Monika Scholz
@monikakscholz.bsky.social
PI at meep-neep (MPI for neurobiology of behavior) studying worm feeding and foraging behavior. I ❤️ imaging, watching worms wiggle and Friday experiments.
scholz-lab.com
scholz-lab.com
Pinned
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
First joint work between @jameslightfoot.bsky.social and my lab is now published! Machine-learning, aggression, genetics, beautiful fluorescent transgenics and evolution! You can find it all!
Another one with our next door colleagues! @marianneroca.bsky.social in @jameslightfoot.bsky.social's group found the IL2 neurons detecting prey (this study) are also sensing octopamine, which we recently found plays an important role in predatory aggression! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
January 29, 2026 at 1:41 PM
Another one with our next door colleagues! @marianneroca.bsky.social in @jameslightfoot.bsky.social's group found the IL2 neurons detecting prey (this study) are also sensing octopamine, which we recently found plays an important role in predatory aggression! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Our home automation system has me saying 'daylight off' when leaving the house and I do not appreciate this Omen for my day.
January 29, 2026 at 7:44 AM
Our home automation system has me saying 'daylight off' when leaving the house and I do not appreciate this Omen for my day.
Great across-the-pond collaboration. I'm glad we could contribute a small sliver to this cool paper.
@javierapfeld.bsky.social and Co used so many different techniques to answer the question, its a fun read! 🪱
@javierapfeld.bsky.social and Co used so many different techniques to answer the question, its a fun read! 🪱
Friends! I am so happy to share our new preprint!
Hydrogen peroxide has been the most common reactive chemical threat to life forms since the Great Oxygenation Event 2.5 billion years ago.
How do animals like C. elegans sense it fast and escape?
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Thread 1/
Hydrogen peroxide has been the most common reactive chemical threat to life forms since the Great Oxygenation Event 2.5 billion years ago.
How do animals like C. elegans sense it fast and escape?
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Thread 1/
January 28, 2026 at 3:27 PM
Great across-the-pond collaboration. I'm glad we could contribute a small sliver to this cool paper.
@javierapfeld.bsky.social and Co used so many different techniques to answer the question, its a fun read! 🪱
@javierapfeld.bsky.social and Co used so many different techniques to answer the question, its a fun read! 🪱
Reposted by Monika Scholz
Nature research paper: Predatory aggression evolved through adaptations to noradrenergic circuits
go.nature.com/3NxFCrs
go.nature.com/3NxFCrs
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 complex behavioural traits.
go.nature.com
January 23, 2026 at 9:16 AM
Nature research paper: Predatory aggression evolved through adaptations to noradrenergic circuits
go.nature.com/3NxFCrs
go.nature.com/3NxFCrs
Reposted by Monika Scholz
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 21, 2026 at 4:35 PM
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?...
First joint work between @jameslightfoot.bsky.social and my lab is now published! Machine-learning, aggression, genetics, beautiful fluorescent transgenics and evolution! You can find it all!
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 21, 2026 at 4:35 PM
First joint work between @jameslightfoot.bsky.social and my lab is now published! Machine-learning, aggression, genetics, beautiful fluorescent transgenics and evolution! You can find it all!
Reposted by Monika Scholz
PLOS Comput. Biol.: A data-driven biology-based network model reproduces C. elegans premotor neural dynamics
https://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1013818
https://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1013818
January 12, 2026 at 2:24 PM
PLOS Comput. Biol.: A data-driven biology-based network model reproduces C. elegans premotor neural dynamics
https://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1013818
https://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1013818
Reposted by Monika Scholz
PhD position in systems neuroscience!
Excited to start a new DFG-funded project together with @obarnstedt.bsky.social to study olfactory–spatial coding in CA1.
🔬 Dual-colour miniscope Ca2+ imaging
🐭 Freely moving behaviour & optogenetics
⏳ Start: April 2026 | Deadline: 31.01.2026
More info below ⬇️
Excited to start a new DFG-funded project together with @obarnstedt.bsky.social to study olfactory–spatial coding in CA1.
🔬 Dual-colour miniscope Ca2+ imaging
🐭 Freely moving behaviour & optogenetics
⏳ Start: April 2026 | Deadline: 31.01.2026
More info below ⬇️
December 11, 2025 at 10:56 AM
PhD position in systems neuroscience!
Excited to start a new DFG-funded project together with @obarnstedt.bsky.social to study olfactory–spatial coding in CA1.
🔬 Dual-colour miniscope Ca2+ imaging
🐭 Freely moving behaviour & optogenetics
⏳ Start: April 2026 | Deadline: 31.01.2026
More info below ⬇️
Excited to start a new DFG-funded project together with @obarnstedt.bsky.social to study olfactory–spatial coding in CA1.
🔬 Dual-colour miniscope Ca2+ imaging
🐭 Freely moving behaviour & optogenetics
⏳ Start: April 2026 | Deadline: 31.01.2026
More info below ⬇️
Richard Is super nice and I'm sure this would be a great place to do a PhD!
Finally got the job ad—looking for 2 PhD students to start spring next year:
www.gao-unit.com/join-us/
If comp neuro, ML, and AI4Neuro is your thing, or you just nerd out over brain recordings, apply!
I'm at neurips. DM me here / on the conference app or email if you want to meet 🏖️🌮
www.gao-unit.com/join-us/
If comp neuro, ML, and AI4Neuro is your thing, or you just nerd out over brain recordings, apply!
I'm at neurips. DM me here / on the conference app or email if you want to meet 🏖️🌮
December 5, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Richard Is super nice and I'm sure this would be a great place to do a PhD!
Reposted by Monika Scholz
A great intro to academic conferencing.
Not sure how I missed this one.
scienceforeveryone.science/getting-the-...
Not sure how I missed this one.
scienceforeveryone.science/getting-the-...
Getting the most of out a scientific conference
A slightly unconventional guide to your first time
scienceforeveryone.science
November 26, 2025 at 4:47 AM
A great intro to academic conferencing.
Not sure how I missed this one.
scienceforeveryone.science/getting-the-...
Not sure how I missed this one.
scienceforeveryone.science/getting-the-...
The open source spirit of the worm community makes it so special - and so powerful for discovery! Great account of the impact of the community tools and databases had and have on understanding fundamental biology! 🪱 www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Important to keep these resources funded!
Important to keep these resources funded!
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
November 26, 2025 at 8:13 AM
The open source spirit of the worm community makes it so special - and so powerful for discovery! Great account of the impact of the community tools and databases had and have on understanding fundamental biology! 🪱 www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Important to keep these resources funded!
Important to keep these resources funded!
Reposted by Monika Scholz
The FPbase spectra viewer just had it's biggest software refactor in 6 years. It *should* be largely invisible to the end user (hopefully just faster and less buggy). Please let me know if you find any issues as you use it!
www.fpbase.org/spectra/
www.fpbase.org/spectra/
FPbase Fluorescence Spectra Viewer
An interactive fluorescence spectra viewer to evaluate the spectral properties of fluorescent proteins, organic dyes, filters, and detectors.
www.fpbase.org
November 4, 2025 at 3:03 PM
The FPbase spectra viewer just had it's biggest software refactor in 6 years. It *should* be largely invisible to the end user (hopefully just faster and less buggy). Please let me know if you find any issues as you use it!
www.fpbase.org/spectra/
www.fpbase.org/spectra/
Will be so fun to have you around!!
I'm moving to a new scientific home!
I was recruited by the Max Planck institute as a senior scientist at the MPINB (mpinb.mpg.de/en/), starting Dec 1st. Very exciting new and old projects in the best neuroethology hub. I visited there earlier this month, and I really like Bonn so far :)
I was recruited by the Max Planck institute as a senior scientist at the MPINB (mpinb.mpg.de/en/), starting Dec 1st. Very exciting new and old projects in the best neuroethology hub. I visited there earlier this month, and I really like Bonn so far :)
Welcome to the MPINB - MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE FOR NEUROBIOLOGY OF BEHAVIOR — CAESAR
The MPINB is a neuroethology institute that studies how the collective activity of interconnected neurons in the brain gives rise to the plethora of animal behaviors.
mpinb.mpg.de
October 28, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Will be so fun to have you around!!
Proprioception and new function for two pharyngeal neurons!
The DEG/ENaC channel DEGT-1 is a proprioceptor of C. elegans foregut movement
www.cell.com/current-biol...
www.cell.com/current-biol...
The DEG/ENaC channel DEGT-1 is a proprioceptor of C. elegans foregut movement
Bayer et al. show that the DEGT-1 DEG/ENaC channel is specifically expressed in C.
elegans pharyngeal neurons and localizes to the pharyngeal basement membrane. They
found that DEGT-1 is required in I...
www.cell.com
October 27, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Proprioception and new function for two pharyngeal neurons!
Reposted by Monika Scholz
Despite the mess, we are grateful to be funded, have exciting science happening, and have an opening for a postdoc!
If you are interested in sensory biology and esp in cilia, thermosensation, or interoception, and would like to join an interactive & supportive group - please email.
Please RT 🙏
If you are interested in sensory biology and esp in cilia, thermosensation, or interoception, and would like to join an interactive & supportive group - please email.
Please RT 🙏
October 16, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Despite the mess, we are grateful to be funded, have exciting science happening, and have an opening for a postdoc!
If you are interested in sensory biology and esp in cilia, thermosensation, or interoception, and would like to join an interactive & supportive group - please email.
Please RT 🙏
If you are interested in sensory biology and esp in cilia, thermosensation, or interoception, and would like to join an interactive & supportive group - please email.
Please RT 🙏
Reposted by Monika Scholz
Reaffirming the value of model organisms in training scientific minds @ishmailsaboor.bsky.social exactly what we were talking about re your #Celegans background setting you up for creative work in other systems! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
October 11, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Reaffirming the value of model organisms in training scientific minds @ishmailsaboor.bsky.social exactly what we were talking about re your #Celegans background setting you up for creative work in other systems! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Monika Scholz
Disease prevalence in US states before & after vaccine introduction 🧪
From Edward Tufte & graphics.wsj.com/infectious-d...
From Edward Tufte & graphics.wsj.com/infectious-d...
September 4, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Disease prevalence in US states before & after vaccine introduction 🧪
From Edward Tufte & graphics.wsj.com/infectious-d...
From Edward Tufte & graphics.wsj.com/infectious-d...
...
You can't raid and arrest everyone in an entire apartment building, or even legitimately get a warrant to do that, any more than you could for a whole neighborhood. That would be a general warrant. This is the most specific core the-British-did-it-to-us thing the Fourth Amendment is written to ban.
NEW — An estimated 40 people were taken by federal agents in an overnight raid in South Shore, a predominantly-Black neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side.
A couple who live nearby said they were shocked to see the enormous militarized raid in their community.
thetriibe.com/2025/09/feds...
A couple who live nearby said they were shocked to see the enormous militarized raid in their community.
thetriibe.com/2025/09/feds...
October 2, 2025 at 7:06 PM
...
@leoboeger.bsky.social is our ambassador to this year's #BernsteinConference! He extended our recent work on behavioral states during predatory aggression to explicitly model latents and how they change in diverse neuronodulator mutants! As usual, joint work with the @jameslightfoot.bsky.social lab.
Interested in neuromodulation, predatory worms or hidden Markov models? Or the combination of all three? Then come and see my poster (number 21) today in poster session 1 at the #BernsteinConference.
October 1, 2025 at 3:10 PM
@leoboeger.bsky.social is our ambassador to this year's #BernsteinConference! He extended our recent work on behavioral states during predatory aggression to explicitly model latents and how they change in diverse neuronodulator mutants! As usual, joint work with the @jameslightfoot.bsky.social lab.
Reposted by Monika Scholz
This is why we fund scientists to study things like oyster slobber even if you don’t think it sounds important
⚠️ Chinese researchers have invented bone glue that mimics how oysters stick to surfaces underwater.
The adhesive can reportedly repair orthopedic fractures in 2-3 minutes, even in blood-rich environments, and is bioabsorbable.
interestingengineering.com/science/chin...
The adhesive can reportedly repair orthopedic fractures in 2-3 minutes, even in blood-rich environments, and is bioabsorbable.
interestingengineering.com/science/chin...
China's oyster-inspired 'bone glue' bonds fractures in minutes
A new oyster-inspired Bone-02 adhesive can revolutionize bone repair without metal fasteners.
interestingengineering.com
September 30, 2025 at 10:35 PM
This is why we fund scientists to study things like oyster slobber even if you don’t think it sounds important
Reposted by Monika Scholz
A nice shift in perceived colour between central and peripheral vision. The fixated disc looks purple while the others look blue.
The effect presumably comes from the absence of S-cones in the fovea.
From Hinnerk Schulz-Hildebrandt:
arxiv.org/pdf/2509.115...
The effect presumably comes from the absence of S-cones in the fovea.
From Hinnerk Schulz-Hildebrandt:
arxiv.org/pdf/2509.115...
September 24, 2025 at 12:04 PM
A nice shift in perceived colour between central and peripheral vision. The fixated disc looks purple while the others look blue.
The effect presumably comes from the absence of S-cones in the fovea.
From Hinnerk Schulz-Hildebrandt:
arxiv.org/pdf/2509.115...
The effect presumably comes from the absence of S-cones in the fovea.
From Hinnerk Schulz-Hildebrandt:
arxiv.org/pdf/2509.115...
Busy prep today for the open house @mpinb.mpg.de tomorrow! The 🪱 station is ready!
Discover how a fluorescence microscope works, pick some (gummi) worms, and play with an entire worm brain!
Plus we have a selfie-station to step into the shoes/coat of a scientist! #worms
Discover how a fluorescence microscope works, pick some (gummi) worms, and play with an entire worm brain!
Plus we have a selfie-station to step into the shoes/coat of a scientist! #worms
September 19, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Busy prep today for the open house @mpinb.mpg.de tomorrow! The 🪱 station is ready!
Discover how a fluorescence microscope works, pick some (gummi) worms, and play with an entire worm brain!
Plus we have a selfie-station to step into the shoes/coat of a scientist! #worms
Discover how a fluorescence microscope works, pick some (gummi) worms, and play with an entire worm brain!
Plus we have a selfie-station to step into the shoes/coat of a scientist! #worms
Reposted by Monika Scholz
📢Apply now! Join our IMPRS for Brain&Behavior to pursue a #PhD in #neuroethology. Learn how brain circuits are linked to interesting animal behaviors!
📅 Deadline: October 31, 2025
🔗 imprs-brain-behavior.mpg.de
#neuroscience #Neuroskyence #neurojobs #sciencejobs #PhDsky #PhDOffers #FundedPhD
📅 Deadline: October 31, 2025
🔗 imprs-brain-behavior.mpg.de
#neuroscience #Neuroskyence #neurojobs #sciencejobs #PhDsky #PhDOffers #FundedPhD
August 27, 2025 at 11:17 AM
📢Apply now! Join our IMPRS for Brain&Behavior to pursue a #PhD in #neuroethology. Learn how brain circuits are linked to interesting animal behaviors!
📅 Deadline: October 31, 2025
🔗 imprs-brain-behavior.mpg.de
#neuroscience #Neuroskyence #neurojobs #sciencejobs #PhDsky #PhDOffers #FundedPhD
📅 Deadline: October 31, 2025
🔗 imprs-brain-behavior.mpg.de
#neuroscience #Neuroskyence #neurojobs #sciencejobs #PhDsky #PhDOffers #FundedPhD
Cleaning up I just found an ancient thumbdrive with talks and a guest lecture from 10 years ago. It's like a little time capsule from the 'dark years'.(post physical photos, pre-smart phone the artefacts remaining are minimal.
August 29, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Cleaning up I just found an ancient thumbdrive with talks and a guest lecture from 10 years ago. It's like a little time capsule from the 'dark years'.(post physical photos, pre-smart phone the artefacts remaining are minimal.
Reposted by Monika Scholz
This is good!
The difference between doing a project and presenting it. An observation can lead to many avenues of explorations before focus turns to a specific discovery. Presenting it, in a talk / paper, follows inversely, with broad perspectives coming before & after the specific discovery.
August 18, 2025 at 6:41 AM
This is good!