Dr. Amy Burgin

The 2025-26 Eco-Evo job list is out. Good luck to those applying! docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

I'm recruiting via ISU's new EPSCOR Grad Training Program! If you want to write an NSF GRFP this Fall and come to ISU, let's connect. Students who get an Honorable Mention this year (or did in the last 3 years) are eligible. Program funding rates are same as GRFP! Apply: etap.nsf.gov/award/8257/o...

We love the Women Advancing River Research webinar series! Today, we’re learning about interdisciplinary collaboration to understand non-perennial streams with @margaretzimmer.bsky.social and @burginam.bsky.social. There are even some beautiful maps for #gischat! 👩🏻‍🔬🌊🧪

Looking forward to talking non-perennial streams with MZ tomorrow! She'll do an overview of all of the great synthesis work in the NPS literature in the last ~5 years, and I'll do a deep dive on the organization of the Aquatic Intermittency effects on Microbiomes in Streams (AIMS) project! Join us!

Congrats to Matt & Co on being awarded an NSF EGFP Grant! The program titled, "Training the next Generation of Biologists to Drive Basic Discovery and Build the Bioeconomy" will run at ISU for 3 years and can accept 10 students per year. If you got an Honorable Mention NSF GRFP, you're eligible!

Streams have become drier in a warming climate. 7/17, #WARR talks on intermittent streams + collaborative science teams, Dr. Margaret Zimmer @margaretzimmer.bsky.social Dr. Amy Burgin @burginam.bsky.social Register: psu.zoom.us/meeting/regi... @waterbarnes.bsky.social @devonkerins.bsky.social

The new leadership cancelled planned events for NSF’s 75th anniversary and tried to prevent staff from even taking a group photo to celebrate the landmark. These are the faces of the hardworking employees they’ve been treating as disposable. NSF, we appreciate you even if your own leaders don’t ❤️

Hey folks going to #evol2025 in Athens. The SSE #DEI committee is sponsoring a workshop on how to avoid bias in writing T&P letters. Registration is required and the workshop is open to all career stages! Please share and help spread the word @sse-evolution.bsky.social @evolmtg.bsky.social

Trump Has Cut Science Funding to Its Lowest Level in Decades www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

Partying like Rock Stars with Stink Floyd—the Corpse Flower that only blooms every 5-7 years! Huge line to smell the stench at Reiman Gardens. Can confirm, it smells…like a dumpster, maybe? You can check it out tomorrow (Sunday) but after that it’ll be a few years.

Racist and sexist roots in the cancellation of NSF grants under Trump: Grants with female PIs canceled 2x more than men Grants with Black PIs canceled 4x over White PIs Grants with Hispanic PIs canceled 2x over White PIs Grants with PIs with disabilities canceled 2x more than without

Great article with lots of perspectives from scientists who are scared to speak out — and other scientists who are scared of what will happen if they don't. Trump & Musk & Kennedy are devastating U.S. research and setting progress back decades www.science.org/content/arti... on @science.org

This week’s bright spot was the lovely native plant sale fundraiser by the ISU EEOB Grad Students. I got a great assortment to give my Mom for Mother’s Day, including a prairie seed packet!

The National Science Foundation benefits the State of Iowa through funding over $74M (FY'23) in research, education, and investment in business partnerships. This equates to jobs, degrees, new knowledge, and a skilled workforce for STEM careers. Fact sheets by state: new.nsf.gov/about/fact-s...

Exclusive: National Science Foundation staff were told today that the agency’s 37 divisions—across all eight directorates—are being abolished and the number of programs within those divisions will be drastically reduced.

🧪 Though a doubling of NSF's budget might seem far-fetched, that's exactly what Congress said what's needed to maintain national competitiveness in science & tech. From the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act of 2022:

SaveNSF is a coalition of concerned scientists and allies who are working to save funding for scientific grants through the NSF. The mission is to support and advocate for the continuation of vital research and innovation. Join: www.savensf.com

The Washington Post offers its own survey of the damage being done to the National Science Foundation. “It’s sort of cutting off the future,” said @alondra.bsky.social 3/10 wapo.st/3GBQ5Pa

I talked to Nature about the latest development at NSF, which is a five-alarm fire for American science. The scale of immediate impact is massive. We narrowly escaped this affecting @viralemergence.org for now, but will have to shut down in a few months if this stays. www.nature.com/articles/d41...

BREAKING: NSF has frozen all grant funding, as of yesterday. It's unclear when they will resume funding awards, or why the pause has been put in place. www.nature.com/articles/d41...

A timeline of science/health-relevant news over Trump's first 100 days. Good link to bookmark. 🧪 www.statnews.com/2025/04/24/t... #science #health #medicine

Critically, Republicans have terminated ~800 NIH grants over 8 weeks. But that's only half the story. *Republicans have also cancelled nearly 1,000 NSF grants in 8 *days*. The work continues. Report your terminated NSF grant here: airtable.com/appGKlSVeXni...

Why is the U.S. National Science Foundation important? Please share your stories! Use the hashtags #WithoutNSF or #WithoutScience

I’m deeply honored for this recognition by my scientific ‘home’. It’s easy to want to give back to a Society that centers student mentoring, collaboration, and high-quality science to understand and promote the importance of freshwater ecosystems. Check out an SFS meeting—it’s one of a kind!

There is a great deal to be concerned about in the federal science sphere right now. This resignation adds to those concerns, largely because we have no idea who might be take the Director’s place, and because it follows the Chief Scientist’s announced departure. www.science.org/content/arti...

For the last 3 yrs, I was the director for the Science of Science program at the NSF. We funded projects on science communication - science communication to the public, communication of public priorities to scientists, citizens engagement & participation in science. 🧵

🚨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...

USGS is the latest in the line of agencies under attack…this story highlights the entire Ecosystems program as a potential cut: www.science.org/content/arti...

BREAKING:The National Science Foundation (NSF) has put a cork in its grantmaking pipeline after billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) set up shop at the agency this week. | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...

@kacizarek.bsky.social's MS paper has been highlighted in Eos! Check out what we're learning about how stream drying impacts N cycling.

The NIH-funded Haskell-KU Bridges Program was terminated. It was one of the longest running programs of its kind, placing >130 Native American students into STEM labs over the last ~25 years. So many alums spoke of this program as being the entry point to their interest, and later, careers in STEM.

Spring reminder, as people start to think about gardening: NEVER buy compost with peat it in (inexplicably still on sale). If it does not say "peat free" in big letters, do not buy it. Peat is incredibly valuable in peat bogs, for rare biodiversity and as a carbon store. Don't put it on your garden!

I got my start on student programs as the 1st KU-HINU Bridge program coordinator in 1998. Sad for the students and staff who built up these amazing programs.

It is not just science funding that is under attack.

The latest NIH grant chaos: NIH apparently sent stop-work orders to all *97* MARC and U-RISE programs in the country. These programs support underrepresented undergrads interested in health research careers. MARC dates to 1977. Over 48 years, the programs have supported thousands of students.

JUST IN: The staff of the Institute of Museum and Library Services was placed on administrative leave this morning, following a meeting between IMLS leadership and DOGE staff.

Some 1,900 leading researchers accused the Trump administration in an open letter on Monday of conducting a “wholesale assault on U.S. science” that could set back research by decades and that threatens the health and safety of Americans.

April YODA Event: DEI 101: Meet & Connect Before SFS 2025! 📅 Date: April 30, 2025 ⏰ Time: 6:00 PM (USA EST) 📍 Location: Zoom link 💡 Whether you’re new to DEI conversations or looking to deepen your understanding, this session is a great way to meet others before the SFS meeting! (1/2)

Bonanza Creek LTER invites applications for a post-doctoral researcher in boreal forest ecology. The post-doctoral researcher will collaborate on data synthesis. Applicants should submit a cover letter, CV, and reference info: careers.alaska.edu/jobs/post-do...

So much to be proud of today from former undergrads! @kacizarek.bsky.social's MS paper in JGR-B is published (on NITROGEN!) @abagaelpruitt.bsky.social gave a phenomenal dissertation defense this morning. (also with plenty of N) The best part of this job is getting to see students continually grow.

Big CONGRATS to @kacizarek.bsky.social!!! Her new paper is out in @agu.org's JGR-B! The paper has a little bit of everything -- N biogeochemistry, intermittent stream hydrology, concentration-connectivity relationships! Check it out here: agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

📢Students and early career authors interested in learning more about publishing ✅Join the SFS Virtual Events Committee for the Beginner's Guide to Publishing Research workshop on March 20th at 12PM EST / 9AM PST (1/2)

Oofta. My partner was an EPA scientist about a decade ago. They are hard working, civically-minded scientists working for the greater good to help society manage our shared environment. This would be a tragic loss for us all. Thinking of our many EPA colleagues today.