About

            AFS is a non-partisan science advocacy community hosted by students and postdocs at MIT. Scientists around the country have grown increasingly pessimistic about their futures and the future of academic research. We realized that the scientific community does not have a loud enough voice and we aren’t connecting to the public or legislators effectively. Science policy also lacks transparency. You may find yourself thinking- I want to help but what should I do to advocate? Is it really going to make a difference? How does science policy work and when is the most impactful time to contact my representatives? AFS is a community to discuss science policy and to create easy online advocacy campaigns that have maximal impact. Stay connected by signing up, following us here, liking us on facebook, and following us on twitter.

Contributors are welcome- that’s what community is all about.

Email:   mit3.savescience@gmail.com

For more information, check out AFS’s article in eLife, “Avoiding a lost generation of scientists”. Below is our infographic from the article on the academic research crisis.

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PEOPLE

Christin Glorioso, MD PhD
AFS Cofounder
Christin is a postdoctoral researcher in the Biology Department at MIT. She is using big data analysis of human genetics to search for new therapeutic targets to slow-down human brain aging and treat Alzheimer’s disease. She is passionate about bringing more science into the world- meta-science.
Email: mit3.savescience@gmail.com
Justin Taylor
AFS Cofounder
Justin is a legal archivist and writer with a background in State Politics. He has used his knowledge of the political process to help AFS inform scientists about advocacy. He is dedicated to finding modern, unconventional approaches to building an effective advocacy community using social media and other internet tools.
Twitter: @justinqtaylor
Email: mit3.savescience@gmail.com
Alik Widge, MD PhD
AFS Advisor
Dr. Widge is a neural engineer and psychiatrist at Harvard Medical School and MIT. His work centers around developing new technologies for re-regulating the brain circuits believed to underlie severe mental illness. He has a long history of scientific and clinical advocacy work, and advises AFS on legislative and organizing strategies.
Email: awidge@partners.org
Daniel Curtis   
AFS Advisor and MIT GSC Liaison

Daniel studies electricity markets, electric grid operation, and nuclear plant design as a PhD candidate in the MIT Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering. He seeks to improve the economic competitiveness of current and near future nuclear power plants, and to improve our strategies for nuclear energy research and development, through better understanding of federal and state energy policies, design and operation of the electric grid, the deployment of intermittent renewable generators (IRG), and deregulated markets for electricity. Daniel served as Legislative Action Chair for the MIT Graduate Student Council (GSC) during the 2015-2016 year and currently serves as the GSC External Affairs Chair.

 Nina Klymenko, PhD
AFS Artist

Nina is an artist/designer with a PhD in physics. She creates cartoons and illustrations for AFS. You can find her children’s book illustrations on her website.
Christine Oslowski, PhD
AFS Graphic Designer

Christine is a Social Media Content Specialist with Thermo Fisher Scientific and a Visiting Assistant Professor at Bridgewater State University. She is also a Board Member of the Association for Women in Science, Massachusetts Chapter (MASS AWIS) and serves as a Co-Chair for the Communications Committee. She received her bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and biochemistry at University of Massachusetts Amherst and her doctorate in molecular cell biology at University of Massachusetts Medical School. Prior to her current roles, she completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Boston University School of Medicine. During her free time, she enjoys photography, painting, and hiking.

Sloka Iyengar, PhD
AFS science writer

Sloka studied mechanisms by which neuronal circuits can generate and propagate spontaneous seizures as a graduate student and postdoc. She then switched to clinical epilepsy research, where she worked with adults and children with epilepsy. She is also a science writer and has coordinated several activities in the New York area for science outreach. As an advocate for neuroscience funding, she has attended several Capitol Hill day events and is the co-chair of the Advocacy Committee for the NY Society for Neuroscience chapter.

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