iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Timo Niedermeyer @niedermeyer-lab.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Wir suchen für unsere AG eine*n Technische*n Assistent*in, unbefristet (E9, 50%), mit Drittmitteln auf 100% aufgestockt (später 100% unbefristet). Lust auf's Arbeiten mit Bakterien und Zellen in unserer #Mikrobiologie und #Zellkultur? Dann hier bewerben: short-url.cc/1EQik Gerne teilen! #Hiring

jobs.fu-berlin.de

Techn. Assistent*in (w/m/d) (DM-829)

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Timo Niedermeyer @niedermeyer-lab.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Congratulations to Lukas! 🎉 PhD student #12, part of the “second gen PhD students”. Lukas was the first in my group to work on animal natural products. He laid the basis for several projects that will now follow up on his stunning work on ant venoms. #ants #venoms #proudPI

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Timo Niedermeyer @niedermeyer-lab.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

#Promotion in der Naturstoff-Forschung / Pharmazeutischen Biologie? Wir haben eine freie Stelle am Institut für #Pharmazie der FU Berlin... :-) jobs.fu-berlin.de/job/Wiss_-Mi...

jobs.fu-berlin.de

Wiss. Mitarbeiter*in (Praedoc) (w/m/d) (832)

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Katja Diehl @katjadiehl.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Sachsen-Anhalt - überparteiliche Kampagne gegen AfD: 1️⃣ Auf taktisch-waehlen.de zeigt unser Tool die beste taktische Wahl je Wahlkreis. 2️⃣ Wir suchen noch Leute für 6 Aktions-Wochenenden vor Ort. Die Anmeldung ist kostenlos auf unserer Mitmachen-Seite. taktisch-waehlen.de

taktisch-waehlen.de

Taktisch Wählen

Die AfD möchte nicht, dass du erfährst wie du deine Stimmen bei der Landtagswahl in Sachsen-Anhalt am besten gegen sie einsetzen kannst...

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Timo Niedermeyer @niedermeyer-lab.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Five manuscripts published (one as cover story, as already posted), and more to come. I am happy she has decided to stay with the team as permanent staff scientist and head of the lab’s natural product biology (e.g. assays, cell biology, MoA work) sub-team.

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Timo Niedermeyer @niedermeyer-lab.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Congratulations to Valerie! 🎉 PhD student #11, part of the “second gen PhD students”. Valerie was the first in my group focusing on mode-of-action work, and she did a great job elucidating the MoA of #aetokthonotoxin and the ambigols. #cyanotoxins #proudPI

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Timo Niedermeyer @niedermeyer-lab.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Déjà vu! I am incredibly honored to receive our students' Teaching Award for the second year in a row. 🏆 I didn’t even know winning back-to-back was possible. A massive thank you to all the students who voted. Still discussing with the students what to do with the award money this year... 😁

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Timo Niedermeyer @niedermeyer-lab.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

The new table tennis table is officially up and running! 🏓 Great to see the students enjoying it at our institute’s summer party last Friday.

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Reposted by Timo Niedermeyer

Jake Wright @bcnjake.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Once again: German universities were the envy of the world before the Nazis rose to power and took an ideological wrecking ball to the entire enterprise. If you want to know how long it took for German universities to recover… they haven’t.

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Reposted by Timo Niedermeyer

FragDenStaat @fragdenstaat.de · 27/05/2026

Auf der #rp26 zeigte @arnesemsrott.bsky.social auf, wie die autoritäre Wende schon längst im Gange ist: Die Regierung setzt Wünsche der extremen Rechten um & übergeht die Mehrheit der Bevölkerung. Zeit, dass aus der demokratischen Mehrheit eine #Gegenmacht wird! www.youtube.com/watch?v=7waH...

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Reposted by Timo Niedermeyer

Science Magazine @science.org · 15/05/2026

New research finds that nursing carpenter ants apply their venom to their brood to prevent fungal infections, highlighting peptides’ role in colony hygiene and social immunity. Learn more in this week’s issue of #ScienceAdvances: scim.ag/3PfGh24

The 15 May 2026 cover of Science Advances showing carpenter ant workers tending to pupae within their nest.
Credit: Lukas Koch

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Timo Niedermeyer @niedermeyer-lab.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

11/ PPS I'm apparently terrible at writing proposals. This project was rejected twice. We always had one enthusiastic reviewer, but also critics saying the topic "lacked originality" or that we weren't "qualified to work on venom peptides". Well, as always: we did it anyway, and here we are... 😎

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Timo Niedermeyer @niedermeyer-lab.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

10/ PS Yes, we still work on cyanobacteria. Mostly. 🙃🦠🔬

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Timo Niedermeyer @niedermeyer-lab.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

9/ The work was published today as cover story in #ScienceAdvances. Huge congrats to Lukas and the whole team - this again was a great team effort spanning multiple institutions and scientific fields. It's always true: The more, the merrier! 🥂

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Timo Niedermeyer @niedermeyer-lab.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

8/ This was the passion project of the study’s lead author, Lukas Koch. He originally came into my office looking for a PhD project on cyanobacteria natural products. After I briefly mentioned a potential project on ants, he jumped ship immediately, as he has been in love with ants for a long time!

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Timo Niedermeyer @niedermeyer-lab.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

7/ Thus, the venoms are a sophisticated chemical defense system, not just a simple acid burn. This discovery overthrows the old "acid spray" label and opens a new chapter in understanding the biology and evolutionary success of one of the most ecologically important groups of insects on Earth. 🌏

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Timo Niedermeyer @niedermeyer-lab.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

6/ This suggests formicine ants use their venom for "external immunity" to keep themselves and their colonies clean. More detailed biophysical and imaging studies showed that these toxins interact with biomembranes in distinct ways, physically altering and neutralizing fungal spores.

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Timo Niedermeyer @niedermeyer-lab.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

5/ Testing synthetic formicitoxins, we found that they inhibit the growth of ant-pathogenic fungi. Ants frequently groom their pupae with venom, and now we know why: While formic acid is a quick disinfectant, it evaporates fast. The peptides stay behind, providing a long-lasting protective shield. 🛡️

Camponotus ants grooming their pupae. Picture by Lukas Koch.

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Timo Niedermeyer @niedermeyer-lab.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

4/ The formicitoxins are amphipathic peptides produced in the ant's venom gland. Genome mining revealed that they are derived from novel gene families, which are unique but widespread among the Formicinae subfamily of ants, showing their evolutionary importance.

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Timo Niedermeyer @niedermeyer-lab.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

3/ We indeed discovered that their venom isn't just formic acid. It also contains other compounds like 𝘕-acylethanolamines and, most importantly, peptides. Meet the Formicitoxins:

AlphaFold 4 model of the formicitoxin FRTX2-Cflo1a, one of the peptides detected in Camponotus floridanus venom, showing its alpha-helical and amphipathic structure.

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Timo Niedermeyer @niedermeyer-lab.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

2/ Following up on a few ancient (1919 & 1961) and widely ignored literature side-notes suggesting these venoms might contain proteinaceous compounds, we studied the venoms of 13 different 𝘊𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘶𝘴 (carpenter #ant) species from across the globe using a proteotranscriptomic approach.

Cladogram, species names, and representative photographs of the ant species used in this study.

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Timo Niedermeyer @niedermeyer-lab.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

1/ A thread on our latest publication: Don't tell our beloved cyanobacteria, but we’ve been flirting with ants lately. 🐜 Formicine ants have long been regarded as simple "acid sprayers", containing only formic acid in their venom. Our study shows that this is not the case. 🧵 doi.org/10.1126/scia...

doi.org

Beyond formic acid: Peptides in carpenter ant venoms aid in disease protection

Contrary to common belief, the acid sprays of carpenter ants contain lipids and antifungal peptides, aiding in disease protection.

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Timo Niedermeyer @niedermeyer-lab.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Der Gesetzesentwurf ist sehr durchdacht und ausgefeilt (gerne mal lesen vor der Entscheidung: verkehrsentscheid.de), deshalb hat der Verfassungsgerichtshof ja auch geurteilt, dass es zum Erreichen der Ziele der Initiative kein milderes gesetzgeberisches Mittel gibt...

verkehrsentscheid.de

Verkehrsentscheid — weniger Autos, mehr Berlin

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Timo Niedermeyer @niedermeyer-lab.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Durchgangsverkehr nimmt massiv ab, da weniger Fahrten in die Innenstadt stattfinden werden. Parkraumbewirtschaftung kann deutlich intensiver (=teurer und damit unattraktiv) werden. Am wichtigsten: Die Übergangszeit ist vier Jahre (!), genug Zeit, das ordentlich umzusetzen, incl. Ausbau ÖPNV.

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Timo Niedermeyer @niedermeyer-lab.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Für die Kieze knapp außerhalb des S-Bahn-Rings fordern wir außerdem eine flächendeckende Parkraumbewirtschaftung. Dadurch wird Parken am Ring teurer und unattraktiv. Vor allem aber soll der ÖPNV bis in die Außenbezirke gut, sicher und komfortabel ausgebaut werden."

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Timo Niedermeyer @niedermeyer-lab.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Das Gesetz gibt dem Senat und den Bezirken ein Instrument an die Hand, mit dem später auch Straßen außerhalb des S-Bahn-Rings zu autoreduzierten Straßen werden können.

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Timo Niedermeyer @niedermeyer-lab.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Das ist mitgedacht, in den FAQs steht: "Durch den Volksentscheid werden deutlich weniger Autos im S-Bahn-Ring fahren, wodurch der Autoverkehr um den Ring herum eher abnimmt.

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Timo Niedermeyer @niedermeyer-lab.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Alle, die noch aufgefüllte Unterschriften-Zettel zu Hause haben: Bitte bringt die so bald es geht zu den Annahmestellen (verkehrsentscheid.de/dlg:abgabe/t...), damit die Unterschriften rechtzeitig ankommen - die Deadline naht (08.05.)! :-)

verkehrsentscheid.de

Verkehrsentscheid — weniger Autos, mehr Berlin

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Timo Niedermeyer @niedermeyer-lab.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Das stimmt, aber A liked post von B und A repostet B sind doch ziemlich sichere Indikatoren, besser als "folgt"?

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Timo Niedermeyer @niedermeyer-lab.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

Why do publishers still send emails like these on a Saturday morning? They should known we might have families and plans for the weekend like everyone else? 🙈

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Christian Stöcker @christianstoecker.de · 24/04/2026

Ja so eine Überraschung. "Deutsche Städte und Landkreise können ihre Einnahmen aus erneuerbaren Energien mehr als verdoppeln, wenn sie die Ausbauziele für Wind- und Solaranlagen erreichen." Die Ergebnisse kommuniziert das Ministerium allerdings nicht.

t-online.de

Wachstum durch Energiewende? Reiche lässt Studie verschwinden

Eine neue Studie im Auftrag des Wirtschaftsministeriums zeigt: Der Ausbau erneuerbarer Energien könnte die regionale Wertschöpfung in Deutschland verdoppeln. Die Ergebnisse kommuniziert das Ministerium allerdings nicht.

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Elisabeth (Lilli) Janssen @elisabethjanssen.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

#Publication: "Curation of #MassSpectrometry #ReferenceData for Improved Identification and #Dereplication of #Cyanobacterial Specialized #Metabolites" in Journal of #NaturalProducts #OpenAccess 2905 highly curated reference spectra of 150 metabolites now in #Massbank doi.org/10.1021/acs....

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Timo Niedermeyer @niedermeyer-lab.bsky.social · 18/04/2026

This is the one big thing I really don't understand. Even if you don't care about the environment / climate change, you should prefer the cheapest possible ways to generate electricity - solar and wind. How can we teach the public that renewables are best in their own economic interest? #B1804

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Timo Niedermeyer @niedermeyer-lab.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

Valerie did a great job studying the effects of AETX on cells (so many different cool assays!), and was awarded for the hard work with her manuscript being selected as cover story in Chem. Res. Toxicol.

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Timo Niedermeyer @niedermeyer-lab.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

Elucidating the mode of action of AETX took so long because three proposals I wrote to fund this research were rejected over the years. I am happy that at some point I had a university-funded position for a PhD student available.

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Timo Niedermeyer @niedermeyer-lab.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

We finally have solved the toxin's mode of action: It is a protonophore that dissipates the mitochondrial membrane potential and thus uncouples oxidative phosphorylation, resulting in a lack of energy (ATP) in affected cells. ☠️

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Timo Niedermeyer @niedermeyer-lab.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

Highlight #4 – Mode of Action of Aetokthonotoxin. Remember our “bald eagle killer” story and the neurotoxic alkaloid #aetokthonotoxin (#AETX) we discovered from the #cyanobacterium Aetokthonos hydrillicola? (paper: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/..., behind-the-scenes thread: bsky.app/profile/nied...)

science.org

Science | AAAS

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Timo Niedermeyer @niedermeyer-lab.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

Grateful to @dfg.de and @freieuniversitaet.bsky.social for making this possible. In addition to the MSD, we were also able to purchase an HPLC system and a cryotome needed for our #ImagingMS work. Let the data collection begin! 😁

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Timo Niedermeyer @niedermeyer-lab.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

Highlight #3 – New Mass Spectrometer. Mass spectrometry is the heartbeat of our research, so it was tough to leave behind our Q Exactive plus when we left the University of Halle. But we have found a worthy successor with our new timsTOF flex MALDI-2! 🎉

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Timo Niedermeyer @niedermeyer-lab.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

I chose to speak about the ongoing COVID pandemic, COVID-related policies, long-term consequences for both individual health and society, and the role of indoor air quality in public health – topics that are very important to me (besides natural products, of course 😀).

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Timo Niedermeyer @niedermeyer-lab.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

Highlight #2 – One of my personal highlights at the end of 2025 was the invitation to give the keynote speech at the BPhD (Federal Association of Pharmacy Students in Germany) meeting in Berlin, organized by our students. Great to see so many engaged students who care for the future of our field.

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Timo Niedermeyer @niedermeyer-lab.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

With the award money (and some additional money from our institute's student council and my startup funds), I have bought a table tennis plate which will (hopefully soon!) be set up behind our institute. 🏓

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Timo Niedermeyer @niedermeyer-lab.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

Highlight #1 – Teaching Award. I’m incredibly honoured that I have been awarded with the 2025 Teaching Award from our students. Research milestones are great, but being recognized by the people in the lecture hall is truly special. A huge thank you to the students for the nomination!

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Timo Niedermeyer @niedermeyer-lab.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

OK, let’s continue with other highlights from the past months. I will restrict myself to the top 4 highlights, as 4 is my lucky number… 🙃

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Timo Niedermeyer @niedermeyer-lab.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

She did a fantastic job - five manuscripts published and more still to come. I am happy she has decided to stay with the team as permanent staff scientist and head of the lab’s natural product chemistry sub-team!

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