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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

A crowd of proteins can act together to amplify genes. Yet, it is not enough to turn genes on. Researchers from the Bothma lab described how proteins cluster together to amplify gene transcription in a recent article. Curious? Flock together and read more here: www.hubrecht.eu/transcriptio...

hubrecht.eu

Crowded, but not in charge: clusters amplify transcription

The Bothma group showed that protein clusters amplify transcription, but they cannot switch genes on by themselves.

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Group leaders Danny Sahtoe and Alexander van Oudenaarden will supervise 2 of the 15 PhD positions that open in the ORFeus network, a Horizon Europe program studying the #DarkProteome, a group of recently discovered proteins linked to disease and new therapies. Apply 1–22 Oct via orfeus-dn.eu/apply

orfeus-dn.eu

Apply to ORFeus — 15 fully funded PhD positions

15 fully funded PhD positions across Europe, starting 2027. Applications open 1 October and close 22 October 2026. Rank up to three projects.

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Growing python airways in the lab! In @natcomms.nature.com, @samwillemsen.bsky.social and colleagues from the @hansclevers.bsky.social group describe how they established python airway organoids to study reptile airway and viral infections. Sssstill curious? Visit www.hubrecht.eu/python-airwa...

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Want to feed mini-organs and spy on viruses with the help of our researchers? Come to the Wajo! Wetenschap?! free children’s festival at @knaw-nl.bsky.social on Sunday October 4! And there's much more to do, find the full program here: www.knaw.nl/wajo-wetensc.... ❗This event is mainly in Dutch.

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Join the NVBMB Fall Meeting 2026: Protein structure, mechanism and design! The meeting takes place on November 23rd at the Hubrecht Institute and is organized by Danny Sahtoe as part of winning the NVBMB award in 2025. Register and find more info here: nvbmb.kncv.nl/nvbmb-detail...

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

@maxmadern.bsky.social, who defended his PhD last week, has been awarded the prestigious Birnstiel Award for his work. Congratulations, Max! Read more here: www.hubrecht.eu/max-madern-b...

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Lulu Huang successfully defended her PhD thesis ‘The biology of human tuft cells’. During her PhD in the @hansclevers.bsky.social group, Lulu found that tuft cells are crucial for immune regulation in the lungs and can act as reserve stem cells in the human intestine. www.hubrecht.eu/phd-lulu-hua...

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Today, Adriana Martinez Silgado successfully defended her thesis! 🎓 During her PhD, she developed organoids that allowed her to study intestinal hormone production and specific tumor types of the gut and lung. Congratulations Adriana! 👉 www.hubrecht.eu/phd-martinez...

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

How do cells respond to the push and pull of their environment? Today, Björn van Sambeek successfully defended his PhD thesis, titled ‘Invisible cues – Mechanobiology in organoids’. Congratulations, Björn! www.hubrecht.eu/phd-van-samb...

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Last call for the Hubrecht International PhD program (HIPP)! Applications will be accepted until tomorrow, September 15th at 23:59 (Central European Summer Time).

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Today, @maxmadern.bsky.social was awarded the cum laude distinction after successfully defending his PhD thesis 'The Circle of Life – Single-molecule analysis of cellular machines that create and destroy proteins'. Congratulations Max! 🎓 @marvintanenbaum.bsky.social @chirlmin.bsky.social

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Today, Ainhoa Larreategui Aparicio successfully defended her thesis! 🎓 She studied the earliest stages of mammalian life, focusing on the mechanisms that immature egg cells and early embryos use to distribute chromosomes during cell division. Congratulations Ainhoa! 👉 www.hubrecht.eu/phd-larreate...

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Only one week left to apply for the Hubrecht International PhD program! Applications will be accepted until September 15 at 23:59 CEST. Want to know more about the theme ‘Physical and mathematical biology’? In the comments, PhD student Marek van Oostrom shares what he works on. www.hubrecht.eu/hipp/

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Yuting Irene Li @irene-yuting-li.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

I’m starting at the Hubrecht Institute at a new group leader from September. I will be hiring a PhD student through the PhD program ⬇️ If you, or anyone you know, is interested in theoretical biophysics, I will be very excited to hear from them — please send inquiries to my ISTA email for now :)

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Curious to see our labs from the inside? On September 28th, during the Utrecht Science Week, we open our doors to the public! Register for our lab tour here: usw26-open-dag-hubrecht-instituut.e…. More details below 👇

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

You can apply for the Hubrecht International PhD program (HIPP) until September 15th! In the comments, PhD students Zeynep and Charlotte share about their projects within the theme ‘Biochemistry, biophysics, structural biology and protein design’. www.hubrecht.eu/hipp/.

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Doctoral Insights Symposium @docinsightssymp.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Gene expression. Stem cells. Organoids. Epigenetics. Genome architecture. HIPP at Hubrecht Institute: 20+ research groups, world-class core facilities, research at the frontier of how life develops. Check out their PhD Program Symposium Sept 10 → doctoralinsights.at #DocInsights #Utrecht

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Doctoral Insights Symposium @docinsightssymp.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

The Netherlands: pioneering organoid research, developmental biology, and stem cell science. The Hubrecht Institute in Utrecht — one of Europe's leading centres. Compact country, global impact. Symposium Sept 10 → doctoralinsights.at #DocInsights

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Great opportunity to learn more about the Hubrecht Institute (Utrecht) and our PhD Program during this year's Doctoral Insights Symposium. The online symposium takes place on September 10.

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Only one month left to apply for the Hubrecht International PhD program (HIPP)! All information about the program and application process can be found here: www.hubrecht.eu/hipp/.

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Don’t forget: Applications for the Hubrecht International PhD program are open until September 15! Curious about the theme ‘Molecular and cellular biology’? PhD students Eri and Janina share what they work on in the comments. www.hubrecht.eu/hipp/.

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Applications for the Hubrecht International PhD program are open until September 15! PhD students at the Hubrecht work on various themes, including ‘Developmental biology and regeneration’. Curious what kind of questions PhD students Rahul and Andy work on? Read the comments! www.hubrecht.eu/hipp/.

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Veni for Axel Rosendahl Huber! Axel, who is postdoc in the Clevers group, receives a Veni grant from the NWO Talent Programme. With this personal grant, Axel will study whether toxins from gut bacteria can cause permantent DNA-mutations in colon cells. Read more: www.hubrecht.eu/veni-for-axe...

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Are you excited to redefine our understanding of molecules, cells, tissues and organisms? Then we are looking for you! Applications for the Hubrecht International PhD program (HIPP) are now open and will be accepted until September 15th. Read more here 👉 www.hubrecht.eu/hipp/

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Today is Be Open about Animal Research Day #BOARD26. Geert Kops and Hans Clevers share their perspectives on research with and without animals, and on how these complementary approaches contribute to biomedical breakthroughs. Read more: www.stichtinginformatiedierproeven.nl/researchers-....

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Today, Su Ji Han successfully defended her PhD thesis 🎓 Congratulations! She identified disease mechanisms and promising new therapeutic strategies for arrhythmogenic and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Read more: www.hubrecht.eu/phd-han/

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Last week, Daniëlle Woutersen successfully defended her PhD thesis! 🎓 She discovered that lymphatic vessel formation is disrupted in a Noonan syndrome zebrafish model, and found that an existing cancer drug could reduce this problem. Congratulations Daniëlle! 🎉 www.hubrecht.eu/phd-woutersen/

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Today, Bruna Eckhardt successfully defended her PhD thesis! 🎓 She investigated how cells copy not only their DNA, but also the way this DNA is packaged into chromatin, using a ‘cell-in-a-tube’ system. Congratulations Bruna! 🎉 Read more here 👉 www.hubrecht.eu/phd-eckhardt/

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Today, Pim Rullens successfully defended his PhD thesis ‘Genome form and function in single cells’. In the Kind group, he investigated how the three-dimensional form of DNA in a cell nucleus influences how the cell uses it. Congratulations, Pim! 🎉 Read more here: www.hubrecht.eu/phd-rullens

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Doctoral Insights Symposium @docinsightssymp.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

🚀 Doctoral Insights 2026 is HERE. Spotlighting Europe's best fully funded PhD programs in life sciences all summer. Free online Symposium: Sept 10 → doctoralinsights.at Follow along 👇 #DocInsights #LifeSciences #PhD

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Group leader Miguel Leung has been awarded the Young Scientists Award 2026 from @heinekenprizes.bsky.social . With his group, he investigates the 3D structure of protein complexes, tiny machines at work inside each of our cells. Congratulations, Miguel! Read more: www.hubrecht.eu/heineken-you...

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Today, Eirini Kyriakopoulou successfully defended her PhD thesis! 🎓 She explored whether gene therapy can tackle the genetic heart disease ACM. Her work has led to clinical trials, currently testing gene therapy in patients. Congratulations Eirini! Read more here 👉 www.hubrecht.eu/phd-kyriakopoulou

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Today, Mara Bouwman successfully defended her PhD thesis on heart regeneration. She discovered that two genes are required for heart regeneration in zebrafish and investigated one of them in mammals, finding promising results. Congratulations Mara! 🎉 Read more: www.hubrecht.eu/phd-bouwman/

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

Danny Sahtoe has been awarded the NVBMB prize. The jury was impressed with Sahtoe's consistently strong work on protein structure, function and design during his PhD and postdoc. The prize includes funding to organize a symposium on a topic of choice. Read more: www.hubrecht.eu/nvbmb-price-...

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

New work by the van Oudenaarden group shows how gene expression and chromatin state become progressively more aligned as differentiation proceeds over the first day of zebrafish embryo development. Learn more in the thread below by first author @vivekbhr.bsky.social.

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

For 110 years, the Hubrecht Institute has been studying the development of cells, tissues and organisms to discover how life works on the smallest scale. To celebrate this, we are opening our doors on Saturday, 6 June 2026. Read more here: www.hubrecht.eu/zooming-in-o...

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Oocytes store large amounts of proteins to support the earliest developmental stages. In @nature.com, the Leung group describes the structure of the cytoplasmic lattice in unprecedented detail. At least 13 different proteins assemble into a stable storage complex. hubrecht.eu/oocyte-storage-complex/

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

Chronic lung disease and inflammation often go hand-in-hand, but how does inflammation impact lung repair? Antonella Dost, former Postdoc in the Clevers group, developed a human organoid model that mimics lung air sacs. Surprisingly, specific immune signals both help and hinder lung regeneration.

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

Using live microscopy in zebrafish, researchers from the Robin group discovered a new type of macrophage that permanently resides within blood vessels. This discovery explains how the immune system protects the vascular system. Read more: www.hubrecht.eu/patrol-offic...

macrophages at work in a zebrafish embryo

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

Congratulations! Jeroen den Hertog, @bakkerslab.bsky.social , @fmattiroli.bsky.social and Eva van Rooij received ZonMw Open competition grants to study RASopathies and heart regeneration. Read more here: www.hubrecht.eu/zonmw-grants...

The background is a microscopy image with cells and at the bottom you can see the four group leaders

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

How is epigenetic information propagated during development? How do chromosomes reorganize DNA through the cell cycle? And how can cutting-edge imaging capture developmental machines and processes? These were just some of the questions explored at #HubrechtSymposium2026. Thanks for joining today!

Alejandro Cardona Monzonis presenting his poster

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

Life’s first kiss – what do we miss? The second annual #HubrechtSymposium2026 is off to a great start with keynote speaker Andrea Pauli on the molecular mechanisms of the egg-to-embryo transition. We're excited for this year's edition on the theme “Molecular Machines in Development”.

Keynote speaker Andrea Pauli giving her talk

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

How can we create a workplace where everyone feels valued and supported? The IDEAS committee at the Hubrecht Institute promotes inclusion, diversity, equity, accessibility, and social safety. Find out about their achievements of last year and their plans for 2026 👉 www.hubrecht.eu/ideas-commit...

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

@amandaanderssonr.bsky.social, @antonelladost.bsky.social, @robinhweide.bsky.social and @sorayang.bsky.social started their own labs in early 2026. Read about their time at the Hubrecht Institute, their new research groups and their transition into independence here: www.hubrecht.eu/postdocs-sta...

pictures of the four postdoctoral researchers

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

Today, Giulia Ricci successfully defended her PhD thesis. Congratulations! 🎉 She established that CAF-1 is essential in safeguarding epigenome integrity and cell replication. Read more via www.hubrecht.eu/phd-ricci/

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

Team CAUSE with Juan Garaycoechea and @puckknipscheer.bsky.social has been selected to receive a @cancergrand.bsky.social award to tackle the mechanisms driving mutational signatures challenge. Congratulations! www.hubrecht.eu/cgc-team-cause #CancerGrandChallenges

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

Can gut bacteria cause mutations in the human colon? Axel Rosendahl Huber can now explore this question thanks to a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Action Postdoctoral Fellowship. Read more about his project via www.hubrecht.eu/marie-curie-....

Colon with a magnifying glass, magnifying cancer cells in the colon.

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

For the first time, scientists watched the flu virus live as it infected human airway cells. The group from @marvintanenbaum.bsky.social developed a new imaging technique, VISUN, and observed a large variation in infection success. See www.hubrecht.eu/flu-virus/. Video by @janinschoko.bsky.social

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

Today, Joana Marques successfully defended her PhD thesis!🎓 At @kopslab.bsky.social, she studied whether p53, a key player in the security system of our cells, can protect against aneuploidy in cancer🧬Congratulations Joana! Read more via our website 👉 www.hubrecht.eu/phd-marques/

hubrecht.eu

Can the genome's guardian protect against chromosome abnormalities?

Joana Marques successfully defended her PhD thesis. She found that p53 is not a universal safeguard against aneuploidy, but its role is context-dependent.

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Hubrecht Institute @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

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...

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