iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Dein Lieblingsfach im Gymnasium war Biochemie, und du möchtest dich auch im Studium weiter in dieses Fach vertiefen? Dann studiere Biologie/Molekulare Biowissenschaften an der ETH Zürich! Raoul erzählt dir, warum dieser Entscheid richtig war. youtube.com/shorts/gqGve...

021

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Unsere neue Broschüre ist da! 😍 Was ist das Faszinierende an Biologie? Was erwartet dich in den molekularen Biowissenschaften an der ETH Zürich? Was sagen Studierende darüber? Welche Kompetenzen entwickelst du? Was arbeitest du nachher? Antworten auf all diese Fragen: ethz.ch/content/dam/...

011

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Every year, D-BIOL welcomes high school students for an immersive study week, this year 24 of them in 7 different projects! From hands-on lab work to discovering cutting-edge research, it’s all about inspiring the next generation of molecular biologists. #BioETH #StudyWeek #StemEducation

051

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Five years after the Department of Biology redesigned its Bachelor's curriculum, the textbook that grew out of that reform is now available from CRC Press — including an open-access edition. More: biol.ethz.ch/en/news-and-...

011

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

Ki-67 isn't just a proliferation marker, it actively promotes breast cancer spread. A new study from the Aceto lab at ETH Zurich reveals how Ki-67 drives the formation of single and clustered CTCs responsible for metastasis. More: biol.ethz.ch/en/news-and-...

010

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Honored to celebrate Paola Picotti at yesterday’s Otto Naegeli Prize 2026 ceremony — recognizing her groundbreaking contributions to proteomics and systems biology. An inspiring evening dedicated to scientific excellence and the future of biomedical research... and a great presentation by Paola!

0102

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Flashback to our Biology Taster Day! We loved hosting so many passionate future scientists last week. Here is a little recap of what they experienced:

100

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Basal inflammation shapes immune tolerance: A new study by the Oxenius lab at ETH Zurich shows that type I interferon allows self-reactive T cells to expand and retain function, linking to potential autoimmunity. More: biol.ethz.ch/en/news-and-...

000

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Proteomics pioneer Ruedi Aebersold receives the Canada Gairdner International Award—one of the world’s top biomedical prizes. He founded and shaped proteomics and advanced personalized medicine. The D-BIOL is proud of our former professor’s outstanding achievement! ethz.ch/en/news-and-...

110

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

Love topics like biochemistry, molecular biology, microbiology at school? Then start your journey with us, Department of Biology is where it continues! Follow us for real insights into student life and a closer look at what awaits you. Our Instagram handle: ethz_dbiol www.instagram.com/ethz_dbiol/

010

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

Yesterday D-BIOL hosted students from Kantonsschule Rämibühl at @ethz.ch. Intro to biology studies and great research performed in our department, then tours of the Aceto and Stoffel groups — lots of cool science and lab vibes. Hope to see you soon!

010

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

Cells drastically downregulate mRNA translation to save energy during stress. A study by the Weis lab (IBC) shows that mRNAs transcribed after stress escape repression while pre-existing mRNA don’t, in a timing mechanism that is independent of mRNA sequence. More: biol.ethz.ch/en/news-and-...

032

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 23/12/2025

The paper by Pia Lavriha, Carina Fluri, Jorge Hernández González and Volodymyr Korkhov, published in @natcomms.nature.com provides molecular insights into lipid-mediated conformational changes in Cx32 gap junction channels. More: biol.ethz.ch/en/news-and-...

0113

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 08/12/2025

The Department of Biology warmly congratulates Dr. Alexander Leitner on his appointment as Adjunct Professor! His pioneering work in mass spectrometry and his strong commitment to teaching and collaboration enrich our community. More: imsb.ethz.ch/research/lei...

030

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

Congrats to Michal Wieczorek (wieczorekgroup.ethz.ch/research.html, IMBB) on being selected as an @embo.org Young Investigator. The 2024 cohort highlights excellence across the life sciences, and this recognition reflects Michal’s outstanding scientific contributions.

1103

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

Pathogenic beginnings of partnership: cell-in-cell implantation turns a free-living bacterium into a vertically transmitted tenant of a fungus, revealing a trajectory from antagonism to commensalism. Experimental endosymbiosis from @ETH Zurich #VorholtLab. More: biol.ethz.ch/en/news-and-...

050

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 24/11/2025

Researchers from the Sunagawa lab (IMB) join the Tara Coral expedition to explore the Coral Triangle’s remarkable resilience and unparalleled coral biodiversity—and to turn this knowledge into stronger strategies for safeguarding coral ecosystems. More: biol.ethz.ch/en/news-and-...

Image: Febrianne Sukiato/SeaChange Indonesia

020

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

Researchers from the @piellab.bsky.social @ethz.ch Zurich and international collaborators linked bioactive compounds from marine sponges to uncultivated ‘Entotheonella’ symbionts, uncovering vast biosynthetic potential. #DrugDiscovery #NaturalProducts More: biol.ethz.ch/en/news-and-...

000

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 17/11/2025

Intracellular Salmonella require T3SS effectors to cause infection. A study by the Hardt lab @ethz.ch ETH Zürich gives new insights into which bacterial factors are critical for infection in vivo, and provides new tools for researchers to further explore. More: biol.ethz.ch/en/news-and-...

021

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 13/11/2025

D-BIOL joined Switzerland’s national Future Day at ETH Zurich again! Five projects, dozens of curious kids, and loads of inspiration. It was inspiring to see their enthusiasm and creativity — who knows, maybe some of them will be our future researchers! #FutureDay #STEM #NextGeneration #Research

031

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

We were delighted to host last Friday’s Bachelor graduation celebration at the ETH Hönggerberg campus! Congratulations to all graduates on this important milestone. The Department of Biology wishes you continued success and fulfillment in all that comes next! 🥳

030

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 27/10/2025

Treatment of triple-negative breast cancer is clinically challenging. A recent study from the Bodenmiller at ETH Zurich proposes a new patient stratification method to better predict recurrence risk and direct therapy. More: biol.ethz.ch/en/news-and-...

011

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

Treatment of triple-negative breast cancer is clinically challenging. A recent study from the Bodenmiller lab @bb-lab.bsky.social @ethz.ch proposes a new patient stratification method to better predict recurrence risk and direct therapy. More: biol.ethz.ch/en/news-and-...

010

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

Natural transformation is a key mechanism in the spread of pathogenicity traits. A recent study by the Hospenthal lab @ethz.ch Zurich combines biochemical and structural data to provide a model for the mechanism of DNA translocation. More: biol.ethz.ch/en/news-and-...

010

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

The centriole is crucial for cilia formation, but its molecular architecture is not known. Research from the @Wieczorek Group at ETH Zurich reports structures of the centriole’s A-C linker, revealing how it crosslinks neighboring microtubule triplets. More: biol.ethz.ch/en/news-and-...

0127

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 03/10/2025

The @barrallabeth.bsky.social shows in a paper in "Molecular Cell" how biomolecular condensates process information to adapt the proliferative behavior of cells to the cells’ age. More: biol.ethz.ch/en/news-and-...

020

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

Polysomes and mRNA control the biophysical properties of the eukaryotic cytoplasm. A recent study by the Weis lab shows that intracellular diffusion is enhanced when polysomes are disassembled or when mRNA levels are reduced in eukaryotic cells. More: biol.ethz.ch/en/news-and-...

063

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

Not 100% certain yet what to study? The ETH Study Information Days (yesterday and today @ethz.ch) provide you with all the information you need (curriculum, career paths, individual questions) to make an informed decision. ethz.ch/en/studies/b...

010

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 18/08/2025

The Vogel Lab (McGill @mcgill.ca @mcgillscience.bsky.social) and the Barral lab (ETH Zurich @ethz.ch) unveil a groundbreaking mechanism by which living cells efficiently harness the powerful forces generated by shrinking microtubules. More details: biol.ethz.ch/en/news-and-...

000

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 24/07/2025

For the vast majority of bacterial transcription factors, the input signals are not known. The Sauer lab @ethz.ch developed a systematic workflow to predict such metabolite signals. Read more at biol.ethz.ch/en/news-and-...

121

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

Our congratulations to the EMBO membership of Wolf-Dietrich Hardt and Martin Pilhofer! Well deserved! biol.ethz.ch/en/news-and-...

042

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

The @barrallabeth.bsky.social explores the concepts of replicative aging and rejuvenation in budding yeast, mainly S. cerevisiae, highlighting how these processes aren’t merely detrimental but also offer adaptive advantages at both individual and population levels. More: biol.ethz.ch/en/news-and-...

010

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

New @plosbiology.org study from the Hardt lab: Commensal E. coli 8178 limits Salmonella by outcompeting it for D-galactose. Timing matters - early access to key sugars shapes gut colonization. #Microbiome #Pathogenesis #NutrientCompetition More: biol.ethz.ch/en/news-and-...

143

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

How do lipids trigger toxic protein aggregation in Parkinson’s disease? A new ETH Zurich study shows how lipid surfaces start α-synuclein aggregation—and how to block it with small molecules. More: biol.ethz.ch/en/news-and-...

000

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 19/06/2025

New method devised to produce cell-guiding microporous hydrogels to improve the growth and function of cells in 3D cultures: With PIPS it is now possible to precisely control the tiny pores in these cell-friendly scaffolds. More: biol.ethz.ch/en/news-and-...

000

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 19/06/2025

Congratulations to Nicola Aceto from our department who won the 2025 Cloëtta Prize for his outstanding research in molecular oncology! The award ceremony will take place on October 31 @ethz.ch. 👏 #CloëttaPrize #ETHZ #MedicalResearch cloetta-foundation.ch

000

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 18/06/2025

Two researchers from D-BIOL are among the first in Switzerland to receive a prestigious ERC Advanced Grant since early 2022. Our congratulations to Jacob Corn and Julia Vorholt on this great success! ethz.ch/en/news-and-...

081

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

The two groups in the D-BIOL did a great job in the final presentations, held in front of parents, teachers and friends on Friday afternoon as a closing event - congrats to this achievement! The event was opened by Rector Günther Dissertori and concluded with an exhibition.

010

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

Professor emeritus of ETH Zurich Vladimir Pliska receives the medal NUMISMA HONORIS SOCIETATIS SCIENTIARUM BOHEMICAE, awarded by the Learned Society of the Czech Republic for services to the development of science. Our congratulations!

000

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

Since Monday, the Department of Biology is hosting 17 high school students from across Switzerland for ETH’s Study Week! They’re diving into two exciting projects, one on corals, one on cancer, meeting ETH students over pizza, and getting a behind-the-scenes look at cutting-edge research labs.

000

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

Our lungs rely on alveolar macrophages (AMs) for health. The Koch lab @ethz.ch reports on @cellpress.bsky.social that AMs need #peroxisomes to handle toxic fats, energy, #mitochondrial fitness & lung #immunity. Peroxisomes are vital for lung defense. More: biol.ethz.ch/en/news-and-...

011

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

An ancient process (meiosis) separates pairs of chromosomes to create gametes. But what if there are suddenly more copies? A recent study from the Bomblies lab @ethz.ch Zurich explores what is needed to segregate chromosomes after genome-duplication. More: biol.ethz.ch/en/news-and-...

020

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

The IMPB, the last D-BIOL institute not yet located on Hönggerberg, recently moved into the HPT building. The opening ceremony took place yesterday, with words of welcome from Vice President Ueli Weidmann on the renovation and a speech by D-BIOL Chair Markus Stoffel on its future use in research.

000

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

Gut microbes talk and compete! A new study shows that E. coli uses AI-2 signaling to compete with Salmonella during colonization. Quorum sensing meets metabolic warfare. More: biol.ethz.ch/en/news-and-...

292

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

A new @cp-molcell.bsky.social article depicts how cells regulate ribosome abundance. The Peter lab @ethzurich.bsky.social and collaborators show that Stm1 protects ribosomes during starvation and promotes ribosome biogenesis in nutrient-rich conditions. More: biol.ethz.ch/en/news-and-...

042

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

A study from the Truernit group at @ethzurich.bsky.social explores how the OPS/OPL gene family drives root and shoot growth in #Arabidopsis, both directly and through phloem development. More: biol.ethz.ch/en/news-and-...

011

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

Mycobacteria require the proteasome to survive under stress. A new study from the @ewb-lab.bsky.social lab shows how the ATP-independent proteasome activator Bpa engages asymmetrically with the α-rings, and identifies Bpa residues critical for substrate degradation. biol.ethz.ch/en/news-and-...

020

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

Each department at ETH Zurich is evaluated by an external panel of experts every eight years (D-BIOL: now). In addition to discussions with all PIs, the panel meets with students, PhDs, postdocs, employees, and scientific and teaching staff in order to obtain a comprehensive picture of the D-BIOL.

041

Department of Biology, ETH Zurich @eth-dbiol.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

Systemic candidiasis is a life-threatening infectious disease. A recent study by the Kopf lab at @ethzurich.bsky.social reveals different mechanisms by which the multi-functional #cytokine IL-1 controls #Candida infection in the kidney and brain. More: biol.ethz.ch/en/news-and-...

020