Kinga Kamieniarz-Gdula

We’re recruiting! Three-year, fully funded #postdoc opportunity: pancreatic cancer #epigenetics & potential new treatments (funded by @ncn.gov.pl & @dfg.de ). Collaboration with @akispapantonis.bsky.social, University of Göttingen (OPUS-LAP). See the ad & contact me! drive.google.com/file/d/1vrFd...

In the beginning - Science Museum Blog A tiny self-copying molecule offers the clearest answer yet to the mystery of the origins of biology, reports Science Director Roger Highfield.

Scientists have found a little RNA molecule – small enough to potentially form spontaneously, yet sophisticated enough to copy itself – that cd explain how life on Earth arose. Thanks @edogia.bsky.social of the @philholliger.bsky.social lab! blog.sciencemuseum.org.uk/in-the-begin...

It took a while but it’s finally published!

The GAP activity of SEAC (GATOR) is a metabolic switch that allows cells to quickly respond to changes in amino acid levels, both for inhibition and reactivation.

my head is still spinning from EMBO Selfish Genetic Elements this week! incredible gamut of mostly "non-model" species gives us appreciation and insights into diversity of unusual chromosome dynamics, selfish genes and weird sex. tx @lucasoldini.bsky.social @laurarossevo.bsky.social tanja schwander!

A small polymerase ribozyme that can synthesize itself and its complementary strand The emergence of a chemical system capable of self-replication and evolution is a critical event in the origin of life. RNA polymerase ribozymes can replicate RNA, but their large size and structural ...

How could a simple self-replicating system emerge at the origins of life? RNA polymerase ribozymes can replicate RNA, but existing ones are so large that their self-replication seems impossible. Could they be smaller?

Excited to share our latest work in @science.org on a new small polymerase.
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Are you a DNMT3 enthusiast wondering how they achieve specificity at CpG islands during development? And why is DNMT3B specifically required for methylation on the inactive X?

We set out to dissect the mechanism, now published in Genes & Development
genesdev.cshlp.org/content/earl...
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A vanishing star births a black hole—without the fireworks Failed supernova candidate points to a stealthy pathway of stellar collapse

A vanishing star births a black hole—without the fireworks | Science | AAAS @science.org 🔭🧪 www.science.org/content/arti...

Thrilled to announce that I’ve just opened my research lab at @helmholtz-hiri.bsky.social !
A huge thank you to my mentor Roi Avraham (and lab members!) for the incredible training and support that made this possible.

Excited to share our latest study in Nature Communications ✨

We map how cells clear DNA damage–stalled RNA polymerase II using a stepwise TFIIH → ubiquitin/VCP mechanism, keeping transcription and genome stability on track.

Paper: www.nature.com/articles/s41...

#Genomics #DNADamage #CellBiology

#RNAsky

Attention RNA biology and antisense therapy folks: this is HUUUUUUGE!!! Termination windows as therapeutic opportunity!

Sounds super exciting! Good luck and try to enjoy!

I’m super excited to be opening a lab at WEHI. We’ll be focussing on how double-stranded RNA is regulated in cells, how failures in these pathways drive disease and new therapies to manipulate inflammatory responses to RNA.

#newPI #RNAsky

Our new preprint on SMCHD1! We’ve shown SMCHD1’s ATPase activity is critical for function in vivo, and excitingly a new DNA binding domain neighbouring the ATPase domain activates the enzymatic function, which is important for normal chromatin binding.
urldefense.com/v3/__https:/...

Congratulations!

I've joined the Editorial Board of @plosbiology.org

PLOS Biology is the flagship #PLOS journal in the Life Sciences. I'm looking forward to handling terrific cell biology papers for them.

#CellBiology

Gladys Mae West obituary: mathematician who pioneered GPS technology She made key contributions to US cold-war science despite facing huge barriers as a Black woman.

No joke: I got angry hate mail today for writing an obituary of a Black woman scientist—because the person felt she did didn’t deserve the recognition.

Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...

The way UK govt funds science is in the midst of a major transition, with creation of a much more direct link between government priorities & UKRI research funding.

My attempt to set in context the biggest upheaval in UK science funding policy since the 1980s:
softmachines.org?p=3252

Discuss #RNA 3' ends and their regulation at the EMBO Workshop "RNA 3' ends and beyond" in #Oxford, United Kingdom, 7–11 September 2026.

Deadline: 4 May 2026

https://meetings.embo.org/event/26-rna3
#EMBORNA3EndsBeyond #RNAsky #LifeSciences #meeting #EMBOevents 🧪

Sign up now for the EMBO Workshop "#RNA metabolism: Perspective from physiology to brain disorder" in Darjeeling, India, 25–28 October 2026.

Deadline: 15 May 2026

https://meetings.embo.org/event/26-rna-metabolism
#EMBOrnaMetabolism #RNAsky #LifeSciences #research #conference #EMBOevents 🧪

Does the noncoding genome actually carry more genetic information than coding seqs? Motivated by this question we mutated every bp in the 10kb MYC locus. Results are even more exciting: Decoding the MYC locus reveals a druggable ultraconserved RNA element www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

Join us;
We have an opening for a BBSRC-funded 3-year postdoc position to investigate the mechanisms of mRNA-specific translational regulation of the innate immune system.

#Postdoc #RNA #RBP #MolecularBiology #Virology #RNASky #AcademicJobs

hrwebapp.qub.ac.uk/tlive_webrec...

Unique territorial and compartmental organization of chromosomes in the holocentric silkworm - The EMBO Journal Hallmarks of multicellular eukaryotic genome organization are chromosome territories, compartments, and loop-extrusion-mediated structures, including TADs. However, these have mainly been observed in ...

How do compartmentalization & loop extrusion organize eukaryotic genomes beyond classical model organisms?
Hi-C analysis of silkworm chromosomes by Drinnenberg, Muller, Mirny et al reveals new combination of these mechanisms, and a new, secluded “S” compartment
link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Washington Post reporter laid off while freezing in a war zone by one of the world’s richest people.

MRC instructs grant review boards to slash funding rates - Research Professional News Boards asked to recommend just three applications for funding, as BBSRC also suspends calls

Both MRC and BBSRC responsive modes now withdrawn until further notice. Existing applications unlikely to succeed (late 2025 round expecting 1-5% success rate).

Listen, I get that UKRI wants to pivot. But killing both at once is devastating.

Let's hope at least one opens by summer... #AcademicSky

RNA in physiology and disease | Genetics Society Meeting background RNA molecules are at the heart of normal physiological processes, and their dysregulation can drive a wide range of human diseases. This international meeting will bring together wo...

Have a look at this fantastic meeting and save the date!

The “RNA in Physiology and Disease” conference, hosted by @gensocuk.bsky.social, will take place 7–9 September 2026 in Newcastle, UK.

genetics.org.uk/events/rna-i...

... and we're off. Great kick-off meeting for the start of the ERC synergy GeneMotors project. So much energy and enthusiasm. @ceesdekker.bsky.social @erc.europa.eu

Which one is in you experience a more reliable and robust kit for sterility test (i.e in CAR-T samples): Sartorius or Thermofisher?

Courses and Conferences of EMBL2026

Our journals Development, Journal of Cell Science, Disease Models & Mechanisms and Biology Open are pleased to be media partners for a number of @embo.org and @embl.org conferences, workshops and courses during 2026. See the full calendar of events at www.embl.org/about/info/c....

Still some time to register to this great meeting! Great science and great location for a very affordable registration cost!