https://www.science.org/content/art...s-firings-top-nih-scientists-called-back-work Ten principal investigators (PIs) who were fired from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) as part of the massive reduction in force (RIF) at federal agencies on Tuesday are back at work, at least for now, Science has learned. The researchers, who were all placed on leave with pay until their future official dismissal date, were told a “computer error” or “coding error” led to their accidental termination. ............. The 10 PIs at NINDS are among the institute’s top scientists, studying topics such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and epilepsy, but were unexpectedly among the NIH employees dismissed or placed on administrative leave. Among them was Richard Youle, a Parkinson’s researcher who has won the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences for his work. More links https://www.thetransmitter.org/scie...l-disorders-and-stroke-this-week-source-says/ Thirty employees—including 11 lab heads—at the institute should “immediately return to work,” according to an email the institute’s Office of Human Resources sent to top administration at the institute Wednesday evening. ........... Thousands of employees across federal health agencies received reduction-in-force notices this week following last week’s announcement from Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services that he would restructure the department and lay off 10,000 workers. About 1,200 National Institutes of Health (NIH) probationary employees also received termination notices in February, but some have since been reinstated. It all sounds a total mess.
