Sebastian Samwald (Basti) he/him
@samwalds.bsky.social
Fascinated by what I can "squeeze" out of plant cells under microscopes spiced up with synthetic biology. 🔬
PhDone 🌱 at JIC (UK), now a postdoc at the MPIPZ (Cologne, Germany). Sometimes too sarcastic. 🇪🇺🏳️🌈 he/him
https://linktr.ee/samwalds
PhDone 🌱 at JIC (UK), now a postdoc at the MPIPZ (Cologne, Germany). Sometimes too sarcastic. 🇪🇺🏳️🌈 he/him
https://linktr.ee/samwalds
Celebrating Karneval/Fasching by making Berliner/Krapfen at home. 🧑🍳🎉
February 15, 2026 at 6:48 PM
Celebrating Karneval/Fasching by making Berliner/Krapfen at home. 🧑🍳🎉
Reposted by Sebastian Samwald (Basti) he/him
Open for registration now! 🌱
The new working group on Plant Biotechnology within the German Society for Plant Breeding will held its first workshop in March 2026.
I'm looking forward to an amazing meeting!
The new working group on Plant Biotechnology within the German Society for Plant Breeding will held its first workshop in March 2026.
I'm looking forward to an amazing meeting!
The aim of the new Plant Biotechnology group of the @plantsciencedbg.bsky.social is to facilitate the exchange of expertise between research, breeding and biotech companies. An initial workshop will take place on 9 and 10 March at the @leibnizipk.bsky.social.
➡️All information: tinyurl.com/4nn5ufnr
➡️All information: tinyurl.com/4nn5ufnr
February 9, 2026 at 10:44 AM
Open for registration now! 🌱
The new working group on Plant Biotechnology within the German Society for Plant Breeding will held its first workshop in March 2026.
I'm looking forward to an amazing meeting!
The new working group on Plant Biotechnology within the German Society for Plant Breeding will held its first workshop in March 2026.
I'm looking forward to an amazing meeting!
Reposted by Sebastian Samwald (Basti) he/him
Please share!
PhD position (4 years) available in my group @zmbp-tuebingen.bsky.social. We look for candidates with solid aptitude in computer science to cross disciplines and use cutting edge imaging to understand host infection by destructive plant pathogens.
uni-tuebingen.de/universitaet...
PhD position (4 years) available in my group @zmbp-tuebingen.bsky.social. We look for candidates with solid aptitude in computer science to cross disciplines and use cutting edge imaging to understand host infection by destructive plant pathogens.
uni-tuebingen.de/universitaet...
January 30, 2026 at 3:04 PM
Please share!
PhD position (4 years) available in my group @zmbp-tuebingen.bsky.social. We look for candidates with solid aptitude in computer science to cross disciplines and use cutting edge imaging to understand host infection by destructive plant pathogens.
uni-tuebingen.de/universitaet...
PhD position (4 years) available in my group @zmbp-tuebingen.bsky.social. We look for candidates with solid aptitude in computer science to cross disciplines and use cutting edge imaging to understand host infection by destructive plant pathogens.
uni-tuebingen.de/universitaet...
Reposted by Sebastian Samwald (Basti) he/him
Registration is now open! The 4th edition of the Mendel Early Career Symposium will take place on 21-22 May at the GMI, part of the @viennabiocenter.bsky.social. This two-day event brings together researchers across career stages to discuss the latest research in all areas of plant science.
January 27, 2026 at 11:20 AM
Registration is now open! The 4th edition of the Mendel Early Career Symposium will take place on 21-22 May at the GMI, part of the @viennabiocenter.bsky.social. This two-day event brings together researchers across career stages to discuss the latest research in all areas of plant science.
*Me teaching the dark arts*
Showing a co-worker how to insert functional GIFs into an email. ✨
Showing a co-worker how to insert functional GIFs into an email. ✨
January 20, 2026 at 4:32 PM
*Me teaching the dark arts*
Showing a co-worker how to insert functional GIFs into an email. ✨
Showing a co-worker how to insert functional GIFs into an email. ✨
Reposted by Sebastian Samwald (Basti) he/him
FBI frame-up of Indiana University postdoc Youhuang Xiang: Anti-China witch-hunt escalates
www.wsws.org/en/articles/...
I'd heard whispers of these arrests for carrying plasmids and bio materials across borders before, but someone just shared this detailed news report with me.
Please be careful.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/...
I'd heard whispers of these arrests for carrying plasmids and bio materials across borders before, but someone just shared this detailed news report with me.
Please be careful.
FBI frame-up of Indiana University postdoc Youhuang Xiang: Anti-China witch-hunt escalates
The arrest and prosecution of Chinese researcher Youhuang Xiang, announced December 19 by FBI Director Kash Patel, is the latest episode in an FBI/Department of Justice campaign to criminalize scienti...
www.wsws.org
January 19, 2026 at 7:38 PM
FBI frame-up of Indiana University postdoc Youhuang Xiang: Anti-China witch-hunt escalates
www.wsws.org/en/articles/...
I'd heard whispers of these arrests for carrying plasmids and bio materials across borders before, but someone just shared this detailed news report with me.
Please be careful.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/...
I'd heard whispers of these arrests for carrying plasmids and bio materials across borders before, but someone just shared this detailed news report with me.
Please be careful.
Reposted by Sebastian Samwald (Basti) he/him
Someone got Cas9-Turbo to work. It's like basically Y1H but with proteomics. It however requires transgenic plant expressing Cas9-Turbo and gRNAs, which is still cumbersome for many plants that are not Arabidopsis. #PlantSciences
New Brief Communication: "A CRISPR-based sequence proximity binding protein labelling system for scanning upstream regulatory proteins" rdcu.be/eZLUP
CRISPR-based proximity labelling system to profile DNA-binding proteins such as PIF4 transcription factor .
CRISPR-based proximity labelling system to profile DNA-binding proteins such as PIF4 transcription factor .
January 19, 2026 at 6:47 PM
Someone got Cas9-Turbo to work. It's like basically Y1H but with proteomics. It however requires transgenic plant expressing Cas9-Turbo and gRNAs, which is still cumbersome for many plants that are not Arabidopsis. #PlantSciences
Reposted by Sebastian Samwald (Basti) he/him
✨ Job Opportunity ✨
Postdoc or Research Assistant in Fluorescent Biosensor Design at Aarhus University - The project aims to develop a genetically encoded biosensor for the neurotransmitter serotonin with fluorescence lifetime as the read-out.
Details:
international.au.dk/about/profil...
Postdoc or Research Assistant in Fluorescent Biosensor Design at Aarhus University - The project aims to develop a genetically encoded biosensor for the neurotransmitter serotonin with fluorescence lifetime as the read-out.
Details:
international.au.dk/about/profil...
Postdoc or Research Assistant in Fluorescent Biosensor Design - Vacancy at Aarhus University
Vacancy at Department of Forensic Medicine - Retskemisk, Aarhus University
international.au.dk
January 12, 2026 at 9:14 AM
✨ Job Opportunity ✨
Postdoc or Research Assistant in Fluorescent Biosensor Design at Aarhus University - The project aims to develop a genetically encoded biosensor for the neurotransmitter serotonin with fluorescence lifetime as the read-out.
Details:
international.au.dk/about/profil...
Postdoc or Research Assistant in Fluorescent Biosensor Design at Aarhus University - The project aims to develop a genetically encoded biosensor for the neurotransmitter serotonin with fluorescence lifetime as the read-out.
Details:
international.au.dk/about/profil...
Reposted by Sebastian Samwald (Basti) he/him
Are you an experienced PhD student or postdoc in plant science looking to connect, present your work, and discuss career paths?
Join us at the 3rd Early Career Plant Researchers Network Meeting, Halle (Saale), 20–21 April 2026
Deadline: 23 January 2026
plant-ecr-networking.eu
Join us at the 3rd Early Career Plant Researchers Network Meeting, Halle (Saale), 20–21 April 2026
Deadline: 23 January 2026
plant-ecr-networking.eu
December 19, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Are you an experienced PhD student or postdoc in plant science looking to connect, present your work, and discuss career paths?
Join us at the 3rd Early Career Plant Researchers Network Meeting, Halle (Saale), 20–21 April 2026
Deadline: 23 January 2026
plant-ecr-networking.eu
Join us at the 3rd Early Career Plant Researchers Network Meeting, Halle (Saale), 20–21 April 2026
Deadline: 23 January 2026
plant-ecr-networking.eu
Reposted by Sebastian Samwald (Basti) he/him
Launch your own independent research group!
2x David Sainsbury Career Development Fellowships at @slcuplants.bsky.social
📆 Apply by 30 Jan 2026
More info:
👉 www.slcu.cam.ac.uk/careers/grou...
Job details:
👉 www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/david-s...
Please share this post #PlantSciJobs #PlantSciJob
2x David Sainsbury Career Development Fellowships at @slcuplants.bsky.social
📆 Apply by 30 Jan 2026
More info:
👉 www.slcu.cam.ac.uk/careers/grou...
Job details:
👉 www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/david-s...
Please share this post #PlantSciJobs #PlantSciJob
January 9, 2026 at 11:33 AM
Launch your own independent research group!
2x David Sainsbury Career Development Fellowships at @slcuplants.bsky.social
📆 Apply by 30 Jan 2026
More info:
👉 www.slcu.cam.ac.uk/careers/grou...
Job details:
👉 www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/david-s...
Please share this post #PlantSciJobs #PlantSciJob
2x David Sainsbury Career Development Fellowships at @slcuplants.bsky.social
📆 Apply by 30 Jan 2026
More info:
👉 www.slcu.cam.ac.uk/careers/grou...
Job details:
👉 www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/david-s...
Please share this post #PlantSciJobs #PlantSciJob
Reposted by Sebastian Samwald (Basti) he/him
Happy New Year!! 🎉
We're pleased to be back with some exciting new opportunities which we will be sharing in the coming weeks.
We are again inviting host labs to share their projects for our 2026 BiPS Summer Studentships.
Head to our website for more details: buff.ly/g6vAJmM
We're pleased to be back with some exciting new opportunities which we will be sharing in the coming weeks.
We are again inviting host labs to share their projects for our 2026 BiPS Summer Studentships.
Head to our website for more details: buff.ly/g6vAJmM
January 8, 2026 at 11:31 AM
Happy New Year!! 🎉
We're pleased to be back with some exciting new opportunities which we will be sharing in the coming weeks.
We are again inviting host labs to share their projects for our 2026 BiPS Summer Studentships.
Head to our website for more details: buff.ly/g6vAJmM
We're pleased to be back with some exciting new opportunities which we will be sharing in the coming weeks.
We are again inviting host labs to share their projects for our 2026 BiPS Summer Studentships.
Head to our website for more details: buff.ly/g6vAJmM
Reposted by Sebastian Samwald (Basti) he/him
Check out this exciting online and FREE mini symposium on roots, featuring not one but two Freiburg-based @biologyunifreiburg.bsky.social @dompsfr.bsky.social talks by @kleinevehnlab.bsky.social and @kevindaniel.bsky.social 🌱
Rooting for roots?
#PlantScience
Join us online for the Mini Symposium of the International Society of Root Research @rootscientists.bsky.social
Register here for free:
tinyurl.com/yzeddrjx
Programme👇
#PlantScience
Join us online for the Mini Symposium of the International Society of Root Research @rootscientists.bsky.social
Register here for free:
tinyurl.com/yzeddrjx
Programme👇
January 8, 2026 at 3:24 PM
Check out this exciting online and FREE mini symposium on roots, featuring not one but two Freiburg-based @biologyunifreiburg.bsky.social @dompsfr.bsky.social talks by @kleinevehnlab.bsky.social and @kevindaniel.bsky.social 🌱
Reposted by Sebastian Samwald (Basti) he/him
Der "Genome Editing - WieWasWozu?"-Podcast startet eine neue Staffel.
Kompakt, präzise und unaufgeregt erläutern Fachleute im Gespräch mit Sabine Schuh verschiedene Aspekte zum Thema.
Die zwei ersten der neuen Folgen sind schon online: genomeediting.podcaster.de
Kompakt, präzise und unaufgeregt erläutern Fachleute im Gespräch mit Sabine Schuh verschiedene Aspekte zum Thema.
Die zwei ersten der neuen Folgen sind schon online: genomeediting.podcaster.de
Genome Editing – WieWasWozu? | Im Podcast "Genome Editing – WIEWASWOZU?" geben Wissenschaftler Antworten auf relevante Fragen rund um die neuen Züchtungstechniken – sachlich, verständlich, kurz und b...
genomeediting.podcaster.de
January 8, 2026 at 3:34 PM
Der "Genome Editing - WieWasWozu?"-Podcast startet eine neue Staffel.
Kompakt, präzise und unaufgeregt erläutern Fachleute im Gespräch mit Sabine Schuh verschiedene Aspekte zum Thema.
Die zwei ersten der neuen Folgen sind schon online: genomeediting.podcaster.de
Kompakt, präzise und unaufgeregt erläutern Fachleute im Gespräch mit Sabine Schuh verschiedene Aspekte zum Thema.
Die zwei ersten der neuen Folgen sind schon online: genomeediting.podcaster.de
Reposted by Sebastian Samwald (Basti) he/him
We're looking for a postdoc to join us in trying to map the routes by which different signals travel through plants and identify what information they carry. Link👇or get in touch! @johninnescentre.bsky.social
#PlantSciJobs
www.jic.ac.uk/vacancies/po...
#PlantSciJobs
www.jic.ac.uk/vacancies/po...
Postdoctoral Researcher (Faulkner Group) | John Innes Centre
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join the Faulkner Group at the John Innes Centre, working on cutting-edge science in the field of Cell & Developmental Biology.
www.jic.ac.uk
December 22, 2025 at 1:30 PM
We're looking for a postdoc to join us in trying to map the routes by which different signals travel through plants and identify what information they carry. Link👇or get in touch! @johninnescentre.bsky.social
#PlantSciJobs
www.jic.ac.uk/vacancies/po...
#PlantSciJobs
www.jic.ac.uk/vacancies/po...
Happy New Year!
May all your PCRs give you only specific bands of the appropriate sizes. May your gel extraction and miniprep yields be high.
May your cloning always give you at least one correct colony, and your genotyping identify the mutants you are after. ✨
May all your PCRs give you only specific bands of the appropriate sizes. May your gel extraction and miniprep yields be high.
May your cloning always give you at least one correct colony, and your genotyping identify the mutants you are after. ✨
January 1, 2026 at 10:15 AM
Happy New Year!
May all your PCRs give you only specific bands of the appropriate sizes. May your gel extraction and miniprep yields be high.
May your cloning always give you at least one correct colony, and your genotyping identify the mutants you are after. ✨
May all your PCRs give you only specific bands of the appropriate sizes. May your gel extraction and miniprep yields be high.
May your cloning always give you at least one correct colony, and your genotyping identify the mutants you are after. ✨
In preparation for the new year, today’s task is to sort all the notes from my undergrad and Master’s degrees for the proper recycling bins. 🙃
December 31, 2025 at 11:19 AM
In preparation for the new year, today’s task is to sort all the notes from my undergrad and Master’s degrees for the proper recycling bins. 🙃
Reposted by Sebastian Samwald (Basti) he/him
Did you know there are 2 types of avocado varieties? A-types switch from female to male, B-types male to female, within a single day. This reciprocal sex alternation promotes cross-pollination and has a simple genetic basis. Read more in this recent preprint from the final chapter of my PhD thesis 🥑
Balanced polymorphism in a floral transcription factor underlies an ancient rhythm of daily sex alternation in avocado
In avocado and certain wild relatives in Lauraceae, pollination occurs via a synchronized rhythm of floral sex timing between two hermaphroditic flowering types. A-type plants present female-phase flo...
www.biorxiv.org
December 29, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Did you know there are 2 types of avocado varieties? A-types switch from female to male, B-types male to female, within a single day. This reciprocal sex alternation promotes cross-pollination and has a simple genetic basis. Read more in this recent preprint from the final chapter of my PhD thesis 🥑
Reposted by Sebastian Samwald (Basti) he/him
A few years ago, through luck and vibes, I managed to produce this blue colored bean variety.
This was an early step in trying to answer the question, [paraphrased] "Why isn't blue as common as red in beans, even though they're both anthocyanins and the plant has the genes for both?"
This was an early step in trying to answer the question, [paraphrased] "Why isn't blue as common as red in beans, even though they're both anthocyanins and the plant has the genes for both?"
December 29, 2025 at 7:14 AM
A few years ago, through luck and vibes, I managed to produce this blue colored bean variety.
This was an early step in trying to answer the question, [paraphrased] "Why isn't blue as common as red in beans, even though they're both anthocyanins and the plant has the genes for both?"
This was an early step in trying to answer the question, [paraphrased] "Why isn't blue as common as red in beans, even though they're both anthocyanins and the plant has the genes for both?"
Happy Holidays!
Merry Christmas to all who celebrate! 🎄✨
Merry Christmas to all who celebrate! 🎄✨
December 24, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Happy Holidays!
Merry Christmas to all who celebrate! 🎄✨
Merry Christmas to all who celebrate! 🎄✨
Reposted by Sebastian Samwald (Basti) he/him
CYCLING CITIES goes international! Dear friends of the int. cycling community. My new movie CYCLING CITIES is now available with english subtitles to hopefully inspire people worldwide to push for change. Please share within your int. network.
Thank you and merry christmas❤️
youtu.be/R5jQc1jXLAU?...
Thank you and merry christmas❤️
youtu.be/R5jQc1jXLAU?...
December 23, 2025 at 11:01 AM
CYCLING CITIES goes international! Dear friends of the int. cycling community. My new movie CYCLING CITIES is now available with english subtitles to hopefully inspire people worldwide to push for change. Please share within your int. network.
Thank you and merry christmas❤️
youtu.be/R5jQc1jXLAU?...
Thank you and merry christmas❤️
youtu.be/R5jQc1jXLAU?...
US based gardeners: Go get yourself the coolest tomato seeds of this decade for your garden! 🍅💜🧡
December 23, 2025 at 7:31 AM
US based gardeners: Go get yourself the coolest tomato seeds of this decade for your garden! 🍅💜🧡
Reposted by Sebastian Samwald (Basti) he/him
HS1 Ltd is expanding the capacity at St Pancras... 🤔 I have known for AGES this is in planning (and was leaked some documents about it, also ages ago). I can't tell if this story is some new plan, or re-hashing the old ones. In any case it's welcome! #CrossChannelRail www.ft.com/content/ff71...
London St Pancras revamp aims to cut Eurostar waiting time to 15 minutes
Planned £100mn overhaul of train station will seek to end ‘holding pen’ experience for passengers
www.ft.com
December 19, 2025 at 7:33 PM
HS1 Ltd is expanding the capacity at St Pancras... 🤔 I have known for AGES this is in planning (and was leaked some documents about it, also ages ago). I can't tell if this story is some new plan, or re-hashing the old ones. In any case it's welcome! #CrossChannelRail www.ft.com/content/ff71...
Reposted by Sebastian Samwald (Basti) he/him
The Clavel Group is recruiting a new postdoc for two possible projects dealing with plant-virus interactions and selective autophagy! More (wordy) details below ⬇️🌱🦠
December 16, 2025 at 5:15 PM
The Clavel Group is recruiting a new postdoc for two possible projects dealing with plant-virus interactions and selective autophagy! More (wordy) details below ⬇️🌱🦠
Reposted by Sebastian Samwald (Basti) he/him
Alright scientists! It's that time again!
Time to sign up for Skype a Scientist's spring semester.
Want to get matched with a classroom in 2026?
Sign up now 🥰
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Time to sign up for Skype a Scientist's spring semester.
Want to get matched with a classroom in 2026?
Sign up now 🥰
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
December 10, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Alright scientists! It's that time again!
Time to sign up for Skype a Scientist's spring semester.
Want to get matched with a classroom in 2026?
Sign up now 🥰
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Time to sign up for Skype a Scientist's spring semester.
Want to get matched with a classroom in 2026?
Sign up now 🥰
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Reposted by Sebastian Samwald (Basti) he/him
New release of #BigVolumeBrowser. Many things were added: UI improvement (thanks to @kwolbachia.bsky.social feedback), pyramidization for BioFormats dataset, bug fixes.
Now there is an isosurface rendering mode (1/4)
Now there is an isosurface rendering mode (1/4)
December 12, 2025 at 10:10 AM
New release of #BigVolumeBrowser. Many things were added: UI improvement (thanks to @kwolbachia.bsky.social feedback), pyramidization for BioFormats dataset, bug fixes.
Now there is an isosurface rendering mode (1/4)
Now there is an isosurface rendering mode (1/4)