Dr. Chrystal Ama Starbird PDB Depositer
@drstarbird
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Scientist. Mother. Perpetual Learner. Asst. Professor @UNC_BCBP @StarbirdLab #NIHMOSAIC K99/R00 Scholar #BlackandSTEM | still I rise (Views my own)
New Haven, CT
Joined May 2018
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In the
@StarbirdLab
we are working to create an environment where obstacles are minimized, and sometimes this requires a financial investment. You can now donate to our lab fund if interested!
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I am BEYOND excited to share that I will be starting my lab in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
@UNC_BCBP
in February of 2023!
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As someone from an extremely poor background who excelled academically (perfect scores in math meets, captain of mock trial team, award for highest state test scores, etc), this merit argument is a joke. It was hard at every level for me to succeed in academic environments:
I believe in MERIT. The issue is that historical systems in the US excluded the poor, women, and racially minoritized groups from competing. Multiple practices have allowed the impacts of this exclusion to persist. 1/5.
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My K99/R00 application impact score is out. This is good right?!? In disbelief. 😲😲🤞🏾🤞🏾🤞🏾
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One of my favorite scientists, also a Black woman, wrote me today that she is leaving academia. 😡😡😡
Why, do you ask? Let’s discuss.
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Our lab is taking a week ‘off’ for reading, writing, and thinking. It’s an experiment, but one I hope works. I think the pace of science has become too fast and there’s not enough time to just sit with your theories/data and allow your ideas to mature.
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From many conversations, a big part of the problem for postdocs is that you are meant to view lower wages and less benefits as a temporary sacrifice for training and future job prospects. But,
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Welp, it happened. Walking around the open lab space looking for someone and someone asked me if they could help me. No big deal until they physically stopped me after I said "No, thanks", and said "it's just that I haven't seen you before" 😠
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Academia makes you feel that you are always lacking, when you are amazing. Please know that, in case no one's told you recently.
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So, today I hit 5k followers, my 1st rotation student started, I got the notice that my R00 was funded AND
It’s my first official day as a
#newPI
@UNC_BCBP
!!!! 🎉
Thanks
@BerlowLab
lab for the surprise welcome plant! I will try to keep it growing as well as the lab 😁
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Y’all might be tired of the 🔥 today, but let’s have a serious conversation about drinking in academia.
I’ve had a blast at times drinking with peers in academia. We are weird drunks, talking excitedly about science and policy until 2am. But…
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Computer died, but NOA arrived = Balance!
This R00 award will provide $740k in funding for the lab over the next three years (including the postdoc we hope to hire soon! 👀). I’m so thankful for the support of the
#NIHMOSAIC
program in starting and growing my lab!
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I am really concerned about this. People now spending an average of 12 years ‘training’ and then going hard for 5 more years to maybe get tenure. And, to make it worse, those criticizing/judging harshly didn’t have nearly the same qualifications when they were at the same level.
If you had told me that I would need a post bacc (pre doc ??) and post doc in addition to a PhD I would have done something else.
I got a masters first and did undergrad research but had 0 peer reviewed pubs when I applied. I doubt I’d get into grad school today.
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Merit? It’s a joke. The academic system does not work on merit, but is a system built on privilege. I only survived because I am ridiculously stubborn, I had support where it counted, and a bit of luck. My talent, my intelligence mattered little most of the time.
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Now it’s official, official! Excited to start the
@StarbirdLab
in February 2023, and looking for an RA, students and postdoc (job postings and website coming soon)! If you’re at
#ABRCMS2022
come find me! 😄
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@mihalyfy
@Katy_Brown4
This is the question. Please stop coming afterwards and saying sorry for their “unacceptable “ behavior. If it’s unacceptable, why did you accept it? Speak up in the moment.
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Feeling the love today! The NOA has arrived and I am over the moon! So proud to be joining a group of stellar early career scientists who received the K99/R00
#NIHMOSAIC
@ASBMB
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@CharlesWMcKinn2
Yep. At open house just 3 days ago a science teacher asked my middle child if they were in 1st or 3rd period. They said 2nd and the teacher,visibly shocked, said “Oh, you’re in AP. Good for you”🤦🏾♀️ (and yes)
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I don’t need anyone to announce privilege. What I need is for people to act with an awareness of that privilege. Don’t apply for grants intended for people w/out privilege just bc you can and don’t tell students who have overcome countless obstacles they aren’t “cut out” for this
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We got my youngest a microscope for Christmas and I'm not sure who's more excited. My oldest said he looks like a "science nerd" and he said "thank you". 😁😁😁
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Grant submitted! 🎉
Not yet officially a PI, but it was surprisingly fun to submit my first grant for my future lab.
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Pretty sure I’m going to RT this all day. The likely impact of a Nobel Laureate speaking about how diversity aided their scientific advancement is huge! This is a day I’ve waited for
#letsbreaktherules
Impactful words by
@CarolynBertozzi
today on how diversity in her trainees enabled creativity, not playing by the rules, and ultimately the work that built the field of bioorthogonal chemistry. Diverse science leads to better science!
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They cannot and should not have to deal with all of the accounting errors, late paychecks, loss of health insurance, loss of retirement support, and several months long reimbursement processes.
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@DrHazmatic
Been looking forward to moving on so I can really help my Mom, bc the money I send barely keeps her above water. This to say I feel this tweet and how hard it is to keep going. Plus, it's hard to hear people whose parents financially support them try to tell you anything.
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So, just like that, she is done and understandably so. And I am PISSED. It is beyond time for academia to understand that all of the
#firstgen
scholars you recruit need extra support.
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I love academia. I’ve worked hard to be here, been through all the unnecessary struggles. But I’ll be damned if I don’t work to make it easier for the next generation. WE ARE LOSING GREAT PEOPLE! We can and we must do better!
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And I don’t want to hear excuses. Whatever the roadblock is, figure it out and remove it. If you bring these people to your campus, you have a moral responsibility to support them as they need to be supported.
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My husband just got the job! I might cry…it’s been really hard.
He’s been working at Duke, but they haven’t been able to give him more than 10-12 hours per week. It will still be tough for a while, but I feel like I can breathe again (and maybe focus more on work).
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Drinking alone doesn’t make people do things they absolutely would never do. I’ve never gotten drunk and hit on a trainee or called someone racist names-because it’s not who I am.
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Someone shared this link with me for making scientific figures in Adobe illustrator, and it's great. Step by step guidance starting with the 2nd video on the most common approach for scientific figures
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I heard it's
#BlackInChemRollCall
! I'm Chrystal, a biochemist and structural biologist. Officially
#ChrystalTheCrystallographer
but trying to learn some new tricks in my postdoc
@Yale
#BlackInChem
#BlackinBiological
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And, as a child of an alcoholic, I’m all for removing drinking from most science events. It’s not ruining the fun. Let’s laugh together, play board games and have mock tails with trainees present. We can drink as peers in the after party if we so desire.
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I just saw a tweet that says it makes no sense NOT to take industry jobs. So now, a thread 1/N
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This person is not quitting because of one missed paycheck, but because this is a pattern of mistreatment and lack of compassion that they’ve had to deal with for years as they worked to make a new life for themselves.
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Can we just have one huge BlackinX conference when this is all over? There can be sessions for the different amazing groups,
@BlackInChem
@BlackInNeuro
@BlackinCancer
@BlackInMicro
@BlackInCardio
+ many more, but I would love for us to be in the same place. Please and thank you.
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OMG! I just got notice that I received an award that provides some financial support for me to do things the way I do!!!! So thankful! I need these boosts to keep me motivated to push the system! 🎉
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We just got home. Thank you for everyone who checked on me and lab members. Going to hug my kids…
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I think if you’re honest you know this to be true, so please stop blaming drinking on bad decisions and definitely stop blaming trainees as if there is no power struggle at play.
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In an ideal academic environment, merit would be a thing. But 9/10, those students with the best grades and pedigrees also had the most resources and connections to get them there. They are not always smarter, they do not work harder, but the path has been smoother.
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I don't know why this needs to be said, but I live for new PI tweets on my timeline. Not only am I cheering them on, but it inspires the next generation of scientists (who are certainly watching).
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Hi All! I am currently a postdoc at Yale making the transition to starting my own lab this spring at
@UNC_BCBP
studying the structural basis of TAM receptor tyrosine kinase activation. So excited to make the dream happen and to see all the excellence of
#BlackInChemRollCall
!!!
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I am now up to 24 emails for an incorrect $4.80 charge on my p-card. This is the kind of stuff that makes me want to reconsider my career. I take my responsibility over managing funds very seriously, but this is absolutely a waste of everyone’s time.
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If you know me, you know that it's my desire to just celebrate everyone that gets a grant, bc it's tough out there.
BUT, I’m getting a bit annoyed with grants meant to highlight those with a STRONG commitment to DEI going to people I know did not care about DEI prior to 2020.
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Everyone is talking about the Obama’s marriage like it is suddenly bad. Rather, she talked about hard times and times when they didn’t support each other like they should. This might shock some people, but even the strongest marriages have times like that.
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School IS in session tomorrow, though the principal, vice principal and some staff have tested positive and will be out. Oh, and if you could drive your kids tomorrow since we have shortages on bus staff too.
Real message I just got 🙁
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What an amazing visit to UNC! I leave even more excited (how is that even possible) to join them soon!
Got to see my future lab space. It still needs to be cleared out, but these are the very benches on which the Starbird lab will make it happen!
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I was in the room recently when a junior faculty member *only 2 years in* called their new graduate student “worthless”. This PI is not a baby, they know better. And being a new PI does not excuse harassing students or telling them incorrect information using their authority.
Being the recipient of Twitter pile-ons is disheartening. So I'm not going to intentionally call out a starting junior faculty member for privately shared lab messages that I *strongly* disagree with. Hopefully, senior faculty will use this opportunity to advise, mentor privately
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This just gets worse. Whoever this Dean is that thinks this is okay, that would suggest a Black woman interview a candidate that approached her this way is beyond wrong and needs to have their role re-evaluated.
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I am so honored to have my essay chosen for this award! I'm also excited and grateful that we have this platform to share our experiences with the world. Thank you
@CellPressNews
and Congratulations
@Fola_Olusanya
!
Cell Press and
@CellSignal
are proud to announce the Rising Black Scientists Awards undergraduate winner
@HowardU
Fola Olusanya (
@Fola_Olusanya
) and
@Yale
post-graduate winner Dr. Chrystal Starbird (
@drstarbird
)! Their essays will be published Feb18th in
@CellCellPress
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You can also make decisions before you drink, like, don’t drink excessively with trainees present. Many faculty I know make this decision every day.
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This is not to say they did not work to get where they are, because they did, but they and I are not the same. If all elementary schools had the same resources, if college was paid for, if some students didn’t have to work full time, then we could build a system based on merit.
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I am so incredibly thankful for this award because it allows me to do science while still being me 🙏🏾
#ScienceMoms
Also looking forward to seeing my fellow protein kinase enthusiasts in Ireland
@FASEBorg
this summer!
Chrystal Starbird is a strong advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. She publishes regularly on strategies to maximize the impact of mentoring & to build an inclusive lab. Starbird is a recipient of the fall 2023 CARES Award.
#DEAI
#FASEBmembers
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I am so ready to run my own lab.
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Since we don’t live in that world, don’t try to fool me with your merit arguments. I know what you really mean and so does everyone else who cares.
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Hi All! I'm a postdoc at the Yale Cancer Biology Institute.
As a structural biologist, I aim to understand the structural basis of activation of cell surface receptors involved in cancer metastases and drug resistance
#BlackinCancerResearch
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Did someone say
#BlackInBiophysicsWeek
!!! Helloooo! I'm a postdoc at
@CancerYale
studying the structures of cell surface receptors via my 1st ❤
#crystallography
and
#cryoEM
, that are involved in the development of numerous diseases, including various cancers.
#BIBPSROLLCALL
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Importantly, this is one individual. I have been very welcomed here by far, but racism is everywhere.
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There is no emphasis on training and many ‘mentors’ are allowed to care very little about it. In fact, postdocs are highly skilled employees who work long hours but are not often actually employees but “students”, “trainees”, abysmally paid “instructors “…
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People rarely understand the indignity of being a poor student.
Even with the best planning and care, when an emergency strikes you are unlikely to have the resources to cope, and many push it to the last minute before asking for help because of these complicated feelings.
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Can’t believe I almost missed
#BlackInChemRollCall
!
I started my lab 6 months ago and while it stays busy, I can’t believe I’m living a life where I get to build a lab that values equity and inclusion, mentoring in all directions, balance, and Biochemistry!
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One last note, I worked in industry for one year in 2009, before I had my PhD. That's 13 years ago. I STILL do not make more than I did that one year. Academia could and should do better.
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Posts about feeding raw eggs to a newborn and TikTok videos about avoiding vaccines based on internet research, but a scientist working to break down and disseminate actual research to the people is shut down? This is why we are here.
So the videos of me breaking down primary sources + literally holding the primary sources of information in my hands, in the video, + showing my notes on the articles, keep getting taken down for misinfo on TikTok. I guess they would rather lobotomize us with those dumb dances 🤷🏾♀️
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Hey All! Excited for
#BlackinCancer
week! I’m a postdoc in the Yale Cancer Biology Institute working to apply structural knowledge to cancer research (like this crystal of a complex between a cancer target and therapeutic antibody that diffracted to 2.6 Angstroms)
#BICRollCall
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Nope. She just woke up on payday and found that her entire check was only a couple hundred dollars. They took out all the taxes at once with no warning. As if anyone can survive on $200.
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So, I want to talk a bit about our recent article on gender equity in science. Some people have commented that the focus should just be on science in rewarding excellence.
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🛑 Please stop sending emails about resilience. I’m an expert in resilience, and it’s not what’s needed now. Resources (including expanded mental health services), childcare support, contract extensions, modified expectations…these are the types of things that are needed now.
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I think I was fine until I had to break the news to the kids that we would be late, and my 10 year old asked this. Not the world I want them to live in.
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Interviewed a student today who told me they had never heard a PI talk about their “non-traditional” background and what it meant to navigate in science. What I do can be tiring and some people don’t get it, but I don’t do it for you. I do it for students like this 💙
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And yes, I had her permission to post about this.
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You have died of dysentery
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As of today, I have officially ordered all large equipment for the lab! Now to get to the smaller stuff
#NewPI
💃🏾(plus get that website done and hire people, and get the grant in 😂. But I am loving this!)
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@CterminiPhD
@biophyskrys
This is ridiculous. For a “graduate fellowship”?! 9/10 chance this person entered science in the era when 3-4 publications was enough to get a faculty position. People really need to stop with this publication mess: it’s infuriating. It’s meaningless. I’m sorry for the trainee.
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Worth mentioning that personally, I stayed in academia because it’s what I always wanted to do, etc., but I definitely thought it made no sense at many points. My family suffered, but they were willing to ride it out with me. This should never have required so much sacrifice.
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The number of scientists who respond to my 4am emails right away is increasing. Are we all getting no sleep?
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After a tough committee meeting in grad school, the custodian said "I always see you in here working hard by yourself. I told my daughter about you and how inspiring you are", and embarrassingly, I cried. And she gave me a much needed hug.
CORY BOOKER LET Y’ALL IN ON A SECRET:
For many Black folks in so-called “elite” jobs/organizations, it’s SERVICE STAFF who keep us motivated… encouraged… uplifted.
“I see you, doc!”
“Keep it up, young man!”
“How’s it going my brother?”
We treasure this kinship!
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I think I’m going to have to leave academia because of this obsession with papers. It’s really too much. I will not have my value reduced to a paper.
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Please, please be mature enough to tell a student “no” if you cannot write them a supportive letter. When I read bad references for young people, I think it mostly just reflects on you. And if the letter is outright insulting, I put you on my list of people to never promote 😠
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I truly hate reimbursement culture, and one of the worst parts is the uncaring and unrushed attitudes of those who process reimbursement. Telling a student to stop sending emails like it’s not very serious for them: here’s an idea, do your job!
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I was consistently a top student but almost failed out my sophomore year because I had to work two jobs to support my younger brother and my grandmother dying of cancer while my mom was in rehab.
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Strongly agree with
#1
. This is huge, especially when you get a prestigious fellowship and get 'rewarded' by losing insurance for your family. Also, whenever postdocs advocate for themselves, "you're a temporary hire" always comes up, perpetuating the cycle. Stop this now.
Glad you brought this up Ali! Great responses. My 2¢ on the structural issues. 1) Postdocs need to be full employees of universities. Benefits (healthcare, retirement) are terrible. And the current system leaves international PDs vulnerable. This is mostly on schools/NIH 1/n
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New photos preview! 😍
Taken by the talented photographer Leah Hughey at
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At community events where trainees are present, you will see me have at most 2 drinks. In rare cases when I go beyond that amount, it’s because I’m surrounded by friends and peers. This is a conscious decision.
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Today I turn 40. My plan was to be fit, fab and successful at 40.
...
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From Nature Lover to Structural Biologist: A Scientist’s Journey
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In grad school, I had independent funding the entire time but only presented my research once at a scientific meeting because I could not afford to wait for reimbursement.
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About last night…
Something incredibly powerful about watching
#WakandaForever
together with my real life superheroes. Everyone in here is a scientist. Everyone in here is
#BlackExcellence
at
#ABRCMS2022
(Post pictures/tag yourself below so they can see us)
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I’ve been thinking about this a lot. Many schools have resisted the idea of acknowledging DEI work as scholarship towards graduation or tenure. I wanted to briefly pick apart some of the opposing arguments I’ve heard: (1/n)
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My first hire as a PI will be that student who worked full time during undergrad and had a lower GPA as a result, but is passionate about science. That's real motivation academia sleeps on.
My first hire as a PI will be a moderately motivated postdoc because no one seems to want to hire those.
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Imo, there are enough problems in academia without us creating more. No one was really complaining about rotations, so can we get back to living wages, childcare and true inclusion please.
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Look what arrived today! Such a beautiful award! Thank you
@AtHinton
and
@phdgprotein86
for spearheading the annual Juneteenth Awards and
@BiomedVandy
for supporting it! I was honored to be selected amongst a superstar list of scholars 🙏🏾
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Please do not apply to programs designed to increase diversity if you don't belong to groups underrepresented in science and you have a lot of the resources and support that the intended targets lack. Please listen and Please stop. I'm sorry but it HAS to be said.
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And now we're in the ER with my middle child. Prayers, thoughts, good vibes...we'll take it all.
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@TheRealDrDukes
I’m sorry, these interactions are far too common. And even if there is follow up they get to say they were just frustrated, but never have to answer why they thought it was appropriate to take that frustration out on you, or for how it impacted your students. Sorry.
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Let’s first note that this person is exceptional. Truly. And because of this, she’s being recruited by many places and has a promising career ahead of her regardless. But, she planned to go on the academic job market this year and would make an amazing PI/mentor.
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Everyone else is doing hot takes, so here is mine: I don’t believe reviewers should be able to ask for extra experiments the vast majority of the time. It’s mostly just gate keeping.
Reviewers of our paper asked for experiments that exist in the literature. So we referred to 4(!) pubs with said experiments. Rejected. Reviewer 1 says they dont believe the published literature. What happened science? When did it turn to a belief rather than data driven system?
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