Quentin Smith
@qmsmith.bsky.social
Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Boston Children's Hospital & Harvard Medical School.
PhD at Imperial College London.
PhD at Imperial College London.
Reposted by Quentin Smith
Happy to see our latest work online. Here we present a new method for microsecond time-resolved cryo-EM based on jet vitrification! Details in the 🧵 below... we hope you enjoy reading! (Hint, there's some fun videos...) #cryoEM #structuralbiology
Microsecond Time-Resolved Cryo-EM Based on Jet Vitrification https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.21.689681v1
November 22, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Happy to see our latest work online. Here we present a new method for microsecond time-resolved cryo-EM based on jet vitrification! Details in the 🧵 below... we hope you enjoy reading! (Hint, there's some fun videos...) #cryoEM #structuralbiology
Reposted by Quentin Smith
Let’s wrap things up: my commentary on the Asgard hypernucleosomes.
Congratulations to all the authors of the paper 🍾!
kwnsfk27.r.eu-west-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2F...
Cryo-EM reveals open and closed Asgard chromatin assemblies: Molecular Cell www.cell.com/molecular-ce...
Congratulations to all the authors of the paper 🍾!
kwnsfk27.r.eu-west-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2F...
Cryo-EM reveals open and closed Asgard chromatin assemblies: Molecular Cell www.cell.com/molecular-ce...
Cryo-EM reveals open and closed Asgard chromatin assemblies
Ranawat et al. show the cryo-EM structures of Asgard archaeal chromatin assemblies,
revealing that the histone HHoB assembles into both compact closed and extended open
hypernucleosomes. The closed co...
www.cell.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Let’s wrap things up: my commentary on the Asgard hypernucleosomes.
Congratulations to all the authors of the paper 🍾!
kwnsfk27.r.eu-west-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2F...
Cryo-EM reveals open and closed Asgard chromatin assemblies: Molecular Cell www.cell.com/molecular-ce...
Congratulations to all the authors of the paper 🍾!
kwnsfk27.r.eu-west-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2F...
Cryo-EM reveals open and closed Asgard chromatin assemblies: Molecular Cell www.cell.com/molecular-ce...
Reposted by Quentin Smith
Thank you, Daniela, @danielabarilla.bsky.social, for a wonderful commentary! 🤗🤗 More spotlight on the Asgards and their chromatin! ❤️ #archaea #chromatin
Let’s wrap things up: my commentary on the Asgard hypernucleosomes.
Congratulations to all the authors of the paper 🍾!
kwnsfk27.r.eu-west-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2F...
Cryo-EM reveals open and closed Asgard chromatin assemblies: Molecular Cell www.cell.com/molecular-ce...
Congratulations to all the authors of the paper 🍾!
kwnsfk27.r.eu-west-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2F...
Cryo-EM reveals open and closed Asgard chromatin assemblies: Molecular Cell www.cell.com/molecular-ce...
Cryo-EM reveals open and closed Asgard chromatin assemblies
Ranawat et al. show the cryo-EM structures of Asgard archaeal chromatin assemblies,
revealing that the histone HHoB assembles into both compact closed and extended open
hypernucleosomes. The closed co...
www.cell.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Thank you, Daniela, @danielabarilla.bsky.social, for a wonderful commentary! 🤗🤗 More spotlight on the Asgards and their chromatin! ❤️ #archaea #chromatin
Reposted by Quentin Smith
16 (! What?) years ago I went to my first ABRCMS and was welcomed and encouraged to pursue my scientific dreams. I met folks that provided direct feedback on my graduate school applications and served a pivotal role in my career. I am honored return and give back again as faculty.
#ABRCMS2025
#ABRCMS2025
November 20, 2025 at 9:33 PM
16 (! What?) years ago I went to my first ABRCMS and was welcomed and encouraged to pursue my scientific dreams. I met folks that provided direct feedback on my graduate school applications and served a pivotal role in my career. I am honored return and give back again as faculty.
#ABRCMS2025
#ABRCMS2025
Reposted by Quentin Smith
Happy to share our latest preprint.
We uncover a previously uncharacterised and evolutionarily conserved chromatin architecture in premeiotic gonadal germ cells, revealed through integrated cytological and high-resolution Hi-C approaches.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Thread🧵🔽
We uncover a previously uncharacterised and evolutionarily conserved chromatin architecture in premeiotic gonadal germ cells, revealed through integrated cytological and high-resolution Hi-C approaches.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Thread🧵🔽
November 18, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Happy to share our latest preprint.
We uncover a previously uncharacterised and evolutionarily conserved chromatin architecture in premeiotic gonadal germ cells, revealed through integrated cytological and high-resolution Hi-C approaches.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Thread🧵🔽
We uncover a previously uncharacterised and evolutionarily conserved chromatin architecture in premeiotic gonadal germ cells, revealed through integrated cytological and high-resolution Hi-C approaches.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Thread🧵🔽
Reposted by Quentin Smith
Please join us on November 20th! We are very grateful for our first sponsorship - Molecular Instrument!
November 18, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Please join us on November 20th! We are very grateful for our first sponsorship - Molecular Instrument!
Reposted by Quentin Smith
Independent research fellowships leading to tenured positions at the John Innes Centre.
Repost = nice. Thank you very much!!!
Repost = nice. Thank you very much!!!
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to give a seminar at the Fellows Conference, which will be held on 10 March 2026.
Candidates who win Fellowships will be offered a Tenure Track Group Leader position from the outset, initially for 5 years.
Find out more: www.jic.ac.uk/training-car...
Candidates who win Fellowships will be offered a Tenure Track Group Leader position from the outset, initially for 5 years.
Find out more: www.jic.ac.uk/training-car...
Independent Research Fellowships Leading to Tenured Faculty Positions | John Innes Centre
The John Innes Centre (JIC), is a world leading centre of excellence in plant and microbial sciences based on the Norwich Research Park, UK. We are inviting applications from outstanding researchers…
www.jic.ac.uk
October 3, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Independent research fellowships leading to tenured positions at the John Innes Centre.
Repost = nice. Thank you very much!!!
Repost = nice. Thank you very much!!!
Reposted by Quentin Smith
🎉Congrats to Freeman Hrabowski Scholar @ishmailsaboor.bsky.social on receiving the NIH Director’s Pioneer Award! His research will explore how sense of touch contributes to communal behaviors.
October 13, 2025 at 6:12 PM
🎉Congrats to Freeman Hrabowski Scholar @ishmailsaboor.bsky.social on receiving the NIH Director’s Pioneer Award! His research will explore how sense of touch contributes to communal behaviors.
Reposted by Quentin Smith
🧬 Meet ORF Verifier (orfverifier.farnunglab.com) 🧬
Validating ORFs from plasmid sequences—such as those from @plasmidsaurus.bsky.social —can be tedious and error-prone. Manual inspection and alignments in tools like SnapGene take time and attention.
ORF Verifier automates sequence verification.
Validating ORFs from plasmid sequences—such as those from @plasmidsaurus.bsky.social —can be tedious and error-prone. Manual inspection and alignments in tools like SnapGene take time and attention.
ORF Verifier automates sequence verification.
ORF Verifier
orfverifier.farnunglab.com
October 13, 2025 at 12:33 PM
🧬 Meet ORF Verifier (orfverifier.farnunglab.com) 🧬
Validating ORFs from plasmid sequences—such as those from @plasmidsaurus.bsky.social —can be tedious and error-prone. Manual inspection and alignments in tools like SnapGene take time and attention.
ORF Verifier automates sequence verification.
Validating ORFs from plasmid sequences—such as those from @plasmidsaurus.bsky.social —can be tedious and error-prone. Manual inspection and alignments in tools like SnapGene take time and attention.
ORF Verifier automates sequence verification.
Reposted by Quentin Smith
Della Syau successfully defended her PhD thesis today. Congrats, Dr. Syau. Strike #3!
October 9, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Della Syau successfully defended her PhD thesis today. Congrats, Dr. Syau. Strike #3!
Reposted by Quentin Smith
NEB remains undefeated. Truly the GOAT of biotech. Wait time for live chat was mere seconds near EOD on a friday. Sorted my order in less than 3 mins. Why would I buy from anywhere else?
June 13, 2025 at 10:10 PM
NEB remains undefeated. Truly the GOAT of biotech. Wait time for live chat was mere seconds near EOD on a friday. Sorted my order in less than 3 mins. Why would I buy from anywhere else?
Reposted by Quentin Smith
1/10 New pre-print(s) from the Sternberg Lab in collaboration with Leifu Chang's Lab! We uncover the unprecedented molecular mechanism of CRISPR-Cas12f-like proteins, which drive RNA-guided transcription independently of canonical promoter motifs.
Full story here:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Full story here:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
June 11, 2025 at 4:03 PM
1/10 New pre-print(s) from the Sternberg Lab in collaboration with Leifu Chang's Lab! We uncover the unprecedented molecular mechanism of CRISPR-Cas12f-like proteins, which drive RNA-guided transcription independently of canonical promoter motifs.
Full story here:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Full story here:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Quentin Smith
Celebrate Black in Biophysics Week! #BIBPStutorial
Biophysics 101: Visualizing proteins with ChimeraX
Tuesday, May 27, from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM US Eastern
Learn how to visualize and analyze complex molecular structures with presenter Bryan Nicholson-Dews buff.ly/faiCWTj
Biophysics 101: Visualizing proteins with ChimeraX
Tuesday, May 27, from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM US Eastern
Learn how to visualize and analyze complex molecular structures with presenter Bryan Nicholson-Dews buff.ly/faiCWTj
May 26, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Reposted by Quentin Smith
Celebrate Black in Biophysics Week! #BIBPStutorial
Biophysics 101: Visualizing proteins with ChimeraX
Tuesday, May 27, from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM US Eastern
Learn how to visualize and analyze complex molecular structures with presenter Bryan Nicholson-Dews buff.ly/faiCWTj
Biophysics 101: Visualizing proteins with ChimeraX
Tuesday, May 27, from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM US Eastern
Learn how to visualize and analyze complex molecular structures with presenter Bryan Nicholson-Dews buff.ly/faiCWTj
May 25, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Celebrate Black in Biophysics Week! #BIBPStutorial
Biophysics 101: Visualizing proteins with ChimeraX
Tuesday, May 27, from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM US Eastern
Learn how to visualize and analyze complex molecular structures with presenter Bryan Nicholson-Dews buff.ly/faiCWTj
Biophysics 101: Visualizing proteins with ChimeraX
Tuesday, May 27, from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM US Eastern
Learn how to visualize and analyze complex molecular structures with presenter Bryan Nicholson-Dews buff.ly/faiCWTj
Reposted by Quentin Smith
We’ve uncovered Asgard chromatin structures formed by a Hodarchaeal histone : closed hypernucleosome conserved in archaea and an open form resembling the H3-H4 eukaryotic octasome. Fantastic work by @harshranawat.bsky.social!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
#Chromatin #Asgard #Archaea #cryoEM
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
#Chromatin #Asgard #Archaea #cryoEM
May 26, 2025 at 4:56 PM
We’ve uncovered Asgard chromatin structures formed by a Hodarchaeal histone : closed hypernucleosome conserved in archaea and an open form resembling the H3-H4 eukaryotic octasome. Fantastic work by @harshranawat.bsky.social!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
#Chromatin #Asgard #Archaea #cryoEM
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
#Chromatin #Asgard #Archaea #cryoEM
Reposted by Quentin Smith
LocScale-SURFER is now also available for quick install via the ChimeraX toolshed:
cxtoolshed.rbvi.ucsf.edu
cxtoolshed.rbvi.ucsf.edu
LocScale-2.0 is deliberately designed to optimise contrast for both high-resolution detail & weak contextual densities such as membrane/micelle or flexible/low-occupancy regions
LocScale-SURFER is a ChimeraX plugin aiding w/ visualisation of contextual structure.
cryotud.github.io/locscale-sur...
LocScale-SURFER is a ChimeraX plugin aiding w/ visualisation of contextual structure.
cryotud.github.io/locscale-sur...
May 26, 2025 at 11:10 AM
LocScale-SURFER is now also available for quick install via the ChimeraX toolshed:
cxtoolshed.rbvi.ucsf.edu
cxtoolshed.rbvi.ucsf.edu
Reposted by Quentin Smith
We are happy to release LocScale2.0: a tool for context-aware, confidence-weighted cryoEM map optimisation.
Taking two half maps as input, LcoScale-2.0 produces feature-enhanced maps along with a robust confidence score that guides objective map interpretation.
cryotud.github.io/locscale/
Taking two half maps as input, LcoScale-2.0 produces feature-enhanced maps along with a robust confidence score that guides objective map interpretation.
cryotud.github.io/locscale/
May 22, 2025 at 10:10 AM
We are happy to release LocScale2.0: a tool for context-aware, confidence-weighted cryoEM map optimisation.
Taking two half maps as input, LcoScale-2.0 produces feature-enhanced maps along with a robust confidence score that guides objective map interpretation.
cryotud.github.io/locscale/
Taking two half maps as input, LcoScale-2.0 produces feature-enhanced maps along with a robust confidence score that guides objective map interpretation.
cryotud.github.io/locscale/
Reposted by Quentin Smith
Welcome to #BlackInBiophysicsWeek 2025!!!
We hope you are enjoying the holiday and long weekend. 😊
Today we are celebrating ✨#BlackExcellence✨ in biophysics! Use our #BIBPSRollCall hashtag or tag us and tell us about yourself. We want to hear all about you! 🤩
#BIBPSWeek
We hope you are enjoying the holiday and long weekend. 😊
Today we are celebrating ✨#BlackExcellence✨ in biophysics! Use our #BIBPSRollCall hashtag or tag us and tell us about yourself. We want to hear all about you! 🤩
#BIBPSWeek
Monday, May 26th: #BIBPSRollCall
We will highlight ✨#BlackExcellence ✨in #biophysics 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾
Use our hashtag #BIBPSRollCall and/or tag us so we can highlight you! 🤩
#RepresentationMatters
#BlackInBiophysics
#RollCall
#BIBPS25
#BIBPSWeek
We will highlight ✨#BlackExcellence ✨in #biophysics 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾
Use our hashtag #BIBPSRollCall and/or tag us so we can highlight you! 🤩
#RepresentationMatters
#BlackInBiophysics
#RollCall
#BIBPS25
#BIBPSWeek
May 26, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Welcome to #BlackInBiophysicsWeek 2025!!!
We hope you are enjoying the holiday and long weekend. 😊
Today we are celebrating ✨#BlackExcellence✨ in biophysics! Use our #BIBPSRollCall hashtag or tag us and tell us about yourself. We want to hear all about you! 🤩
#BIBPSWeek
We hope you are enjoying the holiday and long weekend. 😊
Today we are celebrating ✨#BlackExcellence✨ in biophysics! Use our #BIBPSRollCall hashtag or tag us and tell us about yourself. We want to hear all about you! 🤩
#BIBPSWeek
Reposted by Quentin Smith
#BIBPSRollCall Hi I’m J! I study intrinsically disordered proteins using single-molecule and computational techniques with a particular focus on IDRs in transcription factor fusion proteins like PAX3-FOXO1. Excited for Black in Biophysics week and looking forward to meeting new faces!
May 26, 2025 at 2:09 PM
#BIBPSRollCall Hi I’m J! I study intrinsically disordered proteins using single-molecule and computational techniques with a particular focus on IDRs in transcription factor fusion proteins like PAX3-FOXO1. Excited for Black in Biophysics week and looking forward to meeting new faces!
Reposted by Quentin Smith
We're excited to publish our latest study led by Bryony Leeke @bryonyleeke.bsky.social and Wazeer Varsally, now out in @nature.com 🍾This study focusses on the epigenome of marsupial embryos 🦘 mapping DNA methylation in embryo development to specific embryo events www.nature.com/articles/s41... 🧵
Divergent DNA methylation dynamics in marsupial and eutherian embryos - Nature
A study reports on the DNA methylation dynamics during embryogenesis in marsupials, showing that these differ from those occurring during embryogenesis in eutherian mammals.
www.nature.com
May 14, 2025 at 4:01 PM
We're excited to publish our latest study led by Bryony Leeke @bryonyleeke.bsky.social and Wazeer Varsally, now out in @nature.com 🍾This study focusses on the epigenome of marsupial embryos 🦘 mapping DNA methylation in embryo development to specific embryo events www.nature.com/articles/s41... 🧵
Reposted by Quentin Smith
The nucleolus....large, rather boring organelle in the nucleus? No! Our review led by @bryonyleeke.bsky.social just out @dev-journal.bsky.social, highlighting new findings on nucleoli dynamics in development, intriguing roles in chromatin organisation & more.
journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...
journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...
May 14, 2025 at 3:29 PM
The nucleolus....large, rather boring organelle in the nucleus? No! Our review led by @bryonyleeke.bsky.social just out @dev-journal.bsky.social, highlighting new findings on nucleoli dynamics in development, intriguing roles in chromatin organisation & more.
journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...
journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...
Reposted by Quentin Smith
Very excited to present our latest work: SPINNA, an analysis framework and software package for single-protein resolution data! 🖥️🤩
We can directly quantify stoichiometry and oligomerization from super-res (DNA-PAINT, RESI) images!! 🧬🎨
We can directly quantify stoichiometry and oligomerization from super-res (DNA-PAINT, RESI) images!! 🧬🎨
Spatial and stoichiometric in situ analysis of biomolecular oligomerization at single-protein resolution
We are excited to present our latest work published in @natcomms.nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
We are excited to present our latest work published in @natcomms.nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Spatial and stoichiometric in situ analysis of biomolecular oligomerization at single-protein resolution - Nature Communications
Extracting quantitative information on biomolecular oligomerisation with high resolution remains a significant challenge. Here, the authors propose SPINNA, a framework that compares nearest-neighbour ...
www.nature.com
May 7, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Very excited to present our latest work: SPINNA, an analysis framework and software package for single-protein resolution data! 🖥️🤩
We can directly quantify stoichiometry and oligomerization from super-res (DNA-PAINT, RESI) images!! 🧬🎨
We can directly quantify stoichiometry and oligomerization from super-res (DNA-PAINT, RESI) images!! 🧬🎨
Reposted by Quentin Smith
Calling undergrads! Our summer internship programme @mrc-lms.bsky.social is still open if you want to try out a summer research project. Great way to get a taste of research, inc a generous stipend. Lots of interesting labs are hosting, including us ;) Closing 15/5/25.
lms.mrc.ac.uk/work-and-stu...
lms.mrc.ac.uk/work-and-stu...
LMS Undergraduate Summer Programme - MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences
Our LMS Undergraduate Summer Programme is a fantastic, fully-funded opportunity for undergraduate students to gain hands on laboratory experience to support their scientific journeys.
lms.mrc.ac.uk
May 7, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Calling undergrads! Our summer internship programme @mrc-lms.bsky.social is still open if you want to try out a summer research project. Great way to get a taste of research, inc a generous stipend. Lots of interesting labs are hosting, including us ;) Closing 15/5/25.
lms.mrc.ac.uk/work-and-stu...
lms.mrc.ac.uk/work-and-stu...
Reposted by Quentin Smith
Outstanding work from Allison James who will graduate next month! If you like our work, consider applying to the Farnung Lab. More info: farnunglab.com
Farnung Lab
farnunglab.com
May 6, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Outstanding work from Allison James who will graduate next month! If you like our work, consider applying to the Farnung Lab. More info: farnunglab.com
Reposted by Quentin Smith

🧬🎉Thrilled to share our new chromatin remodeling study! We reveal three states of human CHD1 and identify a novel "anchor element" that interacts with the acidic patch—conserved among remodelers. Our structures clarify mechanisms of remodeler recruitment! Link: authors.elsevier.com/a/1l2ik3vVUP...
🧬🎉Thrilled to share our new chromatin remodeling study! We reveal three states of human CHD1 and identify a novel "anchor element" that interacts with the acidic patch—conserved among remodelers. Our structures clarify mechanisms of remodeler recruitment! Link: authors.elsevier.com/a/1l2ik3vVUP...
May 6, 2025 at 3:08 PM

🧬🎉Thrilled to share our new chromatin remodeling study! We reveal three states of human CHD1 and identify a novel "anchor element" that interacts with the acidic patch—conserved among remodelers. Our structures clarify mechanisms of remodeler recruitment! Link: authors.elsevier.com/a/1l2ik3vVUP...
🧬🎉Thrilled to share our new chromatin remodeling study! We reveal three states of human CHD1 and identify a novel "anchor element" that interacts with the acidic patch—conserved among remodelers. Our structures clarify mechanisms of remodeler recruitment! Link: authors.elsevier.com/a/1l2ik3vVUP...