Misha Ahrens
@mishaahrens.bsky.social
Neuroscientist @Janelia, HHMI
www.ahrenslab.org
www.ahrenslab.org
Reposted by Misha Ahrens
Out now in @currentbiology.bsky.social led by Kaarthik A Balakrishnan: We identify medullary circuits that represent the valence of thermal stimuli and control both long-term strategies of cold-avoidance and short term hot avoidance behaviors to enable thermoregulation. www.cell.com/current-biol...
Behavioral and circuit principles of temperature gradient navigation
Behavioral thermoregulation is critical for survival across animals. Balakrishnan
and Haesemeyer discover that thermoregulatory behavior in larval zebrafish is organized
into longer-term swim modes. T...
www.cell.com
October 24, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Out now in @currentbiology.bsky.social led by Kaarthik A Balakrishnan: We identify medullary circuits that represent the valence of thermal stimuli and control both long-term strategies of cold-avoidance and short term hot avoidance behaviors to enable thermoregulation. www.cell.com/current-biol...
Reposted by Misha Ahrens
Apply to the new CSHL grad program in BioAI/neuroAI!
(Masters degree or equivalent required in a quantitative area such as computer science, physics, mathematics, or engineering)
www.cshl.edu/phd-program/...
(Masters degree or equivalent required in a quantitative area such as computer science, physics, mathematics, or engineering)
www.cshl.edu/phd-program/...
October 22, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Apply to the new CSHL grad program in BioAI/neuroAI!
(Masters degree or equivalent required in a quantitative area such as computer science, physics, mathematics, or engineering)
www.cshl.edu/phd-program/...
(Masters degree or equivalent required in a quantitative area such as computer science, physics, mathematics, or engineering)
www.cshl.edu/phd-program/...
Reposted by Misha Ahrens
Full paper (to appear in NeurIPS 2025!) here: arxiv.org/abs/2506.00138
Autonomous Behavior and Whole-Brain Dynamics Emerge in Embodied Zebrafish Agents with Model-based Intrinsic Motivation
Autonomy is a hallmark of animal intelligence, enabling adaptive and intelligent behavior in complex environments without relying on external reward or task structure. Existing reinforcement learning ...
arxiv.org
October 21, 2025 at 2:41 AM
Full paper (to appear in NeurIPS 2025!) here: arxiv.org/abs/2506.00138
Reposted by Misha Ahrens
Congratulations to my Ph.D. student Reece Keller for winning the best talk award at #CRSy25 on our project building the first task-optimized autonomous agent that predicts whole-brain data! Check out the post below for other cool talks!!
Detailed summary: bsky.app/profile/reec...
Detailed summary: bsky.app/profile/reec...
🐟 @reecedkeller.bsky.social @cmu.edu explored autonomous behaviour in virtual zebrafish, where intrinsic motivation drives self-directed exploration.
October 21, 2025 at 2:41 AM
Congratulations to my Ph.D. student Reece Keller for winning the best talk award at #CRSy25 on our project building the first task-optimized autonomous agent that predicts whole-brain data! Check out the post below for other cool talks!!
Detailed summary: bsky.app/profile/reec...
Detailed summary: bsky.app/profile/reec...
Reposted by Misha Ahrens
Just out in Nature! “The astrocytic ensemble acts as a multiday trace to stabilize memory.” We identified astrocytic ensembles that link experiences across days to stabilize memory nature.com/articles/s41.... New astrocyte tools are openly available at Addgene: addgene.org/Jun_Nagai/. 1/8
October 15, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Just out in Nature! “The astrocytic ensemble acts as a multiday trace to stabilize memory.” We identified astrocytic ensembles that link experiences across days to stabilize memory nature.com/articles/s41.... New astrocyte tools are openly available at Addgene: addgene.org/Jun_Nagai/. 1/8
Reposted by Misha Ahrens
(Part 1) Hear from @hhmi_news Investigator David Stern about his research program and what he's uncovering in the lab.
Stern will join the Institute in February 2026, bringing his lab and HHMI appointment to Kansas City. @hhmi.org
Read more: bit.ly/4np96Fb
Stern will join the Institute in February 2026, bringing his lab and HHMI appointment to Kansas City. @hhmi.org
Read more: bit.ly/4np96Fb
September 30, 2025 at 5:10 PM
(Part 1) Hear from @hhmi_news Investigator David Stern about his research program and what he's uncovering in the lab.
Stern will join the Institute in February 2026, bringing his lab and HHMI appointment to Kansas City. @hhmi.org
Read more: bit.ly/4np96Fb
Stern will join the Institute in February 2026, bringing his lab and HHMI appointment to Kansas City. @hhmi.org
Read more: bit.ly/4np96Fb
Reposted by Misha Ahrens
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 Misha Ahrens
It's official! We are moving to Stowers!
Very exciting opportunity to expand our studies of insect-plant interactions. We have many opportunities available in biochemistry, development, behavior, genetics, evolution, genomics, AI, and even pest control. Interested in any of these things? Reach out!
Very exciting opportunity to expand our studies of insect-plant interactions. We have many opportunities available in biochemistry, development, behavior, genetics, evolution, genomics, AI, and even pest control. Interested in any of these things? Reach out!
NEWS🎉 We’re excited to announce @hhmijanelia.bsky.social Investigator David Stern will join the Institute from Janelia Research Campus. His lab studies how aphids transform plants at the genetic level, uncovering secrets of #evolution & new strategies for pest control. @hhmi.org bit.ly/4np96Fb
Stowers Institute recruits renowned developmental and evolutionary…
David Stern, Ph.D., brings groundbreaking research on insect–plant interactions for next-generation pest control to the Institute.
bit.ly
September 30, 2025 at 8:15 PM
It's official! We are moving to Stowers!
Very exciting opportunity to expand our studies of insect-plant interactions. We have many opportunities available in biochemistry, development, behavior, genetics, evolution, genomics, AI, and even pest control. Interested in any of these things? Reach out!
Very exciting opportunity to expand our studies of insect-plant interactions. We have many opportunities available in biochemistry, development, behavior, genetics, evolution, genomics, AI, and even pest control. Interested in any of these things? Reach out!
New very cool work from the Yaksi lab:
Hierarchical processing of sensory information across topographically organized thalamocortical-like circuits in the zebrafish brain
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Hierarchical processing of sensory information across topographically organized thalamocortical-like circuits in the zebrafish brain
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Hierarchical processing of sensory information across topographically organized thalamocortical-like circuits in the zebrafish brain
Thalamocortical projections contribute to the spatial organization and functional hierarchies of the mammalian cortex. Primary sensory cortices receive topographically segregated information from firs...
www.biorxiv.org
September 16, 2025 at 7:13 PM
New very cool work from the Yaksi lab:
Hierarchical processing of sensory information across topographically organized thalamocortical-like circuits in the zebrafish brain
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Hierarchical processing of sensory information across topographically organized thalamocortical-like circuits in the zebrafish brain
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Misha Ahrens
Come to #HHMIJanelia to work on the frontiers of AI and biology. Apply now for an AI Engineer position working on protein biosensors:
hhmi.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Extern...
More openings coming soon. Interesting AI is widespread at Janelia, like this diffusion model from Larissa Heinrich.
hhmi.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Extern...
More openings coming soon. Interesting AI is widespread at Janelia, like this diffusion model from Larissa Heinrich.
September 16, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Come to #HHMIJanelia to work on the frontiers of AI and biology. Apply now for an AI Engineer position working on protein biosensors:
hhmi.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Extern...
More openings coming soon. Interesting AI is widespread at Janelia, like this diffusion model from Larissa Heinrich.
hhmi.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Extern...
More openings coming soon. Interesting AI is widespread at Janelia, like this diffusion model from Larissa Heinrich.
Reposted by Misha Ahrens
Amazing. Hopefully they replicate NIH/NSF’s peer review process, which is the core magic of what makes US science work so well.
While I’m at it, the abundance people are wrong about NIH not being high-risk. So is Joe Lonsdale: he’s naive, at best, about US science.
While I’m at it, the abundance people are wrong about NIH not being high-risk. So is Joe Lonsdale: he’s naive, at best, about US science.
“Supporters of the proposal said it would effectively create a state version of the National Institutes of Health or the National Science Foundation, two of the nation’s largest institutional funders of scientific and public health research.”
🧪 #giftarticle
🧪 #giftarticle
California’s $23 Billion Plan to Restore Federal Cuts to Scientific Research
www.nytimes.com
September 13, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Amazing. Hopefully they replicate NIH/NSF’s peer review process, which is the core magic of what makes US science work so well.
While I’m at it, the abundance people are wrong about NIH not being high-risk. So is Joe Lonsdale: he’s naive, at best, about US science.
While I’m at it, the abundance people are wrong about NIH not being high-risk. So is Joe Lonsdale: he’s naive, at best, about US science.
Reposted by Misha Ahrens
California is devising a plan to create their own National Institutes of Health to counter federal cuts to science research.
California’s $23 Billion Plan to Restore Federal Cuts to Scientific Research
www.nytimes.com
September 13, 2025 at 10:23 PM
California is devising a plan to create their own National Institutes of Health to counter federal cuts to science research.
Reposted by Misha Ahrens
Preprint -
Excited to present WHOLISTIC, which extends the concept of whole-brain functional imaging to the entire body. Pioneering work by incredibly talented Virginia Ruetten @vmsruetten.bsky.social, this platform reveals whole-organism cellular dynamics in vivo.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Excited to present WHOLISTIC, which extends the concept of whole-brain functional imaging to the entire body. Pioneering work by incredibly talented Virginia Ruetten @vmsruetten.bsky.social, this platform reveals whole-organism cellular dynamics in vivo.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
September 8, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Preprint -
Excited to present WHOLISTIC, which extends the concept of whole-brain functional imaging to the entire body. Pioneering work by incredibly talented Virginia Ruetten @vmsruetten.bsky.social, this platform reveals whole-organism cellular dynamics in vivo.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Excited to present WHOLISTIC, which extends the concept of whole-brain functional imaging to the entire body. Pioneering work by incredibly talented Virginia Ruetten @vmsruetten.bsky.social, this platform reveals whole-organism cellular dynamics in vivo.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Misha Ahrens
Become a Theory Fellow at Janelia.
🔍 Use computation & theory to tackle biological problems.
🖥️ Leverage state-of-the-art computational infrastructure
🤝 Collaborate across scientific disciplines
Apply by Nov. 3 @ https://janelia.link/theoryfellowprogram
🔍 Use computation & theory to tackle biological problems.
🖥️ Leverage state-of-the-art computational infrastructure
🤝 Collaborate across scientific disciplines
Apply by Nov. 3 @ https://janelia.link/theoryfellowprogram
September 9, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Become a Theory Fellow at Janelia.
🔍 Use computation & theory to tackle biological problems.
🖥️ Leverage state-of-the-art computational infrastructure
🤝 Collaborate across scientific disciplines
Apply by Nov. 3 @ https://janelia.link/theoryfellowprogram
🔍 Use computation & theory to tackle biological problems.
🖥️ Leverage state-of-the-art computational infrastructure
🤝 Collaborate across scientific disciplines
Apply by Nov. 3 @ https://janelia.link/theoryfellowprogram
Reposted by Misha Ahrens
Of potential interest to those keen on motor control and/or multi-task networks. Congrats to Elom and Eric.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Motor cortex flexibly deploys a high-dimensional repertoire of subskills
Skilled movement often requires flexibly combining multiple subskills, each requiring dedicated control strategies and underlying computations. How the motor system achieves such versatility remains u...
www.biorxiv.org
September 8, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Of potential interest to those keen on motor control and/or multi-task networks. Congrats to Elom and Eric.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Misha Ahrens
Made possible only by the unique environment and amazing community at Janelia and the Gatsby. @hhmijanelia.bsky.social @gatsbyucl.bsky.social
Feedback, ideas, or requests for transgenic lines, protocols, and code are warmly welcome!
Feedback, ideas, or requests for transgenic lines, protocols, and code are warmly welcome!
September 8, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Made possible only by the unique environment and amazing community at Janelia and the Gatsby. @hhmijanelia.bsky.social @gatsbyucl.bsky.social
Feedback, ideas, or requests for transgenic lines, protocols, and code are warmly welcome!
Feedback, ideas, or requests for transgenic lines, protocols, and code are warmly welcome!
Reposted by Misha Ahrens
Thanks Misha for the shout-out!
It has been a truly mind-opening journey. WHOLISTIC is one step towards whole-organism neuroscience and a true physiological observatory - with extensions on the way! I am continually amazed by what the data reveals - so much remains to be discovered and mined.
It has been a truly mind-opening journey. WHOLISTIC is one step towards whole-organism neuroscience and a true physiological observatory - with extensions on the way! I am continually amazed by what the data reveals - so much remains to be discovered and mined.
Preprint -
Excited to present WHOLISTIC, which extends the concept of whole-brain functional imaging to the entire body. Pioneering work by incredibly talented Virginia Ruetten @vmsruetten.bsky.social, this platform reveals whole-organism cellular dynamics in vivo.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Excited to present WHOLISTIC, which extends the concept of whole-brain functional imaging to the entire body. Pioneering work by incredibly talented Virginia Ruetten @vmsruetten.bsky.social, this platform reveals whole-organism cellular dynamics in vivo.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
September 8, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Thanks Misha for the shout-out!
It has been a truly mind-opening journey. WHOLISTIC is one step towards whole-organism neuroscience and a true physiological observatory - with extensions on the way! I am continually amazed by what the data reveals - so much remains to be discovered and mined.
It has been a truly mind-opening journey. WHOLISTIC is one step towards whole-organism neuroscience and a true physiological observatory - with extensions on the way! I am continually amazed by what the data reveals - so much remains to be discovered and mined.
Preprint -
Excited to present WHOLISTIC, which extends the concept of whole-brain functional imaging to the entire body. Pioneering work by incredibly talented Virginia Ruetten @vmsruetten.bsky.social, this platform reveals whole-organism cellular dynamics in vivo.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Excited to present WHOLISTIC, which extends the concept of whole-brain functional imaging to the entire body. Pioneering work by incredibly talented Virginia Ruetten @vmsruetten.bsky.social, this platform reveals whole-organism cellular dynamics in vivo.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
September 8, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Preprint -
Excited to present WHOLISTIC, which extends the concept of whole-brain functional imaging to the entire body. Pioneering work by incredibly talented Virginia Ruetten @vmsruetten.bsky.social, this platform reveals whole-organism cellular dynamics in vivo.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Excited to present WHOLISTIC, which extends the concept of whole-brain functional imaging to the entire body. Pioneering work by incredibly talented Virginia Ruetten @vmsruetten.bsky.social, this platform reveals whole-organism cellular dynamics in vivo.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Misha Ahrens
✨ We’re #hiring Theory Fellows!✨
Janelia is recruiting early-career scientists to join our collaborative research environment and use #computation & #theory to tackle bold questions in #biology.
🔗 Apply by Nov. 3 👉 janelia.link/theoryfellow...
@hhmi.org
Janelia is recruiting early-career scientists to join our collaborative research environment and use #computation & #theory to tackle bold questions in #biology.
🔗 Apply by Nov. 3 👉 janelia.link/theoryfellow...
@hhmi.org
August 5, 2025 at 6:01 PM
✨ We’re #hiring Theory Fellows!✨
Janelia is recruiting early-career scientists to join our collaborative research environment and use #computation & #theory to tackle bold questions in #biology.
🔗 Apply by Nov. 3 👉 janelia.link/theoryfellow...
@hhmi.org
Janelia is recruiting early-career scientists to join our collaborative research environment and use #computation & #theory to tackle bold questions in #biology.
🔗 Apply by Nov. 3 👉 janelia.link/theoryfellow...
@hhmi.org
Reposted by Misha Ahrens
Beyond housekeeping duties, astrocytes also coordinate complex computational tasks during modulation, expanding their role in the brain.
By @claudia-lopez.bsky.social
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/astrocytes/a...
By @claudia-lopez.bsky.social
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/astrocytes/a...
Astrocytes sense neuromodulators to orchestrate neuronal activity and shape behavior
Astrocytes serve as crucial mediators of neuromodulatory processes previously attributed to direct communication between neurons, four new studies show.
www.thetransmitter.org
June 27, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Beyond housekeeping duties, astrocytes also coordinate complex computational tasks during modulation, expanding their role in the brain.
By @claudia-lopez.bsky.social
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/astrocytes/a...
By @claudia-lopez.bsky.social
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/astrocytes/a...
Reposted by Misha Ahrens
🧠 Janelia researchers are helping to uncover how neuromodulators reach neurons & revealing a significant role for astrolia in neuromodulation – highlighting the importance of including info about non-neuronal cells in research into how the brain works. www.janelia.org/news/on-the-...
June 20, 2025 at 3:55 PM
🧠 Janelia researchers are helping to uncover how neuromodulators reach neurons & revealing a significant role for astrolia in neuromodulation – highlighting the importance of including info about non-neuronal cells in research into how the brain works. www.janelia.org/news/on-the-...
Reposted by Misha Ahrens
Highlights new work from @mishaahrens.bsky.social et al. 🧠 🐟
🔗 to manuscript: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
🔗 to manuscript: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
June 18, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Highlights new work from @mishaahrens.bsky.social et al. 🧠 🐟
🔗 to manuscript: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
🔗 to manuscript: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Misha Ahrens
🐟 New research probing the inner workings of neuromodulation in zebrafish could help scientists better understand how the brain enables flexible behavior and provide insight into mood disorders like depression.
🔗 www.janelia.org/news/new-res...
🔗 www.janelia.org/news/new-res...
June 18, 2025 at 1:56 PM
🐟 New research probing the inner workings of neuromodulation in zebrafish could help scientists better understand how the brain enables flexible behavior and provide insight into mood disorders like depression.
🔗 www.janelia.org/news/new-res...
🔗 www.janelia.org/news/new-res...
Reposted by Misha Ahrens
U.S. people: Be sure to turn out for No Kings Day protests tomorrow (Sat June 14) afternoon, google the one nearest you. With all that's happening on so many fronts, not least the movements toward authoritarian martial law amidst widespread raids of working people, it matters now more than ever.
June 13, 2025 at 10:40 PM
U.S. people: Be sure to turn out for No Kings Day protests tomorrow (Sat June 14) afternoon, google the one nearest you. With all that's happening on so many fronts, not least the movements toward authoritarian martial law amidst widespread raids of working people, it matters now more than ever.