Maureen Laroche, PhD, FRES
@tattooed-bug.bsky.social
Medical Entomologist & Clinical Bacteriologist — Martinican 🇲🇶 — I talk about Public Health all the time and will do it at your birthday party.
Our tick photo won 2nd place 🎉
November 20, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Our tick photo won 2nd place 🎉
Reposted by Maureen Laroche, PhD, FRES
A new study found the Trump administration’s cuts to NIH grants disrupted more than 380 clinical trials, affecting over 74,000 participants.
The cuts disproportionately impacted trials on infectious diseases and minority communities.
The cuts disproportionately impacted trials on infectious diseases and minority communities.
Federal cuts upended clinical trials. A new study reveals the toll.
Grants for 383 clinical trials were terminated and the funding disruptions affected more than 74,000 trial participants, according to new research.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 17, 2025 at 11:00 PM
A new study found the Trump administration’s cuts to NIH grants disrupted more than 380 clinical trials, affecting over 74,000 participants.
The cuts disproportionately impacted trials on infectious diseases and minority communities.
The cuts disproportionately impacted trials on infectious diseases and minority communities.
Reposted by Maureen Laroche, PhD, FRES
Defunding scientists for the nationality of who they co-author with or who they train.
One of the most radical attack on freedom of speech in US history. A far right nationalist destruction of US science. Such a shameful time to be an American that this racist stupidity has become mainstream.
One of the most radical attack on freedom of speech in US history. A far right nationalist destruction of US science. Such a shameful time to be an American that this racist stupidity has become mainstream.
“The prohibited activities would include joint research, co-authorship on papers, and advising a foreign graduate student or postdoctoral fellow. The language is retroactive, meaning any interactions during the previous 5 years could make a scientist ineligible for future federal funding.”
U.S. Congress considers sweeping ban on Chinese collaborations
Researchers speak out against proposal that would bar funding for U.S. scientists working with Chinese partners or training Chinese students
www.science.org
November 14, 2025 at 3:32 AM
Defunding scientists for the nationality of who they co-author with or who they train.
One of the most radical attack on freedom of speech in US history. A far right nationalist destruction of US science. Such a shameful time to be an American that this racist stupidity has become mainstream.
One of the most radical attack on freedom of speech in US history. A far right nationalist destruction of US science. Such a shameful time to be an American that this racist stupidity has become mainstream.
Reposted by Maureen Laroche, PhD, FRES
JD Vance owns a company that buys American real estate and sells it to foreign investors. They specifically target Americans in crisis to buy their property for less than it is worth.
JD Vance: "A lot of young people are saying housing is way too expensive. Why is that? Because we flooded the country with 30 million illegal immigrants who were taking houses that ought by right go to American citizens."
November 13, 2025 at 10:54 PM
JD Vance owns a company that buys American real estate and sells it to foreign investors. They specifically target Americans in crisis to buy their property for less than it is worth.
So @michaelhobbes.bsky.social, are we getting a Eric Adams: The Final Chapter (Part 2)? Because this man is giving you additional content as we speak 🤣
November 12, 2025 at 1:36 AM
So @michaelhobbes.bsky.social, are we getting a Eric Adams: The Final Chapter (Part 2)? Because this man is giving you additional content as we speak 🤣
And that's it. He's out. 19 days.
No surprise there... But still...
Lately, we've been forced to witness the absolute power and shamelessness of political elites and it's just been sickening. Like, what a horrible year this has been...
No surprise there... But still...
Lately, we've been forced to witness the absolute power and shamelessness of political elites and it's just been sickening. Like, what a horrible year this has been...
If you know a French person, wish them a Happy Prison-for-Sarkozy Day!
Truly a day of joy and celebration for us.
Truly a day of joy and celebration for us.
November 10, 2025 at 2:27 PM
And that's it. He's out. 19 days.
No surprise there... But still...
Lately, we've been forced to witness the absolute power and shamelessness of political elites and it's just been sickening. Like, what a horrible year this has been...
No surprise there... But still...
Lately, we've been forced to witness the absolute power and shamelessness of political elites and it's just been sickening. Like, what a horrible year this has been...
It's so sinister and depressing to think about all the things the billionaires could do to help right now and choose not to.
November 9, 2025 at 8:18 PM
It's so sinister and depressing to think about all the things the billionaires could do to help right now and choose not to.
This is just so terrifying and impacting some of us so much...
No international travel (for fieldwork or conferences) and no peace of mind.
I don't think we'll ever be able to fully grasp and quantify the negative impact of all this on foreign global health scientists working in the US.
No international travel (for fieldwork or conferences) and no peace of mind.
I don't think we'll ever be able to fully grasp and quantify the negative impact of all this on foreign global health scientists working in the US.
every day brings fresh stress and sadness for people in the US on an H1B.
in my > 10 years of being in this country i’ve never felt so much anxiety and lack of institutional support over immigration issues as in this moment.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/u...
in my > 10 years of being in this country i’ve never felt so much anxiety and lack of institutional support over immigration issues as in this moment.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/u...
Florida Universities to Stop Hiring Foreign H-1B Workers Under DeSantis Plan
www.nytimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:15 PM
This is just so terrifying and impacting some of us so much...
No international travel (for fieldwork or conferences) and no peace of mind.
I don't think we'll ever be able to fully grasp and quantify the negative impact of all this on foreign global health scientists working in the US.
No international travel (for fieldwork or conferences) and no peace of mind.
I don't think we'll ever be able to fully grasp and quantify the negative impact of all this on foreign global health scientists working in the US.
The issue with all this is that it is part of the administration's modus operandi. They announce stuff they know full well they won't be able to enforce. But they count on the anticipatory obedience and/or confusion of all actors to reach the desired effect through pure chaos.
I asked Georgetown law prof David Super wtf is going on with this latest demand for states to claw back benefits already sent out.
He says the law doesn't allow for this, and if the USDA is mad that states already sent out SNAP money, too bad—they were following USDA's own guidance. Full comments:
He says the law doesn't allow for this, and if the USDA is mad that states already sent out SNAP money, too bad—they were following USDA's own guidance. Full comments:
November 9, 2025 at 8:12 PM
The issue with all this is that it is part of the administration's modus operandi. They announce stuff they know full well they won't be able to enforce. But they count on the anticipatory obedience and/or confusion of all actors to reach the desired effect through pure chaos.
Do they think people have forgotten about Omicron and how South Africa was treated when they told the world about that variant?
I don't like the sound of this: www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
US to demand countries share data on ‘pathogens with epidemic potential’ in return for health aid
Draft template seen by the Guardian has no reference to countries receiving benefits for sharing information, such as guaranteed access to medicines developed as a result
www.theguardian.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Do they think people have forgotten about Omicron and how South Africa was treated when they told the world about that variant?
Man I feel overwhelmed by the amount of good news today. It's like the universe is giving us a break.
Mamdani in, Cheney out. What a day.
Mamdani in, Cheney out. What a day.
November 5, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Man I feel overwhelmed by the amount of good news today. It's like the universe is giving us a break.
Mamdani in, Cheney out. What a day.
Mamdani in, Cheney out. What a day.
Being the first one at work in the morning dressed as a bloodied vampire when security had clearly forgotten about Halloween will definitely be the highlight of my day lol
October 31, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Being the first one at work in the morning dressed as a bloodied vampire when security had clearly forgotten about Halloween will definitely be the highlight of my day lol
Our Ixodes scapularis photo is a winner 🎉
October 30, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Our Ixodes scapularis photo is a winner 🎉
Reposted by Maureen Laroche, PhD, FRES
Maybe the thing that gives me a pulse-pounding throbbing headache is when I think of how techbros sold ChatGPT to universities as ‘revolutionizing’ higher education and our institutions just forked over money without even asking for actual evidence
When people learn with ChatGPT instead of following their own searches, they end up knowing less, caring less, and producing worse advice, even when the facts are the same.
Friction is an essential ingredient for learning! Convenience makes us shallow.
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
Friction is an essential ingredient for learning! Convenience makes us shallow.
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
Experimental evidence of the effects of large language models versus web search on depth of learning
Abstract. The effects of using large language models (LLMs) versus traditional web search on depth of learning are explored. A theory is proposed that when
academic.oup.com
October 28, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Maybe the thing that gives me a pulse-pounding throbbing headache is when I think of how techbros sold ChatGPT to universities as ‘revolutionizing’ higher education and our institutions just forked over money without even asking for actual evidence
Reposted by Maureen Laroche, PhD, FRES
I know everything is blowing up here at home, but Jamaica is staring down the barrel of one of the worst hurricanes ever to hit and I'm horrified because I know we can't count on this US administration to provide relief like every prior admin has done
Latest message from the Hurricane Hunters report that Melissa now has a closed eye wall.
October 25, 2025 at 1:53 PM
I know everything is blowing up here at home, but Jamaica is staring down the barrel of one of the worst hurricanes ever to hit and I'm horrified because I know we can't count on this US administration to provide relief like every prior admin has done
Reposted by Maureen Laroche, PhD, FRES
when all this is over we need to have a pretty serious conversation about the utter moral failure of the elite of this country
Ed Luce watching democracy die in the United States of America
October 24, 2025 at 12:36 PM
when all this is over we need to have a pretty serious conversation about the utter moral failure of the elite of this country
If you know a French person, wish them a Happy Prison-for-Sarkozy Day!
Truly a day of joy and celebration for us.
Truly a day of joy and celebration for us.
October 22, 2025 at 2:45 AM
If you know a French person, wish them a Happy Prison-for-Sarkozy Day!
Truly a day of joy and celebration for us.
Truly a day of joy and celebration for us.
Reposted by Maureen Laroche, PhD, FRES
Thoughtful and well-informed op-ed from @ianlmorgan.bsky.social
Definitely worth a read!
www.the-scientist.com/nih-leadersh...
1/2
Definitely worth a read!
www.the-scientist.com/nih-leadersh...
1/2
NIH Leadership Is Failing Early Career Researchers
Halted training programs, funding chaos, and hiring freezes jeopardize advancement options for early career researchers.
www.the-scientist.com
October 10, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Thoughtful and well-informed op-ed from @ianlmorgan.bsky.social
Definitely worth a read!
www.the-scientist.com/nih-leadersh...
1/2
Definitely worth a read!
www.the-scientist.com/nih-leadersh...
1/2
Reposted by Maureen Laroche, PhD, FRES
i looked at the methodology for this and it is
a. sex addiction counseling group in texas did a surveymonkey and extrapolated the results to the entire us population which is the sort of research design that earns you an ff on an intro methods class (the extra f is for extra effort), and
b. p-hacked
a. sex addiction counseling group in texas did a surveymonkey and extrapolated the results to the entire us population which is the sort of research design that earns you an ff on an intro methods class (the extra f is for extra effort), and
b. p-hacked
Nearly a third of Americans have had a ‘romantic relationship’ with an AI bot, new survey says
1 in 3 Americans have had a ‘romantic relationship’ with an AI bot, new survey says
www.independent.co.uk
October 3, 2025 at 2:15 AM
i looked at the methodology for this and it is
a. sex addiction counseling group in texas did a surveymonkey and extrapolated the results to the entire us population which is the sort of research design that earns you an ff on an intro methods class (the extra f is for extra effort), and
b. p-hacked
a. sex addiction counseling group in texas did a surveymonkey and extrapolated the results to the entire us population which is the sort of research design that earns you an ff on an intro methods class (the extra f is for extra effort), and
b. p-hacked
October 2, 2025 at 2:55 PM
My lab just turned 3 and I'm so proud of us 🥹🎂
October 2, 2025 at 7:15 AM
My lab just turned 3 and I'm so proud of us 🥹🎂
Reposted by Maureen Laroche, PhD, FRES
A lot of people think that every international student admitted means one fewer spot for domestic students, when the opposite is more likely true - the tuition revenue international students bring allows public universities to provide substantial discounts to domestic students, improving access.
September 29, 2025 at 8:18 PM
A lot of people think that every international student admitted means one fewer spot for domestic students, when the opposite is more likely true - the tuition revenue international students bring allows public universities to provide substantial discounts to domestic students, improving access.
Friends in Academia, when a reviewer asks you a question, it is almost always to point out that this information is missing or unclear in your manuscript. They're not trying to personally learn more about your topic, so they don't really care about your explanation if it's not reflected in the text.
September 20, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Friends in Academia, when a reviewer asks you a question, it is almost always to point out that this information is missing or unclear in your manuscript. They're not trying to personally learn more about your topic, so they don't really care about your explanation if it's not reflected in the text.
Reposted by Maureen Laroche, PhD, FRES
I think one of Ezra Klein's big problems is that when he says "doing politics" what he actually means is content creation
September 17, 2025 at 9:08 PM
I think one of Ezra Klein's big problems is that when he says "doing politics" what he actually means is content creation
Kids are amazing.
My friend's kid just asked me why I didn't have kids. I said I love kids but I'm a solitary, introverted person, so I don't feel like having another person in my space all the time.
You know what this 8yo responded?
My friend's kid just asked me why I didn't have kids. I said I love kids but I'm a solitary, introverted person, so I don't feel like having another person in my space all the time.
You know what this 8yo responded?
September 18, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Kids are amazing.
My friend's kid just asked me why I didn't have kids. I said I love kids but I'm a solitary, introverted person, so I don't feel like having another person in my space all the time.
You know what this 8yo responded?
My friend's kid just asked me why I didn't have kids. I said I love kids but I'm a solitary, introverted person, so I don't feel like having another person in my space all the time.
You know what this 8yo responded?