Pedro Beltrao
@pedrobeltrao.bsky.social
Associate professor at ETH Zurich, studying the cellular consequences of genetic variation. Affiliated with the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics and a part of the LOOP Zurich.
Pinned
Full Stack Web Developer for Life Science Research
jobs.ethz.ch
We are hiring for a web developer position, ideally with some experience in bioinformatics. This position is aimed at helping us turn our research in human genetics into useful tools. A background in either bioinformatics or web development is required.
jobs.ethz.ch/job/view/JOP...
jobs.ethz.ch/job/view/JOP...
I have been enjoying the Dwarkesh AI podcasts. The latest was closer to biology but it still felt like a novice AI engineer talking with a novice neuroscientist. Other interviews I have liked were with Richard Sutton, Ilya Sutskever, Andrej Karpathy and Satya Nadella www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9V_...
Adam Marblestone – AI is missing something fundamental about the brain
YouTube video by Dwarkesh Patel
www.youtube.com
January 6, 2026 at 8:56 AM
I have been enjoying the Dwarkesh AI podcasts. The latest was closer to biology but it still felt like a novice AI engineer talking with a novice neuroscientist. Other interviews I have liked were with Richard Sutton, Ilya Sutskever, Andrej Karpathy and Satya Nadella www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9V_...
Reposted by Pedro Beltrao
Happy to share our new preprint from @sashagusevposts.bsky.social and @nmancuso.bsky.social labs! We introduce Mr. PEG, a framework integrating perturbational screens, eQTL, and GWAS data to identify mediating genes for complex traits. (1/n) www.medrxiv.org/content/10.6...
Integrating perturbational screens, eQTL, and GWAS data identifies mediating genes for complex traits
Most current GWAS-eQTL approaches prioritize genes whose mediating effects on complex traits act through cis-regulation, while trans-acting genes remain largely underexplored. Recent perturbational sc...
www.medrxiv.org
January 5, 2026 at 10:27 PM
Happy to share our new preprint from @sashagusevposts.bsky.social and @nmancuso.bsky.social labs! We introduce Mr. PEG, a framework integrating perturbational screens, eQTL, and GWAS data to identify mediating genes for complex traits. (1/n) www.medrxiv.org/content/10.6...
Reposted by Pedro Beltrao
New preprint alert: we use sign errors as a test of how well TWAS works.
Very worryingly we find that TWAS gets the sign wrong around 1/3 of the time (compared to 50% for pure guessing). You can read more about our analysis here, and what we think is going on 👇
Very worryingly we find that TWAS gets the sign wrong around 1/3 of the time (compared to 50% for pure guessing). You can read more about our analysis here, and what we think is going on 👇
How well does TWAS estimate a gene’s direction of effect on a trait? We think of this as an important stress-test for the accuracy of TWAS.
In a new pre-print, we find that TWAS gets the sign wrong around 20-30% of the time!
doi.org/10.64898/202...
1/n
In a new pre-print, we find that TWAS gets the sign wrong around 20-30% of the time!
doi.org/10.64898/202...
1/n
High false sign rates in transcriptome-wide association studies
Transcriptome-wide association studies (TWAS) are widely used to identify genes involved in complex traits and to infer the direction of gene effects on traits. However, despite their popularity, it r...
doi.org
January 6, 2026 at 2:48 AM
New preprint alert: we use sign errors as a test of how well TWAS works.
Very worryingly we find that TWAS gets the sign wrong around 1/3 of the time (compared to 50% for pure guessing). You can read more about our analysis here, and what we think is going on 👇
Very worryingly we find that TWAS gets the sign wrong around 1/3 of the time (compared to 50% for pure guessing). You can read more about our analysis here, and what we think is going on 👇
Reposted by Pedro Beltrao
A great tenure track position (Assistant Professor) of Sustainable Plant Nutrition @ethz.ch @usyseth.bsky.social @johansix.bsky.social ! Deadline to apply: 28/02/2026.
ethz.ch/en/the-eth-z...
ethz.ch/en/the-eth-z...
Assistant Professor (Tenure Track) of Sustainable Plant Nutrition
ethz.ch
January 4, 2026 at 6:29 PM
A great tenure track position (Assistant Professor) of Sustainable Plant Nutrition @ethz.ch @usyseth.bsky.social @johansix.bsky.social ! Deadline to apply: 28/02/2026.
ethz.ch/en/the-eth-z...
ethz.ch/en/the-eth-z...
Reposted by Pedro Beltrao
I'm honored to have received the 2025 HUPO Distinguished Service Award (hupo.org/HUPO-Awards-...) with @mlaval6.bsky.social for building a dynamic early career researcher (ECR) community within @hupo-org.bsky.social. Empowering and amplifying ECRs has been deeply meaningful to me—thank you, HUPO.
January 4, 2026 at 11:32 PM
I'm honored to have received the 2025 HUPO Distinguished Service Award (hupo.org/HUPO-Awards-...) with @mlaval6.bsky.social for building a dynamic early career researcher (ECR) community within @hupo-org.bsky.social. Empowering and amplifying ECRs has been deeply meaningful to me—thank you, HUPO.
Reposted by Pedro Beltrao
Thrilled to share the first major preprint from the lab. Viruses are classically viewed as targets of host sensing. Do viruses also sense and respond to the host? We propose viruses may act as “biosensors” of the host signaling state. A thread👇🏾 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Global Landscape of Human Kinase Motifs in Viral Proteomes
Viruses are classically viewed as targets of host sensing, yet whether they also sense and respond to host cues remains largely unexplored. We propose that host-driven post-translational modification ...
www.biorxiv.org
December 31, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Thrilled to share the first major preprint from the lab. Viruses are classically viewed as targets of host sensing. Do viruses also sense and respond to the host? We propose viruses may act as “biosensors” of the host signaling state. A thread👇🏾 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Pedro Beltrao
The cryo cyclical multiplexing expansion microscopy (Cy-ExM) preprint from
@seweryn-galecki.bsky.social , @kevin-dean.bsky.social et al is online.
20 targets across an entire cell. Mr. Snouty also joined the fun.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
@seweryn-galecki.bsky.social , @kevin-dean.bsky.social et al is online.
20 targets across an entire cell. Mr. Snouty also joined the fun.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
January 2, 2026 at 7:39 PM
The cryo cyclical multiplexing expansion microscopy (Cy-ExM) preprint from
@seweryn-galecki.bsky.social , @kevin-dean.bsky.social et al is online.
20 targets across an entire cell. Mr. Snouty also joined the fun.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
@seweryn-galecki.bsky.social , @kevin-dean.bsky.social et al is online.
20 targets across an entire cell. Mr. Snouty also joined the fun.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
I love my job but it takes a vacation for me to remember how much it keeps me under a high mental load. After a week I start to think about things I would like to learn and do and then it all inevitably gets buried during work time. Much of my work load is voluntary and I still keep it too high.
December 31, 2025 at 8:25 AM
I love my job but it takes a vacation for me to remember how much it keeps me under a high mental load. After a week I start to think about things I would like to learn and do and then it all inevitably gets buried during work time. Much of my work load is voluntary and I still keep it too high.
Reposted by Pedro Beltrao
So 2025 turned out to be a big year for de novo antibody design! Here are thoughts and predictions on the state of de novo antibody design heading into 2026 🧵
December 26, 2025 at 11:49 PM
So 2025 turned out to be a big year for de novo antibody design! Here are thoughts and predictions on the state of de novo antibody design heading into 2026 🧵
Reposted by Pedro Beltrao
I've been thinking about the "virtual cell" concept and wanted to write up a few thoughts. Specifically on how I think the prior experience in GWAS informs the most likely way these models will be useful.
andrewcarroll.github.io/2025/12/23/t...
andrewcarroll.github.io/2025/12/23/t...
The Virtual Cell Will Be More Like Gwas Than Alphafold
There has been significant discussion recently on the concept of the “virtual cell.” I want to summarize the key concepts regarding what the field wants from a virtual cell and the challenges we face....
andrewcarroll.github.io
December 24, 2025 at 1:52 AM
I've been thinking about the "virtual cell" concept and wanted to write up a few thoughts. Specifically on how I think the prior experience in GWAS informs the most likely way these models will be useful.
andrewcarroll.github.io/2025/12/23/t...
andrewcarroll.github.io/2025/12/23/t...
What about a robot that can assemble IKEA furniture? How long until those.
December 23, 2025 at 6:36 PM
What about a robot that can assemble IKEA furniture? How long until those.
Reposted by Pedro Beltrao
Japan is joining Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship research and innovation programme.
Openness and international cooperation can shape a bright future for science and technology.
Through science, we can build bridges, strengthen competitiveness, and accelerate the green and digital transitions.
Openness and international cooperation can shape a bright future for science and technology.
Through science, we can build bridges, strengthen competitiveness, and accelerate the green and digital transitions.
December 22, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Japan is joining Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship research and innovation programme.
Openness and international cooperation can shape a bright future for science and technology.
Through science, we can build bridges, strengthen competitiveness, and accelerate the green and digital transitions.
Openness and international cooperation can shape a bright future for science and technology.
Through science, we can build bridges, strengthen competitiveness, and accelerate the green and digital transitions.
Reposted by Pedro Beltrao
Reposted by Pedro Beltrao
1/ We’re hiring PIs in AI × Biology
The @astar-gis.bsky.social Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) is expanding its AI & Computation domain and recruiting junior & senior PIs.
The @astar-gis.bsky.social Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) is expanding its AI & Computation domain and recruiting junior & senior PIs.
December 21, 2025 at 12:06 PM
1/ We’re hiring PIs in AI × Biology
The @astar-gis.bsky.social Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) is expanding its AI & Computation domain and recruiting junior & senior PIs.
The @astar-gis.bsky.social Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) is expanding its AI & Computation domain and recruiting junior & senior PIs.
Reposted by Pedro Beltrao
here is our first contribution of yeast in microbiomes led by Jason Tsai group[ with contributions from Alberto and Nelly: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
more to come
more to come
A global synthesis of yeast in microbiomes
Yeasts are widespread members of microbial communities across terrestrial, aquatic, and host-associated environments, yet they remain underrepresented in microbiome studies due to low abundance and me...
www.biorxiv.org
December 20, 2025 at 10:24 AM
here is our first contribution of yeast in microbiomes led by Jason Tsai group[ with contributions from Alberto and Nelly: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
more to come
more to come
Reposted by Pedro Beltrao
Going full circle! 😊
The University of Padua was home for both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.
After 7 amazing years at UCL in the Orengo Group, I’m really happy to share that I’ve won a Tenure-Track Assistant Professorship in Biochemistry at my Alma Mater!
The University of Padua was home for both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.
After 7 amazing years at UCL in the Orengo Group, I’m really happy to share that I’ve won a Tenure-Track Assistant Professorship in Biochemistry at my Alma Mater!
December 19, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Going full circle! 😊
The University of Padua was home for both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.
After 7 amazing years at UCL in the Orengo Group, I’m really happy to share that I’ve won a Tenure-Track Assistant Professorship in Biochemistry at my Alma Mater!
The University of Padua was home for both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.
After 7 amazing years at UCL in the Orengo Group, I’m really happy to share that I’ve won a Tenure-Track Assistant Professorship in Biochemistry at my Alma Mater!
Reposted by Pedro Beltrao
Join the dialogue on the #evolution of cellular processes at the EMBO Workshop "The rules of the game: Biophysical & molecular principles in cellular evolution" in #Oeiras, PT, 2–5 June 2026.
Deadline: 1 March
https://meetings.embo.org/event/26-cellular-evolution
#EMBORulesOfTheGame #EMBOevents 🧪
Deadline: 1 March
https://meetings.embo.org/event/26-cellular-evolution
#EMBORulesOfTheGame #EMBOevents 🧪
December 19, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Join the dialogue on the #evolution of cellular processes at the EMBO Workshop "The rules of the game: Biophysical & molecular principles in cellular evolution" in #Oeiras, PT, 2–5 June 2026.
Deadline: 1 March
https://meetings.embo.org/event/26-cellular-evolution
#EMBORulesOfTheGame #EMBOevents 🧪
Deadline: 1 March
https://meetings.embo.org/event/26-cellular-evolution
#EMBORulesOfTheGame #EMBOevents 🧪
Reposted by Pedro Beltrao
📢 Join us in sunny Lisbon 🇵🇹 2-5 June for the @embo.org workshop ☀️
“The rules of the game: biophysical & molecular principles in cellular evolution”
Apply by March 1st!
Please repost to help spread the word!
meetings.embo.org/event/26-cel...
#EMBORulesOfTheGame @gimmfoundation.bsky.social
“The rules of the game: biophysical & molecular principles in cellular evolution”
Apply by March 1st!
Please repost to help spread the word!
meetings.embo.org/event/26-cel...
#EMBORulesOfTheGame @gimmfoundation.bsky.social
The rules of the game: biophysical & molecular principles in cellular evolution
Cells are the fundamental units of life, shaped by evolution into a remarkable diversity of forms and functions. Much is known about the roles of genes and proteins, the regulation of molecular proce…
meetings.embo.org
December 18, 2025 at 3:48 PM
📢 Join us in sunny Lisbon 🇵🇹 2-5 June for the @embo.org workshop ☀️
“The rules of the game: biophysical & molecular principles in cellular evolution”
Apply by March 1st!
Please repost to help spread the word!
meetings.embo.org/event/26-cel...
#EMBORulesOfTheGame @gimmfoundation.bsky.social
“The rules of the game: biophysical & molecular principles in cellular evolution”
Apply by March 1st!
Please repost to help spread the word!
meetings.embo.org/event/26-cel...
#EMBORulesOfTheGame @gimmfoundation.bsky.social
Reposted by Pedro Beltrao
The SNSF is considering restrictions for its Project funding. Goal: to ensure the quality of evaluation & stable success rates despite an increasing number of applications and limited funding. The final decision will be made in January 2026.
👉 buff.ly/iGOCf7R
#research #science
👉 buff.ly/iGOCf7R
#research #science
Project funding restrictions envisaged
The SNSF is responding to increased demand from researchers in order to ensure evaluation quality and stabilise success rates.
buff.ly
December 18, 2025 at 10:30 AM
The SNSF is considering restrictions for its Project funding. Goal: to ensure the quality of evaluation & stable success rates despite an increasing number of applications and limited funding. The final decision will be made in January 2026.
👉 buff.ly/iGOCf7R
#research #science
👉 buff.ly/iGOCf7R
#research #science
Google News is testing an AI generated podcast news summary, reminiscent of those in NotebookLM. This single company can span from chip design and basic CS research to applications with billions of users.Moral judgement aside, seeing a company this big moving this quickly is impressive.
December 17, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Google News is testing an AI generated podcast news summary, reminiscent of those in NotebookLM. This single company can span from chip design and basic CS research to applications with billions of users.Moral judgement aside, seeing a company this big moving this quickly is impressive.
Reposted by Pedro Beltrao
Humbled and honoured to join this club, alongside some of my scientific heroes and colleagues.
Grateful to my team, collaborators, and mentors &, just as much, to my wife, family and friends.
Grateful to my team, collaborators, and mentors &, just as much, to my wife, family and friends.
Congratulations to Prof. Omaya Dudin for receiving the Friedrich Miescher Award 2026!
Find out more: www.ls2.ch/awards/fried...
Prof. Dudin will present his award lecture at the LS2 Annual Meeting 2026 in Zurich: annual-meeting.ls2.ch/2026
@dudinlab.bsky.social @fmiscience.bsky.social
Find out more: www.ls2.ch/awards/fried...
Prof. Dudin will present his award lecture at the LS2 Annual Meeting 2026 in Zurich: annual-meeting.ls2.ch/2026
@dudinlab.bsky.social @fmiscience.bsky.social
December 17, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Humbled and honoured to join this club, alongside some of my scientific heroes and colleagues.
Grateful to my team, collaborators, and mentors &, just as much, to my wife, family and friends.
Grateful to my team, collaborators, and mentors &, just as much, to my wife, family and friends.
Reposted by Pedro Beltrao
See 👇 our new manuscript introducing SpaCEy, an explainable method for predicting clinical outcomes from spatial omics data 🧬
📄 Paper: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
💻 Code repo: github.com/saezlab/SpaCEy
📄 Paper: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
💻 Code repo: github.com/saezlab/SpaCEy
December 17, 2025 at 8:14 AM
See 👇 our new manuscript introducing SpaCEy, an explainable method for predicting clinical outcomes from spatial omics data 🧬
📄 Paper: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
💻 Code repo: github.com/saezlab/SpaCEy
📄 Paper: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
💻 Code repo: github.com/saezlab/SpaCEy
ETH has signed the contract to establish the new campus in Heilbronn focused on AI. Several AI related professorships will be hired across different disciplines across the next few years with the first appointments made already in 2026.
ethz.ch/staffnet/en/...
ethz.ch/staffnet/en/...
Heilbronn news 6/25 – Contracts signed and sealed
With the final contracts signed between ETH Zurich and the Dieter Schwarz Foundation, the first professorships in Heilbronn can now be advertised.
ethz.ch
December 16, 2025 at 6:53 PM
ETH has signed the contract to establish the new campus in Heilbronn focused on AI. Several AI related professorships will be hired across different disciplines across the next few years with the first appointments made already in 2026.
ethz.ch/staffnet/en/...
ethz.ch/staffnet/en/...
Reposted by Pedro Beltrao
Finetune a codon-level language model with 30k tryptophan synthases, then generate diverse, functional, enzymes with broad substrate scopes.
Théophile Lambert @jsunn-y.bsky.social @francesarnold.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Théophile Lambert @jsunn-y.bsky.social @francesarnold.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
December 16, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Finetune a codon-level language model with 30k tryptophan synthases, then generate diverse, functional, enzymes with broad substrate scopes.
Théophile Lambert @jsunn-y.bsky.social @francesarnold.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Théophile Lambert @jsunn-y.bsky.social @francesarnold.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Pedro Beltrao
The cytosolic PRMT5-CDK4 complex impairs cell cycle kinase signaling https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.11.693714v1
December 14, 2025 at 7:02 PM
The cytosolic PRMT5-CDK4 complex impairs cell cycle kinase signaling https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.11.693714v1