In a really fun collaboration with Max Wilson’s lab at UCSB, we’ve developed a simple model that can capture the non-monotonic expression of Wnt target genes with respect to frequency in periodic (optogenetic) Wnt pulses: elifesciences.org/articles/107.... Great work Sam, Olivier, Naomi and Ryan :)

Our paper titled "Geometry of disordered porous environments regulates cell migration" has been published and highlighted as Editor's Suggestion in Phys. Rev. E. doi.org/10.1103/hvtd...

✨ At this week's DB seminar, Magdalena Schindler @lena-schindler.bsky.social, a postdoc in the Petridou group @nicolettapetridou.bsky.social @embl.org, presented her work on how cell cycle synchrony affects tissue-level mechanical transitions at the onset of morphogenesis in zebrafish embryos 🐟 🔬

The first paper from my group just got published: doi.org/10.1103/cx3r... Local clustering of transcription factors at binding sites can be beneficial for information transfer -- a relief for taking infomax ideas seriously :) And it helps the binding sites achieve a sweet spot in the IB plane.

#HappyNewYear ! Let's start 2026 with a @cellcommlab.bsky.social paper How many branches is OK during #CellMigration? It depends on the #cell: for ex. immune cells are just fine. In collab. w. #NirGov @hfspo.bsky.social Full www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... @focalplane.bsky.social @science.org 🧪🔬

Join us for #MECO51 (51st Middle European Cooperation in Statistical Physics), 18–22 May 2026 in Pont-à-Mousson, France (Abbaye des Prémontrés). Invited & contributed talks, posters & best-poster prize. meco51.sciencesconf.org

🧪⚛️ “Turing foams” in the Min system—now seen in experiment. Non-equilibrium protein currents create foam-like interfaces obeying Plateau laws and even splitting like tiny dividing cells. Stunning video from Petra Schwille’s lab; the whole story is here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Here the correct link: www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Liquid gears and conveyor belts: We show how the interplay between phase-separation and chemotactic interactions gives rise to persistent capillary waves that drive the formation of active “gears” and “conveyor belts”. link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/...

🧪⚛️ Surface tension—driven by non-equilibrium currents not forces—in pattern formation leads to the same type of interface laws as in liquid foams: Plateau laws, von Neumann evolution; and a new emergent phenomenon: domain splitting akin to cell division. nature.com/articles/s4156…

🧪 Geometry beats chemistry: we show that self-assembly can be controlled by tuning large-scale geometric parameters rather than molecular binding energies. PNAS: doi.org/10.1073/pnas... Video summary: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FS3... #SelfAssembly #Biophysics #PhysicsOfLife

Anthony A. Hyman will become EMBL’s next Director General. He joins EMBL from @mpi-cbg.de in Dresden. He is also Professor of Molecular Biology @tudresden.bsky.social, and was a group leader at EMBL Heidelberg from 1993 to 1999. www.embl.org/news/people-...

📢 Paper alert 📢 Chirality is known to be important for the movement of microorganisms and active matter. In our new paper out today in @natphys.nature.com, we show that chirality is used by malaria parasites to control their motion patterns: doi.org/10.1038/s415... Here comes a 🧵 ... (1/9)

One more week to apply for this exciting symposium on collective behaviour 👇👇👇

Only a few days left for abstract submission at the brand new EMBO|EMBL Symposium Collectivity in living systems: emergence, function and evolution. We have stellar speakers in cell, animal collectives & beyond @priscaliberali.bsky.social @icouzin.bsky.social @ricardsole.bsky.social Join us!

✨ Back from summer break with 2 great DB seminars @embl.org! Andrew Hogan (van Gestel group) on protist predation defences & Simon Knoblich (Aulehla group) on calcium waves in Medaka gastrulation. Exciting research happening in the DB unit 🔥 #DevelopmentalBiology

If you are interested in theory at the intersection of physics and biology, this is your chance! Andriy is a very nice and creative scientist, I can highly recommend joining his group.

New preprint: We use computational modeling and theory to study cell migration in fibrous porous media – the characteristic structure of the ECM. Our work reveals transient cell motility modes and 'porotaxis' – directed motion due to spatial heterogeneities in confinement. doi.org/10.1101/2025...

Please allow me to introduce... our new preprint 🎉 Together with Michael Zhao, Anna Erzberger and Alexander Aulehla, we investigate pattern formation due to aggregation in confined systems. You can find it at arxiv.org/abs/2509.08533 @michaelzhao.bsky.social @erzbergerlab.bsky.social

We're looking for highly motivated candidates for PhD positions in the physics of living systems. Our group uses theoretical physics to understand how cells collectively self-organize. If you're interested, get in touch & check out the Biozentrum PhD Fellowship program, deadline October 12th!

Congratulations, Michael Dorrity and Anna Erzberger! The two EMBL Heidelberg group leaders have received ERC Starting Grants that will enable ambitious projects related to developmental timing and tissue self-organisation, respectively. Learn more: www.embl.org/news/awards-...

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells manipulate their microenvironment for survival. Using a 3D bone marrow model, we show that CLL cells accumulate at the core, reprogram stromal cells to generate a pro-tumor environment, and exploit other (healthy) cells as a 'shield'. doi.org/10.1002/hem3...

It's been a busy month at the DB unit at EMBL #PhDdefence Simona Gioe', from the Aulehla group, successfully defended her PhD thesis, which was titled 'Investigating the functional role of oscillatory signalling via experimental entrainment of the somite segmentation clock'. Congrats, Simona 🥳🎓

Happy to share that I defended my PhD this week! ✨✨It has been an amazing adventure full of learning, great science and incredible people here at @embl.org!✨✨ Looking forward to the next steps in my scientific journey 🔬🐟💛 If you haven't yet, check the preprint of my PhD research: bit.ly/45eBxOg

✨ In this week's DB unit seminar, Michael Zhao, a postdoc in the Aulhela group, shared insights on how he uses a combination of experimental data and theoretical models to study patterning and collective behaviour in the presomitic mesoderm #Patterning #CollectiveBehavior #Mesoderm

We cannot believe the DB unit summer school "Transitions in developing systems: from theory to experiments" has already come to an end. A huge thank you to all the organisers, speakers, and trainers for making it such an exciting and inspiring course #EMBLDevBio @dev-journal.bsky.social

That's a wrap for #EMBLDevBio! 🧫🧬 Over the last eight days, our participants received hands-on training using state-of-the-art methods applied in different model systems. Thank you to everyone who made this course special, especially our participants, speakers, trainers, and organisers! 👏

At the DB Unit Summer School, it's already time for Practical 1! Participants are exploring the theory of phase transitions, critical points, and bifurcations with James Briscoe @jamesbriscoe.bsky.social and Isabella Graf @isabellagraf.bsky.social and her group members @lwuerthner.bsky.social

The four days of "Theory and concepts in biology" finish with a round table discussion on biology's biggest challenges. Some common themes emerged: how to deal with biological complexity? How to understand levels of organization? Which features make life unique? #EESTCBio @events.embl.org

We can't believe #EESTCBio is over! 😱 Thank you to the organisers, speakers, and participants for creating such a vibrant space for critical thinking. It was a joy to see you exchange ideas, challenge assumptions, and explore new perspectives 💡 We hope to see you again at the next edition! 👋

Group discussions are underway here at #EESTCBio 🧬🦬📖 We’re excited to hear all the brilliant ideas you’ll present tomorrow!

New in Nature Physics! In a great collaboration with @junlab.bsky.social and my students Henrik Weyer & @lwuerthner.bsky.social, we show how Min proteins in E. coli self-organize into robust, efficient patterns ensuring accurate cell division across conditions. 📄 www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Theory and concepts in biology www.embl.org/about/info/c...

Our paper on the E. coli Min system in vivo with @physicsoflifelmu.bsky.social & Judy Kim (UCSD) has been published in Nature Physics today. Tight integration of experiment and theory, and physiology and biophysics. Incredible perseverance of our young students. rdcu.be/ekIpO

Welcome, Laeschkir! :) Looking forward to doing science together!

Many thanks to everyone at EMBL and especially to the DB unit for the warm welcome. I am looking forward to the exciting scientific journey ahead!

We are organizing a conference for young researchers at the intersection between physics & biology: www.embl.org/about/info/c... @embl.org @events.embl.org @intcha.bsky.social Please consider applying/registering -- the deadline is already in one week!

Really cool conference! Abstract submission for IntCha25 deadline: March 31st, 2025

The submission deadline for posters is June 30, and registration is free. Information about the speakers and program is available on our website: esbs2025.physik.uni-muenchen.de We will keep the website updated with the latest information.😀

Looking forward to this event!