Biosciences Area at Berkeley Lab
@biosci.lbl.gov
Official account of the Biosciences Area of @BerkeleyLab
Solving challenges in energy, environment, health, and biomanufacturing. Re-post ≠ Endorsement
Solving challenges in energy, environment, health, and biomanufacturing. Re-post ≠ Endorsement
@jgi.doe.gov sr. engineering associate Berkeley Kauffman was arriving at @berkeleylab.lbl.gov's main site when he encountered this guy out for a morning stroll. "It's aways cool seeing how much wildlife shares the Hill with us!" he noted. #WildlifeWednesday
September 24, 2025 at 7:19 PM
@jgi.doe.gov sr. engineering associate Berkeley Kauffman was arriving at @berkeleylab.lbl.gov's main site when he encountered this guy out for a morning stroll. "It's aways cool seeing how much wildlife shares the Hill with us!" he noted. #WildlifeWednesday
ICYMI: @berkeleylab.lbl.gov is integrating artificial intelligence, automation, and powerful data systems to transform the speed and scale of discovery across scientific disciplines. Read about 8 ways we're using AI to make research faster, smarter, and more impactful. go.lbl.gov/AI_listicle
How AI and Automation are Speeding Up Science and Discovery
Berkeley Lab is transforming research across disciplines from energy to materials science and more, strengthening American innovation and the nation’s scientific edge.
newscenter.lbl.gov
September 23, 2025 at 10:33 PM
ICYMI: @berkeleylab.lbl.gov is integrating artificial intelligence, automation, and powerful data systems to transform the speed and scale of discovery across scientific disciplines. Read about 8 ways we're using AI to make research faster, smarter, and more impactful. go.lbl.gov/AI_listicle
#BioBSE researchers Jay Keasling and @cdscown.bsky.social are contributing to a cleaner planet by being part of a newly funded project to develop biodegradable bioplastics from domestic biomass. #WorldCleanupDay
@berkeleyengineer.bsky.social
@berkeleylab.lbl.gov
go.lbl.gov/bioplastics
@berkeleyengineer.bsky.social
@berkeleylab.lbl.gov
go.lbl.gov/bioplastics
Researchers leverage advanced bioengineering techniques to develop plastics made from sustainable biomaterials
Less than 10% of plastics are recycled. A Purdue-led team, backed by NSF, is creating durable bioplastics from raw materials — reducing waste and strengthening sustainable manufacturing.
go.lbl.gov
September 20, 2025 at 4:58 PM
#BioBSE researchers Jay Keasling and @cdscown.bsky.social are contributing to a cleaner planet by being part of a newly funded project to develop biodegradable bioplastics from domestic biomass. #WorldCleanupDay
@berkeleyengineer.bsky.social
@berkeleylab.lbl.gov
go.lbl.gov/bioplastics
@berkeleyengineer.bsky.social
@berkeleylab.lbl.gov
go.lbl.gov/bioplastics
To advance the fight against antibiotic resistance, a team led by @fraserlab.com developed a compound that could help restore the effectiveness of a class of antibiotics known as streptogramins. They used data collected at @als.lbl.gov & SSRL. #BioMBIB @berkeleylab.lbl.gov
go.lbl.gov/streptogramins
go.lbl.gov/streptogramins
Researchers use synchrotron X-rays to identify promising candidate in the battle against antibiotic resistance
X-rays unveil new molecular structure details that will help researchers design novel drug therapies to address antibiotic resistant bacteria.
go.lbl.gov
September 19, 2025 at 5:14 PM
To advance the fight against antibiotic resistance, a team led by @fraserlab.com developed a compound that could help restore the effectiveness of a class of antibiotics known as streptogramins. They used data collected at @als.lbl.gov & SSRL. #BioMBIB @berkeleylab.lbl.gov
go.lbl.gov/streptogramins
go.lbl.gov/streptogramins
We are chuffed to have 6 postdocs representing #TeamBioSci in the 8th annual @berkeleylab.lbl.gov Research SLAM tomorrow, Thurs Sept 18 @ 3 PM PDT! Lab staff can attend live on the Hill or tune in virtually and cast votes for the People's Choice Award. Everyone else, watch this space for updates!
September 17, 2025 at 6:02 PM
We are chuffed to have 6 postdocs representing #TeamBioSci in the 8th annual @berkeleylab.lbl.gov Research SLAM tomorrow, Thurs Sept 18 @ 3 PM PDT! Lab staff can attend live on the Hill or tune in virtually and cast votes for the People's Choice Award. Everyone else, watch this space for updates!
Congratulations to #BioMBIB faculty scientist Susan Marqusee, who was named to The Protein Society's inaugural Fellows class. Susan is a professor of biochemistry, biophysics and structural biology @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social and Director of @qb3-berkeley.bsky.social .
September 16, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Congratulations to #BioMBIB faculty scientist Susan Marqusee, who was named to The Protein Society's inaugural Fellows class. Susan is a professor of biochemistry, biophysics and structural biology @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social and Director of @qb3-berkeley.bsky.social .
Hira Lesea lived many lives—from punk rocker to retreat chef—before becoming a sr. research associate in #BioEGSB. These days, she's into cultivating a sense of collaborative creativity, both in her work @berkeleylab.lbl.gov and in her personal life. Read her story: go.lbl.gov/lesea #TeamBioSci
September 15, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Hira Lesea lived many lives—from punk rocker to retreat chef—before becoming a sr. research associate in #BioEGSB. These days, she's into cultivating a sense of collaborative creativity, both in her work @berkeleylab.lbl.gov and in her personal life. Read her story: go.lbl.gov/lesea #TeamBioSci
Reposted by Biosciences Area at Berkeley Lab
Hiding in plain sight - how close are we to mapping ALL 🧬enhancers🧬 in the genome?
Our new paper by Mannion et al. takes a systematic look at "hidden enhancers" and why they remain so hard to find. With @mosterwalder.bsky.social, @jlopezrios.bsky.social & many more
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Our new paper by Mannion et al. takes a systematic look at "hidden enhancers" and why they remain so hard to find. With @mosterwalder.bsky.social, @jlopezrios.bsky.social & many more
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
August 8, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Hiding in plain sight - how close are we to mapping ALL 🧬enhancers🧬 in the genome?
Our new paper by Mannion et al. takes a systematic look at "hidden enhancers" and why they remain so hard to find. With @mosterwalder.bsky.social, @jlopezrios.bsky.social & many more
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Our new paper by Mannion et al. takes a systematic look at "hidden enhancers" and why they remain so hard to find. With @mosterwalder.bsky.social, @jlopezrios.bsky.social & many more
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Biosciences Area at Berkeley Lab
Setsuko Wakao of @berkeleylab.lbl.gov will map how diatoms, which produce intricate glass-like cell walls that could inspire new biomaterials, regulate biomineralization processes by identifying genes and regulatory proteins controlling silica formation.
jointgeno.me/FY25FG
jointgeno.me/FY25FG
September 4, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Setsuko Wakao of @berkeleylab.lbl.gov will map how diatoms, which produce intricate glass-like cell walls that could inspire new biomaterials, regulate biomineralization processes by identifying genes and regulatory proteins controlling silica formation.
jointgeno.me/FY25FG
jointgeno.me/FY25FG
A team at Indiana University, Bloomington, used beamline 8.2.2 @als.lbl.gov to perform x-ray protein crystallography to resolve the structure of the RNA cloverleaf-protein complex, which plays a critical role in viral replication.
👉 go.lbl.gov/cloverleaf
👉 go.lbl.gov/cloverleaf
September 4, 2025 at 6:02 PM
A team at Indiana University, Bloomington, used beamline 8.2.2 @als.lbl.gov to perform x-ray protein crystallography to resolve the structure of the RNA cloverleaf-protein complex, which plays a critical role in viral replication.
👉 go.lbl.gov/cloverleaf
👉 go.lbl.gov/cloverleaf
We are hiring! Come join #TeamBioSci and help us bring science solutions to the world @berkeleylab.lbl.gov.
Kanupriya Pande's group in #BioMBIB has an opening for a Computational Postdoctoral Fellow (cryo-EM).
https://lbl.taleo.net/careersection/2/jobdetail.ftl?job=104578
Kanupriya Pande's group in #BioMBIB has an opening for a Computational Postdoctoral Fellow (cryo-EM).
https://lbl.taleo.net/careersection/2/jobdetail.ftl?job=104578
September 3, 2025 at 6:02 PM
We are hiring! Come join #TeamBioSci and help us bring science solutions to the world @berkeleylab.lbl.gov.
Kanupriya Pande's group in #BioMBIB has an opening for a Computational Postdoctoral Fellow (cryo-EM).
https://lbl.taleo.net/careersection/2/jobdetail.ftl?job=104578
Kanupriya Pande's group in #BioMBIB has an opening for a Computational Postdoctoral Fellow (cryo-EM).
https://lbl.taleo.net/careersection/2/jobdetail.ftl?job=104578
Researchers @scripps.edu used the BCSB macromolecular crystallography beamline 5.0.2 @als.lbl.gov to characterize a protein from a modern shark gene that explains the evolution of the adaptive immune system shared by all vertebrates. #BioMBIB
🦈 go.lbl.gov/bcsb-shark
🦈 go.lbl.gov/bcsb-shark
September 2, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Researchers @scripps.edu used the BCSB macromolecular crystallography beamline 5.0.2 @als.lbl.gov to characterize a protein from a modern shark gene that explains the evolution of the adaptive immune system shared by all vertebrates. #BioMBIB
🦈 go.lbl.gov/bcsb-shark
🦈 go.lbl.gov/bcsb-shark
Congratulations to the SIBYLS beamline team on being recognized with the 2025 Klaus Halbach Award for Innovative Instrumentation for pioneering the development of time-resolved, high-throughput, small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) for collection of data from biological samples @als.lbl.gov.
August 28, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Congratulations to the SIBYLS beamline team on being recognized with the 2025 Klaus Halbach Award for Innovative Instrumentation for pioneering the development of time-resolved, high-throughput, small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) for collection of data from biological samples @als.lbl.gov.
A study led by #BioBSE researchers sheds light on the risks cosmic rays pose to the behavioral health of astronauts. The results suggest a paradigm shift away from DNA as the target for damage by certain light ions, which abound in outer space.
Read more: go.lbl.gov/ure3ga
Read more: go.lbl.gov/ure3ga
August 25, 2025 at 6:02 PM
A study led by #BioBSE researchers sheds light on the risks cosmic rays pose to the behavioral health of astronauts. The results suggest a paradigm shift away from DNA as the target for damage by certain light ions, which abound in outer space.
Read more: go.lbl.gov/ure3ga
Read more: go.lbl.gov/ure3ga
#BioEGSB's @pcronald.bsky.social received the President’s Award for Advancement of Common Good from @stanford.edu for her research on environmental stress resilience in rice, which led to the development of flood-tolerant rice now grown by +6M farmers in SE Asia. https://go.lbl.gov/ronald-stanford
August 21, 2025 at 6:03 PM
#BioEGSB's @pcronald.bsky.social received the President’s Award for Advancement of Common Good from @stanford.edu for her research on environmental stress resilience in rice, which led to the development of flood-tolerant rice now grown by +6M farmers in SE Asia. https://go.lbl.gov/ronald-stanford
#BioMBIB faculty scientist Markita Landry's lab @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social developed a novel nanosensor for #oxytocin that was recently used in a collaboration with Cal colleague Annaliese Beery's lab to show that the "love hormone" is important for friendships, too. go.lbl.gov/oxytocin
Is the 'love hormone,' oxytocin, also the 'friendship hormone'? - Berkeley News
A UC Berkeley study found that social prairie voles lacking the receptor for oxytocin are slow to form friendships and less aggressive toward unfamiliar peers. This suggests a role for oxytocin in bot...
go.lbl.gov
August 20, 2025 at 8:40 PM
#BioMBIB faculty scientist Markita Landry's lab @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social developed a novel nanosensor for #oxytocin that was recently used in a collaboration with Cal colleague Annaliese Beery's lab to show that the "love hormone" is important for friendships, too. go.lbl.gov/oxytocin
Reposted by Biosciences Area at Berkeley Lab
Improvements to DAP-seq technology enable it to handle larger genomes and could expand opportunities for bioenergy and bioengineering applications—via multiplexed assays and data integration with single-cell gene expression maps.
Full story: jgi.doe.gov/user-science...
@axelvisel.bsky.social 🖥️🧬 🌱
Full story: jgi.doe.gov/user-science...
@axelvisel.bsky.social 🖥️🧬 🌱
DAP-seq Drives Robust Mapping of Gene Regulation | Joint Genome Institute
Multi-species assays yield an unprecedented view of plant evolution and adaptation.
jgi.doe.gov
August 14, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Improvements to DAP-seq technology enable it to handle larger genomes and could expand opportunities for bioenergy and bioengineering applications—via multiplexed assays and data integration with single-cell gene expression maps.
Full story: jgi.doe.gov/user-science...
@axelvisel.bsky.social 🖥️🧬 🌱
Full story: jgi.doe.gov/user-science...
@axelvisel.bsky.social 🖥️🧬 🌱
A team led by scientists @ucdavis.bsky.social, that included Daniil Prigozhin of #BioMBIB, used AI to help plants recognize a wider range of bacterial threats. The approach may lead to new ways to protect crops like tomatoes and potatoes from devastating diseases. go.lbl.gov/plant-immune-upgrade
August 7, 2025 at 8:47 PM
A team led by scientists @ucdavis.bsky.social, that included Daniil Prigozhin of #BioMBIB, used AI to help plants recognize a wider range of bacterial threats. The approach may lead to new ways to protect crops like tomatoes and potatoes from devastating diseases. go.lbl.gov/plant-immune-upgrade
Congratulations to @jenniferdoudna.bsky.social on being the 2026 recipient of the @acs.org's Priestley Medal! Doudna was recognized for her high-impact discoveries on #RNA molecules with enzymatic functions, including the development of #CRISPR 🧬 ✂️.
More 👉 go.lbl.gov/doudna-priestly
📷 Glenn Ramit
More 👉 go.lbl.gov/doudna-priestly
📷 Glenn Ramit
August 6, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Congratulations to @jenniferdoudna.bsky.social on being the 2026 recipient of the @acs.org's Priestley Medal! Doudna was recognized for her high-impact discoveries on #RNA molecules with enzymatic functions, including the development of #CRISPR 🧬 ✂️.
More 👉 go.lbl.gov/doudna-priestly
📷 Glenn Ramit
More 👉 go.lbl.gov/doudna-priestly
📷 Glenn Ramit
Ruiwen Hu, a postdoc in #BioEGSB, attended #LiNo25 in #Chemistry as part of the UC President’s annual fellowship program. The event “offered a rare opportunity to engage directly with some of the world’s foremost scientific minds," including Nobel Laureate Moungi Bawendi (pictured with Hu).
August 5, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Ruiwen Hu, a postdoc in #BioEGSB, attended #LiNo25 in #Chemistry as part of the UC President’s annual fellowship program. The event “offered a rare opportunity to engage directly with some of the world’s foremost scientific minds," including Nobel Laureate Moungi Bawendi (pictured with Hu).
Take a few minutes to watch @jgi.doe.gov postdoc Yumary Vasquez talk abt "going viral" in a BIG way at the National Lab SLAM last March. Learn how infections from giant viruses can impact our water, air, soil, even the gut microbiome!
youtu.be/vDgS4gGUwvE?...
#FlashbackFriday @berkeleylab.lbl.gov
youtu.be/vDgS4gGUwvE?...
#FlashbackFriday @berkeleylab.lbl.gov
Yumary Vasquez - "These viruses are going viral (and protecting our ecosystems, too!)"
YouTube video by National Lab SLAM
youtu.be
August 1, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Take a few minutes to watch @jgi.doe.gov postdoc Yumary Vasquez talk abt "going viral" in a BIG way at the National Lab SLAM last March. Learn how infections from giant viruses can impact our water, air, soil, even the gut microbiome!
youtu.be/vDgS4gGUwvE?...
#FlashbackFriday @berkeleylab.lbl.gov
youtu.be/vDgS4gGUwvE?...
#FlashbackFriday @berkeleylab.lbl.gov
It's fascinating to watch the @berkeleylab.lbl.gov riggers at work in the @als.lbl.gov!
See our incredible rigging team in action at the @als.lbl.gov! More about roof blocks here: physicalsciences.lbl.gov/2025/07/28/a...
Video: Thor Swift, Berkeley Lab
Video: Thor Swift, Berkeley Lab
August 1, 2025 at 5:50 PM
It's fascinating to watch the @berkeleylab.lbl.gov riggers at work in the @als.lbl.gov!
Join #TeamBioSci & help us bring science solutions to the world at @berkeleylab.lbl.gov!
We are #hiring an Advanced Analysis Manager & Research Associate Principal at @jgi.doe.gov, DevOps Software Engineer at @kbase.us & a computational postdoc for #cryoEM in #BioMBIB.
go.lbl.gov/bioscijobs
We are #hiring an Advanced Analysis Manager & Research Associate Principal at @jgi.doe.gov, DevOps Software Engineer at @kbase.us & a computational postdoc for #cryoEM in #BioMBIB.
go.lbl.gov/bioscijobs
July 30, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Join #TeamBioSci & help us bring science solutions to the world at @berkeleylab.lbl.gov!
We are #hiring an Advanced Analysis Manager & Research Associate Principal at @jgi.doe.gov, DevOps Software Engineer at @kbase.us & a computational postdoc for #cryoEM in #BioMBIB.
go.lbl.gov/bioscijobs
We are #hiring an Advanced Analysis Manager & Research Associate Principal at @jgi.doe.gov, DevOps Software Engineer at @kbase.us & a computational postdoc for #cryoEM in #BioMBIB.
go.lbl.gov/bioscijobs
Reposted by Biosciences Area at Berkeley Lab
This week on the pod 🔊
🌊 The deepest ecosystem ever discovered
🦠 How infections could awaken dormant cancer
go.nature.com/4mngShS
🌊 The deepest ecosystem ever discovered
🦠 How infections could awaken dormant cancer
go.nature.com/4mngShS
Earth's deepest ecosystem discovered six miles below the sea
Hear the biggest stories from the world of science | 30 July 2025
go.nature.com
July 30, 2025 at 3:26 PM
This week on the pod 🔊
🌊 The deepest ecosystem ever discovered
🦠 How infections could awaken dormant cancer
go.nature.com/4mngShS
🌊 The deepest ecosystem ever discovered
🦠 How infections could awaken dormant cancer
go.nature.com/4mngShS
Researchers from Novartis Biomedical Research used a #BioMBIB -run beamline at the @als.lbl.gov to confirm the structure of an engineered immune system protein that could open new opportunities to treat inflammatory bowel disease.
go.lbl.gov/atg38j
#IBD #AcceleratingScience @berkeleylab.lbl.gov
go.lbl.gov/atg38j
#IBD #AcceleratingScience @berkeleylab.lbl.gov
July 29, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Researchers from Novartis Biomedical Research used a #BioMBIB -run beamline at the @als.lbl.gov to confirm the structure of an engineered immune system protein that could open new opportunities to treat inflammatory bowel disease.
go.lbl.gov/atg38j
#IBD #AcceleratingScience @berkeleylab.lbl.gov
go.lbl.gov/atg38j
#IBD #AcceleratingScience @berkeleylab.lbl.gov