David Brückner
@davidbrueckner.bsky.social
Assistant Professor @biozentrum.unibas.ch • Theoretical biophysics • Postdoc ISTAustria, PhD LMU Munich, MSc Cambridge University
www.biozentrum.unibas.ch/brueckner
www.biozentrum.unibas.ch/brueckner
Pinned
Why do some cells become neurons and others muscle?
Physicist Prof. David Brückner @davidbrueckner.bsky.social @biozentrum.unibas.ch @unibas.ch receives a prestigious #ERCStartingGrant to uncover how cells make life-shaping decisions. @erc.europa.eu
www.biozentrum.unibas.ch/news/detail/...
Physicist Prof. David Brückner @davidbrueckner.bsky.social @biozentrum.unibas.ch @unibas.ch receives a prestigious #ERCStartingGrant to uncover how cells make life-shaping decisions. @erc.europa.eu
www.biozentrum.unibas.ch/news/detail/...
ERC Starting Grant for Physicist David Brückner
How do cells decide which role to take on in the body? Prof. David Brückner from the Biozentrum of the University of Basel is investigating this and similar questions. Over the next five years, a Star...
www.biozentrum.unibas.ch
Super excited that our group will be supported by an ERC Starting Grant!
In project "InfoFate" we will study how cells use information in dynamical, neighborhood & mechanical signals to make decisions.
We'll have PhD and Postdoc positions available, please get in touch if interested!
In project "InfoFate" we will study how cells use information in dynamical, neighborhood & mechanical signals to make decisions.
We'll have PhD and Postdoc positions available, please get in touch if interested!
Reposted by David Brückner
🌍Open call: Junior Group Leader positions!
Join a world-class biomedical research institute at the heart of the Vienna BioCenter, where curiosity drives discovery.
Lead your own lab, pursue bold ideas, and shape the future of science at the IMP: www.imp.ac.at/career/open-...
Join a world-class biomedical research institute at the heart of the Vienna BioCenter, where curiosity drives discovery.
Lead your own lab, pursue bold ideas, and shape the future of science at the IMP: www.imp.ac.at/career/open-...
November 10, 2025 at 1:26 PM
🌍Open call: Junior Group Leader positions!
Join a world-class biomedical research institute at the heart of the Vienna BioCenter, where curiosity drives discovery.
Lead your own lab, pursue bold ideas, and shape the future of science at the IMP: www.imp.ac.at/career/open-...
Join a world-class biomedical research institute at the heart of the Vienna BioCenter, where curiosity drives discovery.
Lead your own lab, pursue bold ideas, and shape the future of science at the IMP: www.imp.ac.at/career/open-...
Reposted by David Brückner
Jan Rozman, Sumesh P. Thampi, Julia M. Yeomans: Why Extensile and Contractile Tissues Could be Hard to Tell Apart https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.07012 https://arxiv.org/pdf/2511.07012 https://arxiv.org/html/2511.07012
November 11, 2025 at 6:43 AM
Jan Rozman, Sumesh P. Thampi, Julia M. Yeomans: Why Extensile and Contractile Tissues Could be Hard to Tell Apart https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.07012 https://arxiv.org/pdf/2511.07012 https://arxiv.org/html/2511.07012
Reposted by David Brückner
Switzerland is joining Horizon Europe!
We are uniting two research powerhouses.
For cutting-edge innovation that will boost our energy security, digital transformation, health and so much more.
Today is a good day for science, and for our EU-Switzerland partnership.
We are uniting two research powerhouses.
For cutting-edge innovation that will boost our energy security, digital transformation, health and so much more.
Today is a good day for science, and for our EU-Switzerland partnership.
November 10, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Switzerland is joining Horizon Europe!
We are uniting two research powerhouses.
For cutting-edge innovation that will boost our energy security, digital transformation, health and so much more.
Today is a good day for science, and for our EU-Switzerland partnership.
We are uniting two research powerhouses.
For cutting-edge innovation that will boost our energy security, digital transformation, health and so much more.
Today is a good day for science, and for our EU-Switzerland partnership.
Reposted by David Brückner
Brückner, D. B., & Tkačik, G. (2024). Information content and optimization of self-organized developmental systems. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, #EpithelialMechanics www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
November 10, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Brückner, D. B., & Tkačik, G. (2024). Information content and optimization of self-organized developmental systems. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, #EpithelialMechanics www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
How can we organize current theoretical approaches for developmental biology - from information to dynamical systems & GRNs - into a common framework?
We propose to think along Marr's 3 levels: computational problem, algorithm, implementation
Check out our review:
arxiv.org/abs/2510.24536
We propose to think along Marr's 3 levels: computational problem, algorithm, implementation
Check out our review:
arxiv.org/abs/2510.24536
November 10, 2025 at 6:46 AM
How can we organize current theoretical approaches for developmental biology - from information to dynamical systems & GRNs - into a common framework?
We propose to think along Marr's 3 levels: computational problem, algorithm, implementation
Check out our review:
arxiv.org/abs/2510.24536
We propose to think along Marr's 3 levels: computational problem, algorithm, implementation
Check out our review:
arxiv.org/abs/2510.24536
Reposted by David Brückner
We finally made it over here ! And excited to share our new paper on mechanical forces regulating stem cell plasticity in colorectal cancer, involving force transduction via mechanosensitive calcium channels! www.cell.com/cell-reports...
Mechanosensitive calcium channels and integrins coordinate the reprogramming of colorectal cancer cells into a fetal-like state
van der Net et al. show that mechanical interactions with the stromal component collagen
I trigger reprogramming of colorectal cancer cells into a fetal-like state, through
mechanosensitive integrins ...
www.cell.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:33 PM
We finally made it over here ! And excited to share our new paper on mechanical forces regulating stem cell plasticity in colorectal cancer, involving force transduction via mechanosensitive calcium channels! www.cell.com/cell-reports...
Reposted by David Brückner
Epithelial convergent extension as a tuning process https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.06.687029v1
November 8, 2025 at 3:49 AM
Epithelial convergent extension as a tuning process https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.06.687029v1
Reposted by David Brückner
A lovely example of the interplay of morphogen dynamics, tissue mechanics, cell mechanics and signal transduction at the most crucial stage of embryogenesis. And a good example of why talk of development being "programmed" into the genome is simply the wrong language.
www.cell.com/cell-stem-ce...
www.cell.com/cell-stem-ce...
Crosstalk between tissue mechanics and BMP4 signaling regulates symmetry breaking in human gastrula models
Brivanlou and colleagues used optogenetics to spatially control BMP4 expression in
human stem cell models across different mechanical regimes. By combining these experiments
with mathematical modeling...
www.cell.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:56 PM
A lovely example of the interplay of morphogen dynamics, tissue mechanics, cell mechanics and signal transduction at the most crucial stage of embryogenesis. And a good example of why talk of development being "programmed" into the genome is simply the wrong language.
www.cell.com/cell-stem-ce...
www.cell.com/cell-stem-ce...
Excited to visit CRG & EMBL Barcelona tomorrow!
🧬 How do cells know what shape to take?
Join us ar at the Barcelona Collaboratorium to meet David Brückner (Biozentrum Basel) on information flow in self-organized developmental systems.
🗓️ 6 Nov – 10:00 CEST
Join us ar at the Barcelona Collaboratorium to meet David Brückner (Biozentrum Basel) on information flow in self-organized developmental systems.
🗓️ 6 Nov – 10:00 CEST
November 5, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Excited to visit CRG & EMBL Barcelona tomorrow!
Nice highlight by Joseph d’Alessandro & Mélina Heuzé on our recent paper about mechanical memory in migrating cells with @sgabriele.bsky.social and @kyohalie.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
‘Memory foam’ skeleton in cells helps them to navigate
Cells change shape to move efficiently in a range of spatial environments. This response can be informed by the cell’s memory of past deformation.
www.nature.com
November 4, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Nice highlight by Joseph d’Alessandro & Mélina Heuzé on our recent paper about mechanical memory in migrating cells with @sgabriele.bsky.social and @kyohalie.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by David Brückner
REMINDER! One week left to apply for what (in my humble and somewhat biased opinion) is one of the best academic jobs on the planet! Come join our vibrant and collaborative community here at the @biozentrum.unibas.ch @unibas.ch 🧪
EXCITING NEWS!! We're searching for a new professor colleague at the Biozentrum🇨🇭. Ideal candidates are exploring novel biological questions with structure, biophysics, or high-resolution imaging. 🧪 🧶🧬 🔬
The call closes Nov 3. Please get in touch if you would like more information. Come join us! 👩🔬🤓
The call closes Nov 3. Please get in touch if you would like more information. Come join us! 👩🔬🤓
October 27, 2025 at 12:52 PM
REMINDER! One week left to apply for what (in my humble and somewhat biased opinion) is one of the best academic jobs on the planet! Come join our vibrant and collaborative community here at the @biozentrum.unibas.ch @unibas.ch 🧪
Reposted by David Brückner
Your go-to tutorial for simulating mesoscale membranes is here. Look no further for:
-Understanding the state of the field
-A guide for creating new models for your science
-Hands-on tutorials to simulate your very own membranes
See tinyurl.com/punk3tcu and the below 🧵 start your journey 💻
-Understanding the state of the field
-A guide for creating new models for your science
-Hands-on tutorials to simulate your very own membranes
See tinyurl.com/punk3tcu and the below 🧵 start your journey 💻
October 22, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Your go-to tutorial for simulating mesoscale membranes is here. Look no further for:
-Understanding the state of the field
-A guide for creating new models for your science
-Hands-on tutorials to simulate your very own membranes
See tinyurl.com/punk3tcu and the below 🧵 start your journey 💻
-Understanding the state of the field
-A guide for creating new models for your science
-Hands-on tutorials to simulate your very own membranes
See tinyurl.com/punk3tcu and the below 🧵 start your journey 💻
Reposted by David Brückner
📣Announcing the 4th edition of the EMBL‑IBEC Conference on “Engineering Multicellular Systems”, taking place 11–13 March 2026 in Barcelona. Exploring organoids, mechanobiology, embryo models, organ-on-chip systems, multiomics and more. Abstracts open now!
events.ibecbarcelona.eu/embl-ibec-co...
events.ibecbarcelona.eu/embl-ibec-co...
October 22, 2025 at 2:06 PM
📣Announcing the 4th edition of the EMBL‑IBEC Conference on “Engineering Multicellular Systems”, taking place 11–13 March 2026 in Barcelona. Exploring organoids, mechanobiology, embryo models, organ-on-chip systems, multiomics and more. Abstracts open now!
events.ibecbarcelona.eu/embl-ibec-co...
events.ibecbarcelona.eu/embl-ibec-co...
🤔 Can tissue patterning & tumor heterogeneity emerge in a self-organized way?
We show that self-organized mechanical stress & density gradients pattern tumors in vitro & in vivo, and this behavior is quantitatively predicted by a mechano-chemical active fluid model!
Check out Carlos' thread ⬇️
We show that self-organized mechanical stress & density gradients pattern tumors in vitro & in vivo, and this behavior is quantitatively predicted by a mechano-chemical active fluid model!
Check out Carlos' thread ⬇️
1/ 🎉Excited to share our new preprint @vignjeviclab.bsky.social @davidbrueckner.bsky.social :
"Self-organization of tumor heterogeneity and plasticity"
biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Tumor heterogeneity and plasticity drive metastasis and relapse. How is tumor patterning coordinated?
A thread👇
"Self-organization of tumor heterogeneity and plasticity"
biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Tumor heterogeneity and plasticity drive metastasis and relapse. How is tumor patterning coordinated?
A thread👇
October 16, 2025 at 10:40 PM
🤔 Can tissue patterning & tumor heterogeneity emerge in a self-organized way?
We show that self-organized mechanical stress & density gradients pattern tumors in vitro & in vivo, and this behavior is quantitatively predicted by a mechano-chemical active fluid model!
Check out Carlos' thread ⬇️
We show that self-organized mechanical stress & density gradients pattern tumors in vitro & in vivo, and this behavior is quantitatively predicted by a mechano-chemical active fluid model!
Check out Carlos' thread ⬇️
Reposted by David Brückner
The @crick.ac.uk is recruiting Early Career Group Leaders
- Lab set-up, research costs, salaries for up to 5 researchers
- Support for up to 12 years
- Access to our core facilities
- Competitive salary
- Fantastic colleagues
- All areas of biology
Deadline 27 Nov
www.crick.ac.uk/careers-stud...
- Lab set-up, research costs, salaries for up to 5 researchers
- Support for up to 12 years
- Access to our core facilities
- Competitive salary
- Fantastic colleagues
- All areas of biology
Deadline 27 Nov
www.crick.ac.uk/careers-stud...
Early career group leaders
We appoint researchers from across biology and biomedicine to set up their first groups at the Crick.
www.crick.ac.uk
October 10, 2025 at 8:20 AM
The @crick.ac.uk is recruiting Early Career Group Leaders
- Lab set-up, research costs, salaries for up to 5 researchers
- Support for up to 12 years
- Access to our core facilities
- Competitive salary
- Fantastic colleagues
- All areas of biology
Deadline 27 Nov
www.crick.ac.uk/careers-stud...
- Lab set-up, research costs, salaries for up to 5 researchers
- Support for up to 12 years
- Access to our core facilities
- Competitive salary
- Fantastic colleagues
- All areas of biology
Deadline 27 Nov
www.crick.ac.uk/careers-stud...
Reposted by David Brückner
Appreciate Quanta for shining a light on our joint work with Simon Gsell, Sham Tlili (@shamtlili.bsky.social), and Matthias Merkel (@merkellab.bsky.social).
Biophysicists are realizing that there is an undervalued element at play in early development: Aside from genes, mechanical forces also steer the growth of embryos. @annademming.bsky.social reports: www.quantamagazine.org/genes-have-h...
Genes Have Harnessed Physics to Help Grow Living Things | Quanta Magazine
The same pulling force that causes “tears” in a glass of wine also shapes embryos. It’s another example of how genes exploit mechanical forces for growth and development.
www.quantamagazine.org
October 11, 2025 at 7:04 AM
Appreciate Quanta for shining a light on our joint work with Simon Gsell, Sham Tlili (@shamtlili.bsky.social), and Matthias Merkel (@merkellab.bsky.social).
Reposted by David Brückner
New preprint from the lab! We discovered a transient fluidization in the basal region of human forebrains by tracking microdroplets in cerebral organoids.This “basal fluidization”, absent in gorilla and mouse, may contribute to greater surface expansion in human forebrains
1/
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
1/
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
October 8, 2025 at 1:05 PM
New preprint from the lab! We discovered a transient fluidization in the basal region of human forebrains by tracking microdroplets in cerebral organoids.This “basal fluidization”, absent in gorilla and mouse, may contribute to greater surface expansion in human forebrains
1/
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
1/
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
Reposted by David Brückner
Pleasure to announce the program of my new series of lectures at the College de France in Nov-Dec. Continuing on the theme of Biological information. I will focus on the computational aspects, building on David Marr's tri-level of analysis in biological systems. YouTube link sent when it starts.
October 7, 2025 at 6:13 AM
Pleasure to announce the program of my new series of lectures at the College de France in Nov-Dec. Continuing on the theme of Biological information. I will focus on the computational aspects, building on David Marr's tri-level of analysis in biological systems. YouTube link sent when it starts.
Reposted by David Brückner
Our paper is on the cover of @cp-devcell.bsky.social . Image: embryonic murine salivary-gland explants stained for fate determinants; p63 (cyan) and HES1 (yellow). Thanks to everyone involved.
doi.org/10.1016/j.de...
doi.org/10.1016/j.de...
October 6, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Our paper is on the cover of @cp-devcell.bsky.social . Image: embryonic murine salivary-gland explants stained for fate determinants; p63 (cyan) and HES1 (yellow). Thanks to everyone involved.
doi.org/10.1016/j.de...
doi.org/10.1016/j.de...
Had a lot of fun at our first group retreat in Graubünden🇨🇭🏔️🌄
October 4, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Had a lot of fun at our first group retreat in Graubünden🇨🇭🏔️🌄
Reposted by David Brückner
New Review! #devbiol #bioelectricity #CellBiology #tissueregeneration
In our new @annualreviews.bsky.social piece, we explore how bioelectricity is generated, sensed & translated into responses that sculpt tissues, guide growth & enable tissue regeneration.
www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...
In our new @annualreviews.bsky.social piece, we explore how bioelectricity is generated, sensed & translated into responses that sculpt tissues, guide growth & enable tissue regeneration.
www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...
Bioelectricity in Morphogenesis
Bioelectricity is likely as old as life itself. From the moment the first proto-cell was enclosed in a lipid bilayer, a membrane potential arose. Thus, one can expect that bioelectrical activities inf...
www.annualreviews.org
October 2, 2025 at 8:14 PM
New Review! #devbiol #bioelectricity #CellBiology #tissueregeneration
In our new @annualreviews.bsky.social piece, we explore how bioelectricity is generated, sensed & translated into responses that sculpt tissues, guide growth & enable tissue regeneration.
www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...
In our new @annualreviews.bsky.social piece, we explore how bioelectricity is generated, sensed & translated into responses that sculpt tissues, guide growth & enable tissue regeneration.
www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...
Reposted by David Brückner
New job, new preprint! We found that embryo implantation can be understood as active wetting! Embryos from older mothers have trouble implanting because they are too contractile and viscous. Check out the wonderful thread (and movies!) by @katecavanaugh.bsky.social.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
October 2, 2025 at 8:04 AM
New job, new preprint! We found that embryo implantation can be understood as active wetting! Embryos from older mothers have trouble implanting because they are too contractile and viscous. Check out the wonderful thread (and movies!) by @katecavanaugh.bsky.social.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by David Brückner
Are you interested in a PhD in the area of "Mechanisms of translational control during embryogenesis?" Apply now for a PhD @mpi-cbg.de! Overview of all participating RGLs: imprs.mpi-cbg.de/5761/researc...
October 2, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Are you interested in a PhD in the area of "Mechanisms of translational control during embryogenesis?" Apply now for a PhD @mpi-cbg.de! Overview of all participating RGLs: imprs.mpi-cbg.de/5761/researc...
Reposted by David Brückner
If anyone ever wants to brush up on a lot of cell migration concepts don't forget we have several wonderful scientists who have given talks previously in cell migration seminars. I find it so comforting to go look at old videos, maybe someone else who will do as well!!
youtube.com/@cellmigrati...
youtube.com/@cellmigrati...
Cell Migration Seminars
Cell Migration Seminars every Tuesday at 16:00 BST.
youtube.com
September 29, 2025 at 1:48 AM
If anyone ever wants to brush up on a lot of cell migration concepts don't forget we have several wonderful scientists who have given talks previously in cell migration seminars. I find it so comforting to go look at old videos, maybe someone else who will do as well!!
youtube.com/@cellmigrati...
youtube.com/@cellmigrati...
Come join us in Basel! @biozentrum.unibas.ch is an amazing place to start your group.
Assistant/Associate Professor in Structural Biology, Biophysics or Biological Imaging
www.biozentrum.unibas.ch/open-positio...
#biozentrum #University #Basel #Professor #Structural #Biology #Biophysics #Biological #Imaging
www.biozentrum.unibas.ch/open-positio...
#biozentrum #University #Basel #Professor #Structural #Biology #Biophysics #Biological #Imaging
September 29, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Come join us in Basel! @biozentrum.unibas.ch is an amazing place to start your group.