Virginia Pimmett
@pimmett.bsky.social
Postdoc in the Lagha lab at IGMM in Montpellier FR // Drosophila fan, dev bio fan, microscope fan, hockey fan // 🇨🇦->🇫🇷
Reposted by Virginia Pimmett
Single-Molecule DNA Footprinting and Transcription Imaging Reveal the Molecular Mechanisms of Promoter Dynamics https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.26.690466v1
November 27, 2025 at 3:19 AM
Single-Molecule DNA Footprinting and Transcription Imaging Reveal the Molecular Mechanisms of Promoter Dynamics https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.26.690466v1
Reposted by Virginia Pimmett
Now online! Thermodynamic principles link in vitro transcription factor affinities to single-molecule chromatin states in cells
Thermodynamic principles link in vitro transcription factor affinities to single-molecule chromatin states in cells
In vitro-derived insights into features that drive transcription factor binding to DNA, including motif-adjacent sequence, enable prediction of chromatin states and transcription factor occupancy in cells.
dlvr.it
November 26, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Now online! Thermodynamic principles link in vitro transcription factor affinities to single-molecule chromatin states in cells
Reposted by Virginia Pimmett
Are you an early-stage graduate student (2nd or 3rd year) or early-stage postdoc based in the US or Canada, working primarily in Drosophila? Would you like to help improve the experience of all trainees working in Drosophila research? If so, read on.
(Please repost to reach a broad audience.)
(Please repost to reach a broad audience.)
November 12, 2025 at 4:49 AM
Are you an early-stage graduate student (2nd or 3rd year) or early-stage postdoc based in the US or Canada, working primarily in Drosophila? Would you like to help improve the experience of all trainees working in Drosophila research? If so, read on.
(Please repost to reach a broad audience.)
(Please repost to reach a broad audience.)
Reposted by Virginia Pimmett
🧬 𝐋’𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐝𝐞́𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐠𝐞̀𝐧𝐞𝐬
Des scientifiques de l'IGMM utilisent l’embryon de drosophile pour démontrer que la répression de l’expression des gènes est un mécanisme beaucoup plus complexe qu’attendu.
📖 👉 lnkd.in/dPqUREuf
📷 © Mounia Lagha et Virginia Pimmett
Des scientifiques de l'IGMM utilisent l’embryon de drosophile pour démontrer que la répression de l’expression des gènes est un mécanisme beaucoup plus complexe qu’attendu.
📖 👉 lnkd.in/dPqUREuf
📷 © Mounia Lagha et Virginia Pimmett
September 30, 2025 at 6:35 AM
🧬 𝐋’𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐝𝐞́𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐠𝐞̀𝐧𝐞𝐬
Des scientifiques de l'IGMM utilisent l’embryon de drosophile pour démontrer que la répression de l’expression des gènes est un mécanisme beaucoup plus complexe qu’attendu.
📖 👉 lnkd.in/dPqUREuf
📷 © Mounia Lagha et Virginia Pimmett
Des scientifiques de l'IGMM utilisent l’embryon de drosophile pour démontrer que la répression de l’expression des gènes est un mécanisme beaucoup plus complexe qu’attendu.
📖 👉 lnkd.in/dPqUREuf
📷 © Mounia Lagha et Virginia Pimmett
Reposted by Virginia Pimmett
FlyBase needs your help! We ask that European labs continue to contribute to Cambridge, UK FlyBase, whereas US and other non-European labs can contribute to US FlyBase. For more information and how to donate: wiki.flybase.org/wiki/FlyBase...
FlyBase:Contribute to FlyBase - FlyBase Wiki
wiki.flybase.org
August 15, 2025 at 12:45 PM
FlyBase needs your help! We ask that European labs continue to contribute to Cambridge, UK FlyBase, whereas US and other non-European labs can contribute to US FlyBase. For more information and how to donate: wiki.flybase.org/wiki/FlyBase...
On vacation but still managed to find a microscope. Spouse is woefully unsurprised.
August 12, 2025 at 12:27 PM
On vacation but still managed to find a microscope. Spouse is woefully unsurprised.
Reposted by Virginia Pimmett
A Summer reading recommendation: new primer in @dev-journal.bsky.social explains how dynamical systems theory unlocks the logic of developmental patterning
Everything from bistable switches & oscillators to phase portraits & more with Python code to explore
journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...
Everything from bistable switches & oscillators to phase portraits & more with Python code to explore
journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...
From genes to patterns: five key dynamical systems concepts to decode developmental regulatory mechanisms
Summary: Dynamical systems theory provides a powerful quantitative and intuitive framework to understand developmental processes. This Primer brings key concepts of this framework to the ever-growing ...
journals.biologists.com
August 4, 2025 at 8:44 AM
A Summer reading recommendation: new primer in @dev-journal.bsky.social explains how dynamical systems theory unlocks the logic of developmental patterning
Everything from bistable switches & oscillators to phase portraits & more with Python code to explore
journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...
Everything from bistable switches & oscillators to phase portraits & more with Python code to explore
journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...
Reposted by Virginia Pimmett
🚀 @hfspo.bsky.social funded Postdoc
3-year contract
Start after Dec 2025
📩 Apply: mounia.lagha@igmm.cnrs.fr
Subject: "[HFSP Post doc application]"
📎 CV + short research summary + cover letter
🔗 More info: euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/363437
@laghalab.bsky.social @umontpellier.bsky.social @cnrs.fr
3-year contract
Start after Dec 2025
📩 Apply: mounia.lagha@igmm.cnrs.fr
Subject: "[HFSP Post doc application]"
📎 CV + short research summary + cover letter
🔗 More info: euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/363437
@laghalab.bsky.social @umontpellier.bsky.social @cnrs.fr
A PhD in biology, biophysics or a closely related field is required by the start of the appointment. Interdisciplinary profiles are strongly encouraged to apply.
- work environment:
euraxess.ec.europa.eu
July 28, 2025 at 8:18 AM
🚀 @hfspo.bsky.social funded Postdoc
3-year contract
Start after Dec 2025
📩 Apply: mounia.lagha@igmm.cnrs.fr
Subject: "[HFSP Post doc application]"
📎 CV + short research summary + cover letter
🔗 More info: euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/363437
@laghalab.bsky.social @umontpellier.bsky.social @cnrs.fr
3-year contract
Start after Dec 2025
📩 Apply: mounia.lagha@igmm.cnrs.fr
Subject: "[HFSP Post doc application]"
📎 CV + short research summary + cover letter
🔗 More info: euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/363437
@laghalab.bsky.social @umontpellier.bsky.social @cnrs.fr
Reposted by Virginia Pimmett
We are hiring! "Researcher in DNA-Based Information Processing Systems" (PhD or postdoc level). Co-supervision by Prof. Ralf Reussner (KIT computer science) and myself (biological systems). Combination of experiments and computational work. Please Apply / Repost!
www.pse.kit.edu/english/karr...
www.pse.kit.edu/english/karr...
July 29, 2025 at 6:24 AM
We are hiring! "Researcher in DNA-Based Information Processing Systems" (PhD or postdoc level). Co-supervision by Prof. Ralf Reussner (KIT computer science) and myself (biological systems). Combination of experiments and computational work. Please Apply / Repost!
www.pse.kit.edu/english/karr...
www.pse.kit.edu/english/karr...
Come and join the team! It's a stellar group of people and some really interesting questions to dissect with all kinds of cool tools in play.
#jobAlert We are hiring! If you like #imaging ,gene regulation and a dynamic group please apply. We are looking for a research assistant with a master degree and prior experience in academia.
🎯 Hiring: Biology Research Assistant (M/F)
Join IGMM Montpellier to study gene expression dynamics during Drosophila development @laghalab.bsky.social
6-month contract, renewable up to 2 years.
Start Sept 15, 2025 | Apply by Aug 11
🔗 emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/CDD/U...
#Hiring #Biology #Research #IGMM
Join IGMM Montpellier to study gene expression dynamics during Drosophila development @laghalab.bsky.social
6-month contract, renewable up to 2 years.
Start Sept 15, 2025 | Apply by Aug 11
🔗 emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/CDD/U...
#Hiring #Biology #Research #IGMM
July 28, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Come and join the team! It's a stellar group of people and some really interesting questions to dissect with all kinds of cool tools in play.
Reposted by Virginia Pimmett
Tom Lehrer died today. He was one of the great comedians our culture ever produced. Without Tom, there's no Weird Al, probably no that entire branch of comedy.
He went alone and beat the odds.
youtu.be/frAEmhqdLFs?...
He went alone and beat the odds.
youtu.be/frAEmhqdLFs?...
Tom Lehrer - We Will All Go Together When We Go
YouTube video by The Tom Lehrer Wisdom Channel
youtu.be
July 27, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Tom Lehrer died today. He was one of the great comedians our culture ever produced. Without Tom, there's no Weird Al, probably no that entire branch of comedy.
He went alone and beat the odds.
youtu.be/frAEmhqdLFs?...
He went alone and beat the odds.
youtu.be/frAEmhqdLFs?...
Reposted by Virginia Pimmett
In today’s publication in Science we introduce Zincore: a novel protein of QRICH1 and SEPHS1 and functions as a transcriptional coregulator dedicated to zinc finger transcription factors. Here’s how we found it: 🧵 www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... 1/11
Zincore, an atypical coregulator, binds zinc finger transcription factors to control gene expression
Zinc finger proteins (ZNFs) are the largest family of transcription factors, yet how they activate gene expression remains unclear. In this study, we identified Zincore, a protein complex consisting o...
www.science.org
July 4, 2025 at 11:00 AM
In today’s publication in Science we introduce Zincore: a novel protein of QRICH1 and SEPHS1 and functions as a transcriptional coregulator dedicated to zinc finger transcription factors. Here’s how we found it: 🧵 www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... 1/11
Reposted by Virginia Pimmett
🎉 Thrilled to share our new paper in @narjournal.bsky.social!
We uncover how the Hox TF Ultrabithorax controls alternative splicing to shape muscle patterning and homeotic identity 🧬 @igmm-montpel.bsky.social
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/nar/...
We uncover how the Hox TF Ultrabithorax controls alternative splicing to shape muscle patterning and homeotic identity 🧬 @igmm-montpel.bsky.social
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/nar/...
Synergistic DNA and RNA binding of the Hox transcription factor Ultrabithorax coordinates splicing and shapes in vivo homeotic functions
Abstract. The dual interaction of many transcription factors (TFs) with both DNA and RNA is an underexplored issue that could fundamentally reshape our und
doi.org
July 4, 2025 at 5:40 PM
🎉 Thrilled to share our new paper in @narjournal.bsky.social!
We uncover how the Hox TF Ultrabithorax controls alternative splicing to shape muscle patterning and homeotic identity 🧬 @igmm-montpel.bsky.social
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/nar/...
We uncover how the Hox TF Ultrabithorax controls alternative splicing to shape muscle patterning and homeotic identity 🧬 @igmm-montpel.bsky.social
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/nar/...
Reposted by Virginia Pimmett
Textbooks: “Enhancers are just a bunch of TFBSs”
But how do they REALLY work?
New paper with many contributors here @berkeleylab.lbl.gov, @anshulkundaje.bsky.social, @anusri.bsky.social
A 🧵 (1/n)
Free access link: rdcu.be/erD22
But how do they REALLY work?
New paper with many contributors here @berkeleylab.lbl.gov, @anshulkundaje.bsky.social, @anusri.bsky.social
A 🧵 (1/n)
Free access link: rdcu.be/erD22
June 18, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Textbooks: “Enhancers are just a bunch of TFBSs”
But how do they REALLY work?
New paper with many contributors here @berkeleylab.lbl.gov, @anshulkundaje.bsky.social, @anusri.bsky.social
A 🧵 (1/n)
Free access link: rdcu.be/erD22
But how do they REALLY work?
New paper with many contributors here @berkeleylab.lbl.gov, @anshulkundaje.bsky.social, @anusri.bsky.social
A 🧵 (1/n)
Free access link: rdcu.be/erD22
Reposted by Virginia Pimmett
We currently have a call for support that has gone out to European labs, to support FlyBase-UK. We are asking our colleagues from labs in the US and other countries to wait for a similar call to them that will go out in the near future, to support the US sites. We thank you for your patience.
URGENT: FlyBase has lost practically all its funding overnight; even user fees are tied up in denied grant funding. 🤬🤯
Any lab using @flybase.bsky.social please donate using the link in post below.
This incredible community, on whose backs our #Drosophila labs depend, can't be left out to dry.
Any lab using @flybase.bsky.social please donate using the link in post below.
This incredible community, on whose backs our #Drosophila labs depend, can't be left out to dry.
My lab studies bacterial infections. We spend a lot of time looking at (or for) species-specific genetic and genomic databases for hosts and microbes. FlyBase is the best of all—there is literally no comparison. Its existence is under threat. Please donate.
www.philanthropy.cam.ac.uk/give-to-camb...
www.philanthropy.cam.ac.uk/give-to-camb...
June 3, 2025 at 9:17 PM
We currently have a call for support that has gone out to European labs, to support FlyBase-UK. We are asking our colleagues from labs in the US and other countries to wait for a similar call to them that will go out in the near future, to support the US sites. We thank you for your patience.
Reposted by Virginia Pimmett
Why use #CRISPR in #Drosophila when RNAi works so well? Because for some genes well is not good enough.
Check out new preprint from the lab demonstrating a role for Vps15 in Wingless trafficking. Something that was missed in several RNAi screens.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Check out new preprint from the lab demonstrating a role for Vps15 in Wingless trafficking. Something that was missed in several RNAi screens.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
May 26, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Why use #CRISPR in #Drosophila when RNAi works so well? Because for some genes well is not good enough.
Check out new preprint from the lab demonstrating a role for Vps15 in Wingless trafficking. Something that was missed in several RNAi screens.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Check out new preprint from the lab demonstrating a role for Vps15 in Wingless trafficking. Something that was missed in several RNAi screens.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Virginia Pimmett
incredible, he's actually going down, what a perfect end to the night
how much is Poilievre cursing Trump out right now, he's got to be fucking livid
how much is Poilievre cursing Trump out right now, he's got to be fucking livid
April 29, 2025 at 7:04 AM
incredible, he's actually going down, what a perfect end to the night
how much is Poilievre cursing Trump out right now, he's got to be fucking livid
how much is Poilievre cursing Trump out right now, he's got to be fucking livid
Reposted by Virginia Pimmett
check out our latest paper investigating how TF concentration affects transcription dynamics @dev-journal.bsky.social. optogenetics+mRNA #imaging in #drosophila #embryos. joint effort with @stathopouloslab.bsky.social @caltech.edu. bravo to @pimmett.bsky.social and J.McGehee.
Optogenetic manipulation of nuclear Dorsal reveals temporal requirements and consequences for transcription
Read this #OpenAccess Research Article by @pimmett.bsky.social, James McGehee, @laghalab.bsky.social & co.
doi.org/10.1242/dev....
🎥sog-MS2 in dl-LEXY in the dark and with light at nc13
Read this #OpenAccess Research Article by @pimmett.bsky.social, James McGehee, @laghalab.bsky.social & co.
doi.org/10.1242/dev....
🎥sog-MS2 in dl-LEXY in the dark and with light at nc13
April 2, 2025 at 8:03 AM
check out our latest paper investigating how TF concentration affects transcription dynamics @dev-journal.bsky.social. optogenetics+mRNA #imaging in #drosophila #embryos. joint effort with @stathopouloslab.bsky.social @caltech.edu. bravo to @pimmett.bsky.social and J.McGehee.
Reposted by Virginia Pimmett
It's always the people you most expect
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Marine Le Pen found guilty in EU funding embezzlement case
It could mean the leader of the far-right National Rally is banned from standing in the 2027 French presidential election.
www.bbc.com
March 31, 2025 at 9:38 AM
It's always the people you most expect
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Virginia Pimmett
A thread about power.
There is a lesson here, about how beating autocrats like Trump involves STANDING UP to them, not backing down. Find a way to stand up.
Canada's PM told Trump to fuck off, and now Trump is treating him better.
1/
There is a lesson here, about how beating autocrats like Trump involves STANDING UP to them, not backing down. Find a way to stand up.
Canada's PM told Trump to fuck off, and now Trump is treating him better.
1/
Not gonna pretend like I know anything about Carney’s politics because I don’t, but I watched his speech yesterday and he essentially told Trump to fuck off and now Trump’s speaking about him with a modicum of respect.
I feel like there’s a lesson in there somewhere.
I feel like there’s a lesson in there somewhere.
Trump drops the demeaning "governor" stuff and calls Carney by his correct title
March 28, 2025 at 11:40 PM
A thread about power.
There is a lesson here, about how beating autocrats like Trump involves STANDING UP to them, not backing down. Find a way to stand up.
Canada's PM told Trump to fuck off, and now Trump is treating him better.
1/
There is a lesson here, about how beating autocrats like Trump involves STANDING UP to them, not backing down. Find a way to stand up.
Canada's PM told Trump to fuck off, and now Trump is treating him better.
1/
Reposted by Virginia Pimmett
Celebrating 10 years of our lab with a new preprint:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
How does enhancer location within a TAD control transcriptional bursts from a cognate promoter?
Experiments by Jana Tünnermann and modelling by Gregory Roth
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
How does enhancer location within a TAD control transcriptional bursts from a cognate promoter?
Experiments by Jana Tünnermann and modelling by Gregory Roth
March 29, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Celebrating 10 years of our lab with a new preprint:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
How does enhancer location within a TAD control transcriptional bursts from a cognate promoter?
Experiments by Jana Tünnermann and modelling by Gregory Roth
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
How does enhancer location within a TAD control transcriptional bursts from a cognate promoter?
Experiments by Jana Tünnermann and modelling by Gregory Roth
A stressful tragedy for the scientific staff, but a blessing for humanity. Let it fade into data-destroyed obscurity.
DNA testing company 23andMe files for bankurptcy protection, CEO resigns
DNA testing company 23andMe files for bankurptcy protection, CEO resigns
Genetics testing company 23andMe has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. to initiate the sale of its assets. Alongside, the company’s co-founder and CEO Anne Wojcicki said she is leaving the company to become an independent bidder for the company. “After a thorough evaluation of strategic alternatives, we have determined that a […]
tcrn.ch
March 24, 2025 at 9:34 AM
A stressful tragedy for the scientific staff, but a blessing for humanity. Let it fade into data-destroyed obscurity.
Reposted by Virginia Pimmett
Don’t forget to register for this special conference. If you like gene regulation from single molecule approaches, please join us #EMBLSingleMolecule. Imaging and Omics and a bit of theory for lots of fun!
📢 Have you registered for 'Gene regulation: one molecule at a time' yet?
Submit your abstract by 8 April!
👉🏼 s.embl.org/grg25-01-bl
#EMBLSingleMolecule will bring together single molecule genomics and imaging to study mechanisms across the central dogma at molecular resolution 🧬🔍
Submit your abstract by 8 April!
👉🏼 s.embl.org/grg25-01-bl
#EMBLSingleMolecule will bring together single molecule genomics and imaging to study mechanisms across the central dogma at molecular resolution 🧬🔍
March 16, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Don’t forget to register for this special conference. If you like gene regulation from single molecule approaches, please join us #EMBLSingleMolecule. Imaging and Omics and a bit of theory for lots of fun!
Reposted by Virginia Pimmett
We wrote a review article on modelling and design of transcriptional enhancers using sequence-to-function models.
From conventional machine learning methods to CNNs and using models as oracles/generative AI for synthetic enhancer design!
@natrevbioeng.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
From conventional machine learning methods to CNNs and using models as oracles/generative AI for synthetic enhancer design!
@natrevbioeng.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
Modelling and design of transcriptional enhancers - Nature Reviews Bioengineering
Enhancers are genomic elements critical for regulating gene expression. In this Review, the authors discuss how sequence-to-function models can be used to unravel the rules underlying enhancer activit...
www.nature.com
February 28, 2025 at 2:45 PM
We wrote a review article on modelling and design of transcriptional enhancers using sequence-to-function models.
From conventional machine learning methods to CNNs and using models as oracles/generative AI for synthetic enhancer design!
@natrevbioeng.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
From conventional machine learning methods to CNNs and using models as oracles/generative AI for synthetic enhancer design!
@natrevbioeng.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
Reposted by Virginia Pimmett
March 7, 2025 at 5:21 PM