Post #920123

2026-01-05 21:08 UTC

Life update: December 31 was my last day at the Space Telescope Science Institute. The NASA&#39;s Universe of Learning grant that paid a large fraction of my salary was not renewed due to NASA budget cuts, so my contract was not renewed. I&#39;m still trying to figure out my next steps. I have a few creative projects in the works that I finally have time to finish. I&#39;m also open to freelance writing, editing, teaching, and curriculum design gigs.

Replies (10)

@KellyLepo@scicomm.xyz 2026-01-05 21:08

If you like my content on here, and you want to support me as I figure things out, you can buy me a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/kellylepo

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@vicgrinberg@mastodon.social 2026-01-05 21:11

@KellyLepo ufff, I did not realize you were affected, you did such a stellar job!

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@DanielMReck@mas.to 2026-01-05 21:17

Hi @KellyLepo, sorry about your NASA transition but here's hoping your next adventures are even more awesome. Not sure what I'm suggesting here, however, since you listed curriculum design and science communicator among your talents, I'd be remiss if I didn't alert you to a small non-profit music+STEM education and performing arts project we are working on in central Illinois, called Sound Curiosity. A bit about us at https://soundcuriosity.org — if it excites your imagination, we'd love to chat.

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@conflummoxed@mastodon.social 2026-01-05 21:21

@KellyLepo - I am sorry to hear this news, but I hope it ultimately leads you to something new and better. Thank you for all you have done so far, and I am looking forward to seeing what you do in future!

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@kevinrns@mstdn.social 2026-01-05 21:29

@KellyLepo Offering #getFediHired #fedihired hashtags, coup DE-funding of science takes another.

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@worldsworstgoth@hachyderm.io 2026-01-05 21:42

@KellyLepo oh no. Your work has been so consistently technically excellent, culturally relevant, fun, and approachable. It will be absolutely irreplaceable, and you deserve better.

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@jztusk@mastodon.social 2026-01-05 21:46

@KellyLepo That sucks; you do great work. Good luck finding your next project!

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@JSteven@wandering.shop 2026-01-06 01:39

@KellyLepo I'm so sorry to hear this. Seeing similar stories from so many folks I know, follow or know from their writing. Hurting for the human cost, and what they're doing to our country (and science in general) as well.

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@AstroMikeHudson@mastodon.online 2026-01-06 12:11

@KellyLepo Sorry to hear that! Wishing you best of luck in the hunt.

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@astro_jcm@mastodon.online 2026-01-06 12:25

@KellyLepo Bummer, really sorry to hear that! Perhaps you know this, but just in case, this website has a curated list of astro outreach/edu/comms jobs. The latest ones there are in Europe, but I've also seen US-based jobs there. https://astronomyoutreachjobs.wordpress.com/

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