Spencer LaVere Smith
@spencerlaveresmith.bsky.social
Prof. @ucsantabarbara.bsky.social - Runs a lab slslab.org - Works on computation, neuroscience, behavior, vision, optics, imaging, 2p / multiphoton, optical computing, machine learning / AI - Blogs at labrigger.com - Founded @pacificoptica.bsky.social
Yes, I'll be patient too.
November 13, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Yes, I'll be patient too.
UCSB does the letter of recommendation submission system well. No ranking games, required or otherwise. You don't even have to type your name in, like so many places require. (Which seems like authentication theatre.) Just upload the letter and get back to whatever you were doing.
November 9, 2025 at 11:57 PM
UCSB does the letter of recommendation submission system well. No ranking games, required or otherwise. You don't even have to type your name in, like so many places require. (Which seems like authentication theatre.) Just upload the letter and get back to whatever you were doing.
Stanford Grad Admissions-- Drop these required questions for people writing letters of recommendation, or at least make them optional.
I agreed to provide a letter of recommendation, and I spent hours writing a thoughtful one that I hope helps your process. I did not agree to do your ranking.
I agreed to provide a letter of recommendation, and I spent hours writing a thoughtful one that I hope helps your process. I did not agree to do your ranking.
November 9, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Stanford Grad Admissions-- Drop these required questions for people writing letters of recommendation, or at least make them optional.
I agreed to provide a letter of recommendation, and I spent hours writing a thoughtful one that I hope helps your process. I did not agree to do your ranking.
I agreed to provide a letter of recommendation, and I spent hours writing a thoughtful one that I hope helps your process. I did not agree to do your ranking.
Sounds like something an LLM would say. xkcd.com/331
November 9, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Sounds like something an LLM would say. xkcd.com/331
It’s a small thing, but one of the more useful points to make to help people understand diffraction. They probably already understand interference.
November 6, 2025 at 7:38 AM
It’s a small thing, but one of the more useful points to make to help people understand diffraction. They probably already understand interference.
Every single person, no matter who they are, deserves food to eat. My taxes usually cover this, and I gave a bit extra just now due to the current circumstances.
Just posting in case anyone appreciates the reminder that their local food bank might be able to use a few extra bucks. foodbanksbc.org
Just posting in case anyone appreciates the reminder that their local food bank might be able to use a few extra bucks. foodbanksbc.org
November 3, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Every single person, no matter who they are, deserves food to eat. My taxes usually cover this, and I gave a bit extra just now due to the current circumstances.
Just posting in case anyone appreciates the reminder that their local food bank might be able to use a few extra bucks. foodbanksbc.org
Just posting in case anyone appreciates the reminder that their local food bank might be able to use a few extra bucks. foodbanksbc.org
Wasn't there in July 2010.
October 30, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Wasn't there in July 2010.
If construction went into 2011, it was just finishing up. I don't recall the construction at all.
Google Streetview shows it being done sometime between 2007 and 2012.
Google Streetview shows it being done sometime between 2007 and 2012.
October 30, 2025 at 10:41 PM
If construction went into 2011, it was just finishing up. I don't recall the construction at all.
Google Streetview shows it being done sometime between 2007 and 2012.
Google Streetview shows it being done sometime between 2007 and 2012.
After SfN, on November 20, there is this conference in Irvine on imaging and mapping neural circuitry: cncm.medschool.uci.edu/2025-special...
October 30, 2025 at 7:13 PM
After SfN, on November 20, there is this conference in Irvine on imaging and mapping neural circuitry: cncm.medschool.uci.edu/2025-special...
“It is not daily increase but daily decrease, hack away the unessential. The closer to the source, the less wastage there is.” - Bruce Lee
October 30, 2025 at 6:36 PM
“It is not daily increase but daily decrease, hack away the unessential. The closer to the source, the less wastage there is.” - Bruce Lee
Can you tell what the mouse is thinking? (imaging and processing by Filip Tomaska) #FluorescenceFriday
October 24, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Can you tell what the mouse is thinking? (imaging and processing by Filip Tomaska) #FluorescenceFriday
2p users -- Talk shop, troubleshoot, and trade notes in a slack-like community.
I'm inspired by @brunopichler.bsky.social to renew this call. Invite link: 2p.ece.ucsb.edu/signup_user_... or email me.
Bruno shared this fun read on technical communities: bsky.app/profile/brun...
I'm inspired by @brunopichler.bsky.social to renew this call. Invite link: 2p.ece.ucsb.edu/signup_user_... or email me.
Bruno shared this fun read on technical communities: bsky.app/profile/brun...
October 21, 2025 at 5:59 PM
2p users -- Talk shop, troubleshoot, and trade notes in a slack-like community.
I'm inspired by @brunopichler.bsky.social to renew this call. Invite link: 2p.ece.ucsb.edu/signup_user_... or email me.
Bruno shared this fun read on technical communities: bsky.app/profile/brun...
I'm inspired by @brunopichler.bsky.social to renew this call. Invite link: 2p.ece.ucsb.edu/signup_user_... or email me.
Bruno shared this fun read on technical communities: bsky.app/profile/brun...
Excellent reporting on anti-science bills sweeping the states: @mrsmithap.bsky.social and @lauraungar.bsky.social reporting for AP have a trio of articles today worth checking out. 1: apnews.com/article/vacc... 2: apnews.com/article/maha... 3: apnews.com/article/vacc...
October 21, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Excellent reporting on anti-science bills sweeping the states: @mrsmithap.bsky.social and @lauraungar.bsky.social reporting for AP have a trio of articles today worth checking out. 1: apnews.com/article/vacc... 2: apnews.com/article/maha... 3: apnews.com/article/vacc...
Meanwhile, on campus @ucsantabarbara.bsky.social
October 20, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Meanwhile, on campus @ucsantabarbara.bsky.social
I submitted my reviews on time anyways. Less than half of us did so. Which is understandable. Expectations are that I'll have to re-read everything by the time we meet. If we meet.
October 13, 2025 at 10:05 PM
I submitted my reviews on time anyways. Less than half of us did so. Which is understandable. Expectations are that I'll have to re-read everything by the time we meet. If we meet.
Prototype.
October 1, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Prototype.
Now available: updated Google Maps from the areas of the Palisades and Eaton fires (01/2025). Over 16,000 homes and other structures destroyed. #2 and #3 most in CA history (since at least the 1940s). en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palisad... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eaton_F... (before/after images)
September 19, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Now available: updated Google Maps from the areas of the Palisades and Eaton fires (01/2025). Over 16,000 homes and other structures destroyed. #2 and #3 most in CA history (since at least the 1940s). en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palisad... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eaton_F... (before/after images)
I published a paper in Nature Methods. They invoiced us for $10,690.00. It was extra expensive because I wanted it to be open access. US taxpayers fund it, and they also funded the research.
It's nice to have other outlets like NBDT, which is free. nbdt.scholasticahq.com/for-authors
It's nice to have other outlets like NBDT, which is free. nbdt.scholasticahq.com/for-authors
September 19, 2025 at 5:41 PM
I published a paper in Nature Methods. They invoiced us for $10,690.00. It was extra expensive because I wanted it to be open access. US taxpayers fund it, and they also funded the research.
It's nice to have other outlets like NBDT, which is free. nbdt.scholasticahq.com/for-authors
It's nice to have other outlets like NBDT, which is free. nbdt.scholasticahq.com/for-authors
So many good lines in the guidance materials too.
Looking forward to this next study section.
I assume Noni Byrnes and Mike Lauer were key in this effort. The NIH lost them both this year. I hope they are doing well. I appreciate all of the current NIH employees keeping the ship running!
(2/3)
Looking forward to this next study section.
I assume Noni Byrnes and Mike Lauer were key in this effort. The NIH lost them both this year. I hope they are doing well. I appreciate all of the current NIH employees keeping the ship running!
(2/3)
September 18, 2025 at 10:16 PM
So many good lines in the guidance materials too.
Looking forward to this next study section.
I assume Noni Byrnes and Mike Lauer were key in this effort. The NIH lost them both this year. I hope they are doing well. I appreciate all of the current NIH employees keeping the ship running!
(2/3)
Looking forward to this next study section.
I assume Noni Byrnes and Mike Lauer were key in this effort. The NIH lost them both this year. I hope they are doing well. I appreciate all of the current NIH employees keeping the ship running!
(2/3)
The people at the NIH did an excellent job with the Simplified Review Framework.
1. Should it be done?
Sets the limit for the overall score.
2. Can it be done well?
Assess rigor & feasibility
3. Sufficient expertise and resources?
Either "sufficient" or list weaknesses.
That's it.
(1/3)
1. Should it be done?
Sets the limit for the overall score.
2. Can it be done well?
Assess rigor & feasibility
3. Sufficient expertise and resources?
Either "sufficient" or list weaknesses.
That's it.
(1/3)
September 18, 2025 at 10:16 PM
The people at the NIH did an excellent job with the Simplified Review Framework.
1. Should it be done?
Sets the limit for the overall score.
2. Can it be done well?
Assess rigor & feasibility
3. Sufficient expertise and resources?
Either "sufficient" or list weaknesses.
That's it.
(1/3)
1. Should it be done?
Sets the limit for the overall score.
2. Can it be done well?
Assess rigor & feasibility
3. Sufficient expertise and resources?
Either "sufficient" or list weaknesses.
That's it.
(1/3)
Winston is in the office today.
September 11, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Winston is in the office today.
After your SfN in San Diego, drift 130 km up the coast to Irvine for a bit more: cncm.medschool.uci.edu/2025-special... Go ahead and register now.
September 7, 2025 at 7:11 PM
After your SfN in San Diego, drift 130 km up the coast to Irvine for a bit more: cncm.medschool.uci.edu/2025-special... Go ahead and register now.
I’m halfway through writing an R01 on the neural circuitry underlying this behavior.
August 16, 2025 at 5:32 AM
I’m halfway through writing an R01 on the neural circuitry underlying this behavior.
How can your AI be superhuman if it can't even beat a mouse?Lots of updates for this 2025 NeurIPS competition. Get your submission in! robustforaging.github.io
Nov. 1 is the deadline. Please share widely. @garymarcus.bsky.social @dcower.bsky.social @tyrellturing.bsky.social @rowantmc.bsky.social
Nov. 1 is the deadline. Please share widely. @garymarcus.bsky.social @dcower.bsky.social @tyrellturing.bsky.social @rowantmc.bsky.social
August 13, 2025 at 3:16 PM
How can your AI be superhuman if it can't even beat a mouse?Lots of updates for this 2025 NeurIPS competition. Get your submission in! robustforaging.github.io
Nov. 1 is the deadline. Please share widely. @garymarcus.bsky.social @dcower.bsky.social @tyrellturing.bsky.social @rowantmc.bsky.social
Nov. 1 is the deadline. Please share widely. @garymarcus.bsky.social @dcower.bsky.social @tyrellturing.bsky.social @rowantmc.bsky.social
August 3, 2025 at 1:48 PM