Zoe Nahas
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zoenahas.bsky.social
Zoe Nahas
@zoenahas.bsky.social
770 followers 340 following 36 posts
Postdoc in Fankhauser lab, University of Lausanne. Previously PhD in Leyser & Locke labs at Sainsbury Laboratory, Cambridge.

Development, plants, shoot branching, auxin, evo/devo, systems biology, food security
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zoenahas.bsky.social
Zoe Nahas @zoenahas.bsky.social · Sep 26
Happy to share slightly late that the main work of my PhD is now published! How do plants regulate the number + location of growing branches 🌳🌲? We used experiments and mathematical modelling to study how local and systemic signals are integrated during shoot branching regulation. A thread:
plosbiology.org PLOS Biology @plosbiology.org · Sep 16
How do #plants dynamically modulate their shoot branching for optimal returns? ‪@zoenahas.bsky.social‬ &co show that BRC1 modulates bud competitiveness by reducing #auxin efflux, integrating hormonal cues to fine-tune branching patterns @plosbiology.org @slcuplants.bsky.social 🧪 plos.io/4pnrwY2
2-node explants capture key properties of bud regulation. Top left: A stem segment with two axillary buds illustrates two regulatory hubs controlling shoot branching (i) local expression of the transcription factor BRC1, a repressor of bud activation, and (ii) systemic regulation of the auxin transport network. A canalization-based model of shoot branching postulates that bud activation requires the establishment of canalized auxin transport from the bud into the main stem, the dynamics of which is influenced by autocatalytic feedback in auxin flow between the bud and the stem, and the relative auxin source and sink strengths of the bud and stem, respectively. The relationship between BRC1- and auxin-transport-mediated regulation is not known. Bottom left: Arabidopsis bud activation occurs in at least two phases: a slow-growing lag phase, then a switch to rapid outgrowth. Typical timescale 10–12 days. Right: Diagram illustrating the four possible growth outcomes for bud activation on 2-node explants, and their representation in a Mitchison plot. Mitchison plots present the length of the top bud versus that of the bottom bud over time in each explant. Explants where at least one bud grows are termed active, otherwise, they are inactive. Within active explants, there are three possible outcomes: both buds grow, or only either the top or the bottom bud activates.
Reposted by Zoe Nahas
tatsuyanobori.bsky.social
🚨We’re hiring! Please help spread the word!
Our lab at @TheSainsburyLab is recruiting a pre-doctoral intern to work on plant immunity research. Ideal for those who are planning to pursue a PhD and seeking research experience. tatsuyanobori.com
December 15, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Reposted by Zoe Nahas
slcuplants.bsky.social
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi boost plant resilience by remodelling the plant-pathogen membrane interface
Check-out the latest paper from @alexguyon.bsky.social & @dromius.bsky.social
📖 doi.org/10.1016/j.ce... in @cp-cellreports.bsky.social
News article www.slcu.cam.ac.uk/news/arbuscu...
Mutualist-pathogen co-colonisation modulates phosphoinositide signatures at host intracellular interfaces: Nicotiana benthamiana plants expressing biosensors for PI4P and PI(4,5)P2. PI(4,5)P2 was tip-enriched at mutualist structures but evenly distributed around pathogen structures. PI4P was absent from pathogen extrahaustorial membranes but present at invasive hyphae and mutualist interfaces. Co-colonisation triggered PI4P recruitment at pathogen haustoria, and enhanced resistance to P. palmivora. Graphic by Alex Guyon.
December 11, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Reposted by Zoe Nahas
renskevroomans.bsky.social
It's been a great experience to start a team here, I highly recommend applying!
slcuplants.bsky.social Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University (SLCU) @slcuplants.bsky.social · 10d
🌱 2x David Sainsbury Career Development Fellowships at @slcuplants.bsky.social

Unique opportunity for early-career researchers to launch their own independent research programme in quantitative plant development, with generous support & world-class facilities.

www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/david-s...
Interior of Sainsbury Laboratory building showing experimental laboratories on left with floor-to-ceiling glass facing into the main central avenue with people walking on stairs and sitting at study boxes. Lots of natural light and views to the Cambrdge University Botanic Garden. Overlay text "Join SLCU" and logos and closing date of 15 January 2026.
December 12, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Reposted by Zoe Nahas
gensocuknonseed.bsky.social
@davidjhoey.bsky.social discusses the acquisition of vasculature as an evolutionary innovation - lovely comparative approaches across multiple land plant lineages #nonseedUK25 🌱 😊
December 12, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Reposted by Zoe Nahas
scottzona.bsky.social
The spines on Elaeis guineensis (African oil palm) petioles are the hardened midveins that remain after the lowermost leaflets senesce. Diabolical! 📷: Diane Bricmont CCBYNC4 #Arecaceae #spine #Botany 🌾🧪🌱
Close-up photo of the petioles of a palm. The spines are present on the edges of the petioles. The remnants of the leaf lamina are still clinging to some spines.
December 4, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Reposted by Zoe Nahas
slcuplants.bsky.social
Congratulations Elise Laruelle & @robinsonsci.bsky.social on your @acceleratescience.bsky.social - @c2d3.cam.ac.uk funded project "Plant automatic cell lineage reconstruction"
More info www.slcu.cam.ac.uk/news/plant-a...
Illustration by Elise Laruelle & leaf images by @sainikumud.bsky.social
Graphic depicting the Plant Automatic Cell Lineage Reconstruction project which aims to train a neural network to recognise “sister cells” in mature plant leaves and reconstruct their complete cell division history from a single image.. Illustration by Elise Laruelle and leaf images by Kumud Saini.
November 28, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Reposted by Zoe Nahas
transcription.bsky.social
I'm offering a PhD project together with Sarah McKim on temperature-controlled stomata formation within EASTBIO DTP www.findaphd.com/phds/project... #plantscience #plantscijobs Deadline 15 Feb. Please share/RP
EASTBIO - How plants breathe in a warming world: unravelling temperature control of stomata development at University of Dundee on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - EASTBIO - How plants breathe in a warming world: unravelling temperature control of stomata development at University of Dundee, listed on FindAPhD.com
www.findaphd.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Reposted by Zoe Nahas
alileverett.bsky.social
Can anyone help:

I want to take photos of arabidopsis rosettes everyday as they grow to get growth curves for a lot of ecotypes. Does anyone know of software that can be used to read the label from inside the photo and rename the file with the plant ID and then amend the date to the file name too?
November 21, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Reposted by Zoe Nahas
talbotlabtsl.bsky.social
This is a remarkable study describing a new fungal species in a 407 million year old plant - Rugososporomyces lavoisierae Strullu-Derrien and Schornack sp. nov - using some amazing technology. Worth a read 👇
slcuplants.bsky.social Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University (SLCU) @slcuplants.bsky.social · Nov 12
Confocal scanning laser microscopy, fluorescence lifetime imaging & Raman analyses allowed @nhm-london.bsky.social, @slcuplants.bsky.social & @cambridge-ee.bsky.social researchers to resolve plant & fungal structures fossil
Read in @newphyt.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1111/nph....

@dromius.bsky.social
November 14, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Reposted by Zoe Nahas
apaterlini.bsky.social
Here is my @currentbiology.bsky.social dispatch on an excellent article by the @coudertlab.bsky.social. Re-visiting the shoot branching field (and learning many new things in the process!) brought back fond memories from my time at @slcuplants.bsky.social. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Plant development: Auxin diffusion controls moss shoot architecture
The phytohormone auxin is a conserved inhibitor of shoot branching in plants. While directional, carrier-mediated transport is necessary for the proce…
www.sciencedirect.com
November 3, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Reposted by Zoe Nahas
dromius.bsky.social
Plz RP. Come join us at @slcuplants.bsky.social @cam.ac.uk to study effector-targeted plant processes impacting plant cell biology and development.
www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/post-do...
www.schornacklab.net
advert text as bitmap picture of the Schornacklab team
November 6, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Reposted by Zoe Nahas
routierlab.bsky.social
How fast do plants actually grow? And which growth processes matter most for organ size?
We dived into 176 papers, extracted and re-analyzed the data so you don’t have to!
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
@newphyt.bsky.social @virajalim.bsky.social @elvisbranchini.bsky.social
A multiscale growth atlas of Arabidopsis: linking cell dynamics to organ development
Plant development depends on coordinated growth at cellular and organ scales, yet comparative analyses are hindered by inconsistent reporting of growth across studies. We conducted a meta-analysis o.....
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 11, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Reposted by Zoe Nahas
drannisr.bsky.social
Are you looking for a PhD in Plant Science? Check our our project on barley canopy architecture. Combine genetics and physics to understand how awns influence barley grain development. Find out more here: lnkd.in/eWhWammJ Apply by 14th December. #PhDPosition
#PlantSci @instmolplantsci.bsky.social
LinkedIn
This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn
lnkd.in
November 10, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Reposted by Zoe Nahas
apaterlini.bsky.social
Few Plant science programmes are left in the UK and they are critical to train the next generation.
This move by @uniofnottingham.bsky.social goes against recommendations made in the recent PS Education manifesto. Big mistake! Sign the petition! nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
November 9, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Reposted by Zoe Nahas
bradylabs.bsky.social
Interested in learning about the latest and greatest research in how plants respond to excess salt, too little or too much water? Come to the GRC in Salt and Water Stress in Switzerland. Lots of opportunities for all career levels. www.grc.org/salt-and-wat.... Please repost!
2026 Salt and Water Stress in Plants Conference GRC
The 2026 Gordon Research Conference on Salt and Water Stress in Plants will be held in Les Diablerets, Vaud (fr) Switzerland. Apply today to reserve your spot.
www.grc.org
November 6, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Reposted by Zoe Nahas
nikogeldner.bsky.social
A really nice telling of the rise of Arabidopsis - mentioning so many of my heroes! We should be grateful for their vision and persistence.
knowablemag.bsky.social Knowable Magazine @knowablemag.bsky.social · Nov 4
Arabidopsis thaliana was always an unlikely candidate for the limelight. But 25 years ago, the diminutive thale cress launched the botanical world into the molecular era.

✍️ Rachel Ehrenberg

knowmag.org/4hImL8e
How a humble weed became a superstar of biology
Arabidopsis thaliana was always an unlikely candidate for the limelight. But 25 years ago, the diminutive thale cress launched the botanical world into the molecular era.
knowmag.org
November 5, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Reposted by Zoe Nahas
apaterlini.bsky.social
Very excited to announce that our collaborative manifesto for 🌱 #PlantScience #Education has now been published! Educators from >10 countries and 30 institutions have contributed to it and we are incredibly proud of the final output. Here is a short thread 🧵1/4 doi.org/10.1002/ppp3...
A manifesto for plant science education
Plants provide oxygen, food, shelter, medicines and environmental services, without which human society could not exist. Tackling pressing and global challenges requires well-trained plant scientists....
doi.org
October 29, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Reposted by Zoe Nahas
plantevodevo-ab.bsky.social
🌱 Open PhD Position in Plant EvoDevo 🌱 Thinking about a PhD in plant evodevo? The Becker Research Group (JLU Giessen, Germany) has a fully funded 4-year PhD position in the ICIPS II research unit! 🎓 📍 Where? Gießen, Germany – great research environment & vibrant plant science network.
tinyurl.com
October 23, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Reposted by Zoe Nahas
pdchristine.bsky.social
New pre-print from the team!

The manuscript is @emma-raven.bsky.social's PhD work showing that whether a leaf is a carbon sink or a carbon source influences how they execute immune responses.

Have a read!

#PlantScience
@johninnescentre.bsky.social
biorxiv-plants.bsky.social bioRxiv Plant Bio @biorxiv-plants.bsky.social · Oct 14
Primary metabolism underpins the execution of immune responses in different tissues of the same plant https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.10.11.681807v1
October 14, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Reposted by Zoe Nahas
nemopeeters.bsky.social
Check out the quality of segmentation by #OneRosette, even when leaves are dying to DC3000. Come and see nuts and bolts of this deep learning prompt-engineering by PhD candidate Felicià Maviane @lipme-toulouse.bsky.social on the 24/10/2025 13h #Margulis
October 15, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Reposted by Zoe Nahas
pdchristine.bsky.social
We have a project available for 2026 NRP Doctoral Training Partnership entry (i.e. PhD studentship opportunity!)

How do cells communicate when it's hot?

Don't know? Me either! Come work with us @johninnescentre.bsky.social and figure it out

biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/projects/how...
How do cells communicate when it’s hot? (FAULKNER_J26DTP) | Doctoral Training Partnership
Plant cells are connected to their neighbours via ‘tubes’ called plasmodesmata, creating an interconnected cytoplasm that joins cells within and between tissues and organs.
biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk
October 12, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Reposted by Zoe Nahas
botanicaljim.bsky.social
I was tremendously lucky to be in @xanderjones.bsky.social's lab to watch @bijuntang.bsky.social move from technician to PhD to Postdoc and produce this magnum opus. #SalicS1 is the just reward for years of brilliance and hard work.Well done Bijun, Xander, Jing, and everyone involved! #SalicylicAcid
slcuplants.bsky.social Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University (SLCU) @slcuplants.bsky.social · Oct 9
Salicylic acid biosensor, SalicS1, tracks the plant immune hormone salicylic acid in real time - revealing propagation of hormone surge during plant pathogen advance

Latest biosensor from @xanderjones.bsky.social team
In Science doi.org/10.1126/scie...
Summary www.slcu.cam.ac.uk/news/new-bio...
October 10, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Reposted by Zoe Nahas
slcuplants.bsky.social
Salicylic acid biosensor, SalicS1, tracks the plant immune hormone salicylic acid in real time - revealing propagation of hormone surge during plant pathogen advance

Latest biosensor from @xanderjones.bsky.social team
In Science doi.org/10.1126/scie...
Summary www.slcu.cam.ac.uk/news/new-bio...
October 9, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Reposted by Zoe Nahas
somssich.bsky.social
People: "Things used to be better."

Scientist: "When did it start getting worse?"

People: "When I was born."

From "The illusion of moral decline" by Adam Mastroianni.
shorturl.at/FFEDV
A graph showing violin plots. On the y axis is the perceived morality of people from 0 to 8. On the x axis the time points 40 years before my birth, 20 years before my birth, at my birth, 20 years past my birth, today. The morality value is constant until birth, and then declines.
October 4, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Reposted by Zoe Nahas
cbank.bsky.social
Please spread the word! 10 days left to apply for this #sciencejobs as Assistant Professor Tenure Track in Quantitative Cell Biology 👩‍🔬
@izb-unibern.bsky.social @unibe.ch! ohws.prospective.ch/public/v1/jo...
#QueerInSTEM #DisabledInSTEM #BlackInSTEM #WomenInSTEM #CarersInSTEM #AcademicSky #HigherED
Uni Bern: Assistant Professor with tenure-track for Quantitative Cell Biology
Start date of employment: anticipated for August 2027
ohws.prospective.ch
October 7, 2025 at 11:17 AM