Selene FeRNAndez

Leaving #RNA2026 energised by the science, reconnecting with old friends, and finding new collaborations. A few highlights from an incredible week in Montreal 🍁🇨🇦 #RNA26 🧵

To give back: I'm offering 6 one-hour mentorship sessions for students & ECRs from Latin America interested in building a career in RNA. DM me a short paragraph on why this would be valuable to you. 📩

Leaving #RNA2026 energised by the science, reconnecting with old friends, and finding new collaborations. A few highlights from an incredible week in Montreal 🍁🇨🇦 #RNA26 🧵

Science highlights: @jgezelle.bsky.social on RNase-resistant motifs, Geno Villafano on the unexpected localisation of familiar transcription factors, and so many impressive AI-driven models for predicting RNA features. The RNA Structure, Folding and Modeling II session was 🔥 #RNA2026

Super interesting talk by @stevenbrenner.bsky.social in the #Bioinformatics session at #RNA2026. Calling attention to the fact that many students are using AI and allowing it to make decisions where they don't even know there is a decision to be made. #RNASky #Education #RNA26 1/2

Bonjour Montréal! Here for The RNA Society Meeting 2026! Looking forward to catching up with friends, colleagues and all things #RNA research! I'll be giving a short talk on plant RNA-DNA interactions in Concurrent Session 20 (Sat May 30th, 13:30 - 14:45, Meeting room 518) See you around #RNA2026

First fully Aussie made NGS #RegRNALab dataset is here!!! Rebuilding a lab is hard but seeing things moving forward is priceless 🌱 @unswrna.bsky.social @unswbabs.bsky.social

📢 Sydney #RNA scientists: our next #SydneyRNASalon event is coming up! 🧬 ECR, student, or just RNA-curious? This one's for you! 📅 Thu 30 April · 2:10–4:30pm 📍 Room G07, Biosciences Building D26 UNSW 🥐 Refreshments sponsored by @rnasociety.bsky.social, Lexogen & @ramacgenomics.bsky.social

The afternoon has two parts: 🎤 Short talks on any aspect of RNA biology — abstract submissions open until Mon 13 April, 5 pm. Priority given to students & ECRs! 🪑 Expert roundtables with senior researchers from UNSW, USYD, UTS & VCCRI. Ask questions to those who have walked the walk!

We are now in the Collaborating with Community session at #SMP2026. Listening to the insights from Prof Joanne Jamie and A/Prof @azurehermes.bsky.social on their work engaging with Indigenous communities to design and conduct research relevant to them.

AH mentions that the best thing to do with a communication is to really listen. If you can demonstrate you are there for the right reasons you can build that trust and start a long term relationship with the community. JJ advises that the research lead should engage in person with the community.

Closing #SMP2026 with a conversation with Prof Hon Bill Shorten. He highlights that it is important to create safe spaces for true discussion to happen between people who disagree, without necessarily having to destroy each other. Considers that Universities could play that role.

We are now in the Collaborating with Community session at #SMP2026. Listening to the insights from Prof Joanne Jamie and A/Prof @azurehermes.bsky.social on their work engaging with Indigenous communities to design and conduct research relevant to them.

AH mentions that the best thing to do with a communication is to really listen. If you can demonstrate you are there for the right reasons you can build that trust and start a long term relationship with the community. JJ advises that the research lead should engage in person with the community.

We are now in the Collaborating with Community session at #SMP2026. Listening to the insights from Prof Joanne Jamie and A/Prof @azurehermes.bsky.social on their work engaging with Indigenous communities to design and conduct research relevant to them.

AH asks scientists that wish to engage with Indigenous communities to consider if their research will actually be of priority and beneficial to the community. Also, budget for the work requested from community members to achieve research goals and avoid having in kind contributions.

We are now in the Collaborating with Community session at #SMP2026. Listening to the insights from Prof Joanne Jamie and A/Prof @azurehermes.bsky.social on their work engaging with Indigenous communities to design and conduct research relevant to them.

AH highlights that the benefit to communities can go well beyond advancing knowledge and generating research outcomes, but it may also include capacity building, increasing skills and employability. It's key to listen openly to what communities actually want.

Starting Day 2 of #SMP2026 with a call to scientists to become involved in guiding government priorities. Also, lots of discussion on 🇦🇺's dependency on supply chains and how STEM can help reduce dependency & increase resilience. Panel aware such advancements require adequate funding & less admin.

Substantial concern about algorithms seeding social division & misinformation. We need to communicate to the wider public why science is important & why investing in STEM is worthwhile. The panel is also discussing how to bridge the innovation gap via ⬆️structural support ⬇️undue regulation #SMP2026

Starting Day 2 of #SMP2026 with a call to scientists to become involved in guiding government priorities. Also, lots of discussion on 🇦🇺's dependency on supply chains and how STEM can help reduce dependency & increase resilience. Panel aware such advancements require adequate funding & less admin.

As scientists, we should strive to communicate how research investment will create a return for Australia. Every dollar invested in R&D, results in an average return of $9, with 70% of that return via an increase in productivity. Another key challenge is fighting misinformation. #SMP2026

Starting Day 2 of #SMP2026 with a call to scientists to become involved in guiding government priorities. Also, lots of discussion on 🇦🇺's dependency on supply chains and how STEM can help reduce dependency & increase resilience. Panel aware such advancements require adequate funding & less admin.

The panel also advises to take people on a scientific journey, do not assume they know what you are talking about. Also be able to relate your expertise to the issues faced by a representative's electorate. Present visual, accurate and easy to interpret visual data to convey your point #SMP2026

Our first panel is Science Meets the Economy - Bench to Boardroom. Key messages: - Who needs the answers doesn't know the answers exist - find them & engage with them - The future is deeply uncertain, one way to approach it is to create it -> opportunity in Blue Sky research #SMP2026