Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈
Neuroscientist & science communicator. President at @stellatecomms.bsky.social, Senior Producer for @storycollider.bsky.social, musician and open-water swimmer.
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈TONIGHT, Jan 26! No❄️Day! Weather you have to⛷️🏂or🛷, make sure to JOIN @storycollider.bsky.social at Caveat NYC when Diana Li & @paulacroxson.bsky.social host @denisejcai.bsky.social & 4 other #StoryTellers for an unforgettable evening of deeply personal stories. TIX👉 storycollider.org/tickets/2026...
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈One crisis. One vow. Two life-defining choices. New Story Collider episode with stories from Misha Gajewski and Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈 drops tomorrow. 🎧✨ #Storytelling #LifeChoices #PersonalGrowth #NewEpisode #EmotionalJourney
- I’m on the podcast this week with one of the most vulnerable stories I have ever told: about my mum, my dream to be a scientist, and why I am the way I am 💙
- Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈 made a vow: no matter what, she wasn’t giving up her dream. She was going to be a scientist — come what may. 🔬 🎧 Hear her story of choices, and regrets wherever you get your podcasts. ow.ly/3YVv50XE8Hx #ScienceStories #WomenInScience #ScienceJourney #WomenInSTEM
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈🧪 The University of Edinburgh is seeking a Director for the Institute of Neuroscience and Cardiovascular Research
- Want a change of scenery in these interesting times? Our institute is recruiting a director/head of school. wittkieffer.com/positions/38...
- It's such an honour to have been elected President of The Story Collider's Board of Directors ✨ I told my first story back in 2013, and it's no exaggeration to say it changed the course of my career - and my life ❤️ 🧪
- Big news from The Story Collider 🎉 We’re thrilled to share that Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈 has been elected President of our Board of Directors! Congrats, Paula—and thank you to Krishna Pakala for his leadership! More details: ow.ly/wf1q50XUcys
- The sharing of personal narratives about science is crucial - not only to show the importance of science and the humanity of scientists - but also to bring scientists a sense of belonging. I can't think of a more important time to step up and keep supporting these stories.
- Since I officially joined the Story Collider team in 2017, it's been such a joy to co-host live shows, teach workshops and share my own stories. I do hope you'll subscribe to our podcast and maybe even join us at a live show soon 🎤
- 📣 📣 Calling all #scicomm practitioners and enthusiasts in #NYC! 📣 📣 SciCommUnity NYC is hosting our first after work mixer on Tuesday, January 13th at 6pm! Come mingle with our members and spark new connections with NYC-based scicommers! RSVP here: luma.com/xfr3trbn Hope to see you there!🗽🪐 🧬
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈The SPARK Society is sponsoring a lunchtime workshop at Psychonomics (noon today, Governor's Square 12) on Science Outreach and Advocacy, featuring @ozgegurcanli.bsky.social @paulacroxson.bsky.social and @jzacks.bsky.social, moderated by me. Free lunch for the first 50 attendees - join us! #psynom25
- I'm so proud to count myself among the amazing producers at @storycollider.bsky.social ! Seven of them will be sharing stories in a special online show - yes, online, so you can watch from anywhere in the world! - on Wednesday, November 12 at 7pm ET! 🧪 www.storycollider.org/tickets/2025...
- The Careers in #SciComm & Media panel at #WCUB2025 on Saturday was a fantastic opportunity to share and learn! Grateful for the invitation, and to fellow panelists @sallyburn.bsky.social, Olipriya Das and Chris Gilbert for sharing your wit & wisdom! 🧪 A few takeaways in 🧵1/3
- - Networking is important! Be intentional and connect with a message, and focus on genuine connections beyond just asking for things (although you can also ask for things - people love to help)! - Build experience where you can, even if that means doing it in your spare time. 🧵2/3
- - When applying for a role, remember to highlight the academic skills you have that apply to science communication, such as teamwork, flexibility, collaboration, people management, etc. - Connect with your values and what you are most passionate about to find a good fit. 🧵3/3
- New Yorkers, a super useful guide - read before you vote!
- NYC Ballot Initiatives, gak! This morning I’m NO on 1-4, yes to 5 (digital maps) and yes to 6 (even year elections) tho a little less resolutely. @jfrejnyc.bsky.social guide has best info on the possible real world repercussions of 6 docs.google.com/document/d/1...
- This Monday 10/13, @dianateuthis.bsky.social and I are back with @storycollider.bsky.social for 5 true personal stories of finding out, from superstitions & magic to getting out of our comfort zones! 7pm at @caveatnyc.bsky.social Grab tix now www.storycollider.org/tickets/2025...
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈Each Friday, I summarize what is happening to American science & higher ed. 🧪 This was Week 38: - MIT declines loyalty oath/compact & I review latest at other 8 universities - Newest RIFs gutting CDC - “Payroll pirates” targeting university HR & so much more buttondown.com/liminalcreat...
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈GOOD! MIT officially rejects the compact/loyalty oath for higher ed. That’s 1 of 9. I hope we see many more announcements today.
- MIT rejects "compact" proposed by the Trump administration. MIT prez wrote: it "would restrict freedom of expression and our independence as an institution" and "is inconsistent with our core belief that scientific funding should be based on scientific merit alone." orgchart.mit.edu/letters/rega...
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈As spooky season creeps up, perhaps your brain is craving a helping of zombie science? Come get some in NJ and NYC, where I'll be talking about Rise of the Zombie Bugs! 🧪🧟 10/24: WORD Jersey City with Nick Ciavatta 11/5: NYPL with @paulacroxson.bsky.social More info: mindyweisberger.com/events/
- One of the coolest things about working at @stellatecomms.bsky.social is getting to work with an incredible team of designers who really understand how to bring science communication to life ✨ 🎬
- I was going to write a whole post about all this incredible work with all these amazing scientists and organizations, but I’ll just leave @stellatecomms.bsky.social design sizzle reel here. It speaks for itself. youtu.be/x2O7DkpIoCA?...
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈🚀 NY-CURES Launch — Championing State-Wide Investment in Science! 🚀 Our new coalition advocates for sustained public support of New York’s vibrant biomedical research ecosystem — creating cures, economic gains & strengthening communities. Sign up. Stay informed. Join the movement: www.nycures.org/
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈I might have lost funding but at least I can do what I want. :) And I want to teach people about AI ethics in 90 second increments! bit.ly/ai-ethics-sy...
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈🧪 @transjournalists.org is offering a few dozen stipends of $250 or $500 to support journalists looking for a boost to attend conferences, trainings, workshops, and more. Applications will be accepted until 11:59pm PT on August 11. Find more info and apply below!
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈We're hiring a Digital Engagement Manager! 🧪 Learn more about the job opening and application process: laskerfoundation.org/about-us/car...
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈A while ago, we started a #FixItFriday tradition. We keep a running list - large & small, digital & analog, anything broken or annoying - and work on it together. Today's 30-second fix: to remove AI "preview" from search results, here's the setting for Chrome users: www.reddit.com/r/techsuppor...
- 🧪 Medical research funding continues to be critically endangered, but at least some grants have been ordered to be reinstated - a sure sign that we have to keep pushing back on these illegal, harmful decisions. 🧵 from this week's update - and how you can help with Unbreaking.
- In a bit of good news, medical research grants on vaccine hesitancy, diversity, and other topics are being reinstated, following court rulings. www.science.org/content/arti...
- Join us for the first of @stellatecomms.bsky.social FREE webinars on Web Design for Nonprofits on August 6, 2025 from 1-2PT ET! ✨
- Science orgs & nonprofits: join us for a FREE webinar on revamping your website. We’ll cover: ✔️ Signs it’s time to redesign ✔️ How great design drives funding + engagement ✔️ Tips for translating science online Design isn't just pretty, it's impactful! Register: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈The reconciliation bill Congress passed last week cut a trillion dollars from Medicaid, which covers 1 in 5 people in the US. With other Trump administration policy changes, the bill’s cuts are expected to push 17 million people out of healthcare coverage. unbreaking.org/issues/medic...
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈The @unbreaking.org team just launched its blog, and this post from Sydette is really something special. “Nothing ever comes back exactly the same. But if we know what has changed, what is being destroyed—but also what can be saved—then we can hope that something even better can be rebuilt.”
- It’s lunch time! Which means the West coast is up … @unbreaking.org it started in March , it’s up and running in JUNE We are putting it together and in our first first person blog post.. I tell you why I personally am doing this Read and Share !!! unbreaking.org/blog/welcome...
- Very excited for this! In person (in NYC) and livestream tickets available!
- ✨NOT TO MISS✨ On July 14, 6:30pm, join #StoryCollider when Diana Li & @paulacroxson.bsky.social host a night of 👉 true stories about self-discovery. Be prepared for the painful, wonderful & everything in btwn.🎟️ Early bird tickets available NOW until 7/7 at 7pm! www.storycollider.org/tickets/2025...
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈Protect transgender scientist! 🏳️⚧️
- This is an admirable decision, and must have been a devastatingly hard one. It shouldn't have to be this way - these demands are illegal AND unethical.
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈✊ACTION MENU✊ Science is under attack. But we’re fighting back. ✔️ Sign the Bethesda Declaration ✔️ Join our resistance to the Fool’s Gold EO ✔️ Take action in your community ✊ Let’s flood the zone with science.
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈CLARIFICATION : The Trevor Project's hotline will still be live. But basically this means LGBTQ people can no longer be connected to it through the US national 988 suicide prevention hotline. They will need to be contacted DIRECTLY So spread this around They can be texted. They can be called.
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈MORE YOUNG: "It is palpably clear that these directives and the set of terminated grants here also are designed to frustrate, to stop, research that may bear on the health – we’re talking about health here, the health of Americans, of our LGBTQ community. That’s appalling."
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈YOUNG: "I am hesitant to draw this conclusion, but I have an unflinching obligation to draw it – that this represents racial discrimination. And discrimination against America’s LGBTQ community. That’s what this is. I would be blind not to call it out. My duty is to call it out."
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈BREAKING: A federal judge in Massachusetts (the Reagan-appointed William Young) has declared the Trump administration's cuts to NIH grants — ostensibly over Trump's EOs on gender ideology and DEI — are "illegal" and "void." He's ordering many grants restored.
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈Tell your legislators that you stand with these scientists. 202 224 3121 is the Congressional Switchboard. Here is a letter from @resist.bot to send too. resist.bot/petitions/PQ...
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈I've focused a lot of energy on grant & job losses within academia lately. Glad that the @chronphilanthropy.bsky.social has launched a nonprofit job loss tracker, including a form to contribute your own data www.philanthropy.com/article/10-0... (h/t @paulacroxson.bsky.social(
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈SEVERAL KEY THEMES FROM THE HEARING: 1. Jay is REALLY pushing off accountability on the budget saying that it is "a negotiation between congress and the administration" I think he is distancing himself from Trump to remain "neutral" & avoid fallout when it (inevitably) comes.
- 🧪 Scientists are pushing back against the gutting of US research funding. Now scientists outside of the NIH and members of the public can sign on in support of the Bethesda declaration: www.standupforscience.net/bethesda-dec... More about the Bethesda declaration: apnews.com/article/nih-...
- 💫 Please share these resources widely - they are designed to track what we know and make sense of things in a well-sourced and fact-checked way. The page on medical research in particular covers a lot of ground and will be updated regularly. 🧪
- Hi! We just released three new pages. First up, we break down the devastating defunding of medical research in the US, including grant terminations and delays representing nearly $5B in funding losses, cuts to future funding, and attacks on training programs: unbreaking.org/issues/medic...
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈Directly from philanthropic leaders on why philanthropy is not the answer to federal research cuts:
- A return to a prewar model of private funding would be a “very, very significant loss for the nation,” @agamoran.bsky.social told @chronicle.com in a recent story on how private funders are responding to federal cuts to research:
- One week from today, on June 3, @storycollider.bsky.social is turning 15 and celebrating with an all-star lineup of fave storytellers! ✨ We still have a few tix left, so please join us in NYC or via livestream - and support us in our mission to tell science stories! 🧪 www.storycollider.org/15years
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈🧪 Detailed data viz NYT article, out today, on the extent of funding cuts at the National Science Foundation. This "broken pie chart" is neat & new to me: Powerfully shows the slowdown in new NSF awards across areas. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈That was fast. @nbcnews.com www.nbcnews.com/politics/imm...
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈Applications are now open for our fall internship program! This is an excellent opportunity for a beginning science journalist to report and write about the fast-moving field of neuroscience. Apply now: simonsfoundation.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/simons...
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈After more than a month of uncertainty, 30 previously purged employees at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke received an email yesterday stating they no longer face termination. By @sydneywyatt.bsky.social, @avaskham.bsky.social #neuroskyence bit.ly/4dwfrdG
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈NEW SCIENCE VS EPISODE out discussing what's going on with U.S. science under the Trump administration — and how scientists are fighting back. We hear from fan fave @maxkozlov.bsky.social at @nature.com. PLUS: Does funding science do anything for the economy?🧪 open.spotify.com/episode/4A9A...
- I'm really excited to be part of @unbreaking.org. Our goal is to share information about what is happening - and the human cost - in ways that are clear and rigorously fact-checked. More pages coming soo, including on funding cuts and other attacks on medical research unbreaking.org 🧪
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈New NIH Notice "expiring" a large number of funding opportunities because "We have identified a number of Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) that were not expired or reissued as indicated in the implementation plan outlined in NOT-OD-24-085." grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈My ongoing request: If your NSF or NIH grant was terminated--whether at Harvard or elsewhere--please report it here. NSF: grant-watch.us/submit-nsf.h... NIH: grant-watch.us/submit-nih.h... Our trackers are actively used in lawsuits and are often the only record that terminations ever occurred.
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈1. Over the past four months I've talked with many foundation directors about science philanthropy during Trump 2.0. Two things come to the fore every time. i) The most important they can do is maintain the pipeline of talent ii) With the federal govt pulling out, ROI is higher now than ever.
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈I was just hearing about this and searching for news on postdoc funding awards. If you know more, please share.
- Having a hard time processing this. HHMI is pausing all competitions. Very demoralizing for early career scientists like me @hhmi.org
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈Is your foundation’s website pulling its weight? Our free Web Strategy Checklist helps science-focused funders evaluate what’s working — and what might be holding you back. Find out how well you are showcasing your impact online: 📥 stellatecomms.kit.com/foundations-...
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈This Wednesday! I'm trying out a new show idea involving talks and comedy, w/ help from Brian Morabito! Come by and you can also see @joshgondelman.bsky.social, Andy Vega, @emenez2.bsky.social, Kat Thek, Kurt Cruz, McKenna Moore, Molly Brown, and @paulacroxson.bsky.social! caveat.nyc/events/frien...
- Science Is Stronger When We Live Our Values: two scientists have drafted a pledge to uphold our values as scientists and STEM professionals. Learn more, sign it and share it here blog.ucs.org/science-blog...
- "We need to make it clear that we will not acquiesce to the impractical and unethical censorship of science and education; that we will uphold basic ethics and principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the way we conduct ourselves as professionals and in our daily lives."
- Rapid response funding for education-related projects impacted by recently-terminated or cancelled grants from NSF. $25,000 grants to address immediate needs - where possible, early-career scholars will be prioritised. www.spencer.org/grant_types/...
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈🚨Report your NSF grant terminations! 🚨 We are starting to collect information on NSF grant terminations to create a shared resource as we have for NIH. The more information we collect, the more we can organize, advocate, and fight back! Please share widely! airtable.com/appGKlSVeXni...
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈It's not just Columbia, it's not just DEI, and it's not just biomedical research: Trump's war on universities has frozen crucial science at institutions like Princeton, Cornell, Northwestern, and more. Our @nature.com team spoke to some of the affected scientists: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈This is a great action list for those facing NSF terminations. I would add one key point: Be in touch with legal counsel at your institutions and universities. There is a lot to dispute in these terminations.
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈It is breaking our hearts to hear of people taking their lives over the the pain this administration has caused. Please keep your eyes on and your hearts open to your loved ones. Below are resources for anyone struggling.
- Turns out the warning about the NSF taking down grant information was (thankfully) a false alarm, but happy I shared it in case it was true. Never a bad time to keep our own records, and grateful to @lizneeley.bsky.social and others for keeping track of this rapidly-evolving situation 🙏
- Sometimes we get it wrong. Update on my post from yesterday - bsky.app/profile/jere.... I made a judgement call. I had 2 reliable sources & a solid ask (keep local copies of critical documentation) that was actionable, reasonable, time-sensitive & few downsides. I'm glad this was a false alarm.
- 🚨 An URGENT heads-up for NSF grantees to screenshot/download/print your work in research.gov & alert your collaborators and colleagues to do the same.
- 🚨 Practical URGENT tip for NSF grantees: Out of an abundance of caution, I would right now go into Research.gov and… 1. Download your NSF award letters. 2. Print PDF your annual reports. 3. Screenshot the status table for annual reports. NSF is planning maintenance tomorrow to Research.gov
- I'm proud to have been part of producing both of these amazing stories of breaking down barriers in #science 🧪! Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts: www.storycollider.org/podcast
- So incredibly lucky to have been able to share my story with @storycollider.bsky.social ! The podcast is out today! Thanks to @paulacroxson.bsky.social and @dianateuthis.bsky.social for being my guides through this journey!
- Amazing to see such a great turnout at our #scicomm session at @cogneuronews.bsky.social and so many scientists engaging with the public or eager to learn 🧠 It's never been more important to communicate how science is necessary and beneficial.
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈Effective storytelling in #scicomm requires some connection with the human side, to provide a vehicle to the science You have to make yourself vulnerable ... To enable an audience to connect, whether scientists, courtroom or public @ayannakim.bsky.social #CNS2025
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈@paulacroxson.bsky.social started being more engaged in #scicomm after attending a workshop to learn about how to more effectively share her research and then connecting with the more personal side of storytelling #CNS2025
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈#scicomm is more important than ever, as science is under attack @charan-neuro.bsky.social Excited for this workshop on #scicomm at #CNS2025
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈Stellate President @paulacroxson.bsky.social will be part of a workshop on "Communicating Cognitive Neuroscience Concepts for Maximum Impact" at the @cogneuronews.bsky.social meeting this weekend in Boston! Email paula@stellatecomms.com to connect 💫 www.cogneurosociety.org/workshops-so...
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈Another testament of why/how info matters for trainees. If yours aren’t getting any info, please make that right! neuromatch.social/@jessetm/114...
- In a world where diversity, equity and inclusion are under attack, we must lean in harder. Inclusion of people with lived experience of illness and disability in biomedical research makes it more innovative and drives it forward. 🧪Out today in @natrevneph.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/s41...
- We call for institutions to actively work towards accommodating patient–researchers. These individuals bring unparalleled insights into the conditions they both have and study, which can be transformative for the impact of research on the lives of people living with illness and disability.
- We provide tangible ways that our institutions must support these valuable patient-researchers. (1) Extra time. Extended deadlines and longer tenure clocks. (2) Dedicated spaces. Physical spaces for treatments and rest, and the flexibility to work remotely or adjusted hours.
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View full threadI am indebted to my incredible colleagues @ilsedaehn.bsky.social for driving this important work forward, and @nephrin.bsky.social and Jacob Wright for sharing their stories and incredible expertise.
- So excited for this show celebrating the brain and the scientists who study it! 🧠 🎙️ 3/18 at 7pm ET - get your tickets now!
- Amazing to see so many scientists standing up for science and advocating for research around the world yesterday! We won’t be censored! #standupforscience @standupforscience.bsky.social
- Science is essential. We need to restore scientific funding and end censorship of science now. #StandUpForScience rallies will be happening across the country today. standupforscience2025.org
- Reposted by Paula Croxson (she/her) 🏳️🌈The NIH announced it will slash billions of dollars of support to universities and research centers. This is one of the biggest attacks on science we have ever seen. It could dismantle the biomedical research system, shut down clinical trials, and halt development of treatments.
- This is a very useful explainer on why the proposed cuts to incorrect costs on NIH grants will be so damaging. This won’t just hurt medical research, it will gut our universities. And yes, it is illegal to make a cut like this without approval of Congress.
- 1. Today the NIH director issued a new directive slashing overhead rates to 15%. I want to provide some context on what that means and why it matters. grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
