Sign in

Chad Hobson

@cmhobson.bsky.social
207 followers 286 following 22 posts

Opinions are my own. Aspiring biophysicist & microscopist | Senior Application Scientist at HHMI Janelia's AIC | MS/PhD UNC Physics

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Chad Hobson
Mir Lab @mirlab.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
1/ Our paper, “Enhancer binding kinetics explain transcription factor hub formation,” is now published! Here we set out to understand why transcription factors form bright clusters or “hubs” in the nucleus, and whether those hubs actually control gene activity. tinyurl.com/38uf8348
tinyurl.com
Enhancer binding kinetics explain transcription factor hub formation
Transcription factors (TFs) form dynamic, high-concentration clusters, condensates, or hubs, proposed to increase TF binding frequency at target enhancers. However, how enhancer sequence shapes hub pr...
47838
Reposted by Chad Hobson
AIC at Janelia @aicjanelia.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
We enjoyed having Jemma Webber's team here at Janelia to work on training custom FIB-SEM segmentation models!
A photo of a group of people standing outside. There are four people in the foreground, with a pond, blue sky, and a red statue behind them.
073
Reposted by Chad Hobson
Anja Schmidt @anjanja1024.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Such a fun visit! Safe travels!
031
Reposted by Chad Hobson
Anh Hoang Le, PhD 🏳️‍🌈🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇻🇳 @anhhle2702.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Happy #FluorescenceFriday. Single immune cell migration is fascinating. But these cells can also behave like a coordinated collective, like 🐝 from a hive. I captured some embryonic myeloid cells (🔴) displaying swarming behaviour in a migrating ectoderm cell sheet (🔵), like neutrophils in our body!
19120
Reposted by Chad Hobson
Melanie D. White @melaniedwhite.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
I spoke with @nature.com about the Nikon Small World controversy. As AI becomes part of scientific imaging, we need greater transparency about what was measured, inferred or generated. It's not about excluding AI. It’s about preserving trust in scientific evidence. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com
This award-winning microscopy image used AI — igniting controversy in a prestigious competition
Researchers say that using artificial-intelligence tools to visualize scientific images can become problematic when models misrepresent the underlying data.
44514
Reposted by Chad Hobson
HHMI @hhmi-science.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Our bodies create around 330 billion new cells every day through cell division. Andrew Moore at our Janelia Research Campus captured that process in stunning detail — a feat that earned him 4th place in Nikon's 2026 Small World in Motion Competition. bit.ly/4yT5d0k
0338
Chad Hobson @cmhobson.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
2102
Chad Hobson @cmhobson.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Might be late on this update, but they've now changed the title to call it a "rendition"...
140
Reposted by Chad Hobson
Loïc A. Royer 💻🔬🧪 @loicaroyer.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
What if any dataset, any size, any number of dimensions, opened in a browser tab from a link? 🔬🧪💻 Luxar is out today: write it in Python, share it as a link, explore it in any browser. Open source. 🧵 @biohub.org Preprint: doi.org/10.5281/zen... Code: github.com/royerlab/luxar
614557
Chad Hobson @cmhobson.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
I spy vFLIM!! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
051
Reposted by Chad Hobson
Melanie D. White @melaniedwhite.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Happy #FluorescenceFriday! ✨ It's the glue that holds us together, but it looks like a pair of angel wings to me. 👼 This beautiful meshwork of extracellular matrix surrounds the developing tissues of a quail embryo, helping guide cells as they build the body. 📷 @wangjianxiong.bsky.social 🔬
07415
Reposted by Chad Hobson
FocalPlane @focalplane.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
It’s #preprint list time! This week we focus on new research in bioimage analysis. Let us know if you have any suggestions for us to add to our list. focalplane.biologists.com/2026/09/04/m...
focalplane.biologists.com
Microscopy preprints: bioimage analysis - FocalPlane
Microscopy preprints: bioimage analysis - News
02014
Reposted by Chad Hobson
Melanie D. White @melaniedwhite.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Happy #FluorescenceFriday! 🔥 Neural crest cells are bringing the heat again! These migrating cells weave through the developing quail embryo, leaving beautiful patterns in their wake. 😍🧪🔬 📷 @siewzhuan.bsky.social 🔬
05011
Chad Hobson @cmhobson.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Thanks!
010
Reposted by Chad Hobson
Zebrafish Rock! 🎃 @zebrafishrock.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Some very cool applied methods in various organisms including #zebrafish 🐟 🔬 Check out the thread from @cmhobson.bsky.social for more goodies ⬇️
133
Chad Hobson @cmhobson.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Finally, a huge thank you to all the co-authors and the entire @aicjanelia.bsky.social at @hhmijanelia.bsky.social!
020
Chad Hobson @cmhobson.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Generating the data is the easy part, but actually making sense of it becomes the bottle neck. That is where @owfpuls.bsky.social comes in. He built on previous work to make an ML pipeline for handling the enormous amount of data, which makes these experiments tractable.
100
Chad Hobson @cmhobson.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
We further wanted to push the system to more long-term, developmental biology applications. To this end, we incorporated tiling of lifetime images and showed stability of our system in a scattering sample (Drosophila embryos) for >12 hours of imaging.
122
Chad Hobson @cmhobson.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
One of the best uses for FLIM is in intensity-independent biosensor imaging, for which we show calcium transients in the optic tectum of zebrafish larvae. Our system is fast enough to capture lifetime pulses across multiple z planes, so we can study functional activity across the depth of the brain.
161
Chad Hobson @cmhobson.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
We can extend this to doing multiplexing across multiple excitation channels, making photoconversion experiments like the one below possible.
110
Chad Hobson @cmhobson.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
We demonstrate this across multiple use cases and biological systems. Below is an example of lifetime based multiplexing in a live zebrafish embryo (hence the twitching). 360 time points sampled every 30 s over a 211 x 211 x 120 um volume with lifetime and intensity information.
120
Chad Hobson @cmhobson.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
A couple years in the making, but the preprint is finally out! We developed a pipeline for timelapse, volumetric FLIM (vFLIM) that incorporates multi-channel light sheet excitation, a SPAD array detector for widefield FLIM, and machine learning lifetime processing. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
biorxiv.org
vFLIM: Machine Learning-enabled Light Sheet Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging
The lifetime of fluorescent molecules provides an orthogonal readout to fluorescence intensity, opening experimental possibilities of measuring changes in local molecular environments, mechanical tens...
13513
Reposted by Chad Hobson
bioRxiv Bioengineering @biorxiv-bioeng.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
vFLIM: Machine Learning-enabled Light Sheet Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/20…
031
Reposted by Chad Hobson
bioRxivpreprint @biorxivpreprint.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
vFLIM: Machine Learning-enabled Light Sheet Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/20…
021
Reposted by Chad Hobson
AI x Bio Discovery @aixbiobot.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
vFLIM: Machine Learning-enabled Light Sheet Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging [new] This pipeline makes live, long-term, high-speed volumetric imaging of molecular environments, tension, and metabolism feasible.
vFLIM: Machine Learning-enabled Light Sheet Fluorescence Lifetime ImagingFigure 1Figure 2Figure 3
0104
Reposted by Chad Hobson
Rashmi Priya @rashmi-priya.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
A perspective in @natmethods.nature.com on Why forces are fundamental to understanding how life comes into being - by us, @campaslab.bsky.social @yanlanmao.bsky.social @sarawickstrom.bsky.social Miguel Concha, Alba Diz-Muñoz and @streichan.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
The physics of sculpting a living creature - Nature Methods
Cell biologists have long known that mechanical forces, such as tension and compression, influence tissue differentiation. Now, advanced methods are letting them observe and manipulate these forces in...
04417
Reposted by Chad Hobson
Journal of Cell Biology @jcb.org · 05/08/2026
Bharathan, Kowalczyk et al. provide the first comprehensive description of the 3D desmosome in A431 epidermoid carcinoma, human mammary epithelial cells, and airway epithelia in volume electron microscopy datasets. rupress.org/jcb/article/... #Adhesion #StructuralBiology
1146
Reposted by Chad Hobson
Jesse Aaron @jesseaic.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Always great fun doing the #IALSJanelia boot camp. Absolutely phenomenal group of participants!
0103
Reposted by Chad Hobson
Rachel Lee, PhD @scientistrachel.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
As #IALSJanelia 2026 draws to a close, I want to express my gratitude as a co-organizer! The @aicjanelia.bsky.social team prepared & taught while @janeliaconf.bsky.social provided awesome support. We had an amazing group of participants and I cannot wait to see what they do next with microscopy! 🔬
A photo of a coffee mug. The foam in the mug has the words "IALS Janelia 2026" printed in coffee.
072
Reposted by Chad Hobson
AIC at Janelia @aicjanelia.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
We are grateful to our teaching team and participants for a wonderful two weeks of intense microscopy and image analysis at #IALSJanelia 2026. Many thanks to the @janeliaconf.bsky.social team for the support that made this bootcamp possible!
A photo of a group of people. Two rows stand, while a front row kneels. Below the photo there is a caption listing the workshop name and dates.
093
Reposted by Chad Hobson
AIC at Janelia @aicjanelia.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
During the final group project at #IALSJanelia, participants are combining their knowledge of light sheet microscopy, large data handling, and tracking to measure macrophage motion in a zebrafish tail. The data shown here was taken on our SiMView microscope by @anjanja1024.bsky.social.
Color visualization of microscopy data. Each color corresponds to a point in time, ranging from 0 hours (purple) to 12 hours (yellow). The structures in the image correspond to macrophages in a zebrafish tail.
0207
Reposted by Chad Hobson
AIC at Janelia @aicjanelia.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
We're discussing the pros and cons of approaches for increasing imaging depth at #IALSJanelia. One benefit of two-photon microscopy (2P) is label-free second harmonic generation (SHG). Here SHG (purple) reveals structures surrounding macrophages (teal) in a zebrafish tail.
A microscopy image with macrophages (teal cells) and second harmonic generation (purple fibers).
1185
Chad Hobson @cmhobson.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
This was quite an exciting project that has been years in the making, hopefully we can open up light sheet microscopy to some new samples!
094
Reposted by Chad Hobson
AIC at Janelia @aicjanelia.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Continuing our discussion of super-resolution techniques, our morning lecture at #IALSJanelia focused on analysis of localization microscopy data. Tessellation of this iPALM dataset reveals not only the boundary of the focal adhesion, but also internal structure within.
Visualization of a tessellation of point coordinates.  White lines indicate the boundaries of the tessellation, while color indicates the area of the tessellation region (blue = large region, yellow = small region).
0113
Reposted by Chad Hobson
Rachel Lee, PhD @scientistrachel.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Today at #IALSJanelia, we're exploring super-resolution. This includes spending time at @aicjanelia.bsky.social's iPALM system, where participant are exploring tubulin networks (purples) and focal adhesions (light blue) at the ~20 nm scale! iPALM data by @anjanja1024.bsky.social
A 3D rendering of iPALM microscopy data. A network of tubulin (purple fibers) lays on top of focal adhesions (blue blobs).
0116
Reposted by Chad Hobson
AIC at Janelia @aicjanelia.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Today is super-resolution day at #IALSJanelia! We're spending the afternoon at the microscope exploring these beautiful tubulin networks🔬 Images by @harikrushnan.bsky.social
0103
Reposted by Chad Hobson
AIC at Janelia @aicjanelia.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
We are grateful to Paul Tillberg for stopping by to give #IALSJanelia 2026 participants a guest lecture on expansion microscopy, including a hands-on #ExM demonstration!
A photo of a conference room where attendees are sitting at rows of tables. At the front of the room, a man sits alone at a separate table with a document camera. A view of the samples he is manipulating is projected on the screen behind him.
0122
Reposted by Chad Hobson
AIC at Janelia @aicjanelia.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
How does resolution impact colocalization? This afternoon at #IALSJanelia participants are exploring the impact of imaging modality on measurements of co-occurrence and correlation.
A two-panel microscopy image. Both panels show mitochondria labeled for COX8 (green) and TOMM20 (magenta). The left panel shows an image taken on a widefield microscope, and most pixels are white (a merge of magenta and green). The right panel shows an image taken using lattice SIM.
092
Reposted by Chad Hobson
Rachel Lee, PhD @scientistrachel.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
Lattice light sheet data taken by the participants of #IALSJanelia 2026, with guidance from @cmhobson.bsky.social. I rendered the actin dynamics using #AGAVE 🔬
0255
Reposted by Chad Hobson
AIC at Janelia @aicjanelia.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
This afternoon's imaging lab at #IALSJanelia is all about subcellular structures, highlighted here by myosin (white) and actin (orange). These membrane ruffles were captured on our lattice light-sheet microscope by @cmhobson.bsky.social
05218
Reposted by Chad Hobson
AIC at Janelia @aicjanelia.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
During our first analysis lab at #IALSJanelia 2026, participants are exploring #TrackMate. How do tracking challenges (and advantages) change when you image different parts of the cell? Do you get the same results from different labels?
0164
Reposted by Chad Hobson
Anja Schmidt @anjanja1024.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Love imaging those cells :)
1135
Reposted by Chad Hobson
Rachel Lee, PhD @scientistrachel.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
You have to love the diversity of shapes that these HL60 cells make! #IALSJanelia 2026
A montage of 4 images. Each image displays a 3D rendering of microscopy data in a different color. Each image is from a different time point of imaging the membrane of HL60 cells on a lattice light sheet microscope.
091
Reposted by Chad Hobson
AIC at Janelia @aicjanelia.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
For our first live cell imaging lab of #IALSJanelia 2026, we're exploring the migratory behavior of neutrophil-like HL60 cells. Confocal microscopy by @anjanja1024.bsky.social 🔬
1316
Reposted by Chad Hobson
AIC at Janelia @aicjanelia.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
We're exploring Fourier transforms at #IALSJanelia. In addition to applying them computationally in #Fiji, we're performing them optically with the help of a @thorlabs.bsky.social optics kit run by @cmhobson.bsky.social!
A photograph of optics equipment on a table. The Fourier pattern is projected onto a white piece of paper, while the image pattern is seen in the upper right corner of the photo.
0167
Reposted by Chad Hobson
AIC at Janelia @aicjanelia.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
This morning at #IALSJanelia, we're jumping into image analysis with #FIJI / #ImageJ! Our practical exercises on image filtering include comparisons of denoising approaches.
A man sitting at a table looks at his laptop. The laptop shows an image of a clown that has been overlaid with noisy speckles.
063
Reposted by Chad Hobson
Alfred Millett-Sikking @amsikking.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
Ultrafast 3D imaging just got faster! Introducing: "Instant dual-view Snouty (iDV-Snouty) light-sheet microscopy" -> Double the data rate of a Snouty microscope by adding a 2nd view! Use the extra view for a variety of imaging modes! Article here: amsikking.github.io/idv-snouty_l...
35616
Reposted by Chad Hobson
AIC at Janelia @aicjanelia.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
This morning at #IALSJanelia we're getting started with some microscopy fundamentals in a lecture by @cmhobson.bsky.social 🔬
A photo of people in a conference room. A man stands at the front next to a large projector screen. The screen shows a presentation slide on image formation.
0133
Reposted by Chad Hobson
AIC at Janelia @aicjanelia.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
We're kicking off #IALSJanelia 2026 with a keynote lecture by @scopeshifu.bsky.social. Our teaching team is excited to get to know all our participants and start two weeks of talking about microscopy! 🔬
0126