Marianne Roca
@marianneroca.bsky.social
Postdoc in Genetics of behaviour
Reposted by Marianne Roca
The IL2 neurons are my new favourite neurons in Pristionchus. In our new paper, lead by @marianneroca.bsky.social, we show which sensory modalities are crucial for a predating worm, which all are sensed in the IL2’s. And the IL2’s are sensitive to octopamine, promoting aggression in these worms 🧠🪱🔬🧪
January 30, 2026 at 5:45 PM
The IL2 neurons are my new favourite neurons in Pristionchus. In our new paper, lead by @marianneroca.bsky.social, we show which sensory modalities are crucial for a predating worm, which all are sensed in the IL2’s. And the IL2’s are sensitive to octopamine, promoting aggression in these worms 🧠🪱🔬🧪
After studying the worm, we tested sensory stimulation on ourselves 🪱🍰
Result: feeding behaviour successfully triggered.
Happy team, new paper out!
Result: feeding behaviour successfully triggered.
Happy team, new paper out!
January 30, 2026 at 3:10 PM
After studying the worm, we tested sensory stimulation on ourselves 🪱🍰
Result: feeding behaviour successfully triggered.
Happy team, new paper out!
Result: feeding behaviour successfully triggered.
Happy team, new paper out!
Reposted by Marianne Roca
How does evolution turn a harmless bacterial feeder into an active predator?
Our new study led by @marianneroca.bsky.social and published in @pnas.org explores how sensory systems were rewired to enable prey detection and predatory behaviour in nematodes.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
🧵below!
Our new study led by @marianneroca.bsky.social and published in @pnas.org explores how sensory systems were rewired to enable prey detection and predatory behaviour in nematodes.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
🧵below!
Evolution of sensory systems underlies the emergence of predatory feeding behaviors in nematodes | PNAS
Understanding how animal behavior evolves remains a major challenge, with few studies
linking genetic changes to differences in neural function and...
www.pnas.org
January 29, 2026 at 12:30 PM
How does evolution turn a harmless bacterial feeder into an active predator?
Our new study led by @marianneroca.bsky.social and published in @pnas.org explores how sensory systems were rewired to enable prey detection and predatory behaviour in nematodes.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
🧵below!
Our new study led by @marianneroca.bsky.social and published in @pnas.org explores how sensory systems were rewired to enable prey detection and predatory behaviour in nematodes.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
🧵below!
How does a predator sense its prey?
🪱The nematode Pristionchus pacificus preys on other nematodes, but how it detects them in its environment? That is what we have been exploring :
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
🪱The nematode Pristionchus pacificus preys on other nematodes, but how it detects them in its environment? That is what we have been exploring :
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
PNAS
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a peer reviewed journal of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) - an authoritative source of high-impact, original research that broadly spans...
www.pnas.org
January 28, 2026 at 6:35 PM
How does a predator sense its prey?
🪱The nematode Pristionchus pacificus preys on other nematodes, but how it detects them in its environment? That is what we have been exploring :
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
🪱The nematode Pristionchus pacificus preys on other nematodes, but how it detects them in its environment? That is what we have been exploring :
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by Marianne Roca
💼 Postdoctoral researcher in computational and experimental biology M/F
📍Institut Jacques Monod / @sandraduharcourt.bsky.social 's Lab
📆 April 1st
Apply on the CNRS job portal before February 13th 🔗 emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/CDD/U...
📍Institut Jacques Monod / @sandraduharcourt.bsky.social 's Lab
📆 April 1st
Apply on the CNRS job portal before February 13th 🔗 emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/CDD/U...
January 26, 2026 at 1:50 PM
💼 Postdoctoral researcher in computational and experimental biology M/F
📍Institut Jacques Monod / @sandraduharcourt.bsky.social 's Lab
📆 April 1st
Apply on the CNRS job portal before February 13th 🔗 emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/CDD/U...
📍Institut Jacques Monod / @sandraduharcourt.bsky.social 's Lab
📆 April 1st
Apply on the CNRS job portal before February 13th 🔗 emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/CDD/U...
Thank you to our outreach team for highlighting our new publication with this video.
How do new behaviors evolve?
A new Nature study shows how predatory aggression can emerge through changes in neuromodulatory circuits – without adding new neurons.
We’ve created a short animated explainer video to walk through the key ideas.
youtu.be/wNhjKDCPs_8?...
A new Nature study shows how predatory aggression can emerge through changes in neuromodulatory circuits – without adding new neurons.
We’ve created a short animated explainer video to walk through the key ideas.
youtu.be/wNhjKDCPs_8?...
How new behaviors evolve: from peaceful worm to predator
YouTube video by MPINB
youtu.be
January 22, 2026 at 7:25 AM
Thank you to our outreach team for highlighting our new publication with this video.
it is out!
if you like behaviour or nematodes or genes or neuronal circuits or evolution or machine learning or all of the above don't hesitate to have a look.
if you like behaviour or nematodes or genes or neuronal circuits or evolution or machine learning or all of the above don't hesitate to have a look.
Why do some worms graze on bacteria while others hunt and kill?
Our study, published today in Nature, reveals how predatory aggression evolved in nematodes.
Led by @gunizgozeeren.bsky.social and @leoboeger.bsky.social across the @jameslightfoot.bsky.social and @monikakscholz.bsky.social labs.
Our study, published today in Nature, reveals how predatory aggression evolved in nematodes.
Led by @gunizgozeeren.bsky.social and @leoboeger.bsky.social across the @jameslightfoot.bsky.social and @monikakscholz.bsky.social labs.
Predatory aggression evolved through adaptations to noradrenergic circuits - Nature
Noradrenergic circuits support and balance aggressive behavioural states in predatory nematodes, distinguish predatory from non-predatory nematode species and are associated with the evolution of comp...
www.nature.com
January 22, 2026 at 7:22 AM
it is out!
if you like behaviour or nematodes or genes or neuronal circuits or evolution or machine learning or all of the above don't hesitate to have a look.
if you like behaviour or nematodes or genes or neuronal circuits or evolution or machine learning or all of the above don't hesitate to have a look.
it is nice to be back in the lab after a really nice Gordon research conference on neuroethology. Now, it is time to use all this good energy and knowledge !
July 7, 2025 at 7:07 AM
it is nice to be back in the lab after a really nice Gordon research conference on neuroethology. Now, it is time to use all this good energy and knowledge !
I really enjoyed the #GRS #neuroethology. Plenty of nice people and good science there! Congrats on Sreeparna Pradhan @sreeparnap.bsky.social and Maya Enriquez for putting it together. Now it is time for the big league with the #GRC !
June 29, 2025 at 1:24 PM
I really enjoyed the #GRS #neuroethology. Plenty of nice people and good science there! Congrats on Sreeparna Pradhan @sreeparnap.bsky.social and Maya Enriquez for putting it together. Now it is time for the big league with the #GRC !
That is an interesting map in severals regards but I am not sure if it shows where we like to share science the most 🧪or where we like to hang up in pub the most 🍻 ! If you like both hurry to take your ticket, only one week before it start !
here is the link for Germany : pintofscience.de
here is the link for Germany : pintofscience.de
May 12, 2025 at 7:42 AM
That is an interesting map in severals regards but I am not sure if it shows where we like to share science the most 🧪or where we like to hang up in pub the most 🍻 ! If you like both hurry to take your ticket, only one week before it start !
here is the link for Germany : pintofscience.de
here is the link for Germany : pintofscience.de
🧠🍻 Pint of Science #Pint25DE is coming to Bonn!
Join us 19–21 May to grab a drink and listen to fascinating talks (english or german) on neuroscience, astronomy,...!
Check the program 👉 pintofscience.de/events/bonn
Not in Bonn? #Pint25 is happening around the world, look for the one close to you!
Join us 19–21 May to grab a drink and listen to fascinating talks (english or german) on neuroscience, astronomy,...!
Check the program 👉 pintofscience.de/events/bonn
Not in Bonn? #Pint25 is happening around the world, look for the one close to you!
Bonn
Explore Pint of Science Deutschland events in Bonn
pintofscience.de
May 7, 2025 at 6:36 AM
🧠🍻 Pint of Science #Pint25DE is coming to Bonn!
Join us 19–21 May to grab a drink and listen to fascinating talks (english or german) on neuroscience, astronomy,...!
Check the program 👉 pintofscience.de/events/bonn
Not in Bonn? #Pint25 is happening around the world, look for the one close to you!
Join us 19–21 May to grab a drink and listen to fascinating talks (english or german) on neuroscience, astronomy,...!
Check the program 👉 pintofscience.de/events/bonn
Not in Bonn? #Pint25 is happening around the world, look for the one close to you!
Reposted by Marianne Roca
3 weeks to go before #pint25!!
📅 19-21 May 2025
🗺️ 27 countries
📍+520 cities
🫂👩🔬🎉Thousands of scientists and volunteers celebrating science around the globe!!
🦕🦴🧬🦋🪨👓🧠🔭🫀👩🔬📚🧫🧪🌎🕷️
All the details here. Join the party! pintofscience.com
📅 19-21 May 2025
🗺️ 27 countries
📍+520 cities
🫂👩🔬🎉Thousands of scientists and volunteers celebrating science around the globe!!
🦕🦴🧬🦋🪨👓🧠🔭🫀👩🔬📚🧫🧪🌎🕷️
All the details here. Join the party! pintofscience.com
April 28, 2025 at 9:38 AM
3 weeks to go before #pint25!!
📅 19-21 May 2025
🗺️ 27 countries
📍+520 cities
🫂👩🔬🎉Thousands of scientists and volunteers celebrating science around the globe!!
🦕🦴🧬🦋🪨👓🧠🔭🫀👩🔬📚🧫🧪🌎🕷️
All the details here. Join the party! pintofscience.com
📅 19-21 May 2025
🗺️ 27 countries
📍+520 cities
🫂👩🔬🎉Thousands of scientists and volunteers celebrating science around the globe!!
🦕🦴🧬🦋🪨👓🧠🔭🫀👩🔬📚🧫🧪🌎🕷️
All the details here. Join the party! pintofscience.com
Reposted by Marianne Roca
Come join the Briggman lab in beautiful Bonn to work with a menagerie of animals: axolotls, anableps, danionella, zebrafish, xenopus tropicalus and more! Also, the institute is dog-friendly and sits on a dog park! 🐶
🧠 Interested in a postdoc in neuroscience?
Our Department of Computational Neuroethology is hiring for two exciting projects:
🔬 Retinal circuitry evolution
🐟 Mechanistic cognition in Danionella cerebrum
mpinb.mpg.de/en/research-...
📅 Apply by May 13 via the Max Planck #PostdocProgram
#Neuroethology
Our Department of Computational Neuroethology is hiring for two exciting projects:
🔬 Retinal circuitry evolution
🐟 Mechanistic cognition in Danionella cerebrum
mpinb.mpg.de/en/research-...
📅 Apply by May 13 via the Max Planck #PostdocProgram
#Neuroethology
April 16, 2025 at 5:32 AM
Come join the Briggman lab in beautiful Bonn to work with a menagerie of animals: axolotls, anableps, danionella, zebrafish, xenopus tropicalus and more! Also, the institute is dog-friendly and sits on a dog park! 🐶
Curious about how the cannibalistic nematode Pristionchus pacificus hunts its prey? Check out our preprint on BioRxiv, where we explore the roles of mechanosensation and chemosensation, using behaviour tracking among other methods!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org
March 26, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Curious about how the cannibalistic nematode Pristionchus pacificus hunts its prey? Check out our preprint on BioRxiv, where we explore the roles of mechanosensation and chemosensation, using behaviour tracking among other methods!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
📢 Call for Speakers – Pint of Science 2025 in Bonn! 🍻🔬
We’re looking for enthusiastic researchers to join Pint of Science in Bonn on May 19–21, 2025!
🌍 More info: pintofscience.de/ueberuns/
If you're interested : pintofsciencebonn@gmail.com.
#PintOfScience #Bonn #ScienceOutreach
We’re looking for enthusiastic researchers to join Pint of Science in Bonn on May 19–21, 2025!
🌍 More info: pintofscience.de/ueberuns/
If you're interested : pintofsciencebonn@gmail.com.
#PintOfScience #Bonn #ScienceOutreach
February 25, 2025 at 3:55 PM
📢 Call for Speakers – Pint of Science 2025 in Bonn! 🍻🔬
We’re looking for enthusiastic researchers to join Pint of Science in Bonn on May 19–21, 2025!
🌍 More info: pintofscience.de/ueberuns/
If you're interested : pintofsciencebonn@gmail.com.
#PintOfScience #Bonn #ScienceOutreach
We’re looking for enthusiastic researchers to join Pint of Science in Bonn on May 19–21, 2025!
🌍 More info: pintofscience.de/ueberuns/
If you're interested : pintofsciencebonn@gmail.com.
#PintOfScience #Bonn #ScienceOutreach
Reposted by Marianne Roca
Have you ever wondered what is on the surface of a #nematode like #Celegans?
…it turns out they are surprisingly greasy little critters and covered in many different lipids.
To read more about this, check out the excellent paper from the Chauhan lab which we were very happy to be a small part of.
…it turns out they are surprisingly greasy little critters and covered in many different lipids.
To read more about this, check out the excellent paper from the Chauhan lab which we were very happy to be a small part of.
New publication in JACS! 🔬🐍
"Surface Lipids in Nematodes are Influenced by Development and Species-specific Adaptations"
📖 doi.org/10.1021/jacs...
Supported by @uniofnottingham.bsky.social, EPSRC and @ukri.org, @maxplanck.de and @dfg.de
"Surface Lipids in Nematodes are Influenced by Development and Species-specific Adaptations"
📖 doi.org/10.1021/jacs...
Supported by @uniofnottingham.bsky.social, EPSRC and @ukri.org, @maxplanck.de and @dfg.de
February 18, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Reposted by Marianne Roca
#JobOffer
💼 Molecular biology and drosophila engineer (M/F)
📅 February, 17th
📍 Institut Jacques Monod / @pconduit.bsky.social's Lab
Apply before February 6 ➡️ emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/CDD/U...
#Biology #Engineer
💼 Molecular biology and drosophila engineer (M/F)
📅 February, 17th
📍 Institut Jacques Monod / @pconduit.bsky.social's Lab
Apply before February 6 ➡️ emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/CDD/U...
#Biology #Engineer
Portail Emploi CNRS - Offre d'emploi - Ingénieur(e) en biologie moléculaire et drosophile (H/F)
emploi.cnrs.fr
January 17, 2025 at 10:27 AM
#JobOffer
💼 Molecular biology and drosophila engineer (M/F)
📅 February, 17th
📍 Institut Jacques Monod / @pconduit.bsky.social's Lab
Apply before February 6 ➡️ emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/CDD/U...
#Biology #Engineer
💼 Molecular biology and drosophila engineer (M/F)
📅 February, 17th
📍 Institut Jacques Monod / @pconduit.bsky.social's Lab
Apply before February 6 ➡️ emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/CDD/U...
#Biology #Engineer
Reposted by Marianne Roca
New people in 🦋, the neuro/physics/maths among you may be interested in our ERC-funded postdoc positions!
Modelling brain folding development:
bsky.app/profile/r3rt...
Building a molecular/cellular/mechanical atlas of brain development: bsky.app/profile/r3rt...
DM for info, and please repost!
Modelling brain folding development:
bsky.app/profile/r3rt...
Building a molecular/cellular/mechanical atlas of brain development: bsky.app/profile/r3rt...
DM for info, and please repost!
bsky.app/profile/r3rt...
Modelling brain morphogenesis
Modelling brain morphogenesis
🚨 We’re hiring! 🚨 We're looking for a postdoc for our ERC Synergy project Unfold (unfold-lab.github.io). Join our lab at @institutpasteur to model brain morphogenesis! (1/10)
January 15, 2025 at 10:01 AM
New people in 🦋, the neuro/physics/maths among you may be interested in our ERC-funded postdoc positions!
Modelling brain folding development:
bsky.app/profile/r3rt...
Building a molecular/cellular/mechanical atlas of brain development: bsky.app/profile/r3rt...
DM for info, and please repost!
Modelling brain folding development:
bsky.app/profile/r3rt...
Building a molecular/cellular/mechanical atlas of brain development: bsky.app/profile/r3rt...
DM for info, and please repost!
You can see the smiles for being part of the greatest Pristionchus team. happy end of the year to all!
December 13, 2024 at 7:03 AM
You can see the smiles for being part of the greatest Pristionchus team. happy end of the year to all!
Reposted by Marianne Roca
#RejoignezleCNRS 🫵 et transformez vos projets en #innovation ! Le CNRS recrute des chercheurs et chercheuses passionnés. Les concours sont ouverts jusqu'au 10 janvier 2025 !
👉 carrieres.cnrs.fr/concours-ext...
#Recrutement #CNRS #Icicarecrute
www.cnrs.fr/fr/actualite...
👉 carrieres.cnrs.fr/concours-ext...
#Recrutement #CNRS #Icicarecrute
www.cnrs.fr/fr/actualite...
Lancement de la campagne de concours externes chercheurs/chercheuses 2025
La phase d’inscription ouvre le 11 décembre à 13h. Cette année, 270 postes sont ouverts.
www.cnrs.fr
December 11, 2024 at 12:30 PM
#RejoignezleCNRS 🫵 et transformez vos projets en #innovation ! Le CNRS recrute des chercheurs et chercheuses passionnés. Les concours sont ouverts jusqu'au 10 janvier 2025 !
👉 carrieres.cnrs.fr/concours-ext...
#Recrutement #CNRS #Icicarecrute
www.cnrs.fr/fr/actualite...
👉 carrieres.cnrs.fr/concours-ext...
#Recrutement #CNRS #Icicarecrute
www.cnrs.fr/fr/actualite...