Dominik Handler
@86dominik.bsky.social
Drosophila genetic conflicts
piRNAs | transposons | genomics
Staff scientist in the Brennecke lab - Vienna
piRNAs | transposons | genomics
Staff scientist in the Brennecke lab - Vienna
Reposted by Dominik Handler
Are you an early-stage graduate student (2nd or 3rd year) or early-stage postdoc based in the US or Canada, working primarily in Drosophila? Would you like to help improve the experience of all trainees working in Drosophila research? If so, read on.
(Please repost to reach a broad audience.)
(Please repost to reach a broad audience.)
November 12, 2025 at 4:49 AM
Are you an early-stage graduate student (2nd or 3rd year) or early-stage postdoc based in the US or Canada, working primarily in Drosophila? Would you like to help improve the experience of all trainees working in Drosophila research? If so, read on.
(Please repost to reach a broad audience.)
(Please repost to reach a broad audience.)
Reposted by Dominik Handler
just in time for the opening of the @hohmannulrich.bsky.social group at @imbmainz.bsky.social
what started as a project on how cells export piRNA precursors, ended up as a tour de force in mRNA export. truly wonderful collaboration with @plaschkalab.bsky.social at the @viennabiocenter.bsky.social
what started as a project on how cells export piRNA precursors, ended up as a tour de force in mRNA export. truly wonderful collaboration with @plaschkalab.bsky.social at the @viennabiocenter.bsky.social
New paper alert! Scientists in Clemens Plaschka’s lab at the IMP and @juliusbrennecke.bsky.social's lab at
@imbavienna.bsky.social solved a decade-old puzzle, uncovering how the information molecule mRNA travels from the cell’s nucleus to its periphery. More: bit.ly/4nHcvys
@imbavienna.bsky.social solved a decade-old puzzle, uncovering how the information molecule mRNA travels from the cell’s nucleus to its periphery. More: bit.ly/4nHcvys
November 7, 2025 at 6:03 PM
just in time for the opening of the @hohmannulrich.bsky.social group at @imbmainz.bsky.social
what started as a project on how cells export piRNA precursors, ended up as a tour de force in mRNA export. truly wonderful collaboration with @plaschkalab.bsky.social at the @viennabiocenter.bsky.social
what started as a project on how cells export piRNA precursors, ended up as a tour de force in mRNA export. truly wonderful collaboration with @plaschkalab.bsky.social at the @viennabiocenter.bsky.social
When transposons jump, genomes diverge - even in cultured cells.
I am happy to share our new preprint: a chromosome-scale genome assembly for Drosophila OSC cells, one of the key model systems in the piRNA field, especially for nuclear piRNA biology. 🧬🧵 (1/12)
I am happy to share our new preprint: a chromosome-scale genome assembly for Drosophila OSC cells, one of the key model systems in the piRNA field, especially for nuclear piRNA biology. 🧬🧵 (1/12)
October 14, 2025 at 8:34 PM
When transposons jump, genomes diverge - even in cultured cells.
I am happy to share our new preprint: a chromosome-scale genome assembly for Drosophila OSC cells, one of the key model systems in the piRNA field, especially for nuclear piRNA biology. 🧬🧵 (1/12)
I am happy to share our new preprint: a chromosome-scale genome assembly for Drosophila OSC cells, one of the key model systems in the piRNA field, especially for nuclear piRNA biology. 🧬🧵 (1/12)
Reposted by Dominik Handler
Off he is ...
Ulrich is one of the most remarkable scientists I had the pleasure to work with. I learned so much from him about biochemistry, proteins, structural biology, and so much more.
Great people make great things happen.
The really great people are rare.
Ulrich is one of them ...
Ulrich is one of the most remarkable scientists I had the pleasure to work with. I learned so much from him about biochemistry, proteins, structural biology, and so much more.
Great people make great things happen.
The really great people are rare.
Ulrich is one of them ...
Thrilled to share that I’ll be joining @imbmainz.bsky.social in February 2026 to start my own group!
We will explore new mechanisms in eukaryotic gene expression, leveraging ‘evolutionary play’ to uncover how regulation, repurposing, and hijacking shape RNA biology.
PhD positions available!
We will explore new mechanisms in eukaryotic gene expression, leveraging ‘evolutionary play’ to uncover how regulation, repurposing, and hijacking shape RNA biology.
PhD positions available!
October 12, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Off he is ...
Ulrich is one of the most remarkable scientists I had the pleasure to work with. I learned so much from him about biochemistry, proteins, structural biology, and so much more.
Great people make great things happen.
The really great people are rare.
Ulrich is one of them ...
Ulrich is one of the most remarkable scientists I had the pleasure to work with. I learned so much from him about biochemistry, proteins, structural biology, and so much more.
Great people make great things happen.
The really great people are rare.
Ulrich is one of them ...
Reposted by Dominik Handler
Thrilled to share that I’ll be joining @imbmainz.bsky.social in February 2026 to start my own group!
We will explore new mechanisms in eukaryotic gene expression, leveraging ‘evolutionary play’ to uncover how regulation, repurposing, and hijacking shape RNA biology.
PhD positions available!
We will explore new mechanisms in eukaryotic gene expression, leveraging ‘evolutionary play’ to uncover how regulation, repurposing, and hijacking shape RNA biology.
PhD positions available!
October 12, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Thrilled to share that I’ll be joining @imbmainz.bsky.social in February 2026 to start my own group!
We will explore new mechanisms in eukaryotic gene expression, leveraging ‘evolutionary play’ to uncover how regulation, repurposing, and hijacking shape RNA biology.
PhD positions available!
We will explore new mechanisms in eukaryotic gene expression, leveraging ‘evolutionary play’ to uncover how regulation, repurposing, and hijacking shape RNA biology.
PhD positions available!
Reposted by Dominik Handler
1/ How do animals develop immunity against a newly encountered transposable element from scratch? Our study reveals that the mobility of TEs is their Achilles heel, allowing hosts to develop a powerful small RNA-mediated silencing response.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
August 14, 2025 at 5:09 PM
1/ How do animals develop immunity against a newly encountered transposable element from scratch? Our study reveals that the mobility of TEs is their Achilles heel, allowing hosts to develop a powerful small RNA-mediated silencing response.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Dominik Handler
piRNAs are essential for transposon silencing in the animal germline.
But how do hosts trap transposon sequences in genomic loci that help establish a piRNA response?
Looking at a natural transposon invasion, Baptiste Rafanel and Kirsten Senti made some remarkable observations.
But how do hosts trap transposon sequences in genomic loci that help establish a piRNA response?
Looking at a natural transposon invasion, Baptiste Rafanel and Kirsten Senti made some remarkable observations.
Antisense transposon insertions into host genes trigger piRNA mediated immunity https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.07.28.667215v1
August 3, 2025 at 3:39 PM
piRNAs are essential for transposon silencing in the animal germline.
But how do hosts trap transposon sequences in genomic loci that help establish a piRNA response?
Looking at a natural transposon invasion, Baptiste Rafanel and Kirsten Senti made some remarkable observations.
But how do hosts trap transposon sequences in genomic loci that help establish a piRNA response?
Looking at a natural transposon invasion, Baptiste Rafanel and Kirsten Senti made some remarkable observations.
Reposted by Dominik Handler
Kristina Stapornwongkul and Sven Klumpe are new IMBA Group Leaders starting in 2025. Who will join IMBA in 2026? IMBA is hiring a Junior Group Leader. Apply to the position by May 18: imba.science/beagroupleader #hiring #biology #research #groupleader #europe
May 12, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Kristina Stapornwongkul and Sven Klumpe are new IMBA Group Leaders starting in 2025. Who will join IMBA in 2026? IMBA is hiring a Junior Group Leader. Apply to the position by May 18: imba.science/beagroupleader #hiring #biology #research #groupleader #europe
Reposted by Dominik Handler
We are seeking a new colleague to join us at the Vienna BioCenter, specifically at my beloved home institution, IMBA @imbavienna.bsky.social
we value collegiality and a passion for curiosity driven science. Being a great and fun human being also helps!
we value collegiality and a passion for curiosity driven science. Being a great and fun human being also helps!
IMBA is recruiting a Junior Group Leader! Are you interested in starting your own lab, pursuing curiosity-driven basic research in the life sciences? Apply now to our group leader position. The deadline is May 28. Link is below.
March 29, 2025 at 1:22 PM
We are seeking a new colleague to join us at the Vienna BioCenter, specifically at my beloved home institution, IMBA @imbavienna.bsky.social
we value collegiality and a passion for curiosity driven science. Being a great and fun human being also helps!
we value collegiality and a passion for curiosity driven science. Being a great and fun human being also helps!
Reposted by Dominik Handler
1/ Transposable elements are often called "jumping genes" because they mobilize within genomes. 🧬
But did you know they can also jump 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 cells? 🤯
Our new study reveals how retrotransposons invade the germline directly from somatic cells.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
A short thread 🧵👇
But did you know they can also jump 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 cells? 🤯
Our new study reveals how retrotransposons invade the germline directly from somatic cells.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
A short thread 🧵👇
March 17, 2025 at 11:56 AM
1/ Transposable elements are often called "jumping genes" because they mobilize within genomes. 🧬
But did you know they can also jump 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 cells? 🤯
Our new study reveals how retrotransposons invade the germline directly from somatic cells.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
A short thread 🧵👇
But did you know they can also jump 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 cells? 🤯
Our new study reveals how retrotransposons invade the germline directly from somatic cells.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
A short thread 🧵👇
Reposted by Dominik Handler
Happy to share our manuscript on the in situ visualization of the copia retrotransposon in its final form today published in @cellcellpress.bsky.social www.cell.com/cell/fulltex.... What’s new?
March 5, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Happy to share our manuscript on the in situ visualization of the copia retrotransposon in its final form today published in @cellcellpress.bsky.social www.cell.com/cell/fulltex.... What’s new?
Reposted by Dominik Handler
- EMBL with EMBL outstations
- Max Planck institutes in Germany (e.g. Dresden, Goettingen)
- Vienna BioCenter (IMP, IMBA, GMI, Max Perutz Labs)
- FMI Basel
- ETH Zürich
- CEITEC Brno
- CRG Barcelona
- Hubrecht Institute (Netherlands)
- EPFL Lausanne
- Max Planck institutes in Germany (e.g. Dresden, Goettingen)
- Vienna BioCenter (IMP, IMBA, GMI, Max Perutz Labs)
- FMI Basel
- ETH Zürich
- CEITEC Brno
- CRG Barcelona
- Hubrecht Institute (Netherlands)
- EPFL Lausanne
March 1, 2025 at 8:44 AM
- EMBL with EMBL outstations
- Max Planck institutes in Germany (e.g. Dresden, Goettingen)
- Vienna BioCenter (IMP, IMBA, GMI, Max Perutz Labs)
- FMI Basel
- ETH Zürich
- CEITEC Brno
- CRG Barcelona
- Hubrecht Institute (Netherlands)
- EPFL Lausanne
- Max Planck institutes in Germany (e.g. Dresden, Goettingen)
- Vienna BioCenter (IMP, IMBA, GMI, Max Perutz Labs)
- FMI Basel
- ETH Zürich
- CEITEC Brno
- CRG Barcelona
- Hubrecht Institute (Netherlands)
- EPFL Lausanne
Reposted by Dominik Handler
Our lab is now on Bluesky! 🚀 Kicking things off by sharing
@fedeteloni.bsky.social latest preprint on the role of cohesin in homology search. Check out the thread for more details!
@fedeteloni.bsky.social latest preprint on the role of cohesin in homology search. Check out the thread for more details!
New preprint from the @gerlichlab.bsky.social @imbavienna.bsky.social!
How do DNA breaks locate homology sites in the vast space of the human genome? We show how cohesin guides homology search for faithful repair!
Read more 👉 https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.02.10
Follow along for key insights! 🧵
How do DNA breaks locate homology sites in the vast space of the human genome? We show how cohesin guides homology search for faithful repair!
Read more 👉 https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.02.10
Follow along for key insights! 🧵
February 12, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Our lab is now on Bluesky! 🚀 Kicking things off by sharing
@fedeteloni.bsky.social latest preprint on the role of cohesin in homology search. Check out the thread for more details!
@fedeteloni.bsky.social latest preprint on the role of cohesin in homology search. Check out the thread for more details!
A small but intriguing update on the Kipferl discovery by Lisa Baumgartner
Evolution of a specific binding mode between a ZnF protein and the HP1-variant Rhino.
A wonderful project with great help from Julius Brennecke, Hohmann Ulrich, Peter Duchek, Jon Ipsaro, Alex Schleiffer and me😉
Evolution of a specific binding mode between a ZnF protein and the HP1-variant Rhino.
A wonderful project with great help from Julius Brennecke, Hohmann Ulrich, Peter Duchek, Jon Ipsaro, Alex Schleiffer and me😉
October 4, 2023 at 8:05 AM
A small but intriguing update on the Kipferl discovery by Lisa Baumgartner
Evolution of a specific binding mode between a ZnF protein and the HP1-variant Rhino.
A wonderful project with great help from Julius Brennecke, Hohmann Ulrich, Peter Duchek, Jon Ipsaro, Alex Schleiffer and me😉
Evolution of a specific binding mode between a ZnF protein and the HP1-variant Rhino.
A wonderful project with great help from Julius Brennecke, Hohmann Ulrich, Peter Duchek, Jon Ipsaro, Alex Schleiffer and me😉