John Mason
@johnomason.bsky.social
Professor at University of Edinburgh using stem cells and organoids to understand human brain development and neurodevelopmental disorders including ASDs.
Dramatic clouds at sunset this evening
October 21, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Dramatic clouds at sunset this evening
Reposted by John Mason
Interested in the mechanisms of neurogenesis, and how they might converge/differ across species, regions, and life epochs? Check this out, wonderful location and great science! Please RT
neuro-unige.ch/news/csf-mee...
neuro-unige.ch/news/csf-mee...
October 5, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Interested in the mechanisms of neurogenesis, and how they might converge/differ across species, regions, and life epochs? Check this out, wonderful location and great science! Please RT
neuro-unige.ch/news/csf-mee...
neuro-unige.ch/news/csf-mee...
Reposted by John Mason
If you’re applying to your dream lab for an internship/PhD/postdoc, always send a second email 1-2 weeks after the first one if you don’t hear back.
I promise we will be grateful rather than annoyed. My email inbox is a disaster and I’m quite junior - and very few of us have secretarial support
I promise we will be grateful rather than annoyed. My email inbox is a disaster and I’m quite junior - and very few of us have secretarial support
October 4, 2025 at 5:47 AM
If you’re applying to your dream lab for an internship/PhD/postdoc, always send a second email 1-2 weeks after the first one if you don’t hear back.
I promise we will be grateful rather than annoyed. My email inbox is a disaster and I’m quite junior - and very few of us have secretarial support
I promise we will be grateful rather than annoyed. My email inbox is a disaster and I’m quite junior - and very few of us have secretarial support
Reposted by John Mason
Hot off the press!
Cell-type-specific functionality encoded within the intrinsically disordered regions of OCT4
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Cell-type-specific functionality encoded within the intrinsically disordered regions of OCT4
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Cell-type-specific functionality encoded within the intrinsically disordered regions of OCT4 - Nature Communications
Here they perform a systematic dissection of OCT4 and reveal how intrinsically disordered regions can be used to serve specific functions during reprogramming and embryonic development. This can be exploited to engineer more efficient and specific reprogramming factors.
www.nature.com
September 30, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Hot off the press!
Cell-type-specific functionality encoded within the intrinsically disordered regions of OCT4
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Cell-type-specific functionality encoded within the intrinsically disordered regions of OCT4
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by John Mason
This moment from our latest episode with science writer @edyong209.bsky.social is 🔥
We asked Ed — how do we talk up the benefits of science in the face of government cuts? He told us that's the wrong approach. 🧪
Listen wherever, or watch on Spotify 👇
open.spotify.com/episode/7Evh...
We asked Ed — how do we talk up the benefits of science in the face of government cuts? He told us that's the wrong approach. 🧪
Listen wherever, or watch on Spotify 👇
open.spotify.com/episode/7Evh...
October 1, 2025 at 2:56 PM
This moment from our latest episode with science writer @edyong209.bsky.social is 🔥
We asked Ed — how do we talk up the benefits of science in the face of government cuts? He told us that's the wrong approach. 🧪
Listen wherever, or watch on Spotify 👇
open.spotify.com/episode/7Evh...
We asked Ed — how do we talk up the benefits of science in the face of government cuts? He told us that's the wrong approach. 🧪
Listen wherever, or watch on Spotify 👇
open.spotify.com/episode/7Evh...
Reposted by John Mason
This is good on the extraordinary alienation that has now grown up in academia. The gap between the values of lecturers and the universities that employ them are now a huge unbridgeable chasm. One stands for education, the other institutional self-interest. blog.matthewbarnard.phd/a-world-with...
A world without experts: alienation in academia
Thoughts on the level of alienation in academic work, and how as much as we cannot exit the economy, we must recognise the inherent value of academia.
blog.matthewbarnard.phd
August 27, 2025 at 6:20 PM
This is good on the extraordinary alienation that has now grown up in academia. The gap between the values of lecturers and the universities that employ them are now a huge unbridgeable chasm. One stands for education, the other institutional self-interest. blog.matthewbarnard.phd/a-world-with...
Reposted by John Mason
We are incredibly honored to receive continued support from the Simons Foundation in our mission to uncover the biological mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental disorders
Meet the Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain: a center devoted to deconstructing the secrets of neurodevelopmental disorders and the developing brain. Read more: annualreports.simonsfoundation.org/2024/scottis... #science #neuroscience
Scottish Neuroscience Initiative Takes Basic Science From Lab to Clinic
The Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain aims to discover biological mechanisms underlying autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders and to use that information to deliver therapeutic…
annualreports.simonsfoundation.org
August 14, 2025 at 11:30 AM
We are incredibly honored to receive continued support from the Simons Foundation in our mission to uncover the biological mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental disorders
Reposted by John Mason
Big boost for autism research: The Simons Foundation has pledged up to £40m to study brain development and neurodevelopmental disorders with the aim of finding new treatments for conditions such as Fragile X syndrome and SYNGAP1-related disorders.
edin.ac/454Gqt4
@sidb-edinburgh.bsky.social
edin.ac/454Gqt4
@sidb-edinburgh.bsky.social
July 24, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Big boost for autism research: The Simons Foundation has pledged up to £40m to study brain development and neurodevelopmental disorders with the aim of finding new treatments for conditions such as Fragile X syndrome and SYNGAP1-related disorders.
edin.ac/454Gqt4
@sidb-edinburgh.bsky.social
edin.ac/454Gqt4
@sidb-edinburgh.bsky.social
Reposted by John Mason
Interested in developmental epigenetics? So are we! Apply now to join us for your postdoc!
Multiple positions across multiple groups @mrc-lms.bsky.social
Projects spanning germline demethylation, gene regulation, genome architecture in development & disease 👇👇
lms.mrc.ac.uk/work/vacanci...
Multiple positions across multiple groups @mrc-lms.bsky.social
Projects spanning germline demethylation, gene regulation, genome architecture in development & disease 👇👇
lms.mrc.ac.uk/work/vacanci...
MRC Postdoctoral Research Scientists x 5 - MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences
Applications are now open for up to five postdoctoral positions in the area of developmental epigenetics.
lms.mrc.ac.uk
July 14, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Interested in developmental epigenetics? So are we! Apply now to join us for your postdoc!
Multiple positions across multiple groups @mrc-lms.bsky.social
Projects spanning germline demethylation, gene regulation, genome architecture in development & disease 👇👇
lms.mrc.ac.uk/work/vacanci...
Multiple positions across multiple groups @mrc-lms.bsky.social
Projects spanning germline demethylation, gene regulation, genome architecture in development & disease 👇👇
lms.mrc.ac.uk/work/vacanci...
Reposted by John Mason
Advance your career with the Anatomical Sciences Programme at the University of Edinburgh.
Study online, enjoy flexible learning, and gain hands-on experience at summer workshops. Applications for September 2025 are open!
Study online, enjoy flexible learning, and gain hands-on experience at summer workshops. Applications for September 2025 are open!
June 10, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Advance your career with the Anatomical Sciences Programme at the University of Edinburgh.
Study online, enjoy flexible learning, and gain hands-on experience at summer workshops. Applications for September 2025 are open!
Study online, enjoy flexible learning, and gain hands-on experience at summer workshops. Applications for September 2025 are open!
Reposted by John Mason
#NextGenSci asked young scientists to write a rule that all principal investigators should be required to follow to improve the experience of young scientists in their lab.
Check out their answers on #NationalHigherEducationDay: scim.ag/45zsFEr
Check out their answers on #NationalHigherEducationDay: scim.ag/45zsFEr
June 6, 2025 at 6:56 PM
#NextGenSci asked young scientists to write a rule that all principal investigators should be required to follow to improve the experience of young scientists in their lab.
Check out their answers on #NationalHigherEducationDay: scim.ag/45zsFEr
Check out their answers on #NationalHigherEducationDay: scim.ag/45zsFEr
Reposted by John Mason
Our latest "Dynamic Landscape Analysis of Cell Fate Decisions: Predictive Models of Neural Development From Single-Cell Data"
A rigorous mathematical foundation for Waddington's landscape to study cell fate decision making
Applied to ventral neural tube development
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
A rigorous mathematical foundation for Waddington's landscape to study cell fate decision making
Applied to ventral neural tube development
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Dynamic Landscape Analysis of Cell Fate Decisions: Predictive Models of Neural Development From Single-Cell Data
Building a mechanistic understanding of cell fate decisions remains a fundamental goal of developmental biology, with implications for stem cell therapies, regenerative medicine and understanding dise...
www.biorxiv.org
May 29, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Our latest "Dynamic Landscape Analysis of Cell Fate Decisions: Predictive Models of Neural Development From Single-Cell Data"
A rigorous mathematical foundation for Waddington's landscape to study cell fate decision making
Applied to ventral neural tube development
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
A rigorous mathematical foundation for Waddington's landscape to study cell fate decision making
Applied to ventral neural tube development
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Annual ‘Genes & Development’ group retreat to Edinburgh University’s outdoor field centre Firbush on the shore of Loch Tay. Best weather ever!
May 27, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Annual ‘Genes & Development’ group retreat to Edinburgh University’s outdoor field centre Firbush on the shore of Loch Tay. Best weather ever!
Reposted by John Mason
It was a pleasure to visit St Andrews to deliver a TEDx talk! www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJME...
The Neuroscience of Defeating Dementia | Prof Tara Spires-Jones | TEDxUniversityofStAndrews
YouTube video by TEDx Talks
www.youtube.com
April 23, 2025 at 2:35 PM
It was a pleasure to visit St Andrews to deliver a TEDx talk! www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJME...
Lovely gift all the way from Sarawak ☕️😋
March 31, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Lovely gift all the way from Sarawak ☕️😋
Feeling old today - 40th anniversary of my first ever paper being accepted
March 31, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Feeling old today - 40th anniversary of my first ever paper being accepted
Reposted by John Mason
📢 We are hiring! 📢
We are looking for a postdoc to help us work out why mice cannot regenerate the spinal cord but spiny mice *can*.
More info and how to apply: tinyurl.com/4m6yzbef
Get in touch if interested!
We are looking for a postdoc to help us work out why mice cannot regenerate the spinal cord but spiny mice *can*.
More info and how to apply: tinyurl.com/4m6yzbef
Get in touch if interested!
Postdoctoral Research Associate
We are looking for a Postdoctoral Research Associate to join our group at the Centre for Regenerative Medicine (CRM) and the Institute for Regeneration and Repair (IRR), The University of Edinburgh.
tinyurl.com
March 5, 2025 at 6:36 PM
📢 We are hiring! 📢
We are looking for a postdoc to help us work out why mice cannot regenerate the spinal cord but spiny mice *can*.
More info and how to apply: tinyurl.com/4m6yzbef
Get in touch if interested!
We are looking for a postdoc to help us work out why mice cannot regenerate the spinal cord but spiny mice *can*.
More info and how to apply: tinyurl.com/4m6yzbef
Get in touch if interested!
Reposted by John Mason
Two Weeks In The Death Spiral Of Cardiff University, by an anonymous academic.
This is truly shocking read.
The Cardiff executive board should hang their heads in shame.
voice.cymru/two-weeks-in...
This is truly shocking read.
The Cardiff executive board should hang their heads in shame.
voice.cymru/two-weeks-in...
Two Weeks In The Death Spiral Of Cardiff University -
Reading Time: 4 minutesBy an anonymous academic. Cover image by Adwitiya Pal On the second day of classes…
voice.cymru
February 21, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Two Weeks In The Death Spiral Of Cardiff University, by an anonymous academic.
This is truly shocking read.
The Cardiff executive board should hang their heads in shame.
voice.cymru/two-weeks-in...
This is truly shocking read.
The Cardiff executive board should hang their heads in shame.
voice.cymru/two-weeks-in...
Reposted by John Mason
New preprint out from the lab, check out thread below!
✨ We tend to think of species-specific differences as resulting from the presence of species-specific genes. In our latest work with @djabaudon.bsky.social, we show that building brains is not only about which genes you use, but also about when and where you do.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
February 20, 2025 at 8:55 AM
New preprint out from the lab, check out thread below!
Reposted by John Mason
The 2025 Stem Cell Summer School! We get outstanding feedback each year & should probably update our testimonials page 🙃
www.stemcellsummerschool.org/testimonials
This is an advanced course for experienced PhD students (2nd yr & up), postdocs & Junior PIs
It will be great.
Please spread the word
www.stemcellsummerschool.org/testimonials
This is an advanced course for experienced PhD students (2nd yr & up), postdocs & Junior PIs
It will be great.
Please spread the word
February 12, 2025 at 9:01 AM
The 2025 Stem Cell Summer School! We get outstanding feedback each year & should probably update our testimonials page 🙃
www.stemcellsummerschool.org/testimonials
This is an advanced course for experienced PhD students (2nd yr & up), postdocs & Junior PIs
It will be great.
Please spread the word
www.stemcellsummerschool.org/testimonials
This is an advanced course for experienced PhD students (2nd yr & up), postdocs & Junior PIs
It will be great.
Please spread the word
Reposted by John Mason
🧠Job Opening!🧠
We are opening 2️⃣! positions
– bioinformatics / molecular biology –
in a project studying how temporal patterns set up connectivity in human brain tissue.
@institutimagine.bsky.social.
Full details below, contact me for details if interested.
And please retweet (re-bluesky?)!
We are opening 2️⃣! positions
– bioinformatics / molecular biology –
in a project studying how temporal patterns set up connectivity in human brain tissue.
@institutimagine.bsky.social.
Full details below, contact me for details if interested.
And please retweet (re-bluesky?)!
February 2, 2025 at 9:27 AM
🧠Job Opening!🧠
We are opening 2️⃣! positions
– bioinformatics / molecular biology –
in a project studying how temporal patterns set up connectivity in human brain tissue.
@institutimagine.bsky.social.
Full details below, contact me for details if interested.
And please retweet (re-bluesky?)!
We are opening 2️⃣! positions
– bioinformatics / molecular biology –
in a project studying how temporal patterns set up connectivity in human brain tissue.
@institutimagine.bsky.social.
Full details below, contact me for details if interested.
And please retweet (re-bluesky?)!
Reposted by John Mason
Join us at the BNA Festival of Neuroscience! Researchers Rebecca Jordan, Danai Katsanevaki, Matt Jones & Oliver Hardt will share their latest work, with a focus on how genetic changes in neurodevelopmental conditions affect brain function, behaviour & cognition.
@beckyjordan.bsky.social
@beckyjordan.bsky.social
January 30, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Join us at the BNA Festival of Neuroscience! Researchers Rebecca Jordan, Danai Katsanevaki, Matt Jones & Oliver Hardt will share their latest work, with a focus on how genetic changes in neurodevelopmental conditions affect brain function, behaviour & cognition.
@beckyjordan.bsky.social
@beckyjordan.bsky.social
Reposted by John Mason
Trump has ordered the National Institutes of Health to cancel their review panels on cancer research.
“The impact of [Trump’s] collective executive orders appears devastating,” one senior NIH employee says.
“The impact of [Trump’s] collective executive orders appears devastating,” one senior NIH employee says.
Trump hits NIH with ‘devastating’ freezes on meetings, travel, communications, and hiring
Researchers facing
www.science.org
January 23, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Trump has ordered the National Institutes of Health to cancel their review panels on cancer research.
“The impact of [Trump’s] collective executive orders appears devastating,” one senior NIH employee says.
“The impact of [Trump’s] collective executive orders appears devastating,” one senior NIH employee says.
Reposted by John Mason
Neurons, astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocytes, blood brain barrier, organoids, chips... we've got it all covered! 🧠
Check out our full list of speakers (and register to come see them) at scmnd.com!
#iPSC #neuroscience #neurodegeneration #organoid #stemcells
Check out our full list of speakers (and register to come see them) at scmnd.com!
#iPSC #neuroscience #neurodegeneration #organoid #stemcells
January 16, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Neurons, astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocytes, blood brain barrier, organoids, chips... we've got it all covered! 🧠
Check out our full list of speakers (and register to come see them) at scmnd.com!
#iPSC #neuroscience #neurodegeneration #organoid #stemcells
Check out our full list of speakers (and register to come see them) at scmnd.com!
#iPSC #neuroscience #neurodegeneration #organoid #stemcells