Lucas Farnung
@lucas.farnunglab.com
Assistant Professor of Cell Biology at Harvard Medical School | HHMI Freeman Hrabowski Scholar | Nexus of chromatin, transcription, replication, and epigenetics. farnunglab.com
BenchAid🧪 is so great that we even decided to build our own ELN (called LabBook) that we will share with the community soon. LabBook combines ELN and lab registry to make many operations (like complex buffers for biochemical experiments) directly computable by BenchAid.
February 9, 2026 at 9:53 PM
BenchAid🧪 is so great that we even decided to build our own ELN (called LabBook) that we will share with the community soon. LabBook combines ELN and lab registry to make many operations (like complex buffers for biochemical experiments) directly computable by BenchAid.
Your data stays on your machine*. SQLite database, local files, no cloud dependency. Full control. (*Non-local models will still result in the data being shared with the agent provider.)
February 9, 2026 at 9:51 PM
Your data stays on your machine*. SQLite database, local files, no cloud dependency. Full control. (*Non-local models will still result in the data being shared with the agent provider.)
One example where BenchAid really excels is the automatic checking of @plasmidsaurus.bsky.social sequencing results early in the morning:
February 9, 2026 at 9:32 PM
One example where BenchAid really excels is the automatic checking of @plasmidsaurus.bsky.social sequencing results early in the morning:
🧪✨ Introducing BenchAid🧪! Our new molecular biology AI agent is live at benchaid.farnunglab.com. Over the last months, we built BenchAid🧪 to streamline many of our bench workflows to help move our lab faster. Try it out!
February 9, 2026 at 9:27 PM
🧪✨ Introducing BenchAid🧪! Our new molecular biology AI agent is live at benchaid.farnunglab.com. Over the last months, we built BenchAid🧪 to streamline many of our bench workflows to help move our lab faster. Try it out!
Reposted by Lucas Farnung
Happy to share part of my postdoctoral work at the @lucas.farnunglab.com lab. Great collaboration with @voslab.org and @andersshansen.bsky.social. “Structural basis for CTCF-mediated chromatin organization” www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
February 9, 2026 at 3:22 PM
Happy to share part of my postdoctoral work at the @lucas.farnunglab.com lab. Great collaboration with @voslab.org and @andersshansen.bsky.social. “Structural basis for CTCF-mediated chromatin organization” www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
If you like our story here, consider applying to our labs for your post-doc! We have exciting projects ranging from transcription and DNA replication to genome organization and chromatin remodeling (and even lab automation and agentic molecular biology AI, more on this soon)!
🧪🧬New preprint We present cryo-EM structures of reconstituted CTCF–nucleosome complexes, showing CTCF dimerization drives nucleosome oligomerization into defined higher-order assemblies. Disrupting CTCF–CTCF interfaces in mESCs reduces looping and impairs differentiation. tinyurl.com/CTCF-nucleos...
February 9, 2026 at 3:13 PM
If you like our story here, consider applying to our labs for your post-doc! We have exciting projects ranging from transcription and DNA replication to genome organization and chromatin remodeling (and even lab automation and agentic molecular biology AI, more on this soon)!
This was a serendipitous finding with so many involved (👀 @voslab.org and @andersshansen.bsky.social). Especially proud of Farnung Lab contributors @mosorio91.bsky.social (on the job market) and PhD candidate Alex Stone. Biochemistry, structural biology, and cell-based assays (Micro-C!!!).
🧪🧬New preprint We present cryo-EM structures of reconstituted CTCF–nucleosome complexes, showing CTCF dimerization drives nucleosome oligomerization into defined higher-order assemblies. Disrupting CTCF–CTCF interfaces in mESCs reduces looping and impairs differentiation. tinyurl.com/CTCF-nucleos...
February 9, 2026 at 3:11 PM
This was a serendipitous finding with so many involved (👀 @voslab.org and @andersshansen.bsky.social). Especially proud of Farnung Lab contributors @mosorio91.bsky.social (on the job market) and PhD candidate Alex Stone. Biochemistry, structural biology, and cell-based assays (Micro-C!!!).
🚨Preprint alert🚨 How does chromatin “architecture” form at CTCF sites? Our new preprint with @voslab.org and @andersshansen.bsky.social shows CTCF dimerization promotes nucleosome oligomerization on chromatin. tinyurl.com/CTCF-nucleos...
February 9, 2026 at 3:04 PM
🚨Preprint alert🚨 How does chromatin “architecture” form at CTCF sites? Our new preprint with @voslab.org and @andersshansen.bsky.social shows CTCF dimerization promotes nucleosome oligomerization on chromatin. tinyurl.com/CTCF-nucleos...
Reposted by Lucas Farnung
If you are looking for more history and inspiration from Freeman Hrabowski, his TED talk is very powerful. Well worth the 15 minutes.
www.ted.com/talks/freema...
www.ted.com/talks/freema...
February 9, 2026 at 2:47 PM
If you are looking for more history and inspiration from Freeman Hrabowski, his TED talk is very powerful. Well worth the 15 minutes.
www.ted.com/talks/freema...
www.ted.com/talks/freema...
2026 is young. Hopefully, there is going to be more exciting research to come!
February 9, 2026 at 2:36 PM
2026 is young. Hopefully, there is going to be more exciting research to come!
Reposted by Lucas Farnung
🧪🧬New preprint We present cryo-EM structures of reconstituted CTCF–nucleosome complexes, showing CTCF dimerization drives nucleosome oligomerization into defined higher-order assemblies. Disrupting CTCF–CTCF interfaces in mESCs reduces looping and impairs differentiation. tinyurl.com/CTCF-nucleos...
February 9, 2026 at 12:54 PM
🧪🧬New preprint We present cryo-EM structures of reconstituted CTCF–nucleosome complexes, showing CTCF dimerization drives nucleosome oligomerization into defined higher-order assemblies. Disrupting CTCF–CTCF interfaces in mESCs reduces looping and impairs differentiation. tinyurl.com/CTCF-nucleos...
Reposted by Lucas Farnung
Exciting work from @lucas.farnunglab.com & @voslab.org report structures of CTCF-nucleosome complexes, revealing that CTCF dimers promote oligomerization of nucleosomes into defined higher-order assemblies involving specific histone-histone and CTCF-CTCF interactions. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
www.biorxiv.org
February 9, 2026 at 11:51 AM
Exciting work from @lucas.farnunglab.com & @voslab.org report structures of CTCF-nucleosome complexes, revealing that CTCF dimers promote oligomerization of nucleosomes into defined higher-order assemblies involving specific histone-histone and CTCF-CTCF interactions. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Reposted by Lucas Farnung
Here is the official announcement. Now more than ever, acknowledging the contributions of immigrants is so important. Thank you @vilcekfoundation.bsky.social, and congrats to my fellow awardees. Can't wait to meet you all.
Join us in congratulating the winners of our 2026 Vilcek Foundation Prizes in Biomedical Science, Fashion & Culture, Fashion & Design, and Art History! This year, we awarded $850,000 to 14 immigrants and cultural leaders. https://vilcek.co/4aemyr2
February 2, 2026 at 6:37 PM
Here is the official announcement. Now more than ever, acknowledging the contributions of immigrants is so important. Thank you @vilcekfoundation.bsky.social, and congrats to my fellow awardees. Can't wait to meet you all.
Glad you found it!
February 2, 2026 at 8:03 PM
Glad you found it!
🧬📄 Preprint update (v2): We added new biochemical experiments that clarify how IWS1 associates with the transcription elongation complex and further define competition between IWS1 and RECQL5. 🧪⚙️
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Structural model is already available in the PDB (9MLC).
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Structural model is already available in the PDB (9MLC).
February 2, 2026 at 4:33 PM
🧬📄 Preprint update (v2): We added new biochemical experiments that clarify how IWS1 associates with the transcription elongation complex and further define competition between IWS1 and RECQL5. 🧪⚙️
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Structural model is already available in the PDB (9MLC).
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Structural model is already available in the PDB (9MLC).
Join us today at 11 am EST. I will present our lab's latest research and introduce our lab AI agent Benchmate🧪.
Presenting our research tomorrow @aicc-ireland.bsky.social Please join via Zoom!
Webinar reminder ⏰
Our first All-Ireland Chromatin Consortium webinar of the year, presented by Dr Lucas Farnung, is coming up this Friday at 4pm 📅 . Free registration details below, as well as links to download our new webinar calendar 👇
Our first All-Ireland Chromatin Consortium webinar of the year, presented by Dr Lucas Farnung, is coming up this Friday at 4pm 📅 . Free registration details below, as well as links to download our new webinar calendar 👇
January 30, 2026 at 11:52 AM
Join us today at 11 am EST. I will present our lab's latest research and introduce our lab AI agent Benchmate🧪.
Presenting our research tomorrow @aicc-ireland.bsky.social Please join via Zoom!
Webinar reminder ⏰
Our first All-Ireland Chromatin Consortium webinar of the year, presented by Dr Lucas Farnung, is coming up this Friday at 4pm 📅 . Free registration details below, as well as links to download our new webinar calendar 👇
Our first All-Ireland Chromatin Consortium webinar of the year, presented by Dr Lucas Farnung, is coming up this Friday at 4pm 📅 . Free registration details below, as well as links to download our new webinar calendar 👇
After a short break in our webinars we are delighted to be back up & running this month!
First up, on Jan 30th we will be joined by @lucas.farnunglab.com from @harvardmed.bsky.social 🔬
Shortly after, on Feb 13th we will be hosting @heardlab.bsky.social from @crick.ac.uk 🧬
Registration details 👇
First up, on Jan 30th we will be joined by @lucas.farnunglab.com from @harvardmed.bsky.social 🔬
Shortly after, on Feb 13th we will be hosting @heardlab.bsky.social from @crick.ac.uk 🧬
Registration details 👇
January 29, 2026 at 4:46 PM
Presenting our research tomorrow @aicc-ireland.bsky.social Please join via Zoom!
Reposted by Lucas Farnung
Science update from my postdoc Peiyuan Chai - his work “glycoRNA complexed with heparan sulfate regulates VEGF-A signaling” is now published @nature.com uncovering a new layer or glycoRNA-regulation of growth factor mediated control physiological processes rdcu.be/e1bBX
January 28, 2026 at 5:45 PM
Science update from my postdoc Peiyuan Chai - his work “glycoRNA complexed with heparan sulfate regulates VEGF-A signaling” is now published @nature.com uncovering a new layer or glycoRNA-regulation of growth factor mediated control physiological processes rdcu.be/e1bBX
This is awesome. Congrats.
January 22, 2026 at 12:41 AM
This is awesome. Congrats.
Reposted by Lucas Farnung
The Vlaming lab continues to grow!
It's an exciting time in the Vlaming lab: we've just had our 2nd PhD student join, and the 3rd is joining in February. Now, we're looking to recruit a postdoc!
It's an exciting time in the Vlaming lab: we've just had our 2nd PhD student join, and the 3rd is joining in February. Now, we're looking to recruit a postdoc!
January 15, 2026 at 9:33 PM
The Vlaming lab continues to grow!
It's an exciting time in the Vlaming lab: we've just had our 2nd PhD student join, and the 3rd is joining in February. Now, we're looking to recruit a postdoc!
It's an exciting time in the Vlaming lab: we've just had our 2nd PhD student join, and the 3rd is joining in February. Now, we're looking to recruit a postdoc!
Reposted by Lucas Farnung
After a short break in our webinars we are delighted to be back up & running this month!
First up, on Jan 30th we will be joined by @lucas.farnunglab.com from @harvardmed.bsky.social 🔬
Shortly after, on Feb 13th we will be hosting @heardlab.bsky.social from @crick.ac.uk 🧬
Registration details 👇
First up, on Jan 30th we will be joined by @lucas.farnunglab.com from @harvardmed.bsky.social 🔬
Shortly after, on Feb 13th we will be hosting @heardlab.bsky.social from @crick.ac.uk 🧬
Registration details 👇
January 15, 2026 at 2:59 PM
After a short break in our webinars we are delighted to be back up & running this month!
First up, on Jan 30th we will be joined by @lucas.farnunglab.com from @harvardmed.bsky.social 🔬
Shortly after, on Feb 13th we will be hosting @heardlab.bsky.social from @crick.ac.uk 🧬
Registration details 👇
First up, on Jan 30th we will be joined by @lucas.farnunglab.com from @harvardmed.bsky.social 🔬
Shortly after, on Feb 13th we will be hosting @heardlab.bsky.social from @crick.ac.uk 🧬
Registration details 👇
Reposted by Lucas Farnung
Lucas Farnung will use "visual biochemistry" at atomic resolution to see exactly how errors in DNA replication drive cancer. This high-def view will reveal brand-new targets for drug development. 🔬 @harvardmed.bsky.social @lucas.farnunglab.com
January 14, 2026 at 11:16 AM
Lucas Farnung will use "visual biochemistry" at atomic resolution to see exactly how errors in DNA replication drive cancer. This high-def view will reveal brand-new targets for drug development. 🔬 @harvardmed.bsky.social @lucas.farnunglab.com
Reposted by Lucas Farnung
📢 Announcing The Mark Foundation 2026 Emerging Leader Award winners! 📢
We are committing $3.75 million to 5 visionary early-career scientists poised to lead the next generation of oncology breakthroughs. We can't wait to see their impact!
themarkfoundation.org/2026/01/2026...
We are committing $3.75 million to 5 visionary early-career scientists poised to lead the next generation of oncology breakthroughs. We can't wait to see their impact!
themarkfoundation.org/2026/01/2026...
January 14, 2026 at 11:16 AM
📢 Announcing The Mark Foundation 2026 Emerging Leader Award winners! 📢
We are committing $3.75 million to 5 visionary early-career scientists poised to lead the next generation of oncology breakthroughs. We can't wait to see their impact!
themarkfoundation.org/2026/01/2026...
We are committing $3.75 million to 5 visionary early-career scientists poised to lead the next generation of oncology breakthroughs. We can't wait to see their impact!
themarkfoundation.org/2026/01/2026...
More info: themarkfoundation.org/2026/01/2026...
The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research Announces 2026 Emerging Leader Awards, Committing $3.75 Million to Next-Generation Oncology Breakthroughs | The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research
The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research is proud to announce the recipients of the 2026 Emerging Leader Awards (ELA), recognizing five visionary early-career scientists poised to make significant impa...
themarkfoundation.org
January 13, 2026 at 8:40 PM
More info: themarkfoundation.org/2026/01/2026...
This is also a good occasion to highlight that we are looking for post-doctoral researchers that are interested in understanding the fundamental mechanisms of transcription, DNA replication, and chromatin.
Honored to receive The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research 2026 Emerging Leader Award. Grateful to my lab and all who support the Farnung Lab—thank you!
January 13, 2026 at 8:37 PM
This is also a good occasion to highlight that we are looking for post-doctoral researchers that are interested in understanding the fundamental mechanisms of transcription, DNA replication, and chromatin.