Dr. David Miller 🏳️‍🌈

@danagoldstein.bsky.social

9 Dec 2024

🚨🚨 Out TODAY in Psych Bulletin!! 🚨🚨 After 5 long years, the NSF meta-analysis I led on children's gender stereotypes about STEM and verbal abilities just came out today in Psych Bulletin!! In the words of great cultural critic Stefon, it has everything... doi.org/10.1037/bul0...

Dr. David Miller 🏳️‍🌈 reposted

Dana Goldstein

My deep dive on the "A.I.-driven" Alpha School, revealing their internal learning and enrollment data for the first time, just as the network expands into public education. There is a big gap between the marketing and reality. www.nytimes.com/2026/10/23/u...

nytimes.comAlpha School Claims to Teach Kids Twice as Fast. Many Don’t Make It. (Gift Article)Alpha School, a private network, is spreading into public education. While its students’ test scores are high, some parents and educators say it doesn’t live up to the hype.

Dr. David Miller 🏳️‍🌈 reposted

Stand Up for Science!

@standupforscience.net

Trump is bleeding science dry as the National Science Foundation closes it's fiscal year with over $1B left unspent. NSF says the money will be invested in Trump aligned initiatives.

This is on top of **already** delayed progress in releasing new NSF funding opportunities & grants due to the lack of a Senate-confirmed Director. Stone has only been performing the director's duties (not appointed/confirmed). Lack of clear replacement means even greater uncertainty & delay.

Dan Garisto@dangaristo.bsky.social

BREAKING: Major shakeup in NSF leadership. Brian Stone, who has been performing the duties of NSF director since April 2025, is retiring on Dec. 31. Rebecca Keiser, who has been acting chief of staff, is also retiring, Oct. 31. Unclear who will replace Stone, since O'Neill's nom hasn't moved.

Deleted earlier post in light of this clarification:

Dan Garisto@dangaristo.bsky.social

A small clarification: Stone's been 'performing the duties', which is delegation, so slightly different than acting, which has a 300-day limit via the Federal Vacancies Act. Delegation for a PASC role is... a legal gray area.

youtube.comPresumed Effective: The Manufacturing of an Evidence Base for AI-in-Ed Through Flawed Meta-AnalysisYouTube video by MIT Teaching Systems Lab

Provocative new preprint examines 14 published meta-analyses claiming AI improves student learning and concludes... Not a single one provides a valid basis for its claims, citing widespread methodological flaws. osf.io/preprints/ed... Watch a webinar from yesterday about the findings:

Dr. David Miller 🏳️‍🌈 reposted

Don Moynihan

@donmoyn.bsky.social

One striking difference between NIH and NSF is that NIH seems to have leadership able to push back against Vought, as well as a broader public base of support in Congress. NSF leadership seem to be doing nothing to push back against the killing of social science research.

Dan Garisto@dangaristo.bsky.social

How did this happen? Officially, proposals went through the same process as before: peer review, program officer recommendation, section head approval. Unofficially, the choice was taken out of SBE's hands, going above the directorate head, Christina Freyman and to NSF leadership.

science.org‘Complete devastation’: How NSF gutted its social sciences researchAgency body that funds sociology, linguistics, and archaeology studies in U.S. gave 90% fewer new grants this year

NSF gave 90% fewer new grants this year in the social & behavioral sciences Spokesperson quote is even more batshit crazy: NSF "has been actively engaging in prudent planning & taking steps to implement the President’s agenda for FY 2027" Yo, that first requires a little thing called...Congress

Dr. David Miller 🏳️‍🌈 reposted

Mark Histed

@markhisted.org

Killed. NSF’s SBE was killed, in violation of law. The President does not have the power to choose to kill programs at a whim by defunding them. The imperial presidency was a mistake and we are in a separation of powers constitutional crisis.

This post is unavailable.

Dr. David Miller 🏳️‍🌈 reposted

Joshua Weitz

@joshuasweitz.bsky.social

New long-form post on the proposed Executive Order that would give OMB Director Russell Vought veto power over NIH funding decisions.

joshuasweitz.substack.comAn Emperor of All Malice: Contesting Efforts to Control NIH FundingUnilateral efforts by the White House to politicize funding decisions jeopardize discovery, health, and the economy… and demand a timely, effective response.

Dr. David Miller 🏳️‍🌈 reposted

Jenna Norton

@jenna-m-norton.bsky.social

As you call members of Congress to raise concern about a Vought-led grant review panel, encourage them to sign onto proposed legislation that could help: 1) Follow the Science Act by @degette.house.gov would remove political appointees from the grant-making process: www.congress.gov/bill/119th-c...

congress.govcongress.gov

⏰ About 12 hrs left to comment on the Dept of Ed's proposal!! I focused on changes to redefining "evidence" (a thread on that coming later): www.regulations.gov/comment/ED-2... But also the changes would... 1. Give broad authority to terminate grants "for convenience" (§ 75.901(a)). Cont'd...

This post is unavailable.

2. Prefer applicants who voluntarily agree to not charge the gov't for the full indirect costs of research (§ 75.228). 3. Allow for "multiyear funding" that in practical terms means fewer new projects in next 1-3 years (§ 75.252). Comment on whatever most speaks to you! Cite the relevant section #

📚 Ed researchers: Listen up, the Dept of Education is proposing major changes in the federal role of the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC). ⏰ You have **three days** left to submit a public comment. Working on my own right now. In the meantime, take it from a former contracting officer for the WWC:

This post is unavailable.

See this broader guide from AERA on other proposed regulatory changes: www.aera.net/Research-Pol...

Hey folks, I feel weird writing this thread (considering you know, I've been inactive for like a year on social media). But the truth is the federal context really has been weighing on me. I used to be super active, especially posting every latest development as it relates to NSF. Cont'd...

I don't know if I will return to continue to post regularly. I have really enjoyed getting to meet others at in-person functions where they go, "oh you're *that* David Miller who posts about NSF? Thank you!" My heart swells, but I also feel a tinge of guilt too, whether warranted or not.

So bottom line: If you have felt the same, you're not alone. And also know that sometimes redirecting efforts to the state/local level can help in regaining a sense of purpose--while still changing lives. In solidarity with you all, especially if you've felt the same ❤️

But also, finding other ways to support the research and STEM education community has helped a lot too in what sometimes feels like an ever-hopeless task of bucking developments at the national level.

If anyone has reached out over Bluesky/Signal/email/etc over the past year, and I haven't responded, just know: it isn't you. I feel vulnerable writing so candidly and so publicly, but I do so in case it's helpful for others in finding a regained sense of purpose.

Like, "oh, we're using the word 'equity' in official gov't communications?" Well OK then! It's given me a renewed sense of purpose. So if you've felt the same: definitely know you are not alone. In fact, I would find it comforting to hear from others who had a similar journey over the past year.

But comforting isn't enough: If you have felt the federal level to be overwhelming, also know that the local/state level can often matter a whole lot more in aggregate. Personally, part of my day-to-day work still involves supporting NSF grantees--a mission I still remain very much committed to.

Instead, I write this thread for two reasons: 1. First, I recently connected w a colleague who felt the same. Someone who I felt a kindred spirit of sorts at the start of 2025--but then felt increasingly withdrawn. Hopeless almost. If we both felt the same, who else might feel similarly?

2. I recently have felt hope--at the state/local level. I've recently started a really cool project about making education research more usable and actionable for California educators seeking to improve student outcomes. I've been pleasantly surprised...

I'm also gay. But that pales in comparison to the absolute terror that undocumented immigrants face on a day-to-day basis when it comes to ICE. Yet, there's still the feeling of dread when it comes to the federal gov't, despite my relatively safe position.

I don't write this to gain sympathy. I honestly feel like a walking set of contradictions: myself 15+ months ago would have been slapping me, saying "wake the fuck up and do something." And I know objectively that is still true. Yet, subjectively, it has been hard to process.

When I write "federal context has been weighing on me", I feel guilty. I live in a *very* privileged position: I'm white, natural born U.S. citizen, with a reasonably high-paying job. I'm not who this present admin is targeting. Sure, I had an NSF grant terminated b/c it was about gender bias.

Dr. David Miller 🏳️‍🌈 reposted

Bobby Kogan

@bbkogan.bsky.social

15 Oct 2025

Trump and Vought are now breaking both sides of spending law. They’re illegally not spending where the law requires them to spend, and they’re illegally spending where they don’t have the money to spend. What we have is an appropriations king. Spending “deals” are meaningless under that setup.

Dr. David Miller 🏳️‍🌈 reposted

Lauren Kuehne

@omfishient.bsky.social

7 Oct 2025

🧪Excited to co-present this @standupforscience.bsky.social event next week with UW's Dr. Ryan Kelly We'll cover how to effectively engage in public comments, to help shape public policy at all levels, federal to local. Attend in person or virtually! RSVP: act.standupforscience.net/events/power...

@arghavansallesmd.medsky.social

7 Oct 2025

Fuck that noise. Federal workers deserve our respect and pay. And more than that: it's the law. "Shall be paid...at the earliest date possible after the lapse in appropriations ends" 31 U.S. Code § 1341 (c)(2): uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?p...

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com

Johnson: "It's true that in previous shutdowns, many or most furloughed employees have been paid for the time they were furloughed, but there is new legal analysis - I don't know the details, I just saw a headline - but there are some legal analysts saying that might not be appropriate or necessary"

Dr. David Miller 🏳️‍🌈 reposted

Arghavan Salles, MD, PhD

3 Oct 2025

I got fed up with Vance’s lies, so I made a video addressing a few of them: -Why are ED wait times long? (Hint: it’s not immigrants) -Are “illegal aliens” getting health insurance through the government? (Not since 1996) -What about emergency Medicaid? (This goes to hospitals, not patients)

3 Oct 2025

A tale of two states and Trump's shakedown of higher ed: TEXAS: Oh goody, yes, we love to strip away academic freedoms to serve Trump's wishes. CALIFORNIA: Eat shit. Any university who signs the letter will lose state funding.

nytimes.comTrump Administration Asks Colleges to Sign ‘Compact’ to Get Funding Preference

3 Oct 2025

Receipts for above: U of Texas Board of Regents (gift NYT link): www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/u... California governor: bsky.app/profile/gove... The 10-page "compact" itself: www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/u...

Dr. David Miller 🏳️‍🌈 reposted

Don Moynihan

@donmoyn.bsky.social

2 Oct 2025

Replying to @donmoyn.bsky.social

Republicans had what was a strong shutdown position: We want to keep the govt open, Dems have demands. They had traded this for Vought's position, which imo is much riskier, since it is based on an obvious lie about the need to make cuts. donmoynihan.substack.com/p/shutdown-h...

Dr. David Miller 🏳️‍🌈 reposted

Jenna Norton

@jenna-m-norton.bsky.social

nature.comThis US government shutdown is different: what it means for sciencePresident Trump’s budget office lays out guidelines for mass lay-offs across the federal government.

“American science, the gold-standard and world-leading science and innovation enterprise, is being destroyed….Congress has a rare moment of leverage to check Trump’s executive overreach and it must stand up and do so.” - @markhisted.org, NIH neuroscientist www.nature.com/articles/d41...

laurenkuehne.github.ioPetition to NSF to Restore Eligibility for the 2026 Graduate Research Fellowship Program Competition

📣 Calling 2nd-year grad students and their mentors: You just abruptly lost the ability to apply for the NSF grad research fellowship. Join ~900 others (and growing!) in signing @omfishient.bsky.social's petition to reverse that. [Or reshare this petition if you're not directly impacted]

Though many NSF employees are currently furloughed, Congress is not (where this call is going to next):

Lauren Kuehne@omfishient.bsky.social

📣 🧪 Update: #GRFP petition went to #NSF and OSTP (w/ the growing* comments list) yesterday. We are now working to get these impacts in front of Congress, so PLEASE keep signing/sharing the petition! *nearly 900! @danielbolnick.bsky.social @joshuasweitz.bsky.social @jasonwilliamsny.bsky.social

science.org‘Completely shattered.’ Changes to NSF’s graduate student fellowship spur outcryThe announcement comes months later than usual, leaving many would-be applicants stranded

Some further context on the abrupt policy change:

Dr. David Miller 🏳️‍🌈 reposted

Lauren Kuehne

@omfishient.bsky.social

laurenkuehne.github.ioPetition to NSF to Restore Eligibility for the 2026 Graduate Research Fellowship Program Competition

Lauren Kuehne@omfishient.bsky.social

🧪 Were you one of the many thousands of STEM students (and mentors) impacted by the sudden change in #NSF #GRFP eligibility last week? We created a petition to NSF leadership and Congress to reverse the changes - please sign and share your stories here!! laurenkuehne.github.io/grfpChanges/

wired.comFederal Workers Are Being Told to Blame Democrats for the ShutdownWorkers at one agency were given unhinged, partisan language to use when setting out-of-office replies.

One blatant violation of the Hatch Act after another:

WIRED@wired.com

SCOOP: At 9:35am on Wednesday, the first morning of the US government shutdown, employees at the Small Business Administration (SBA) received a template from human resources for their suggested “out of office” email. They were advised to blame the Democrats.

Dr. David Miller 🏳️‍🌈 reposted

Tiffany Lowe-Power stands with Minnesota

@tlowepower.bsky.social

30 Sept 2025

Advice: download PDFs of any documents you might need from government websites. The NIFA website went offline during the government shutdown during my PhD

Dr. David Miller 🏳️‍🌈@davidimiller.bsky.social

In that vein, NSF's shutdown plans just went public: nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/files/nsf-sh... Already-funded projects can continue. And proposals can be submitted. But don't expect a response from a program officer during the shutdown.

30 Sept 2025

Needed to take a bit of a social media break for personal reasons, but hopping back on say: At awe of the civil servants at NSF, NIH, etc. While Vought uses their jobs/livelihood as a political pawn re: shutdown, their first instinct has remained: how do I support the communities of scientists?

nature.comHarvard vs Trump: research funds still mostly frozen despite court winUS funding agencies might violate a judge’s ruling if they continue to withhold money.

30 Sept 2025

Dr. David Miller 🏳️‍🌈 reposted

Dan Garisto

@dangaristo.bsky.social

19 Sept 2025

New: More than two weeks after a court order ruled the Trump administration's termination of 1000+ grants illegal, Harvard's research funding is still frozen—with one exception. On Wednesday, NSF reinstated both Harvard's grants and access to funds. My reporting:

Dr. David Miller 🏳️‍🌈 reposted

Kara Swisher

@karaswisher.bsky.social

18 Sept 2025

Exactly this

Dr. David Miller 🏳️‍🌈 reposted

Chris Geidner

@chrisgeidner.bsky.social

12 Sept 2025

If I don't see multiple ~media reporters~ columns about the extraordinarily irresponsible Wall Street Journal report from yesterday morning — and their extensive promotion of that inflammatory report — you all should just pack up and go home.