researchers to focus on their research, because the institution will handle the rest. Paying the water bill means I can dilute my samples, AND wash my hands in the bathroom. Paying for electricity means I can power the microscope, AND the kettle in the kitchenette. Paying the custodial staff helps keep everyone's research area clean and safe.

On Friday, February 7th, 2025, the US government capped the indirect cost rate at a maximum of 15% for all institutions receiving NIH funding, effective immediately upon start of business Monday. This equates to a loss of hundreds of millions of dollars for most top research institutions in the US.

February 10, 2025 at 8:57 PM

katie, phd!

@sciencekatie.bsky.social

2/5

What do NIH funds pay for? 1. Direct costs - a portion of the money goes to the applicant, called the Principal Investigator, for costs directly associated with performing the research. For example, buying equipment, purchasing reagents, traveling to conferences, paying publishing fees. 2. Indirect costs - another portion goes to the institution, to cover expenses not directly related to the proposed research, yet still crucial to getting the work done. For example, paying electricity bills, controlled substances regulation, safety compliance, hazardous chemical management, equipment maintenance.

Indirect cost rates are carefully negotiated between the NIH and the institutions, and the average indirect cost rate is around 30%. So, at an average university, if $100,000 goes to the Principal Investigator via Direct Costs, then an additional $30,000 goes to the institution via Indirect Costs. Institutions with greater research activity will have a greater indirect cost rate. Harvard University has a 69% indirect cost rate. So if $100,000 goes to the Principal Investigator via Direct Costs, then an additional $69,000 goes to Harvard University via Indirect Costs. University of Michigan has a 56% indirect cost rate. So if $100,000 foes to the Principal Investigator via Direct Costs, then an additional $56,000 goes to the University of Michigan via Indirect costs.

February 10, 2025 at 8:57 PM

katie, phd!

@sciencekatie.bsky.social

I'm renewing my yearly trainings on Responsible Conduct of Research... and feeling represented by this image from the presentation😅

but actually, I'm glad to see UM acknowledging the systemic factors that contribute to research misconduct, rather than just saying "some people are bad"