James Gahan
@jgahan.bsky.social
Associate Professor and ERC Starting Awardee at University of Galway! I work on early animal evolution with a particular interest in gene regulation and chromatin!
https://gahanlab.com
https://chromosome.ie/groups/gahan/
🏳️🌈🇮🇪 He/Him
https://gahanlab.com
https://chromosome.ie/groups/gahan/
🏳️🌈🇮🇪 He/Him
Pinned
Chromatin profiling identifies putative dual roles for H3K27me3 in regulating cell type-specific genes and transposable elements in choanoflagellates
Nature Communications - Here, the authors investigate chromatin-based gene regulation in the closest relative of animal, choanoflagellates. They uncover a putative dual role for the histone...
rdcu.be
Very happy to see our paper published online natcomms.nature.com. Thank you to @wellcometrust.bsky.social for funding this work during my time with @robklose.bsky.social and David Booth! Thanks also to collaborators @garcialabms.bsky.social @alexdemendoza.bsky.social and the other authors!
Reposted by James Gahan
A new and fascinating story from @bencarty.bsky.social and the group, with crucial help from the teams of @naltemose.bsky.social, Simona Giunta, and @dfachinetti.bsky.social. Many thanks to all for a fantastic collaboration.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
November 25, 2025 at 12:16 PM
A new and fascinating story from @bencarty.bsky.social and the group, with crucial help from the teams of @naltemose.bsky.social, Simona Giunta, and @dfachinetti.bsky.social. Many thanks to all for a fantastic collaboration.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by James Gahan
Drawing together findings from several projects over many years, we make a case that neural cell types in the Clytia larva have two embryological origins: i-cells and ectodermal.
bioRxiv 2025.11.17.688882; doi: doi.org/10.1101/2025...
bioRxiv 2025.11.17.688882; doi: doi.org/10.1101/2025...
November 19, 2025 at 7:43 AM
Drawing together findings from several projects over many years, we make a case that neural cell types in the Clytia larva have two embryological origins: i-cells and ectodermal.
bioRxiv 2025.11.17.688882; doi: doi.org/10.1101/2025...
bioRxiv 2025.11.17.688882; doi: doi.org/10.1101/2025...
Reposted by James Gahan
Students applying for grad school, or reaching out to professors. I have an important piece of advice for you: STOP DOING THIS 👇 (a thread) #STEM #PhD #gradschool #academictips
November 21, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Students applying for grad school, or reaching out to professors. I have an important piece of advice for you: STOP DOING THIS 👇 (a thread) #STEM #PhD #gradschool #academictips
Very cool new paper from the Rentzsch group!!
Our paper on the role of neurons in Nematostella head regeneration is now out at @currentbiology.bsky.social Big thank you to all collaborators, it was a pleasure!
Ectopic head regeneration after nervous system ablation in a sea anemone: Current Biology www.cell.com/current-biol...
Ectopic head regeneration after nervous system ablation in a sea anemone: Current Biology www.cell.com/current-biol...
Ectopic head regeneration after nervous system ablation in a sea anemone
Via genetic ablation of neurons, Mazloumi Gavgani et al. show that the nervous system
is essential for defining axial polarity during whole-body regeneration in the sea
anemone Nematostella vectensis.
www.cell.com
November 22, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Very cool new paper from the Rentzsch group!!
Reposted by James Gahan
Check out our latest issue where we interview Cassandra Extavour, who studies the evolution of the genetic mechanisms employed during early animal embryogenesis to specify cell fate, development, and differentiation at Harvard University. www.cell.com/current-biol...
Q & A
Interview with Cassandra Extavour, who studies the evolution of the genetic mechanisms
employed during early animal embryogenesis to specify cell fate, development, and
differentiation at Harvard Univ...
www.cell.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Check out our latest issue where we interview Cassandra Extavour, who studies the evolution of the genetic mechanisms employed during early animal embryogenesis to specify cell fate, development, and differentiation at Harvard University. www.cell.com/current-biol...
Reposted by James Gahan
Out today, our take on 6-methyladenine #6mA evolution in Eukaryotes @natgenet.nature.com. We asked a simple question, is really DNA 6mA common across the eukaryotes? The answer is "yes" if you're a unicellular eukaryote 🦠, not so if you're multicellular 🐝🌱🍄. www.nature.com/articles/s41... 1/9
Adenine DNA methylation associated with transcriptionally permissive chromatin is widespread across eukaryotes - Nature Genetics
Long-read sequencing in 18 unicellular eukaryotes reveals that 6mA is widespread across eukaryotes and is enriched at transcriptionally permissive regions, which are also marked by H3K4me3.
www.nature.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Out today, our take on 6-methyladenine #6mA evolution in Eukaryotes @natgenet.nature.com. We asked a simple question, is really DNA 6mA common across the eukaryotes? The answer is "yes" if you're a unicellular eukaryote 🦠, not so if you're multicellular 🐝🌱🍄. www.nature.com/articles/s41... 1/9
Reposted by James Gahan
🚨Reposts appreciated‼️If I had read this PhD offer five years ago, I wouldn’t have hesitated for a second to apply 😉
Passionate about gene regulation, chromatin, and developmental biology? Just contact @radaiglesiaslab.bsky.social at @ibbtec.bsky.social 🧬✨
#PhD #3DGenome
Passionate about gene regulation, chromatin, and developmental biology? Just contact @radaiglesiaslab.bsky.social at @ibbtec.bsky.social 🧬✨
#PhD #3DGenome
November 15, 2025 at 9:53 AM
🚨Reposts appreciated‼️If I had read this PhD offer five years ago, I wouldn’t have hesitated for a second to apply 😉
Passionate about gene regulation, chromatin, and developmental biology? Just contact @radaiglesiaslab.bsky.social at @ibbtec.bsky.social 🧬✨
#PhD #3DGenome
Passionate about gene regulation, chromatin, and developmental biology? Just contact @radaiglesiaslab.bsky.social at @ibbtec.bsky.social 🧬✨
#PhD #3DGenome
Reposted by James Gahan
Still looking for our perfect doctoral candidate as part of @evomg-dn.bsky.social - come and join us to work on the evolutionary pressures that shape gene expression and disease in the uterus!
Please RT (or is it RB? not sure how our lingo has changed!)
Please RT (or is it RB? not sure how our lingo has changed!)
🚨 15 days left to apply!
Be part of EvoMG-DN and advance your PhD career in evolutionary genomics.
👉 www.evomg-dn.eu
#PhD #DoctoralTraining #ResearchCareers #LifeSciences #BiomedicalResearch #Genomics #EvolutionaryBiology #MSCA #HorizonEurope #EUResearch #ResearchOpportunities #PhDPositions
Be part of EvoMG-DN and advance your PhD career in evolutionary genomics.
👉 www.evomg-dn.eu
#PhD #DoctoralTraining #ResearchCareers #LifeSciences #BiomedicalResearch #Genomics #EvolutionaryBiology #MSCA #HorizonEurope #EUResearch #ResearchOpportunities #PhDPositions
November 14, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Still looking for our perfect doctoral candidate as part of @evomg-dn.bsky.social - come and join us to work on the evolutionary pressures that shape gene expression and disease in the uterus!
Please RT (or is it RB? not sure how our lingo has changed!)
Please RT (or is it RB? not sure how our lingo has changed!)
Reposted by James Gahan
🌍Open call: Junior Group Leader positions!
Join a world-class biomedical research institute at the heart of the Vienna BioCenter, where curiosity drives discovery.
Lead your own lab, pursue bold ideas, and shape the future of science at the IMP: www.imp.ac.at/career/open-...
Join a world-class biomedical research institute at the heart of the Vienna BioCenter, where curiosity drives discovery.
Lead your own lab, pursue bold ideas, and shape the future of science at the IMP: www.imp.ac.at/career/open-...
November 10, 2025 at 1:26 PM
🌍Open call: Junior Group Leader positions!
Join a world-class biomedical research institute at the heart of the Vienna BioCenter, where curiosity drives discovery.
Lead your own lab, pursue bold ideas, and shape the future of science at the IMP: www.imp.ac.at/career/open-...
Join a world-class biomedical research institute at the heart of the Vienna BioCenter, where curiosity drives discovery.
Lead your own lab, pursue bold ideas, and shape the future of science at the IMP: www.imp.ac.at/career/open-...
Reposted by James Gahan
Very happy to see our paper published online natcomms.nature.com. Thank you to @wellcometrust.bsky.social for funding this work during my time with @robklose.bsky.social and David Booth! Thanks also to collaborators @garcialabms.bsky.social @alexdemendoza.bsky.social and the other authors!
Chromatin profiling identifies putative dual roles for H3K27me3 in regulating cell type-specific genes and transposable elements in choanoflagellates
Nature Communications - Here, the authors investigate chromatin-based gene regulation in the closest relative of animal, choanoflagellates. They uncover a putative dual role for the histone...
rdcu.be
October 29, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Very happy to see our paper published online natcomms.nature.com. Thank you to @wellcometrust.bsky.social for funding this work during my time with @robklose.bsky.social and David Booth! Thanks also to collaborators @garcialabms.bsky.social @alexdemendoza.bsky.social and the other authors!
Reposted by James Gahan
1/ 🚀 AEBP2 isn’t what we thought.
You were told that AEBP2 promotes PRC2 activity on chromatin.
We found the opposite: the most prevalent AEBP2 isoform inhibits PRC2 activity.
👉 surl.li/cgwqcq
A thread 🧵
You were told that AEBP2 promotes PRC2 activity on chromatin.
We found the opposite: the most prevalent AEBP2 isoform inhibits PRC2 activity.
👉 surl.li/cgwqcq
A thread 🧵
October 31, 2025 at 10:53 AM
1/ 🚀 AEBP2 isn’t what we thought.
You were told that AEBP2 promotes PRC2 activity on chromatin.
We found the opposite: the most prevalent AEBP2 isoform inhibits PRC2 activity.
👉 surl.li/cgwqcq
A thread 🧵
You were told that AEBP2 promotes PRC2 activity on chromatin.
We found the opposite: the most prevalent AEBP2 isoform inhibits PRC2 activity.
👉 surl.li/cgwqcq
A thread 🧵
Reposted by James Gahan
New preprint out! Evolutionarily conserved transcriptional regulators control monoaminergic neuron development.
We uncover how ancient regulatory programs orchestrate the neurons that produce serotonin and dopamine across 550 million years of evolution.
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
We uncover how ancient regulatory programs orchestrate the neurons that produce serotonin and dopamine across 550 million years of evolution.
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
Evolutionarily conserved transcriptional regulators control monoaminergic neuron development
To what extent conserved developmental programs specify homologous cell types is a central question in biology. Here, we address this by focusing on reconstructing monoaminergic neuron development in ...
doi.org
October 30, 2025 at 9:42 AM
New preprint out! Evolutionarily conserved transcriptional regulators control monoaminergic neuron development.
We uncover how ancient regulatory programs orchestrate the neurons that produce serotonin and dopamine across 550 million years of evolution.
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
We uncover how ancient regulatory programs orchestrate the neurons that produce serotonin and dopamine across 550 million years of evolution.
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
Very happy to see our paper published online natcomms.nature.com. Thank you to @wellcometrust.bsky.social for funding this work during my time with @robklose.bsky.social and David Booth! Thanks also to collaborators @garcialabms.bsky.social @alexdemendoza.bsky.social and the other authors!
Chromatin profiling identifies putative dual roles for H3K27me3 in regulating cell type-specific genes and transposable elements in choanoflagellates
Nature Communications - Here, the authors investigate chromatin-based gene regulation in the closest relative of animal, choanoflagellates. They uncover a putative dual role for the histone...
rdcu.be
October 29, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Very happy to see our paper published online natcomms.nature.com. Thank you to @wellcometrust.bsky.social for funding this work during my time with @robklose.bsky.social and David Booth! Thanks also to collaborators @garcialabms.bsky.social @alexdemendoza.bsky.social and the other authors!
Reposted by James Gahan
First neurons didn’t appear overnight. We trace their roots to ancient secretory cells - showing how lifestyle & behavior shaped the evolution of first synapses.🧠🌊 #Evolution #Neuroscience
Our latest in @natrevneuro.nature.com
Link: rdcu.be/eMX3E
@jeffcolgren.bsky.social @msarscentre.bsky.social
Our latest in @natrevneuro.nature.com
Link: rdcu.be/eMX3E
@jeffcolgren.bsky.social @msarscentre.bsky.social
The evolutionary origins of synaptic proteins and their changing roles in different organisms across evolution
Nature Reviews Neuroscience - Recent studies have shed further light on the evolutionary origins of chemical synapses, In this Review, Colgren and Burkhardt explore how ancient proteins were...
rdcu.be
October 27, 2025 at 6:48 PM
First neurons didn’t appear overnight. We trace their roots to ancient secretory cells - showing how lifestyle & behavior shaped the evolution of first synapses.🧠🌊 #Evolution #Neuroscience
Our latest in @natrevneuro.nature.com
Link: rdcu.be/eMX3E
@jeffcolgren.bsky.social @msarscentre.bsky.social
Our latest in @natrevneuro.nature.com
Link: rdcu.be/eMX3E
@jeffcolgren.bsky.social @msarscentre.bsky.social
Reposted by James Gahan
Our interdisciplinary @embo.org @biologists.bsky.social workshop on Biophysical and Molecular Mechanisms of Animal Homeostasis and Repair will take place in beautiful Haining, China, 6-10 April 2026. Exciting line up of international speakers! Register now: meetings.embo.org/event/26-hom...
Interfacing biophysical and molecular mechanisms of animal homeostasis and repair
The control of animal homeostasis and repair has been studied for decades, mostly from a molecular and biochemical perspective. Recent research shows that biophysical factors, such as mechanical forc…
meetings.embo.org
August 7, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Our interdisciplinary @embo.org @biologists.bsky.social workshop on Biophysical and Molecular Mechanisms of Animal Homeostasis and Repair will take place in beautiful Haining, China, 6-10 April 2026. Exciting line up of international speakers! Register now: meetings.embo.org/event/26-hom...
Reposted by James Gahan
Come join the #LondonEvoDevo network half day meeting, hosted at @ucl.ac.uk on Friday November 7th, 2025. Submit your abstract by Oct 27th (or your interest in joining) here: forms.gle/TRbdrCkQTcY2.... Friendly vibes and free registration. More info here: londonevodevo.co.uk.
LondonEvoDevo
meeting's website
londonevodevo.co.uk
October 20, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Come join the #LondonEvoDevo network half day meeting, hosted at @ucl.ac.uk on Friday November 7th, 2025. Submit your abstract by Oct 27th (or your interest in joining) here: forms.gle/TRbdrCkQTcY2.... Friendly vibes and free registration. More info here: londonevodevo.co.uk.
Reposted by James Gahan
We are recuiting two new Associate Professors here in Oxford Biochemistry. Come join us! Reach out to me if you have any questions. Please repost! tinyurl.com/mr3m7bd3
October 17, 2025 at 2:56 PM
We are recuiting two new Associate Professors here in Oxford Biochemistry. Come join us! Reach out to me if you have any questions. Please repost! tinyurl.com/mr3m7bd3
Reposted by James Gahan
Come join us in Geneva for everything epigenetics and gene regulation. It will be a great meeting! Please repost!
www.keystonesymposia.org/conferences/...
www.keystonesymposia.org/conferences/...
Epigenetics and Gene Regulation in Health and Disease: Linking Basic Mechanisms with Therapeutic Opportunities | Keystone Symposia
Join us at the Keystone Symposia on Epigenetics and Gene Regulation in Health and Disease: Linking Basic Mechanisms with Therapeutic Opportunities, March 2026, in Geneva, with field leaders!
www.keystonesymposia.org
October 17, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Come join us in Geneva for everything epigenetics and gene regulation. It will be a great meeting! Please repost!
www.keystonesymposia.org/conferences/...
www.keystonesymposia.org/conferences/...
Reposted by James Gahan
We are happy to share our latest work in @nature.com . We study the genomic and cellular basis of facultative symbiosis in Oculina patagonica - a Mediterranean coral remarkable for its ability to survive long periods without algal symbionts. Led by Shani Levy and @xgrau.bsky.social
rdcu.be/eLbaZ
rdcu.be/eLbaZ
October 15, 2025 at 7:58 PM
We are happy to share our latest work in @nature.com . We study the genomic and cellular basis of facultative symbiosis in Oculina patagonica - a Mediterranean coral remarkable for its ability to survive long periods without algal symbionts. Led by Shani Levy and @xgrau.bsky.social
rdcu.be/eLbaZ
rdcu.be/eLbaZ
Reposted by James Gahan
A selection-based knockout approach for a choanoflagellate reveals regulation of multicellular development by Hippo signaling
A selection-based knockout approach for a choanoflagellate reveals regulation of multicellular development by Hippo signaling
Combredet et al. report a robust and fast gene-knockout method for the choanoflagellate Salpingoeca rosetta, one of the closest relatives of animals. Inactivation of genes encoding homologs of components of the Hippo pathway reveals regulation of multicellular rosette size by quantity of secreted extracellular matrix.
dlvr.it
October 12, 2025 at 7:51 PM
A selection-based knockout approach for a choanoflagellate reveals regulation of multicellular development by Hippo signaling
Reposted by James Gahan
Reposted by James Gahan
The @crick.ac.uk is recruiting Early Career Group Leaders
- Lab set-up, research costs, salaries for up to 5 researchers
- Support for up to 12 years
- Access to our core facilities
- Competitive salary
- Fantastic colleagues
- All areas of biology
Deadline 27 Nov
www.crick.ac.uk/careers-stud...
- Lab set-up, research costs, salaries for up to 5 researchers
- Support for up to 12 years
- Access to our core facilities
- Competitive salary
- Fantastic colleagues
- All areas of biology
Deadline 27 Nov
www.crick.ac.uk/careers-stud...
Early career group leaders
We appoint researchers from across biology and biomedicine to set up their first groups at the Crick.
www.crick.ac.uk
October 10, 2025 at 8:20 AM
The @crick.ac.uk is recruiting Early Career Group Leaders
- Lab set-up, research costs, salaries for up to 5 researchers
- Support for up to 12 years
- Access to our core facilities
- Competitive salary
- Fantastic colleagues
- All areas of biology
Deadline 27 Nov
www.crick.ac.uk/careers-stud...
- Lab set-up, research costs, salaries for up to 5 researchers
- Support for up to 12 years
- Access to our core facilities
- Competitive salary
- Fantastic colleagues
- All areas of biology
Deadline 27 Nov
www.crick.ac.uk/careers-stud...
Reposted by James Gahan
Interested in understanding how new cell types evolve? Consider joining our group for a PhD!
2026 PhD recruitment is now open.
As well as our main PhD recruitment, which is open to all, we are pleased to be offering scholarships for candidates of Black or mixed Black heritage. Learn more and apply on our website:
www.crick.ac.uk/careers-stud...
As well as our main PhD recruitment, which is open to all, we are pleased to be offering scholarships for candidates of Black or mixed Black heritage. Learn more and apply on our website:
www.crick.ac.uk/careers-stud...
PhD student recruitment
PhD recruitment information.
www.crick.ac.uk
October 7, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Interested in understanding how new cell types evolve? Consider joining our group for a PhD!
Reposted by James Gahan
If you are a computational biologist come, apply and join Howard & Klose lab in a joint Norwich-Oxford collaboration on chromatin dynamics!
VACANCY - We have an opportunity for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join the Howard Group, working to develop computational models of epigenetic dynamics in the Polycomb system.
www.jic.ac.uk/vacancies/po...
Closing date - 9 November 2025
Salary - £37,500 - £45,350
Contract - 36 months, full-time
www.jic.ac.uk/vacancies/po...
Closing date - 9 November 2025
Salary - £37,500 - £45,350
Contract - 36 months, full-time
Postdoctoral Researcher (Howard Group) | John Innes Centre
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join the Howard Group at the John Innes Centre, working on cutting-edge science in the field of Computational and Systems Biology.
www.jic.ac.uk
October 8, 2025 at 10:44 AM
If you are a computational biologist come, apply and join Howard & Klose lab in a joint Norwich-Oxford collaboration on chromatin dynamics!
Reposted by James Gahan
Wonderful opportunity to work with Martin Howard and my group trying to understand how chromatin influences gene transcription and expression. Integration of theory, modelling, and experimentation. Come and join the team!
Please repost!
jobs.jic.ac.uk/Details.asp?...
Please repost!
jobs.jic.ac.uk/Details.asp?...
John Innes Centre
jobs.jic.ac.uk
October 8, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Wonderful opportunity to work with Martin Howard and my group trying to understand how chromatin influences gene transcription and expression. Integration of theory, modelling, and experimentation. Come and join the team!
Please repost!
jobs.jic.ac.uk/Details.asp?...
Please repost!
jobs.jic.ac.uk/Details.asp?...