Saskia de Vries
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sejdevries.bsky.social
Saskia de Vries
@sejdevries.bsky.social
3.3K followers 1.1K following 90 posts
🏳️‍🌈🧠🔬🚴‍♀️ Neuroscientist. Associate Director of Data and Outreach at Allen Institute for Neural Dynamics. Focused on how we do Science in the Open. She/her.
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Saskia de Vries
hansonmark.bsky.social
URGENT: FlyBase has lost practically all its funding overnight; even user fees are tied up in denied grant funding. 🤬🤯

Any lab using @flybase.bsky.social please donate using the link in post below.

This incredible community, on whose backs our #Drosophila labs depend, can't be left out to dry.
marcsdionne.bsky.social Marc Dionne @marcsdionne.bsky.social · Jun 3
My lab studies bacterial infections. We spend a lot of time looking at (or for) species-specific genetic and genomic databases for hosts and microbes. FlyBase is the best of all—there is literally no comparison. Its existence is under threat. Please donate.
www.philanthropy.cam.ac.uk/give-to-camb...
Drosophila Genetic Database
The Drosophila Genetic Database, FlyBase, is on the brink of collapse due to the sudden termination of the FlyBase NIH grant, which includes salaries for 5 literature curators based at the University ...
www.philanthropy.cam.ac.uk
June 3, 2025 at 5:20 PM
sejdevries.bsky.social
We said goodbye to our sweet pup Hobbes yesterday. We miss him so much.
A very loved dog being held by his moms on his last adventure to the beach.
May 21, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Reposted by Saskia de Vries
ampolter.bsky.social
I am thinking a lot today about how heavy things feel in my world of faculty doing scientific research. There's the immediate chaos and panic about our ability to pay people and continue our research. But there's also a deeper grief at watching everything get bulldozed for no reason
May 15, 2025 at 2:35 AM
Reposted by Saskia de Vries
davidmalakoff.bsky.social
Another scoop from Jeff Mervis (@policyhound.bsky.social): NSF's ~1400 grant terminations have disproportionately affected PIs from groups underrepresented in science: women, racial & ethnic minorities, & those with disabilities. 1/3
www.science.org/content/arti...
Trump officials take steps toward a radically different NSF
Efforts to shrink staff, budget, and focus have alarmed members of Congress
www.science.org
May 13, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Reposted by Saskia de Vries
sophiefrommars.bsky.social
if a man wanted free reign to attack women he wouldn't try to be seen as a trans woman he would try to be seen as, say it with me class

a police officer
May 10, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Reposted by Saskia de Vries
neurovium.bsky.social
Last month, we organized #ODIN2025 @alleninstitute.org (along w Karel, Saskia @sejdevries.bsky.social , David & Satra) with the theme "Integrating Scales & Modalities".
See the videos📣👇
Full playlist: youtube.com/playlist?lis... 🎥
Speaker: alleninstitute.org/odin-symposi...
youtu.be/N1IMki0RnIc?...
Opening remarks Karel Svoboda & Nima Dehghani
YouTube video by Allen Institute
youtu.be
May 8, 2025 at 3:48 PM
sejdevries.bsky.social
If you’re at #Cosyne2025 come check out some of the work from the Allen Institute.
alleninstitute.org Allen Institute @alleninstitute.org · Mar 27
We're going to be at the @cosynemeeting.bsky.social!

We'd love to meet you at our #Cosyne2025 posters, talks, and workshops. Some highlights below. 👇🧵
March 27, 2025 at 10:41 PM
sejdevries.bsky.social
How many authenticator apps does one person need?
March 24, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Reposted by Saskia de Vries
anntelnaes.bsky.social
“When a man gives his opinion, he's a man. When a woman gives her opinion, she's a bitch.”
― Bette Davis

Happy International Women's Day
March 8, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Reposted by Saskia de Vries
annaintegrated.bsky.social
My speech from #Chicago #StandUpforScience rally today. I wanted to write something that was about why I support science, not as a scientist myself, but as a citizen. This is dedicated to a dear relative, an arborist for the #NationalParkService. 🧵Photos from the rally in Chicago today by Mike Yen.
March 8, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Reposted by Saskia de Vries
katestarbird.bsky.social
The temptation to duck & cover & hope the attack passes over us can be strong. But ultimately, they'll come back around for all of us. They are out to destroy the American university, which they view as a threat. So we might as well stand up, speak out, & fight back while we still have the chance.
angierasmussen.bsky.social Angie Rasmussen @angierasmussen.bsky.social · Mar 1
The National Academies remained silent about the destruction of American science. They did nothing for the scientists comprising their membership

They calculated that they would be spared if they didn't make themselves a target.

They will not be spared.
www.foxnews.com/politics/str...
'Structural racism': Top taxpayer-funded academy rife with DEI programs, hefty executive salaries
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has received millions of dollars of taxpayer grants while promoting a variety of left-wing causes.
www.foxnews.com
March 3, 2025 at 2:02 AM
Reposted by Saskia de Vries
jessicacalarco.com
I always shock my students a bit when I tell them that quantitative data is just qualitative data that has already been interpreted numerically.
February 22, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Reposted by Saskia de Vries
schneiderneuro.bsky.social
Compare and contrast the emails from McKnight (left) and Chan-Zuckerberg (right). Proud to be part of the McKnight community.
February 20, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Reposted by Saskia de Vries
typewriteralley.bsky.social
On this list: Spokane
Not on this list: Seattle
mayorwu.boston.gov Office of Mayor Michelle Wu 吳弭 @mayorwu.boston.gov · Feb 20
The City of Boston is leading 40+ mayors, cities, and counties in an amicus brief against the Trump Administration's drastic and illegal cuts to federal research funding—cuts that will lead to immediate job losses nationwide.
COALITION OF MAYORS ACROSS U.S. FILE AMICUS BRIEF IN OPPOSITION TO TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S DRASTIC CUTS TO FEDERAL RESEARCH FUNDING Led by the City of Boston, MA, City of Cleveland, OH, the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, TN, the Mayor of Gainesville, FL, and the Mayor of Salt Lake City, UT, over 40 mayors, cities, and counties argue that NIH cuts will cause job losses, economic disruption, and undermine U.S. competitiveness BOSTON - Thursday, February 20, 2025 - Late yesterday, Mayor Michelle Wu co-led a coalition of Mayors from across the United States in writing and filing an amicus brief in federal district court in Boston to stop the Trump Administration's drastic and illegal cuts to federal research funding and immediate job losses in cities nationwide. Over 40 mayors, cities, and counties from across the country joined the brief. These cities are home to universities and hospitals that employ hundreds of thousands of Americans in cutting edge medical and scientific research, and the federally-funded research in these communities has made the United States the global leader in scientific discovery. The brief seeks a temporary restraining order against the Trump Administration, alongside the research universities, medical schools, hospitals, and 22 states that are plaintiffs in the three cases filed last week in federal district court. “For decades, Congress has made a clear choice to use federally-funded research to invest in cities, build a broadly-distributed infrastructure for scientific discovery, create jobs, and drive economic growth in communities across the United States,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “We join with cities across the country – in red states, purple states, and blue states – to stop this illegal action that will cause layoffs, lab closures, and undermine scientific progress in American cities. I thank Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell for her leadership on behalf of the research institutions of Boston.” This amicus brief is in response to the abrupt February 7, 2025 announcement by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) of an immediate reduction in funding for scientific and medical research institutions across the country. Under the NIH’s new policy, which temporarily went into effect on Monday, February 10, payments for indirect costs reimbursed to research universities would be capped at 15%, down from 30-70%. The brief makes clear that NIH funding cuts would devastate research institutions in cities across the county, cause job losses, create severe economic disruption, and undermine a critical pillar of strength and civic pride in cities across the United States. The cuts would also undermine critical medical and scientific research that residents are counting on, including cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, and jeopardize the cities’ and country’s position of global leadership on scientific advancement. “The Gainesville community depends on this highly efficient, dependable investment of our tax dollars back into our city’s innovation economy,” said Harvey L. Ward, Mayor, City of Gainesville, Florida. “I’m glad to join other mayors in highlighting the vital role NIH funding plays in the lives of everyday hardworking American families.” “The breadth and diversity of this coalition highlights the devastating and widespread impact of these NIH funding changes, from Alzheimer’s research to cancer clinical trials,” said Jill Habig, Founder and CEO of Public Rights Project. “We’re proud to partner with mayors, cities, and counties in opposing this threat to critical federal funding and the health and vitality of our communities.” On Monday, February 10th, twenty two states and associations of medical schools, hospitals, and universities, filed three related cases, and secured a temporary restraining order preventing the Trump Administration from slashing the reimbursement rates. That initial order will be revisited this week in a hearing scheduled for Feb. 21. The Public Rights Project served as amici counsel. The full list of mayors, cities and counties who joined the brief is below. Local Governments and Mayors City of Boston, Massachusetts City of Cleveland, Ohio Harvey L. Ward, Mayor, City of Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee Erin Mendenhall, Mayor, City of Salt Lake City, Utah City of Alameda, California City of Albuquerque, New Mexico Allegheny County, Pennsylvania City of Baltimore, Maryland Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, Mayor, City of Burlington, Vermont Township of Canton, Michigan Town of Chapel Hill, North Carolina City of Chicago, Illinois Sandra Welch, Mayor, City of Coconut Creek, Florida City of Columbus, Ohio City of Easthampton, Massachusetts Daniel Biss, Mayor, City of Evanston, Illinois City of Fairfax, Virginia Harris County, Texas Ravinder S. Bhalla, Mayor, City of Hoboken, New Jersey Quinton Lucas, Mayor, Kansas City, Missouri Indya Kincannon, Mayor, City of Knoxville, Tennessee City of Madison, Wisconsin Jeff Silvestrini, Mayor, City of Millcreek, Utah Anissa Welch, Mayor, City of Milton, Wisconsin Montgomery County, Maryland City of New Haven, Connecticut Dontae Payne, Mayor, City of Olympia, Washington Adrian O. Mapp, Mayor, City of Plainfield, New Jersey Sue Noack, Mayor, City of Pleasant Hill, California City of Pittsburgh and Ed Gainey, Mayor, City of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania City of Providence, Rhode Island John Clark, Mayor, Town of Ridgway, Colorado City of Rochester, New York City of Sacramento, California City and County of San Francisco, California City of Santa Monica, California Constantine H. Kutteh, Mayor, City of Statesville, North Carolina Lisa Brown, Mayor, City of Spokane, Washington Tishaura O. Jones, Mayor, City of St. Louis, Missouri City of St. Paul, Minnesota Dennis R. McBride, Mayor, City of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
February 20, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Reposted by Saskia de Vries
thetransmitter.bsky.social
Over the past few weeks, science funding in the U.S. has become shrouded in uncertainty. Ten trainees with diversity-based funding share how the changes are affecting their research and career plans.

By @avaskham.bsky.social @claudia-lopez.bsky.social @callimcflurry.bsky.social

bit.ly/42Wifxr
‘A gut punch:’ How U.S. neuroscience trainees are grappling with diversity-based funding flux
Ten trainees spoke with The Transmitter about how the precarious state of U.S. federal funding is affecting their research and career plans.
bit.ly
February 14, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Reposted by Saskia de Vries
sifill.bsky.social
“I have come to wonder whether these expressions of despair and surrender are really masking an irrational longing for a magical way out of this nightmare - a hope that some deus ex machina will swoop down and spare us what we are facing.”

open.substack.com/pub/sherrily...
Democracy is Crumbling. Is Anybody Doing Anything?
Yes. And You Can Too.
open.substack.com
February 11, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Reposted by Saskia de Vries
altnih4science.bsky.social
“It’s important to see the big picture...
[The cut in indirect costs] came directly from a Project 2025 proposal that was explicitly designed to “reduce federal taxpayer subsidization of leftist agendas.”

This whole piece by @sbagen.bsky.social is excellent. 🧪
February 8, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Reposted by Saskia de Vries
altnih4science.bsky.social
“More generally, this new effort is a direct attack on universities—independent institutions that provide a location for developing ideas and information that do not accord with, and often promote dissent from, the goals of the current Trump regime.”

☝️☝️☝️
That one sentence all scientists must read.
February 8, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Reposted by Saskia de Vries
drdre4000.bsky.social
Just got word that our Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Inclusive Excellence 3 (IE3) Grant was being canceled. All 100+ institutions. So even private funding is susceptible to this administration’s unraveling of DEI initiatives
February 5, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Reposted by Saskia de Vries
adzebill.bsky.social
The Internet Archive has to date downloaded 500 terabytes of US government websites, which it crawls at the end of every presidential term. The whole archive is fully searchable. This effort's housed by a donation-funded nonprofit, not a branch of the US government. blog.archive.org/2024/05/08/e...
End of Term Web Archive – Preserving the Transition of a Nation | Internet Archive Blogs
blog.archive.org
February 1, 2025 at 12:58 AM
Reposted by Saskia de Vries
lintianphd.bsky.social
Registration for the 2025 @mpfneuro.bsky.social
Neurotechniques Course closes this Wednesday!

Co-directed by Ryohei Yasuda & @denisejcai.bsky.social and led by an amazing team of experts, this hands-on course is a great opportunity to learn cutting-edge methods in neuroscience 🔬🧠
January 14, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Reposted by Saskia de Vries
marcusghosh.bsky.social
Join us in Zambia for the third TReND-CaMinA course: computational neuroscience & machine learning in Africa.

📆Applications open until 15.01.

🧠🧪

trendinafrica.org/trend-camina/
A poster advertising the TREND CAMINA summer school.
January 9, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Reposted by Saskia de Vries
takakikomiyama.bsky.social
663 days since the senseless tragedy that took An, we present a manuscript that reports some of the discoveries that she left us.

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Targeted stimulation of motor cortex neural ensembles drives learned movements
During the execution of learned motor skills, the neural population in the layer 2/3 (L2/3) of the primary motor cortex (M1) expresses a reproducible spatiotemporal activity pattern. It is debated whe...
www.biorxiv.org
January 7, 2025 at 5:53 AM
sejdevries.bsky.social
Applications to SWDB 2025 are due February 1st! Tell all your grad student and postdoc friends to apply!
January 2, 2025 at 8:56 PM
sejdevries.bsky.social
I biked 2250 miles this year. 591 was for recreation, the rest was commuting and errands. Compare this to 2951 miles that I drove (half of our shared car’s mileage, probably overestimating my share of the miles)
January 1, 2025 at 12:40 AM