BrachtLab

An associate professor of biology at American University, studying epigenetics, genome rearrangements, and evolutionary genomics. President of AU-AAUP Chapter.

[BrachtLab @BrachtLab]

Genetic mutations are a double-edged sword. If you are an asexual organism, mutations can accumulate and kill you. On the other hand, the loss of those mutations can also be deadly. How do asexual organisms cope? Read the latest research from my lab:
https://t.co/1HmFeDkT68

[BrachtLab @BrachtLab]

@GraceJUttarotai Thanks Grace! I have a speed-vac for concentrating samples but I don't use it that much. In this case I needed a slow rotation of the DNA to promote long-molecular weight precipitation.

[BrachtLab @BrachtLab]

Necessity is the mother of invention. Needed a 3 RPM rotation for DNA precipitation. A sideways tray shaker plus a lever plus sideways centrifuge did the trick.

[AAUP-AmericanU @AAUP_AmericanU]

Great article by @TheEagleOnline about @AmericanU faculty, staff, and student concerns with freedom of expression on AU's campus.
https://t.co/58sePcSMKU

[BrachtLab @BrachtLab]

I should clarify: this message was delivered to American University President Alger's door (not the federal government).

[BrachtLab @BrachtLab]

@AmericanU The faculty, staff, and students at American University have a message to the President: protect the vulnerable, protect academic freedom and protect the core mission! (The letters on the door outline this in more detail). The 95 theses have been delivered.

[BrachtLab @BrachtLab]

And check out the teach-in!

[AAUP-AmericanU @AAUP_AmericanU]

Come one, come all for our Day of Action for Higher Ed on the @AmericanU campus!

[AAUP-AmericanU @AAUP_AmericanU]

Come one, come all for our Day of Action for Higher Ed on the @AmericanU campus!

[BrachtLab @BrachtLab]

@AmericanU, listen--and respond--to these students who are courageously speaking out.

[AAUP-AmericanU @AAUP_AmericanU]

2 weeks ago @AmericanU police arrested a student engaged in silent protest (holding a flag) at our new president's inauguration. The arrest should not have happened bc the student's protest did NOT violate AU's freedom of expression policy. Our statement🔽
https://t.co/t7MZI7OAnY

[BrachtLab @BrachtLab]

Come learn about key issues surrounding higher ed and rally to urge our administration to protect the vulnerable in our community, academic freedom, and the core mission of the university.

[AAUP-AmericanU @AAUP_AmericanU]

Come one, come all for our Day of Action for Higher Ed on the @AmericanU campus!

[AAUP-AmericanU @AAUP_AmericanU]

This week American University's AAUP membership endorsed the attached proposal to prevent academic administrators from burdening speech, expression, and association and provide a mechanism for blocking and reversing policing that do so!
https://t.co/Xv77yo41u9

[BrachtLab @BrachtLab]

In case you missed it--an important statement on academic freedom and AU's suppression of speech. @AmericanU, be better. Speech protections are critical in higher ed, and it is concerning to see them eroding at our institution.

[AAUP-AmericanU @AAUP_AmericanU]

@AmericanU cancelled a Students for Justice in Palestine workshop on grounds that violated its own freedom of expression policies. No university committed to learning should be picking & choosing whose opinions can be heard. AU leadership own goal.
https://t.co/xY6Qv6uyP6

[BrachtLab @BrachtLab]

If you truly want to make America great, fund the research enterprise. It's more important now than ever.

[American Association of University Professors @AAUP]

“Billions of dollars in research has been frozen, and that’s research on things that every American depends on… It’s been a complete, utter, destruction of the United States research infrastructure.”

[BrachtLab @BrachtLab]

Statement by AAUP chapter leadership, faculty and broader AU community objecting to the university suppressing student expression freedom.

[AAUP-AmericanU @AAUP_AmericanU]

@AmericanU cancelled a Students for Justice in Palestine workshop on grounds that violated its own freedom of expression policies. No university committed to learning should be picking & choosing whose opinions can be heard. AU leadership own goal.
https://t.co/xY6Qv6uyP6

[BrachtLab @BrachtLab]

Calling AU faculty and graduate students. This is a moment to stand together for higher education. Join us at AAUP!

[AAUP-AmericanU @AAUP_AmericanU]

American U folks, please come to our March AAUP meeting!
https://t.co/xJ9KfRQlkd

[BrachtLab @BrachtLab]

Why we, as a country, are letting Elon Musk make these decisions is beyond me. He is not making anything "efficient". He's just breaking things. We must push back!

[Jonathan Sebat @sebatlab]

As we speak, scientisists across the country (including myself) are trying to to take care of simple administrative tasks related to the grants that we have recieved from the National Institutes of Health... 1/n

[American University Office of Research @AUResearch]

AU Eagles SOAR to R1 Status!! This prestigious designation from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education places AU among the top research universities in the United States.
@AmericanU @research_sis @AUcollege @AU_SPA

[BrachtLab @BrachtLab]

@AAUP_AmericanU Huron is soooo last year. We're on to Lockton now, who are consulting on the b̶u̶d̶g̶e̶t̶ ̶r̶e̶a̶l̶i̶g̶n̶m̶e̶n̶t̶ layoffs.

[BrachtLab @BrachtLab]

Really important analysis here of the budget crisis that AU is currently facing. Faculty want to know that administrators are with them, not targeting them for layoffs and/or salary reductions while themselves taking home corporate-style paychecks. @AU_Provost

[AAUP-AmericanU @AAUP_AmericanU]

"Eating the University"--a 🧵
Last week @AmericanU 's CFO and Provost hosted 2 meetings to discuss our dire budget situation. They hinted, via euphemism, about coming layoffs (e.g. 'workforce alignment strategies). 1/14