Zena Hadjivasiliou
@zenahadjivasiliou.bsky.social
Group Leader Mathematical and Physical Biology Lab @TheCrick and @UCL Physics. Interested in how size, shape and patterns develop and evolve; https://www.hadjivasilioulab.com/.
Pinned
How do cells build complex tissues? 🧬 New research from UCL shows how morphogens and other signalling systems collaborate to guide individual cell identities, revealing how tissues create precise patterns during development.
Read more: www.ucl.ac.uk/life-science...
Read more: www.ucl.ac.uk/life-science...
How cells build complex tissues one decision at a time.
Scientists discover how morphogens and other signalling systems collaborate to guide individual cell identities, revealing how tissues create precise patterns during development.
www.ucl.ac.uk
Our latest @crick.ac.uk @ucllifesciences.bsky.social @ucl-ipls.bsky.social fresh @currentbiology.bsky.social 💥. How can morphogens specify cell fate at single cell precision? A little help from Notch, ERK and glia can go a long way! A collab with the wonderful Vil Fernandes 🪰📈
Reposted by Zena Hadjivasiliou
New preprint alert!!! Super proud to finally share an authentic 'tour-de-force' from the amazing PhD students Shivani Gunnan @shivanigunnan.bsky.social, Max Kotz and Lucas Ribas, in collaboration with @friedrich-group.bsky.social 👇a small thread www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Developmental growth rates adapt to enable self-correction of organ morphology after injury.
Proportional organ growth requires tissue-level control of cell behavior. Yet the cues that adapt growth rates, especially after organ injury, remain unclear. Here, we uncover that developing organs a...
www.biorxiv.org
August 3, 2026 at 9:52 PM
New preprint alert!!! Super proud to finally share an authentic 'tour-de-force' from the amazing PhD students Shivani Gunnan @shivanigunnan.bsky.social, Max Kotz and Lucas Ribas, in collaboration with @friedrich-group.bsky.social 👇a small thread www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Reposted by Zena Hadjivasiliou
Very cool preprint from the Mateus Lab🔥 🧪
New preprint alert!!! Super proud to finally share an authentic 'tour-de-force' from the amazing PhD students Shivani Gunnan @shivanigunnan.bsky.social, Max Kotz and Lucas Ribas, in collaboration with @friedrich-group.bsky.social 👇a small thread www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Developmental growth rates adapt to enable self-correction of organ morphology after injury.
Proportional organ growth requires tissue-level control of cell behavior. Yet the cues that adapt growth rates, especially after organ injury, remain unclear. Here, we uncover that developing organs a...
www.biorxiv.org
August 4, 2026 at 7:02 AM
Very cool preprint from the Mateus Lab🔥 🧪
Kudos to first authors Alicia Donoghue and our own Lewis Mosby that drove this forward! And thanks to @ucllifesciences.bsky.social for covering the work 🙏
Our latest @crick.ac.uk @ucllifesciences.bsky.social @ucl-ipls.bsky.social fresh @currentbiology.bsky.social 💥. How can morphogens specify cell fate at single cell precision? A little help from Notch, ERK and glia can go a long way! A collab with the wonderful Vil Fernandes 🪰📈
How do cells build complex tissues? 🧬 New research from UCL shows how morphogens and other signalling systems collaborate to guide individual cell identities, revealing how tissues create precise patterns during development.
Read more: www.ucl.ac.uk/life-science...
Read more: www.ucl.ac.uk/life-science...
July 13, 2026 at 1:55 PM
Kudos to first authors Alicia Donoghue and our own Lewis Mosby that drove this forward! And thanks to @ucllifesciences.bsky.social for covering the work 🙏
Our latest @crick.ac.uk @ucllifesciences.bsky.social @ucl-ipls.bsky.social fresh @currentbiology.bsky.social 💥. How can morphogens specify cell fate at single cell precision? A little help from Notch, ERK and glia can go a long way! A collab with the wonderful Vil Fernandes 🪰📈
How do cells build complex tissues? 🧬 New research from UCL shows how morphogens and other signalling systems collaborate to guide individual cell identities, revealing how tissues create precise patterns during development.
Read more: www.ucl.ac.uk/life-science...
Read more: www.ucl.ac.uk/life-science...
How cells build complex tissues one decision at a time.
Scientists discover how morphogens and other signalling systems collaborate to guide individual cell identities, revealing how tissues create precise patterns during development.
www.ucl.ac.uk
July 13, 2026 at 1:53 PM
Our latest @crick.ac.uk @ucllifesciences.bsky.social @ucl-ipls.bsky.social fresh @currentbiology.bsky.social 💥. How can morphogens specify cell fate at single cell precision? A little help from Notch, ERK and glia can go a long way! A collab with the wonderful Vil Fernandes 🪰📈
Reposted by Zena Hadjivasiliou
New in @dev-journal.bsky.social: how tissue shape tells cells what to become
Using human stem-cell neuruloids, we show how that physical boundaries encode positional information that drives cell fate patterning in a model of trunk formation
A thread 🧵
journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...
Using human stem-cell neuruloids, we show how that physical boundaries encode positional information that drives cell fate patterning in a model of trunk formation
A thread 🧵
journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...
Boundary constraints can determine pattern emergence
Summary: A reaction-diffusion mechanism recapitulates pattern emergence in an in vitro model of neuromesodermal progenitors under a variety of boundary and geometrical perturbations.
journals.biologists.com
July 1, 2026 at 8:22 AM
New in @dev-journal.bsky.social: how tissue shape tells cells what to become
Using human stem-cell neuruloids, we show how that physical boundaries encode positional information that drives cell fate patterning in a model of trunk formation
A thread 🧵
journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...
Using human stem-cell neuruloids, we show how that physical boundaries encode positional information that drives cell fate patterning in a model of trunk formation
A thread 🧵
journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...
Reposted by Zena Hadjivasiliou
How did gametes evolve to become different? Our new study shows that genetically identical gametes already differ in reproductive investment and costs, revealing hidden sexual asymmetries.
@vjesticalab.bsky.social
@zenahadjivasiliou.bsky.social
@pnas.org
#Harry_Booth
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
@vjesticalab.bsky.social
@zenahadjivasiliou.bsky.social
@pnas.org
#Harry_Booth
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Meiotic cohesin Rec8 imposes fitness costs on fission yeast gametes favoring the evolution of parental bias in gene expression | PNAS
Differences between partner gametes, which evolved repeatedly in eukaryotes, can contribute
to the evolution of the sexes, sexual selection, and no...
www.pnas.org
July 6, 2026 at 10:26 AM
How did gametes evolve to become different? Our new study shows that genetically identical gametes already differ in reproductive investment and costs, revealing hidden sexual asymmetries.
@vjesticalab.bsky.social
@zenahadjivasiliou.bsky.social
@pnas.org
#Harry_Booth
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
@vjesticalab.bsky.social
@zenahadjivasiliou.bsky.social
@pnas.org
#Harry_Booth
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by Zena Hadjivasiliou
Why did the two gametes (egg♀️ and sperm♂️) start to become different?
It's a strategy to optimize the costs and benefits of investing into offspring!
Read our brand new @pnas.org story that finds a molecular mechanism behind this evolutionary idea proposed in 1972 by Parker, Bell and Smith.
It's a strategy to optimize the costs and benefits of investing into offspring!
Read our brand new @pnas.org story that finds a molecular mechanism behind this evolutionary idea proposed in 1972 by Parker, Bell and Smith.
Meiotic cohesin Rec8 imposes fitness costs on fission yeast gametes favoring the evolution of parental bias in gene expression | PNAS
Differences between partner gametes, which evolved repeatedly in eukaryotes, can contribute
to the evolution of the sexes, sexual selection, and no...
doi.org
July 3, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Why did the two gametes (egg♀️ and sperm♂️) start to become different?
It's a strategy to optimize the costs and benefits of investing into offspring!
Read our brand new @pnas.org story that finds a molecular mechanism behind this evolutionary idea proposed in 1972 by Parker, Bell and Smith.
It's a strategy to optimize the costs and benefits of investing into offspring!
Read our brand new @pnas.org story that finds a molecular mechanism behind this evolutionary idea proposed in 1972 by Parker, Bell and Smith.
Reposted by Zena Hadjivasiliou
Take a look at the Center for Integrative Genomics (CIG) blog to know everything about a humble #yeast #cell who is helping scientists to answer a 50-year-old question: how did one #partner #evolve to #invest #more than the other? 👀
www.genomyx.ch/the-little-k...
@unil.bsky.social
www.genomyx.ch/the-little-k...
@unil.bsky.social
The Little-Known Dating Scene That Predates the Evolution of the Sexes | CIG – NEWS
www.genomyx.ch
July 3, 2026 at 11:28 AM
Take a look at the Center for Integrative Genomics (CIG) blog to know everything about a humble #yeast #cell who is helping scientists to answer a 50-year-old question: how did one #partner #evolve to #invest #more than the other? 👀
www.genomyx.ch/the-little-k...
@unil.bsky.social
www.genomyx.ch/the-little-k...
@unil.bsky.social
Such fun collab with the @vjesticalab.bsky.social @unil.bsky.social, revisiting the first question I became obsessed with as a PhD student: why do cells that fuse during sex need to differ genetically even when they look the same? 🙌 Celso Martin and Harry Booth for beautiful experiments+theory work
Scientists have combined theory and experiments to show that genetic differences in seemingly identical yeast sex cells evolved due to competing demands during the asexual and sexual phases of their life cycle.
https://bit.ly/3Tf7Uty
https://bit.ly/3Tf7Uty
The evolutionary pressure behind sexual asymmetry
A major transition in evolution is the shift from asexual to sexual reproduction in early organisms. But why would a yeast cell, which usually reproduces asexually, choose to mate with a very differen...
bit.ly
July 3, 2026 at 1:48 PM
Such fun collab with the @vjesticalab.bsky.social @unil.bsky.social, revisiting the first question I became obsessed with as a PhD student: why do cells that fuse during sex need to differ genetically even when they look the same? 🙌 Celso Martin and Harry Booth for beautiful experiments+theory work
Reposted by Zena Hadjivasiliou
Exciting VGZT session this week! 🎉
🗓️ Thursday, July 2nd
⏰ 9:30 PDT / 12:30 EDT / 17:30 BST / 18:30 CEST
Our speakers are:
👉 Silvia Santos (@santoslab.bsky.social)
👉 Diana Pinheiro (@dianapinheiro.bsky.social)
See you there! 👋
🗓️ Thursday, July 2nd
⏰ 9:30 PDT / 12:30 EDT / 17:30 BST / 18:30 CEST
Our speakers are:
👉 Silvia Santos (@santoslab.bsky.social)
👉 Diana Pinheiro (@dianapinheiro.bsky.social)
See you there! 👋
June 29, 2026 at 6:54 AM
Exciting VGZT session this week! 🎉
🗓️ Thursday, July 2nd
⏰ 9:30 PDT / 12:30 EDT / 17:30 BST / 18:30 CEST
Our speakers are:
👉 Silvia Santos (@santoslab.bsky.social)
👉 Diana Pinheiro (@dianapinheiro.bsky.social)
See you there! 👋
🗓️ Thursday, July 2nd
⏰ 9:30 PDT / 12:30 EDT / 17:30 BST / 18:30 CEST
Our speakers are:
👉 Silvia Santos (@santoslab.bsky.social)
👉 Diana Pinheiro (@dianapinheiro.bsky.social)
See you there! 👋
Reposted by Zena Hadjivasiliou
Bring your family, friends and pupils to join us for a fun day of science! @compscitsui.bsky.social @alomshaha.bsky.social
🔬🌟 Discover, experiment and explore! Join the UCL Life Sciences Science Fair on 13 June 2026 — hands‑on science, demos and short talks, free for everyone.
Register: https://bit.ly/4nb5erL
#UCLScienceFair #LifeSciences #STEM
Register: https://bit.ly/4nb5erL
#UCLScienceFair #LifeSciences #STEM
May 11, 2026 at 6:11 PM
Bring your family, friends and pupils to join us for a fun day of science! @compscitsui.bsky.social @alomshaha.bsky.social
Reposted by Zena Hadjivasiliou
Here the published version of our work on uncoupling different types of tissue phase transitions during development!
Find out more on how contact surface tension-driven rigidity transitions trigger tricellular junction formation and initiate epithelial organization!
@natphys.nature.com
Find out more on how contact surface tension-driven rigidity transitions trigger tricellular junction formation and initiate epithelial organization!
@natphys.nature.com
⚡ Our paper is now out in @natphys.nature.com !
This version now includes a detailed molecular characterisation of the optogenetic perturbations, new insights on the relevance of tricellular junctions for tissue morphology, and beautiful light-sheet timelapses. 🔬
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
This version now includes a detailed molecular characterisation of the optogenetic perturbations, new insights on the relevance of tricellular junctions for tissue morphology, and beautiful light-sheet timelapses. 🔬
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
June 2, 2026 at 4:19 PM
Here the published version of our work on uncoupling different types of tissue phase transitions during development!
Find out more on how contact surface tension-driven rigidity transitions trigger tricellular junction formation and initiate epithelial organization!
@natphys.nature.com
Find out more on how contact surface tension-driven rigidity transitions trigger tricellular junction formation and initiate epithelial organization!
@natphys.nature.com
Reposted by Zena Hadjivasiliou
In a collaboration between the Crick and @embl.org, researchers used a mix of experimental work in zebrafish and theoretical modelling to discover a feedback loop between an embryo’s changing material properties, such as its rigidity, and the signalling molecules that guide patterning.
The physical properties behind an embryo’s body plan
How rigid a tissue is coordinates a crucial period of cell patterning, ensuring that embryos develop the right shape and organise their cell layers correctly at the same time.
www.crick.ac.uk
June 3, 2026 at 1:17 PM
In a collaboration between the Crick and @embl.org, researchers used a mix of experimental work in zebrafish and theoretical modelling to discover a feedback loop between an embryo’s changing material properties, such as its rigidity, and the signalling molecules that guide patterning.
Reposted by Zena Hadjivasiliou
Excited to announce Physics of Living Matter 19! To be held in Cambridge 24-25th September 2026:
www.plm-symposium.org
www.plm-symposium.org
April 17, 2026 at 11:20 AM
Excited to announce Physics of Living Matter 19! To be held in Cambridge 24-25th September 2026:
www.plm-symposium.org
www.plm-symposium.org
Reposted by Zena Hadjivasiliou
New Pre-Print Alert!
Evolving initial conditions: an alternative developmental route to morphological diversity
with Shannon Taylor and @jamesehammond.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Evolving initial conditions: an alternative developmental route to morphological diversity
with Shannon Taylor and @jamesehammond.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
April 21, 2026 at 11:03 AM
New Pre-Print Alert!
Evolving initial conditions: an alternative developmental route to morphological diversity
with Shannon Taylor and @jamesehammond.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Evolving initial conditions: an alternative developmental route to morphological diversity
with Shannon Taylor and @jamesehammond.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Reposted by Zena Hadjivasiliou
I am giving a "Crash Course in Embryo Development" for the general public (no science background needed! pitched around GCSE-level) in London on 21st May www.crick.ac.uk/whats-on/cri... We'll dip into development, with a splash of embryo models, and a pinch of ethics. And it's free! Book online 👍
Crick Crash Course: Embryo development
www.crick.ac.uk
April 20, 2026 at 5:09 PM
I am giving a "Crash Course in Embryo Development" for the general public (no science background needed! pitched around GCSE-level) in London on 21st May www.crick.ac.uk/whats-on/cri... We'll dip into development, with a splash of embryo models, and a pinch of ethics. And it's free! Book online 👍
Spring PhD recruitment round @crick.ac.uk is now open and we have a project on offer: www.crick.ac.uk/careers-stud.... If you have a background in maths or physics and are curious about patterning and growth in biology this could be the project for you! Please help us spread the word 💥
February 23, 2026 at 10:14 AM
Spring PhD recruitment round @crick.ac.uk is now open and we have a project on offer: www.crick.ac.uk/careers-stud.... If you have a background in maths or physics and are curious about patterning and growth in biology this could be the project for you! Please help us spread the word 💥
Reposted by Zena Hadjivasiliou
Advanced grad students + postdocs: apply for the 2026 #kitpqbio summer course, "Physical Principles of Morphogenesis in Plants and Animals," at buff.ly/OXXMKEv. Apply by Feb. 1.
Course directors Adrienne Roeder (Cornell) and Sebastian Streichan (UCSB)
Course directors Adrienne Roeder (Cornell) and Sebastian Streichan (UCSB)
November 19, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Advanced grad students + postdocs: apply for the 2026 #kitpqbio summer course, "Physical Principles of Morphogenesis in Plants and Animals," at buff.ly/OXXMKEv. Apply by Feb. 1.
Course directors Adrienne Roeder (Cornell) and Sebastian Streichan (UCSB)
Course directors Adrienne Roeder (Cornell) and Sebastian Streichan (UCSB)
Reposted by Zena Hadjivasiliou
How can cells use information from neighboring cells to improve the spatial precision of morphogen patterns? 🤔
We show that cells can gain positional information by "talking" to their neighbors - how much depends critically on spatial correlations of the patterns.
buff.ly/w56OUJT
We show that cells can gain positional information by "talking" to their neighbors - how much depends critically on spatial correlations of the patterns.
buff.ly/w56OUJT
January 5, 2026 at 8:00 AM
How can cells use information from neighboring cells to improve the spatial precision of morphogen patterns? 🤔
We show that cells can gain positional information by "talking" to their neighbors - how much depends critically on spatial correlations of the patterns.
buff.ly/w56OUJT
We show that cells can gain positional information by "talking" to their neighbors - how much depends critically on spatial correlations of the patterns.
buff.ly/w56OUJT
Reposted by Zena Hadjivasiliou
🔬 New paper in Developmental Biology 🐟
Our researchers have now tested a largely ignored hypothesis—that the geometry of an embryo drives its development. Read more in the 🧵below.
📷 Zebrafish in ISTA’s Aquatic Facility.
Our researchers have now tested a largely ignored hypothesis—that the geometry of an embryo drives its development. Read more in the 🧵below.
📷 Zebrafish in ISTA’s Aquatic Facility.
January 5, 2026 at 10:01 AM
🔬 New paper in Developmental Biology 🐟
Our researchers have now tested a largely ignored hypothesis—that the geometry of an embryo drives its development. Read more in the 🧵below.
📷 Zebrafish in ISTA’s Aquatic Facility.
Our researchers have now tested a largely ignored hypothesis—that the geometry of an embryo drives its development. Read more in the 🧵below.
📷 Zebrafish in ISTA’s Aquatic Facility.
Are you looking for a PhD in Biological Physics / Math Biology? We are recruiting at UCL, link to apply now active:
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Project very flexible, drop me a line if you are interested and want to find out more.
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Project very flexible, drop me a line if you are interested and want to find out more.
December 1, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Are you looking for a PhD in Biological Physics / Math Biology? We are recruiting at UCL, link to apply now active:
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Project very flexible, drop me a line if you are interested and want to find out more.
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Project very flexible, drop me a line if you are interested and want to find out more.
Reposted by Zena Hadjivasiliou
Researchers have identified a signalling feedback loop that may have been vital to the evolution of insect wings and therefore flight.
The signals, called morphogens, act like lighthouses in most developing tissues, guiding nearby cells towards their fate.
www.crick.ac.uk/news/2025-11...
The signals, called morphogens, act like lighthouses in most developing tissues, guiding nearby cells towards their fate.
www.crick.ac.uk/news/2025-11...
When evolution took flight
Researchers have revealed how a genetic circuit may have helped the evolution of insect wings.
www.crick.ac.uk
November 18, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Researchers have identified a signalling feedback loop that may have been vital to the evolution of insect wings and therefore flight.
The signals, called morphogens, act like lighthouses in most developing tissues, guiding nearby cells towards their fate.
www.crick.ac.uk/news/2025-11...
The signals, called morphogens, act like lighthouses in most developing tissues, guiding nearby cells towards their fate.
www.crick.ac.uk/news/2025-11...
Reposted by Zena Hadjivasiliou
An Asgard archaeon with internal membrane compartments
Brilliant study led by @fmacleod.bsky.social and Andriko von Kügelgen. Tight collaboration with @buzzbaum.bsky.social and lab. Congrats to all authors!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Brilliant study led by @fmacleod.bsky.social and Andriko von Kügelgen. Tight collaboration with @buzzbaum.bsky.social and lab. Congrats to all authors!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
November 7, 2025 at 10:44 AM
An Asgard archaeon with internal membrane compartments
Brilliant study led by @fmacleod.bsky.social and Andriko von Kügelgen. Tight collaboration with @buzzbaum.bsky.social and lab. Congrats to all authors!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Brilliant study led by @fmacleod.bsky.social and Andriko von Kügelgen. Tight collaboration with @buzzbaum.bsky.social and lab. Congrats to all authors!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Zena Hadjivasiliou
Looking forward to this meeting!! Join us this February in Heidelberg 🦋🪰🐟🐁🌱🧫🦠
Have you submitted your abstract for #EESCollectivity? No? It's about time! This new event will discuss how collective behaviours arise from fundamental principles across biological systems, from cells to animal groups. 🦠🐾
👉 Join us and submit your abstract by 18 Nov: s.embl.org/ees26-01-bl
👉 Join us and submit your abstract by 18 Nov: s.embl.org/ees26-01-bl
November 7, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Looking forward to this meeting!! Join us this February in Heidelberg 🦋🪰🐟🐁🌱🧫🦠
🔊 We are looking for a PhD student to join our group and the vibrant community @ucl.ac.uk @ucl-ipls.bsky.social and @crick.ac.uk 💥. Details on the call: www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPF708/5... and our project on offer: ucl-epsrc-dtp.github.io/2026-27-proj.... Please share and drop me a line if interested!
50 fully funded 4-year EPSRC PhD Studentships in Science and Engineering at UCL
Start your UK & international job search for academic jobs, research jobs, science jobs and managerial jobs in leading universities and top...
www.jobs.ac.uk
November 5, 2025 at 1:35 PM
🔊 We are looking for a PhD student to join our group and the vibrant community @ucl.ac.uk @ucl-ipls.bsky.social and @crick.ac.uk 💥. Details on the call: www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPF708/5... and our project on offer: ucl-epsrc-dtp.github.io/2026-27-proj.... Please share and drop me a line if interested!