Anke Sparmann

Please repost! There's a few spots left on our Journal Editor Training Workshop (March 20) for PhD students and Post-docs wondering what the next step in their scientific career might be. 👇 Taught by our former journal editors. www.lifescienceeditors.com/workshop3-si...

We;re hiring Junior Group Leaders! 🔬✨
We’re looking for researchers in immunology, chemical biology, AI in biology, or protein design to launch their own independent groups in our collaborative, international environment.

www.nki.nl/news-events/...

Looking for a truly unique PhD programme on RNA drugs and therapeutics? We have just opened the call for the second cohort of RNAmed-Future leaders in RNA-based medicine. More details under www.rnamed.de Please spread the word.

DestinyNet: A deep-learning framework for cell-fate analysis from lineage-tracing single-cell RNA sequencing data DestinyNet is a deep-learning framework for analyzing lineage-tracing single-cell sequencing data that integrates fate clustering, fate-flow inference, and fate prediction. It is robust to barcode sparsity and experimental variability, providing a unified approach for interpreting cell-fate dynamics.

Online Now: DestinyNet: A deep-learning framework for cell-fate analysis from lineage-tracing single-cell RNA sequencing data #datascience

So awesome!

“The JEDI Award… helped me clearly communicate my science to reviewers beyond my field.”
Free, expert feedback (manuscript / short grant / job app) from volunteer former journal editors & grant specialists.
Supporting DEI!
Deadline: Mar 10
Apply here: lifescienceeditors.org/apply/

Creating strong predictive models in oncology Many oncology predictive models fail to improve care. Issues include risks of bias, underpowered radiomics studies, and limited clinical impact. A path forward involves an emphasis on clinically actio...

Also in this issue, check out the Opinion from Michael Gensheimer, who argues that predictive model research in oncology must focus more on generalizable performance and clinical usefulness if patient care is to be improved.
www.cell.com/patterns/ful...

A small polymerase ribozyme that can synthesize itself and its complementary strand The emergence of a chemical system capable of self-replication and evolution is a critical event in the origin of life. RNA polymerase ribozymes can replicate RNA, but their large size and structural ...

Ooooh. Cool new paper on origins of life. A simple 45-nucleotide RNA molecule that can perfectly copy itself.

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Predicting phage–host specificity Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 12 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s41579-026-01287-xThis Genome Watch article explores how protein language models are transforming phage–host specificity prediction by capturing meaningful biological information from viral sequences, from individual proteins to entire genomes.

New online! Predicting phage–host specificity

Thrilled to announce that I’ve just opened my research lab at @helmholtz-hiri.bsky.social !
A huge thank you to my mentor Roi Avraham (and lab members!) for the incredible training and support that made this possible.

Excited to see so many registrations for the Hubrecht Symposium 2026! We’re close to full capacity, but there are still a few spots left.

Alongside an excellent speaker line-up, we’re welcoming abstract submissions for selected talks and posters until February 15.

www.hubrecht.eu/hubrecht-sym...

Ausschreibung für die Position als Leiter einer Helmholtz-Nachwuchsgruppe am Helmholtz-Institut für RNA-basierte Infektionsforschung oder am Helmholtz-Institut für Pharmazeutische Forschung Saarland

⏰ Reminder: Applications for the Helmholtz Junior Research Group Leaders (f/m/d) at @helmholtz-hiri.bsky.social or @helmholtzhips.bsky.social close on February 15! Don’t miss your chance to start your independent group in pharmaceutical research or RNA biology.
jobs.helmholtz-hzi.de/job/Saarbr%C...

Working at HIRI At the HIRI, we do not just value excellent research. Short distances, an open door policy, and a good working atmosphere—this is what distinguishes us from others. Have a look at our current job…

🧬 Shape the future of #RNA-based infection research!
We are inviting applications for @helmholtz.de Junior Research Group Leader Positions (f/m/d). 👉 Apply by February 15 at www.helmholtz-hiri.de/en/jobs-tale...
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‘We're humans – brilliant and a mess': Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales talks about #trust and optimism in times of global authoritarianism and the erosion of democratic norms. An interview that inspires #courage -> www.nature.com/articles/d41... #democracy @natureportfolio.nature.com

Integrated experimental and AI innovations for RNA structure determination - Nature Biotechnology RNA’s dynamic nature and complex physiochemical properties make it difficult to structurally resolve. This Perspectives examines how integrating experimental and computational approaches to structure ...

RNA structures are hard to solve, but experimental and computational approaches are evolving. This new Perspective in @natbiotech.nature.com shows how their interplay will be the driving force to help the field forward. www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Stress controls heterochromatin inheritance via histone H3 ubiquitylation - Nature A histone ubiquitin-dependent regulatory hub governs stimulus-dependent heterochromatin propagation, with important implications for understanding mechanisms governing rapid changes in the epigenetic landscape in physiology and disease.

Nature research paper: Stress controls heterochromatin inheritance via histone H3 ubiquitylation

go.nature.com/4qNyxS8

Text on image reads: Patterns, A Cell Press journal, Editors' Pick, Best of 2025, Explore the collection

Check out some of our best papers from 2025, as selected by the journal's editors info.cell.com/collection-r...

Working at HIRI At the HIRI, we do not just value excellent research. Short distances, an open door policy, and a good working atmosphere—this is what distinguishes us from others. Have a look at our current job…

⏰ Last call! Deadline: Jan 11, 2026
We are #HIRIng! Open positions range from scientific coordinator to PhD & postdoc roles in various research areas. 🧬🦠
Interested in being part of the international & interdisciplinary research environment at HIRI?
👉 Apply now: www.helmholtz-hiri.de/en/jobs-tale...

Great work by @carmen-aguilar.bsky.social and colleagues, showcasing the power of organoid models.

Kryo-Elektronenmikroskopaufnahme der Nuklease Cas12a3 mit einer illustrierten Schere

#CRISPR kann mehr als gedacht: Ein Team des @helmholtz-hiri.bsky.social hat mit Forschenden des HZI & aus den USA eine neue Nuklease entschlüsselt: In @nature.com zeigen sie, dass Cas12a3 Transfer-Ribonukleinsäuren schneidet, um infizierte Zellen lahmzulegen. www.helmholtz-hzi.de/media-center...

RNA-triggered Cas12a3 cleaves tRNA tails to execute bacterial immunity - Nature Cas12a3 nucleases constitute a distinct clade of type V CRISPR–Cas bacterial immune systems that preferentially cleave the 3′ tails of tRNAs after recognition of target RNA to induce growth arres...

Our paper is out! Hiding in plain sight among Cas12a nucleases, Cas12a3 cleaves not its RNA target but the 3′ ends of tRNA. Huge thanks to all who made this possible, especially the Beisel lab, Biao & Dirk for the structure, & @sebastianglatt.bsky.social for all things tRNA. doi.org/10.1038/s415...

There are 500 olfactory (smell-sensing) receptor genes in our genome, but each olfactory neuron expresses just a single one of these. How is this regulated? I was curious about this question since learning of this 20 years ago

Now solved by Boulard and colleagues- a fundamental discovery

3′UTR-derived small RNA couples acid resistance to metabolic reprogramming of Salmonella within macrophages Abstract. Acid resistance is crucial for enterobacteria to withstand host acidic environments during infection, including the gastrointestinal tract and ma

3′UTR-derived small RNA couples acid resistance to metabolic reprogramming of Salmonella within macrophages url: academic.oup.com/nar/article/...

My tools for generating data citations and exploring journal citation distributions are running again. Thanks @dreamhost.bsky.social for supporting #Perl!

alhufton.com/tools/

Do not miss this great symposium in Utrecht! Stellar speakers, free registration and fun audience in a great institute!! 🤩 Registration is open now

KlebPhaCol paper is now out! Go check it out and see all that we offer.

And when ready, visit our website for more: www.klebphacol.org

piRNA-directed DNA methylation may not be a mammalian invention, but can already be found in the germline of axolotl salamanders
Donal O’Carroll and coworkers
www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....

We’re excited to announce the first dedicated Workshop for scientists interested in becoming journal editors.👇

This workshop will teach you transferable skills to support a career as a journal editor or whatever career path you pursue.

Secure Your Spot: www.lifescienceeditors.com/workshop3-si...

E15 Groups The Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Researchopens a call for

Looking to start your own lab? 🧬🧪 The Helmholtz Institute Würzburg (HIRI) is offering group leader positions in RNA biology, RNA medicine & RNA technology. Apply by October 31 at www.helmholtz-hiri.de/en/jobs-tale...

Reporter CRISPR screens decipher cis-regulatory and trans-regulatory principles at the Xist locus - Nature Structural & Molecular Biology Here Schwämmle et al. develop CRISPR reporter screens to map transcription-factor-regulatory element interactions at the Xist locus, revealing a two-step mechanism integrating developmental and X-dosage signals to initiate X-chromosome inactivation.

⚠️ Paper alert: Using a novel CRISPR screening approach, we mapped the entire regulatory network controlling Xist—key for X-chromosome inactivation.
👉 We discover how sex and development signals are decoded at a single gene locus.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
👇 Bluetorial