A new opportunity for POSTDOCS, SynCell-nExUs!
Write your own postdoc research proposal to get a 3-year grant to work in one of Europe's labs on synthetic cells. Deadline 31/12.
Check it out: syntheticcell.eu/syncell-nexu...
Feel free to select our #CDlab as host: syntheticcell.eu/syncellnexus...
Write your own postdoc research proposal to get a 3-year grant to work in one of Europe's labs on synthetic cells. Deadline 31/12.
Check it out: syntheticcell.eu/syncell-nexu...
Feel free to select our #CDlab as host: syntheticcell.eu/syncellnexus...
Cees Dekker
Cees Dekker is a Distinguished University Professor at TU Delft. Being trained as a physicist, he developed many single-molecule nanotechnologies that he applies to a variety of biological questions…
syntheticcell.eu
October 31, 2026 at 9:08 AM
A new opportunity for POSTDOCS, SynCell-nExUs!
Write your own postdoc research proposal to get a 3-year grant to work in one of Europe's labs on synthetic cells. Deadline 31/12.
Check it out: syntheticcell.eu/syncell-nexu...
Feel free to select our #CDlab as host: syntheticcell.eu/syncellnexus...
Write your own postdoc research proposal to get a 3-year grant to work in one of Europe's labs on synthetic cells. Deadline 31/12.
Check it out: syntheticcell.eu/syncell-nexu...
Feel free to select our #CDlab as host: syntheticcell.eu/syncellnexus...
Latest #CDlab paper on BioRxiv: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
How do intercalators affect DNA loop extrusion by SMC proteins? Brian Analikwu found that they lower SMC binding and extrusion speed. Also, he shows a new assay without intercalators that shows loop extrusion but at twice the speed!
How do intercalators affect DNA loop extrusion by SMC proteins? Brian Analikwu found that they lower SMC binding and extrusion speed. Also, he shows a new assay without intercalators that shows loop extrusion but at twice the speed!
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.26.761753v1
www.biorxiv.org
October 27, 2026 at 9:08 AM
Latest #CDlab paper on BioRxiv: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
How do intercalators affect DNA loop extrusion by SMC proteins? Brian Analikwu found that they lower SMC binding and extrusion speed. Also, he shows a new assay without intercalators that shows loop extrusion but at twice the speed!
How do intercalators affect DNA loop extrusion by SMC proteins? Brian Analikwu found that they lower SMC binding and extrusion speed. Also, he shows a new assay without intercalators that shows loop extrusion but at twice the speed!
Our latest #CDlab paper on BioRxiv: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Led by 1st author Jaco van der Torre, we report our technique to create long (100 kb) DNA molecules with entirely user-defined sequences. We use this to design motif-depleted DNA sequences for single-molecule experiments.
Led by 1st author Jaco van der Torre, we report our technique to create long (100 kb) DNA molecules with entirely user-defined sequences. We use this to design motif-depleted DNA sequences for single-molecule experiments.
October 12, 2026 at 7:35 AM
Our latest #CDlab paper on BioRxiv: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Led by 1st author Jaco van der Torre, we report our technique to create long (100 kb) DNA molecules with entirely user-defined sequences. We use this to design motif-depleted DNA sequences for single-molecule experiments.
Led by 1st author Jaco van der Torre, we report our technique to create long (100 kb) DNA molecules with entirely user-defined sequences. We use this to design motif-depleted DNA sequences for single-molecule experiments.
Here's our latest #CDlab paper in Nature Comm:
a study of nucleocytoplasmic transport via nuclear pore complexes (NPCs), involving designer Nups, biomimetic NPCs, condensates, extensive MD simulations. Great collaboration with particularly the Onck lab.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
a study of nucleocytoplasmic transport via nuclear pore complexes (NPCs), involving designer Nups, biomimetic NPCs, condensates, extensive MD simulations. Great collaboration with particularly the Onck lab.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
September 29, 2026 at 1:47 PM
Here's our latest #CDlab paper in Nature Comm:
a study of nucleocytoplasmic transport via nuclear pore complexes (NPCs), involving designer Nups, biomimetic NPCs, condensates, extensive MD simulations. Great collaboration with particularly the Onck lab.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
a study of nucleocytoplasmic transport via nuclear pore complexes (NPCs), involving designer Nups, biomimetic NPCs, condensates, extensive MD simulations. Great collaboration with particularly the Onck lab.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Great fun meeting our friends from the ERC Synergy consortium GeneMotors again in Edinburgh to brainstorm about SMC-driven DNA loop extrusion!
On this pic is #CDlab PhD student Brian Analikwu in action leading a session on the motor mechanism of SMCs
On this pic is #CDlab PhD student Brian Analikwu in action leading a session on the motor mechanism of SMCs
September 14, 2026 at 12:15 PM
Great fun meeting our friends from the ERC Synergy consortium GeneMotors again in Edinburgh to brainstorm about SMC-driven DNA loop extrusion!
On this pic is #CDlab PhD student Brian Analikwu in action leading a session on the motor mechanism of SMCs
On this pic is #CDlab PhD student Brian Analikwu in action leading a session on the motor mechanism of SMCs
Really great!
Multiday #CDlab retreat with project reflections, personal table speeches, brainstorming new experiments and culture of the lab, 'Ask Cees anything' session, cooking, music, rafting, wine tasting, hiking, Picasso museum
Multiday #CDlab retreat with project reflections, personal table speeches, brainstorming new experiments and culture of the lab, 'Ask Cees anything' session, cooking, music, rafting, wine tasting, hiking, Picasso museum
September 9, 2026 at 9:35 AM
Really great!
Multiday #CDlab retreat with project reflections, personal table speeches, brainstorming new experiments and culture of the lab, 'Ask Cees anything' session, cooking, music, rafting, wine tasting, hiking, Picasso museum
Multiday #CDlab retreat with project reflections, personal table speeches, brainstorming new experiments and culture of the lab, 'Ask Cees anything' session, cooking, music, rafting, wine tasting, hiking, Picasso museum
Latest #CDlab paper on BioRxiv: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
1st author Eva Bertosin developed huge DNA origami nanopores that can dilate and constrict in size. With diameters up to 87 nm, they can insert into lipid membranes, showing selective transport when filled with nuclear pore proteins.
1st author Eva Bertosin developed huge DNA origami nanopores that can dilate and constrict in size. With diameters up to 87 nm, they can insert into lipid membranes, showing selective transport when filled with nuclear pore proteins.
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.03.749129v1
www.biorxiv.org
September 9, 2026 at 8:54 AM
Latest #CDlab paper on BioRxiv: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
1st author Eva Bertosin developed huge DNA origami nanopores that can dilate and constrict in size. With diameters up to 87 nm, they can insert into lipid membranes, showing selective transport when filled with nuclear pore proteins.
1st author Eva Bertosin developed huge DNA origami nanopores that can dilate and constrict in size. With diameters up to 87 nm, they can insert into lipid membranes, showing selective transport when filled with nuclear pore proteins.
Latest paper where our #CDlab contributed now in NAR: academic.oup.com/nar/article/...
The work shows that all SMCs, from yeast to human SMCs, form DNA-SMC biomolecular condensates at higher concentrations.
The work shows that all SMCs, from yeast to human SMCs, form DNA-SMC biomolecular condensates at higher concentrations.
Validate User
academic.oup.com
September 3, 2026 at 9:30 PM
Latest paper where our #CDlab contributed now in NAR: academic.oup.com/nar/article/...
The work shows that all SMCs, from yeast to human SMCs, form DNA-SMC biomolecular condensates at higher concentrations.
The work shows that all SMCs, from yeast to human SMCs, form DNA-SMC biomolecular condensates at higher concentrations.
Come join our #CDlab!
We have various open positions for PhD students or postdocs, see ceesdekkerlab.nl/come-join-us/
Particularly, I search a PhD student for protein sequencing with nanopores (keywords: nanopores, DNA origami, peptide/protein sequencing)
Apply!
RT=👍
We have various open positions for PhD students or postdocs, see ceesdekkerlab.nl/come-join-us/
Particularly, I search a PhD student for protein sequencing with nanopores (keywords: nanopores, DNA origami, peptide/protein sequencing)
Apply!
RT=👍
Come join us - Cees Dekker Lab
Cees Dekker Lab
ceesdekkerlab.nl
August 24, 2026 at 8:59 AM
Come join our #CDlab!
We have various open positions for PhD students or postdocs, see ceesdekkerlab.nl/come-join-us/
Particularly, I search a PhD student for protein sequencing with nanopores (keywords: nanopores, DNA origami, peptide/protein sequencing)
Apply!
RT=👍
We have various open positions for PhD students or postdocs, see ceesdekkerlab.nl/come-join-us/
Particularly, I search a PhD student for protein sequencing with nanopores (keywords: nanopores, DNA origami, peptide/protein sequencing)
Apply!
RT=👍
Out now! @biorxivpreprint.bsky.social from my PhD at #CDlab
We design, experimentally test, and simulate a library of designer FG-nucleoporins.
We identify key biophysical properties of their amino acid sequence that tune their selective barrier function.
Congrats to all co-authors! 🥳
We design, experimentally test, and simulate a library of designer FG-nucleoporins.
We identify key biophysical properties of their amino acid sequence that tune their selective barrier function.
Congrats to all co-authors! 🥳
Latest #CDlab paper on @biorxivpreprint.bsky.social: Spatial control of karyopherin binding avidity in NPC mimics revealed by designer FG-Nucleoporins
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
With experiments & MD simulations we study de novo designed proteins for selective transport through nuclear pores
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
With experiments & MD simulations we study de novo designed proteins for selective transport through nuclear pores
April 25, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Out now! @biorxivpreprint.bsky.social from my PhD at #CDlab
We design, experimentally test, and simulate a library of designer FG-nucleoporins.
We identify key biophysical properties of their amino acid sequence that tune their selective barrier function.
Congrats to all co-authors! 🥳
We design, experimentally test, and simulate a library of designer FG-nucleoporins.
We identify key biophysical properties of their amino acid sequence that tune their selective barrier function.
Congrats to all co-authors! 🥳
(archaeal) cell divisionists take note 👇
Latest #CDlab (𝕏) paper
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reconstitution study of the Cdv proteins that establish cell division in archaea shows how Cdv protein interactions govern their membrane recruitment and that Cdv proteins localize at membrane necks.
Latest #CDlab (𝕏) paper
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reconstitution study of the Cdv proteins that establish cell division in archaea shows how Cdv protein interactions govern their membrane recruitment and that Cdv proteins localize at membrane necks.
October 4, 2024 at 10:06 AM
(archaeal) cell divisionists take note 👇
Latest #CDlab (𝕏) paper
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reconstitution study of the Cdv proteins that establish cell division in archaea shows how Cdv protein interactions govern their membrane recruitment and that Cdv proteins localize at membrane necks.
Latest #CDlab (𝕏) paper
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reconstitution study of the Cdv proteins that establish cell division in archaea shows how Cdv protein interactions govern their membrane recruitment and that Cdv proteins localize at membrane necks.
Shocking sad news: our colleague Ralf Seidel has suddenly and unexpectedly passed away!
www.physes.uni-leipzig.de/pdi/profil/n...
Ralf did a postdoc in our #CDlab in the early 2000s and became a professor in Leipzig. He was such a kind person. We'll miss him dearly.
www.physes.uni-leipzig.de/pdi/profil/n...
Ralf did a postdoc in our #CDlab in the early 2000s and became a professor in Leipzig. He was such a kind person. We'll miss him dearly.
www.physes.uni-leipzig.de
July 28, 2026 at 4:53 PM
Shocking sad news: our colleague Ralf Seidel has suddenly and unexpectedly passed away!
www.physes.uni-leipzig.de/pdi/profil/n...
Ralf did a postdoc in our #CDlab in the early 2000s and became a professor in Leipzig. He was such a kind person. We'll miss him dearly.
www.physes.uni-leipzig.de/pdi/profil/n...
Ralf did a postdoc in our #CDlab in the early 2000s and became a professor in Leipzig. He was such a kind person. We'll miss him dearly.
We built a a self-dividing synthetic cell !
Check out this #CDlab preprint on BioRxiv: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Great work by 1st author Charu Sharma who encoded dynaminA in a genome and expressed that in liposomes that then divide into daughter cells!
Collaboration with Koenderink lab!
Check out this #CDlab preprint on BioRxiv: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Great work by 1st author Charu Sharma who encoded dynaminA in a genome and expressed that in liposomes that then divide into daughter cells!
Collaboration with Koenderink lab!
July 22, 2026 at 8:48 PM
We built a a self-dividing synthetic cell !
Check out this #CDlab preprint on BioRxiv: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Great work by 1st author Charu Sharma who encoded dynaminA in a genome and expressed that in liposomes that then divide into daughter cells!
Collaboration with Koenderink lab!
Check out this #CDlab preprint on BioRxiv: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Great work by 1st author Charu Sharma who encoded dynaminA in a genome and expressed that in liposomes that then divide into daughter cells!
Collaboration with Koenderink lab!
Huge congrats to #CDlab postdoc Marjon van Ruiten who now received a personal VENI grant to study enhancer-promotor contact driven by cohesin at the single-molecule level.
Very excited to share that I have been awarded a Veni grant by the Dutch Research Council (NWO). Looking forward to studying enhancer-promoter communication by cohesin using single molecule technologies! 🥳🔬🧬 Hosted
in the @ceesdekker.bsky.social lab at TU Delft.
www.nwo.nl/en/news/205-...
in the @ceesdekker.bsky.social lab at TU Delft.
www.nwo.nl/en/news/205-...
July 17, 2026 at 9:39 AM
Huge congrats to #CDlab postdoc Marjon van Ruiten who now received a personal VENI grant to study enhancer-promotor contact driven by cohesin at the single-molecule level.
Latest #CDlab paper: a review entitled 'Devising a divisome for synthetic cells' in Nature Reviews Chemistry
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Here, 1st authors Joris Dommisse and Rafael Lira review current strategies to mimic division: symmetry breaking, constriction and abscission.
Enjoy the read!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Here, 1st authors Joris Dommisse and Rafael Lira review current strategies to mimic division: symmetry breaking, constriction and abscission.
Enjoy the read!
July 13, 2026 at 5:48 PM
Latest #CDlab paper: a review entitled 'Devising a divisome for synthetic cells' in Nature Reviews Chemistry
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Here, 1st authors Joris Dommisse and Rafael Lira review current strategies to mimic division: symmetry breaking, constriction and abscission.
Enjoy the read!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Here, 1st authors Joris Dommisse and Rafael Lira review current strategies to mimic division: symmetry breaking, constriction and abscission.
Enjoy the read!
Latest #CDlab paper on BioRxiv: 'Charge and steric hindrance in the glycocalyx govern membrane interactions': www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Led by Rafa De Lira, we study how the molecules from the carbohydrate-rich layer that coats cells governs interactions and fusion with charged liposomes.
Led by Rafa De Lira, we study how the molecules from the carbohydrate-rich layer that coats cells governs interactions and fusion with charged liposomes.
June 17, 2026 at 7:53 AM
Latest #CDlab paper on BioRxiv: 'Charge and steric hindrance in the glycocalyx govern membrane interactions': www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Led by Rafa De Lira, we study how the molecules from the carbohydrate-rich layer that coats cells governs interactions and fusion with charged liposomes.
Led by Rafa De Lira, we study how the molecules from the carbohydrate-rich layer that coats cells governs interactions and fusion with charged liposomes.
Latest #CDlab paper on BioRxiv: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
PhD student Bert van Herck developed a route towards efficiently delivering lipids and proteins to synthetic cells through DNA-driven fusion of SUVs to GUVs.
Great collaboration with labs of Gijsje Koendrink & Stefan Vogel.
PhD student Bert van Herck developed a route towards efficiently delivering lipids and proteins to synthetic cells through DNA-driven fusion of SUVs to GUVs.
Great collaboration with labs of Gijsje Koendrink & Stefan Vogel.
April 1, 2026 at 10:57 AM
Latest #CDlab paper on BioRxiv: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
PhD student Bert van Herck developed a route towards efficiently delivering lipids and proteins to synthetic cells through DNA-driven fusion of SUVs to GUVs.
Great collaboration with labs of Gijsje Koendrink & Stefan Vogel.
PhD student Bert van Herck developed a route towards efficiently delivering lipids and proteins to synthetic cells through DNA-driven fusion of SUVs to GUVs.
Great collaboration with labs of Gijsje Koendrink & Stefan Vogel.
Latest #CDlab paper on nanopore protein sequencing now published in JACS: pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....
Here, Justas Ritmejeris, Xiuqi Chen, collaborator Bauke Albada, and me developed a conjugation chemistry strategy for nanopore sequencing of natural peptides!
Here, Justas Ritmejeris, Xiuqi Chen, collaborator Bauke Albada, and me developed a conjugation chemistry strategy for nanopore sequencing of natural peptides!
January 9, 2026 at 8:53 AM
Latest #CDlab paper on nanopore protein sequencing now published in JACS: pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....
Here, Justas Ritmejeris, Xiuqi Chen, collaborator Bauke Albada, and me developed a conjugation chemistry strategy for nanopore sequencing of natural peptides!
Here, Justas Ritmejeris, Xiuqi Chen, collaborator Bauke Albada, and me developed a conjugation chemistry strategy for nanopore sequencing of natural peptides!
🚨New paper out! In our @MolCellNews paper, we solve a piece of the puzzle of how our genome folds. We found the two specific molecular "brakes" in the CTCF protein that stop DNA loop extrusion. One of the final pieces of my PhD!
tinyurl.com/29uuc5by
tinyurl.com/29uuc5by
December 12, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Latest #CDlab paper on nanopore protein sequencing on @biorxivpreprint.bsky.social: www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
Here, Justas Ritmejeris, @xiuqichen.bsky.social, collaborator @albadalab.bsky.social and me developed a conjugation chemistry strategy for nanopore sequencing of natural peptides!
Here, Justas Ritmejeris, @xiuqichen.bsky.social, collaborator @albadalab.bsky.social and me developed a conjugation chemistry strategy for nanopore sequencing of natural peptides!
November 13, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Latest #CDlab paper on nanopore protein sequencing on @biorxivpreprint.bsky.social: www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
Here, Justas Ritmejeris, @xiuqichen.bsky.social, collaborator @albadalab.bsky.social and me developed a conjugation chemistry strategy for nanopore sequencing of natural peptides!
Here, Justas Ritmejeris, @xiuqichen.bsky.social, collaborator @albadalab.bsky.social and me developed a conjugation chemistry strategy for nanopore sequencing of natural peptides!
our #CDlab has openings as well: ceesdekkerlab.nl/come-join-us/
September 25, 2025 at 10:42 AM
our #CDlab has openings as well: ceesdekkerlab.nl/come-join-us/
Thanks Mahipal!
You share this honor as well, since you and so many other #CDlab team members contributed so much to all our scientific discoveries.
You share this honor as well, since you and so many other #CDlab team members contributed so much to all our scientific discoveries.
September 24, 2025 at 5:29 AM
Thanks Mahipal!
You share this honor as well, since you and so many other #CDlab team members contributed so much to all our scientific discoveries.
You share this honor as well, since you and so many other #CDlab team members contributed so much to all our scientific discoveries.
#CDlab outing 2025: sailing the Dutch waters with our lab members!
(drone credit @xiuqichen.bsky.social)
(drone credit @xiuqichen.bsky.social)
September 2, 2025 at 9:44 AM
#CDlab outing 2025: sailing the Dutch waters with our lab members!
(drone credit @xiuqichen.bsky.social)
(drone credit @xiuqichen.bsky.social)
WORK: 5 (!) openings in our #CDlab, check it out: ceesdekkerlab.nl/come-join-us/
August 22, 2025 at 8:38 AM
WORK: 5 (!) openings in our #CDlab, check it out: ceesdekkerlab.nl/come-join-us/