Davi Bock
@dddavi.bsky.social
Rural neuroscientist. Connectomics. Protists.
caveat emptor: https://bsky.app/profile/dddavi.bsky.social/post/3k5bnogiq5r2j
caveat emptor: https://bsky.app/profile/dddavi.bsky.social/post/3k5bnogiq5r2j
Pinned
Davi Bock
@dddavi.bsky.social
· Oct 2
The FlyWire connectome: neuronal wiring diagram of a complete fly brain
Artificial intelligence and human expertise meet to generate a map of all the connections in the fly brain. The resource is already being used by experimentalists and theoreticians to further our unde...
www.nature.com
Hard to overstate how pleased I am that the FlyWire consortium converted our FAFB ("Full Adult Fly Brain") EM volume into a connectome, and that the resulting science has been (and will be) so impactful. Thanks to everyone involved. #neuroscience www.nature.com/immersive/d4...
Reposted by Davi Bock
Our CytoTape work is published today in Nature @nature.com! CytoTape is a genetically encoded, flexible, intracellular protein tape recorder for spatiotemporally scalable and multiplexed recording of cellular activities continuously across weeks in vitro and in vivo. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
January 26, 2026 at 8:50 PM
Our CytoTape work is published today in Nature @nature.com! CytoTape is a genetically encoded, flexible, intracellular protein tape recorder for spatiotemporally scalable and multiplexed recording of cellular activities continuously across weeks in vitro and in vivo. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Davi Bock
Another bit on eye-sight: I've put together a plot on visual acuity in birds and mammals. Interestingly, corvids seem to have acuity that is a lot better than expected for their eye size/passerines in general. Is anyone aware of structural peculiarities of corvid eyes that might explain that? 🧪🪶
January 25, 2026 at 11:47 AM
Another bit on eye-sight: I've put together a plot on visual acuity in birds and mammals. Interestingly, corvids seem to have acuity that is a lot better than expected for their eye size/passerines in general. Is anyone aware of structural peculiarities of corvid eyes that might explain that? 🧪🪶
Reposted by Davi Bock
The bill includes a 33 percent budget increase for the NIH’s BRAIN Initiative, which has faced significant funding cuts over the past two years.
By @avaskham.bsky.social
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/funding/neur...
By @avaskham.bsky.social
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/funding/neur...
Neuroscience, BRAIN Initiative gain budget in ‘bad’ NIH funding bill
The bill goes before the House of Representatives today and outlines increases for neuroscience-related research—including a 33 percent increase to the BRAIN Initiative—but maintains a multiyear…
www.thetransmitter.org
January 22, 2026 at 8:54 PM
The bill includes a 33 percent budget increase for the NIH’s BRAIN Initiative, which has faced significant funding cuts over the past two years.
By @avaskham.bsky.social
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/funding/neur...
By @avaskham.bsky.social
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/funding/neur...
Reposted by Davi Bock
The winner of the 2026 Pradel Research Award is H. Sebastian Seung of @princetonneuro.bsky.social! He is being honored for for transformative advances in computational neuroscience. Learn more about his discoveries: www.nasonline.org/award/pradel... #NASaward #neuroscience
January 22, 2026 at 4:06 PM
The winner of the 2026 Pradel Research Award is H. Sebastian Seung of @princetonneuro.bsky.social! He is being honored for for transformative advances in computational neuroscience. Learn more about his discoveries: www.nasonline.org/award/pradel... #NASaward #neuroscience
Reposted by Davi Bock
What's the relation between voltage and calcium in dendrites? Xiang Wu studied this in CA2 hippocampal pyramidal cells in behaving mice. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
January 21, 2026 at 7:51 PM
What's the relation between voltage and calcium in dendrites? Xiang Wu studied this in CA2 hippocampal pyramidal cells in behaving mice. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
This course looks great. Amazing organisms + friendly and highly expert instructors, several of whom I have had the privilege of getting to know during my time so far here in Heidelberg. Strong recommend!
We are excited to share that we are hosting a hands-on course on "Electron Microscopy of Marine Environmental Samples" 🔬🌊
📍Naples, Italy 🗓️ 8th-11th of April 2026
If you are interested, check the program below!
Registration is open until the 12th of February. We look forward to seeing you there!
📍Naples, Italy 🗓️ 8th-11th of April 2026
If you are interested, check the program below!
Registration is open until the 12th of February. We look forward to seeing you there!
January 20, 2026 at 7:32 PM
This course looks great. Amazing organisms + friendly and highly expert instructors, several of whom I have had the privilege of getting to know during my time so far here in Heidelberg. Strong recommend!
Reposted by Davi Bock
Please apply. Amazing opportunity to dive into connectomics datasets for research, educational initiatives, outreach and whatever else your heart desires. Feb 2nd deadline.
Teach neuroscience to undergraduates? Learn how to incorporate our connectomics data into your courses!
🧠 "Incorporating open connectomics data into teaching neuroscience"
🗓️ July 23-24
🛫 Travel funds available
⏳ Apply by Feb. 2: https://bit.ly/3LAfOdy
#neuroskyence
🧠 "Incorporating open connectomics data into teaching neuroscience"
🗓️ July 23-24
🛫 Travel funds available
⏳ Apply by Feb. 2: https://bit.ly/3LAfOdy
#neuroskyence
Incorporating open connectomics data into teaching neuroscience
Learn to analyze open neuroscience data and introduce dry lab modules into your existing classes at the Incorporating Open Connectomics data into...
alleninstitute.org
January 15, 2026 at 12:18 AM
Please apply. Amazing opportunity to dive into connectomics datasets for research, educational initiatives, outreach and whatever else your heart desires. Feb 2nd deadline.
Reposted by Davi Bock
Big news! The Data Management team/Data Science Centre at EMBL (i.e. my team) is hiring for a position based in Heidelberg (but working across all sites!). We are looking for a scientific workflows developer that will focus on multimodal pipelines. embl.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/EMBL/j...
Scientific Workflows Developer
The European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) is Europe’s life sciences laboratory – an intergovernmental organisation with more than 110 independent research groups and service teams covering the ...
embl.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com
January 14, 2026 at 9:37 AM
Big news! The Data Management team/Data Science Centre at EMBL (i.e. my team) is hiring for a position based in Heidelberg (but working across all sites!). We are looking for a scientific workflows developer that will focus on multimodal pipelines. embl.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/EMBL/j...
Reposted by Davi Bock
Thank you!!! This was a whole lot of work by a whole lot of people!!!!
Great stuff, gotta love a bit of evolutionary conservation 😃 👏 @vabraira.bsky.social, @ishmailsaboor.bsky.social & all!
January 13, 2026 at 7:52 PM
Thank you!!! This was a whole lot of work by a whole lot of people!!!!
Reposted by Davi Bock
If you are interested in electron microscopy, registration is still open for the
"Electron Microscopy Hands-On Course: sample preparation and imaging of marine environmental samples"
at Stazione Zoologica in Naples.
WIth great teachers from Naples […]
[Original post on biologists.social]
"Electron Microscopy Hands-On Course: sample preparation and imaging of marine environmental samples"
at Stazione Zoologica in Naples.
WIth great teachers from Naples […]
[Original post on biologists.social]
January 13, 2026 at 7:08 AM
If you are interested in electron microscopy, registration is still open for the
"Electron Microscopy Hands-On Course: sample preparation and imaging of marine environmental samples"
at Stazione Zoologica in Naples.
WIth great teachers from Naples […]
[Original post on biologists.social]
"Electron Microscopy Hands-On Course: sample preparation and imaging of marine environmental samples"
at Stazione Zoologica in Naples.
WIth great teachers from Naples […]
[Original post on biologists.social]
Reposted by Davi Bock
How do neural circuits generate the walking rhythm?
Using connectome simulations, @sarahpugly.bsky.social found a minimal central pattern generator (CPG) that produces oscillations in leg motor neurons. Same circuit motif for each 🪰 leg.
w @bingbrunton.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Using connectome simulations, @sarahpugly.bsky.social found a minimal central pattern generator (CPG) that produces oscillations in leg motor neurons. Same circuit motif for each 🪰 leg.
w @bingbrunton.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
December 9, 2025 at 5:50 PM
How do neural circuits generate the walking rhythm?
Using connectome simulations, @sarahpugly.bsky.social found a minimal central pattern generator (CPG) that produces oscillations in leg motor neurons. Same circuit motif for each 🪰 leg.
w @bingbrunton.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Using connectome simulations, @sarahpugly.bsky.social found a minimal central pattern generator (CPG) that produces oscillations in leg motor neurons. Same circuit motif for each 🪰 leg.
w @bingbrunton.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Davi Bock
The cryo cyclical multiplexing expansion microscopy (Cy-ExM) preprint from
@seweryn-galecki.bsky.social , @kevin-dean.bsky.social et al is online.
20 targets across an entire cell. Mr. Snouty also joined the fun.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
@seweryn-galecki.bsky.social , @kevin-dean.bsky.social et al is online.
20 targets across an entire cell. Mr. Snouty also joined the fun.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
January 2, 2026 at 7:39 PM
The cryo cyclical multiplexing expansion microscopy (Cy-ExM) preprint from
@seweryn-galecki.bsky.social , @kevin-dean.bsky.social et al is online.
20 targets across an entire cell. Mr. Snouty also joined the fun.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
@seweryn-galecki.bsky.social , @kevin-dean.bsky.social et al is online.
20 targets across an entire cell. Mr. Snouty also joined the fun.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Reposted by Davi Bock
my modest collection of flies with WIDE heads 🙇
a hammer-headed Richardia (Ecuador),
a stalk-eyed Chaetodiopsis (Mozambique),
a pointy-eyed Ophthalmoptera (Colombia),
and an antlered Richardia (Colombia)
why though? male-male competition? sexual selection? chime-in if you know!
a hammer-headed Richardia (Ecuador),
a stalk-eyed Chaetodiopsis (Mozambique),
a pointy-eyed Ophthalmoptera (Colombia),
and an antlered Richardia (Colombia)
why though? male-male competition? sexual selection? chime-in if you know!
December 22, 2025 at 6:53 PM
my modest collection of flies with WIDE heads 🙇
a hammer-headed Richardia (Ecuador),
a stalk-eyed Chaetodiopsis (Mozambique),
a pointy-eyed Ophthalmoptera (Colombia),
and an antlered Richardia (Colombia)
why though? male-male competition? sexual selection? chime-in if you know!
a hammer-headed Richardia (Ecuador),
a stalk-eyed Chaetodiopsis (Mozambique),
a pointy-eyed Ophthalmoptera (Colombia),
and an antlered Richardia (Colombia)
why though? male-male competition? sexual selection? chime-in if you know!
Reposted by Davi Bock
Organelles do NOT have a single uniform pH.
And if you think they must, because “protons diffuse fast,” this paper is for you.
A thread on why that assumption is wrong; and what we found instead. 🧵 1/n
And if you think they must, because “protons diffuse fast,” this paper is for you.
A thread on why that assumption is wrong; and what we found instead. 🧵 1/n
Organelles harbour pH gradients https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.12.694065v1
December 17, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Organelles do NOT have a single uniform pH.
And if you think they must, because “protons diffuse fast,” this paper is for you.
A thread on why that assumption is wrong; and what we found instead. 🧵 1/n
And if you think they must, because “protons diffuse fast,” this paper is for you.
A thread on why that assumption is wrong; and what we found instead. 🧵 1/n
Reposted by Davi Bock
*First preprint from our lab* !!!!!
How does the brain learn to anchor its internal sense of direction to the outside world? 🧭
led by Mark Plitt @markplitt.bsky.social & Dan Turner-Evans, w/ Vivek Jayaraman:
“Octopamine instructs head direction plasticity” www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Thread ⬇️
How does the brain learn to anchor its internal sense of direction to the outside world? 🧭
led by Mark Plitt @markplitt.bsky.social & Dan Turner-Evans, w/ Vivek Jayaraman:
“Octopamine instructs head direction plasticity” www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Thread ⬇️
December 15, 2025 at 6:26 PM
*First preprint from our lab* !!!!!
How does the brain learn to anchor its internal sense of direction to the outside world? 🧭
led by Mark Plitt @markplitt.bsky.social & Dan Turner-Evans, w/ Vivek Jayaraman:
“Octopamine instructs head direction plasticity” www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Thread ⬇️
How does the brain learn to anchor its internal sense of direction to the outside world? 🧭
led by Mark Plitt @markplitt.bsky.social & Dan Turner-Evans, w/ Vivek Jayaraman:
“Octopamine instructs head direction plasticity” www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Thread ⬇️
Reposted by Davi Bock
Our dispatch:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982225014691
on the recent Hydra volume EM paper by Zhang, Rafa Yuste and colleagues:
#connectomics, without synapses
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982225013090
#neuroscience
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982225014691
on the recent Hydra volume EM paper by Zhang, Rafa Yuste and colleagues:
#connectomics, without synapses
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982225013090
#neuroscience
December 16, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Our dispatch:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982225014691
on the recent Hydra volume EM paper by Zhang, Rafa Yuste and colleagues:
#connectomics, without synapses
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982225013090
#neuroscience
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982225014691
on the recent Hydra volume EM paper by Zhang, Rafa Yuste and colleagues:
#connectomics, without synapses
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982225013090
#neuroscience
Reposted by Davi Bock
🧠🪰 The adult Drosophila brain connectome now gives us a complete wiring diagram of ~140k neurons. But a wiring diagram alone isn’t understanding.
How is this massive network organized?
Our paper tackles that question by mapping community structure across the entire fly brain. 1/
How is this massive network organized?
Our paper tackles that question by mapping community structure across the entire fly brain. 1/
New lab paper - will say more about this in a little while
December 15, 2025 at 3:11 PM
🧠🪰 The adult Drosophila brain connectome now gives us a complete wiring diagram of ~140k neurons. But a wiring diagram alone isn’t understanding.
How is this massive network organized?
Our paper tackles that question by mapping community structure across the entire fly brain. 1/
How is this massive network organized?
Our paper tackles that question by mapping community structure across the entire fly brain. 1/
Reposted by Davi Bock
A paper from my PhD lab is on Science! This is a really cool new way to utilize EM connectome datasets. Congrats to the team!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Spatial and morphological organization of mitochondria in neurons across a connectome
Neuronal function depends on mitochondria, but little is known about their organization across neurons. Using an electron microscopy Drosophila connectome, we uncovered quantitative rules governing th...
www.science.org
December 14, 2025 at 9:46 AM
A paper from my PhD lab is on Science! This is a really cool new way to utilize EM connectome datasets. Congrats to the team!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Davi Bock
Love the caption of Fig. 3 in this impressive preprint:
"A Goodsell-esque 3D orthogonal rendering of an IsoNet2-processed FIB-milled tomogram of C. reinhardtii"
doi.org/10.64898/202...
Since I am no expert, what does the cryoET community think of IsoNet? @cellarchlab.com
doi.org/10.1038/s414...
"A Goodsell-esque 3D orthogonal rendering of an IsoNet2-processed FIB-milled tomogram of C. reinhardtii"
doi.org/10.64898/202...
Since I am no expert, what does the cryoET community think of IsoNet? @cellarchlab.com
doi.org/10.1038/s414...
December 12, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Love the caption of Fig. 3 in this impressive preprint:
"A Goodsell-esque 3D orthogonal rendering of an IsoNet2-processed FIB-milled tomogram of C. reinhardtii"
doi.org/10.64898/202...
Since I am no expert, what does the cryoET community think of IsoNet? @cellarchlab.com
doi.org/10.1038/s414...
"A Goodsell-esque 3D orthogonal rendering of an IsoNet2-processed FIB-milled tomogram of C. reinhardtii"
doi.org/10.64898/202...
Since I am no expert, what does the cryoET community think of IsoNet? @cellarchlab.com
doi.org/10.1038/s414...
Reposted by Davi Bock
In addition to the Comments linked to below, this news article ("Technology Feature") ties together perspectives from many additional workers in the field, including yours truly: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
December 9, 2025 at 5:13 PM
In addition to the Comments linked to below, this news article ("Technology Feature") ties together perspectives from many additional workers in the field, including yours truly: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Davi Bock
I had heard this was coming, but it’s still an amazing indication of how far we’ve come in the last decade or so!
Our Method of the Year 2025 is...drumroll please...EM-based connectomics!!
Our Editorial introduces our choice and highlights six Comments and other related content in this special issue. Please join us in celebrating EM-based connectomics! 🎉🧠🔬
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Our Editorial introduces our choice and highlights six Comments and other related content in this special issue. Please join us in celebrating EM-based connectomics! 🎉🧠🔬
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Method of the Year 2025: electron microscopy-based connectomics - Nature Methods
A large network of interconnected neurons serves as the basis of brain function and of behavior. Methodological advances have enabled the reconstruction of large-scale and even whole-brain connectomes...
www.nature.com
December 8, 2025 at 5:47 PM
I had heard this was coming, but it’s still an amazing indication of how far we’ve come in the last decade or so!
Reposted by Davi Bock
Have you ever wondered what you would find if you could keep your eyes on a bee for more than a few meters? Us, too!
preprint (with videos!) + thread 🧵
Precise, individualized foraging flights in honey #bees 🐝 revealed by multicopter drone-based tracking
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
1/9
preprint (with videos!) + thread 🧵
Precise, individualized foraging flights in honey #bees 🐝 revealed by multicopter drone-based tracking
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
1/9
December 6, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Have you ever wondered what you would find if you could keep your eyes on a bee for more than a few meters? Us, too!
preprint (with videos!) + thread 🧵
Precise, individualized foraging flights in honey #bees 🐝 revealed by multicopter drone-based tracking
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
1/9
preprint (with videos!) + thread 🧵
Precise, individualized foraging flights in honey #bees 🐝 revealed by multicopter drone-based tracking
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
1/9
Reposted by Davi Bock
Do you have 2D-to-3D image registration challenges? Let me know about them here
forum.image.sc/t/toward-bet...
forum.image.sc/t/toward-bet...
Toward better 2D - 3D registration in BigWarp
BigWarp has so far focused on 2D-2D or 3D-3D registration, and not on 2D-3D registration. After a conversation with @Christian_Tischer , we thought some simple UI changes could make the support for 2...
forum.image.sc
November 29, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Do you have 2D-to-3D image registration challenges? Let me know about them here
forum.image.sc/t/toward-bet...
forum.image.sc/t/toward-bet...
Reposted by Davi Bock
Our new paper showcasing molecular connectomics with pan-expansion microscopy is out in @natbiotech.nature.com! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
This wonderful collaboration with @bewersdorflab.bsky.social was led by Ons M'Saad (now founder/CEO of Panluminate) and @allisonphysics.bsky.social. (1/5)
This wonderful collaboration with @bewersdorflab.bsky.social was led by Ons M'Saad (now founder/CEO of Panluminate) and @allisonphysics.bsky.social. (1/5)
November 27, 2025 at 4:40 AM
Our new paper showcasing molecular connectomics with pan-expansion microscopy is out in @natbiotech.nature.com! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
This wonderful collaboration with @bewersdorflab.bsky.social was led by Ons M'Saad (now founder/CEO of Panluminate) and @allisonphysics.bsky.social. (1/5)
This wonderful collaboration with @bewersdorflab.bsky.social was led by Ons M'Saad (now founder/CEO of Panluminate) and @allisonphysics.bsky.social. (1/5)