Laura Lorenzo Orts
@lorenzoorts.bsky.social
Postdoc in the Pauli Group @IMP in Vienna. Interested in gene expression regulation during early embryonic development in 🐟
Reposted by Laura Lorenzo Orts
📢 We have multiple open PhD positions to study bacterial immune systems using cutting-edge cryo-EM, microbiology, and biochemistry in our group! Join us and uncover how bacterial defenses eliminate predators and engineer next-gen biotech tools.
🔥 Apply by Jan 8, 2026
Details: phd.pages.ista.ac.at
🔥 Apply by Jan 8, 2026
Details: phd.pages.ista.ac.at
phd.pages.ista.ac.at
December 2, 2025 at 8:44 AM
📢 We have multiple open PhD positions to study bacterial immune systems using cutting-edge cryo-EM, microbiology, and biochemistry in our group! Join us and uncover how bacterial defenses eliminate predators and engineer next-gen biotech tools.
🔥 Apply by Jan 8, 2026
Details: phd.pages.ista.ac.at
🔥 Apply by Jan 8, 2026
Details: phd.pages.ista.ac.at
Reposted by Laura Lorenzo Orts
Glad to have this finally published: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... lots of new data since the #preprint. If you are into selective #autophagy, #evolution, #proteostasis Please have a look!
December 1, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Glad to have this finally published: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... lots of new data since the #preprint. If you are into selective #autophagy, #evolution, #proteostasis Please have a look!
Reposted by Laura Lorenzo Orts
Our latest collaboration with Fiedler lab @fmp-berlin.de and Panse labs UZH out on @biorxiv-plants.bsky.social. Using bead-adsorbed, non-hydrolyzable inositol pyrophosphate (PP-InsP) analogs, we isolated many putative PP-InsP-binding proteins from Arabidopsis.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... (1/6)
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... (1/6)
An inositol pyrophosphate interaction screen provides insight into the regulation of plant casein kinase II
Inositol pyrophosphates (PP-InsPs) are key nutrient messengers in plants, but their protein receptors remain poorly defined. Using a systems-level affinity screen with biotinylated InsP₆, InsP₇, and I...
www.biorxiv.org
November 29, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Our latest collaboration with Fiedler lab @fmp-berlin.de and Panse labs UZH out on @biorxiv-plants.bsky.social. Using bead-adsorbed, non-hydrolyzable inositol pyrophosphate (PP-InsP) analogs, we isolated many putative PP-InsP-binding proteins from Arabidopsis.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... (1/6)
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... (1/6)
Reposted by Laura Lorenzo Orts
Your periodic reminder that science is not done by a few selected "stars scientists". Science is done by hundred of thousands. Siloed money mean a few flashy discoveries and a lot of waste. Want to change things? Make funding accessible and stop funding calls with less than 2% success rate.
· #AcademicSky ·
The European Research Council is launching €7m Plus Grants for ambitious, long‑term research — open to researchers at any career stage but limited to about 30 awards; current ERC grantees and applicants are ineligible, reports @clanicholson.bsky.social.
The European Research Council is launching €7m Plus Grants for ambitious, long‑term research — open to researchers at any career stage but limited to about 30 awards; current ERC grantees and applicants are ineligible, reports @clanicholson.bsky.social.
ERC’s new €7m Plus Grants open to researchers at any career stage - Research Professional News
European Research Council president describes scheme as part attempt to lure US talent
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
November 29, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Your periodic reminder that science is not done by a few selected "stars scientists". Science is done by hundred of thousands. Siloed money mean a few flashy discoveries and a lot of waste. Want to change things? Make funding accessible and stop funding calls with less than 2% success rate.
Reposted by Laura Lorenzo Orts
Reposted by Laura Lorenzo Orts
How does messenger RNA (mRNA) get out of the nucleus to become a protein? Eukaryotic mRNA is packaged, exported, and then translated in the cytoplasm. But how do these steps work? And what are open questions? Check out our new review for our take: www.annualreviews.org/content/jour... (1/3)
November 21, 2025 at 5:37 PM
How does messenger RNA (mRNA) get out of the nucleus to become a protein? Eukaryotic mRNA is packaged, exported, and then translated in the cytoplasm. But how do these steps work? And what are open questions? Check out our new review for our take: www.annualreviews.org/content/jour... (1/3)
Reposted by Laura Lorenzo Orts
... and we would love to see you ALL - working with ANY fish model - join us in Vienna for www.ezm2026.org, the biggest fish meeting in 2026! We plan to have a special session 'beyond zebrafish' and would love to include talks representing other fish systems across all sessions. Pls spread the word!
November 21, 2025 at 7:23 PM
... and we would love to see you ALL - working with ANY fish model - join us in Vienna for www.ezm2026.org, the biggest fish meeting in 2026! We plan to have a special session 'beyond zebrafish' and would love to include talks representing other fish systems across all sessions. Pls spread the word!
Reposted by Laura Lorenzo Orts
anybody looking for exciting opportunities in RNA research, with the goal to use and learn state of the art thinking and experimenting: here is a good starting point. Ulrich is an outstanding scientist and natural leader.
👇👇👇👇
👇👇👇👇
Lastly, I’m excited to join @imbmainz.bsky.social in 2026 to start my own lab. We'll explore new mechanisms in eukaryotic gene expression, leveraging ‘evolutionary play’ to uncover how regulation, repurposing, and hijacking shape RNA biology. tinyurl.com/y4x29ctt
Thanks for reading! 20/20
Thanks for reading! 20/20
Research
IMB Mainz
tinyurl.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:31 AM
anybody looking for exciting opportunities in RNA research, with the goal to use and learn state of the art thinking and experimenting: here is a good starting point. Ulrich is an outstanding scientist and natural leader.
👇👇👇👇
👇👇👇👇
Reposted by Laura Lorenzo Orts
Finally out in @nature.com! We uncovered a mechanistic framework for a general and conserved mRNA nuclear export pathway. www.nature.com/articles/s41.... 1/
November 19, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Finally out in @nature.com! We uncovered a mechanistic framework for a general and conserved mRNA nuclear export pathway. www.nature.com/articles/s41.... 1/
Reposted by Laura Lorenzo Orts
When people celebrate the individual genius of folks in science, they should also
mourn the collective loss of genius of folks who were actively discouraged or disadvantaged from a career in science because of the same person(s)
mourn the collective loss of genius of folks who were actively discouraged or disadvantaged from a career in science because of the same person(s)
November 7, 2025 at 11:43 PM
When people celebrate the individual genius of folks in science, they should also
mourn the collective loss of genius of folks who were actively discouraged or disadvantaged from a career in science because of the same person(s)
mourn the collective loss of genius of folks who were actively discouraged or disadvantaged from a career in science because of the same person(s)
Reposted by Laura Lorenzo Orts
just in time for the opening of the @hohmannulrich.bsky.social group at @imbmainz.bsky.social
what started as a project on how cells export piRNA precursors, ended up as a tour de force in mRNA export. truly wonderful collaboration with @plaschkalab.bsky.social at the @viennabiocenter.bsky.social
what started as a project on how cells export piRNA precursors, ended up as a tour de force in mRNA export. truly wonderful collaboration with @plaschkalab.bsky.social at the @viennabiocenter.bsky.social
New paper alert! Scientists in Clemens Plaschka’s lab at the IMP and @juliusbrennecke.bsky.social's lab at
@imbavienna.bsky.social solved a decade-old puzzle, uncovering how the information molecule mRNA travels from the cell’s nucleus to its periphery. More: bit.ly/4nHcvys
@imbavienna.bsky.social solved a decade-old puzzle, uncovering how the information molecule mRNA travels from the cell’s nucleus to its periphery. More: bit.ly/4nHcvys
November 7, 2025 at 6:03 PM
just in time for the opening of the @hohmannulrich.bsky.social group at @imbmainz.bsky.social
what started as a project on how cells export piRNA precursors, ended up as a tour de force in mRNA export. truly wonderful collaboration with @plaschkalab.bsky.social at the @viennabiocenter.bsky.social
what started as a project on how cells export piRNA precursors, ended up as a tour de force in mRNA export. truly wonderful collaboration with @plaschkalab.bsky.social at the @viennabiocenter.bsky.social
👇 Very sad. Science moves forward through questioning and uncertainty. Claims later proven wrong can only increase society’s distrust in science. We, scientists, should be able to acknowledge gaps without fearing a loss of funding or the impact on our publications...
Researchers use less and less hedges (may, might, perhaps, probably ...) in their papers. Or in other words papers are becoming more like biblical texts.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Promoting research by reducing uncertainty in academic writing: a large-scale diachronic case study on hedging in Science research articles across 25 years - Scientometrics
Hedges are important in academic writing since they indicate uncertainty and tentativeness about academic knowledge. However, few studies explore how hedges have changed in academic writing overtime. ...
link.springer.com
November 6, 2025 at 6:20 PM
👇 Very sad. Science moves forward through questioning and uncertainty. Claims later proven wrong can only increase society’s distrust in science. We, scientists, should be able to acknowledge gaps without fearing a loss of funding or the impact on our publications...
Reposted by Laura Lorenzo Orts
New paper alert! Scientists in Julius Brennecke’s lab at IMBA and Clemens Plaschka’s lab at @impvienna.bsky.social solved a decade-old puzzle, uncovering how the information molecule mRNA travels from the cell’s nucleus to its periphery. More: https://imba.science/3Xl2hJ3
November 6, 2025 at 4:00 PM
New paper alert! Scientists in Julius Brennecke’s lab at IMBA and Clemens Plaschka’s lab at @impvienna.bsky.social solved a decade-old puzzle, uncovering how the information molecule mRNA travels from the cell’s nucleus to its periphery. More: https://imba.science/3Xl2hJ3
Reposted by Laura Lorenzo Orts
New paper alert! Scientists in Clemens Plaschka’s lab at the IMP and @juliusbrennecke.bsky.social's lab at
@imbavienna.bsky.social solved a decade-old puzzle, uncovering how the information molecule mRNA travels from the cell’s nucleus to its periphery. More: bit.ly/4nHcvys
@imbavienna.bsky.social solved a decade-old puzzle, uncovering how the information molecule mRNA travels from the cell’s nucleus to its periphery. More: bit.ly/4nHcvys
November 6, 2025 at 4:04 PM
New paper alert! Scientists in Clemens Plaschka’s lab at the IMP and @juliusbrennecke.bsky.social's lab at
@imbavienna.bsky.social solved a decade-old puzzle, uncovering how the information molecule mRNA travels from the cell’s nucleus to its periphery. More: bit.ly/4nHcvys
@imbavienna.bsky.social solved a decade-old puzzle, uncovering how the information molecule mRNA travels from the cell’s nucleus to its periphery. More: bit.ly/4nHcvys
Reposted by Laura Lorenzo Orts
🤯This is wow! Molecular mechanism of mRNA export. by @juliusbrennecke.bsky.social @plaschkalab.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
November 6, 2025 at 5:20 PM
🤯This is wow! Molecular mechanism of mRNA export. by @juliusbrennecke.bsky.social @plaschkalab.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Laura Lorenzo Orts
Super cool! Again, how p-bodies control gene expression in cell fate transitions
1/ Excited to share our new study with @brumbaugh-lab.bsky.social, out in @natbiotech.nature.com! P-bodies selectively sequester RNAs encoding cell fate regulators, often from the preceding developmental stage. Releasing these RNAs can drive changes in cell identity. 🧵 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Selective RNA sequestration in biomolecular condensates directs cell fate transitions - Nature Biotechnology
Stem cell differentiation is controlled by manipulating RNA condensates.
www.nature.com
October 28, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Super cool! Again, how p-bodies control gene expression in cell fate transitions
Reposted by Laura Lorenzo Orts
We have a new preprint for you. Naked mole rats are very long-lived rodents and have increased translational fidelity.
Interestingly, 28S ribosomal RNA is split. Here we investigated the structure of the ribosome by single particle cryo-EM. Take a look.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Interestingly, 28S ribosomal RNA is split. Here we investigated the structure of the ribosome by single particle cryo-EM. Take a look.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Cryo-EM structure of the naked mole-rat ribosome reveals a stabilized split 28S rRNA
The naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber) is a long-lived mammal with remarkable resistance to cancer and hypoxia, suggesting the evolution of robust proteostasis networks. The ribosome, the central ...
www.biorxiv.org
October 28, 2025 at 3:24 PM
We have a new preprint for you. Naked mole rats are very long-lived rodents and have increased translational fidelity.
Interestingly, 28S ribosomal RNA is split. Here we investigated the structure of the ribosome by single particle cryo-EM. Take a look.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Interestingly, 28S ribosomal RNA is split. Here we investigated the structure of the ribosome by single particle cryo-EM. Take a look.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Laura Lorenzo Orts
Reposted by Laura Lorenzo Orts
A lot of pressure on the different grant schemes, and pretty much independent of career stage.
October 17, 2025 at 10:20 AM
A lot of pressure on the different grant schemes, and pretty much independent of career stage.
Reposted by Laura Lorenzo Orts
And it's out!
Our paper on the optimization of smFISH to quantify cytokine mRNAs in T cells is published in EMBO Journal.
Using this protocol, we gathered interesting insights on cytokine mRNAs co-expression and localization in these teeny tiny human cells.
www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....
Our paper on the optimization of smFISH to quantify cytokine mRNAs in T cells is published in EMBO Journal.
Using this protocol, we gathered interesting insights on cytokine mRNAs co-expression and localization in these teeny tiny human cells.
www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....
October 15, 2025 at 9:31 PM
And it's out!
Our paper on the optimization of smFISH to quantify cytokine mRNAs in T cells is published in EMBO Journal.
Using this protocol, we gathered interesting insights on cytokine mRNAs co-expression and localization in these teeny tiny human cells.
www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....
Our paper on the optimization of smFISH to quantify cytokine mRNAs in T cells is published in EMBO Journal.
Using this protocol, we gathered interesting insights on cytokine mRNAs co-expression and localization in these teeny tiny human cells.
www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Laura Lorenzo Orts
📈 Record interest in ERC Starting Grants 2026!
4,807 proposals - a 22% increase compared to last year’s call.
👩🔬 Women submitted nearly 43% of proposals - the highest share ever recorded in an ERC call.
More stats 👉 bit.ly/4hcYJln
#ChooseEurope
4,807 proposals - a 22% increase compared to last year’s call.
👩🔬 Women submitted nearly 43% of proposals - the highest share ever recorded in an ERC call.
More stats 👉 bit.ly/4hcYJln
#ChooseEurope
Starting Grants 2026 applications: Facts and figures
The ERC Starting Grants 2026 call closed for applications on 14 October 2025. These are the preliminary data on submitted proposals:
bit.ly
October 16, 2025 at 12:40 PM
📈 Record interest in ERC Starting Grants 2026!
4,807 proposals - a 22% increase compared to last year’s call.
👩🔬 Women submitted nearly 43% of proposals - the highest share ever recorded in an ERC call.
More stats 👉 bit.ly/4hcYJln
#ChooseEurope
4,807 proposals - a 22% increase compared to last year’s call.
👩🔬 Women submitted nearly 43% of proposals - the highest share ever recorded in an ERC call.
More stats 👉 bit.ly/4hcYJln
#ChooseEurope
Reposted by Laura Lorenzo Orts
The 'Handler genome' of OSCs, a rare and stably growing cell line that runs a piRNA pathway to silence transposons.
Dominik (@86dominik.bsky.social) assembled the genome of this Drosophila cell line.
Besides making some cool findings, the goal was to turn this into useful resource for the field.
Dominik (@86dominik.bsky.social) assembled the genome of this Drosophila cell line.
Besides making some cool findings, the goal was to turn this into useful resource for the field.
When transposons jump, genomes diverge - even in cultured cells.
I am happy to share our new preprint: a chromosome-scale genome assembly for Drosophila OSC cells, one of the key model systems in the piRNA field, especially for nuclear piRNA biology. 🧬🧵 (1/12)
I am happy to share our new preprint: a chromosome-scale genome assembly for Drosophila OSC cells, one of the key model systems in the piRNA field, especially for nuclear piRNA biology. 🧬🧵 (1/12)
October 15, 2025 at 12:18 PM
The 'Handler genome' of OSCs, a rare and stably growing cell line that runs a piRNA pathway to silence transposons.
Dominik (@86dominik.bsky.social) assembled the genome of this Drosophila cell line.
Besides making some cool findings, the goal was to turn this into useful resource for the field.
Dominik (@86dominik.bsky.social) assembled the genome of this Drosophila cell line.
Besides making some cool findings, the goal was to turn this into useful resource for the field.
Reposted by Laura Lorenzo Orts
Check out the latest work from our lab, led by Arash Latifkar @ara-latifkar.bsky.social , www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
mRNA poly(A)-tail length is a battleground for coronavirus–host competition
Most eukaryotic mRNAs contain a poly(A) tail, which in post-embryonic cells enhances their stability. Many cytoplasmic RNA viruses also harbor poly(A) tails on their genomic RNA and mRNAs. Here, we re...
www.biorxiv.org
October 13, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Check out the latest work from our lab, led by Arash Latifkar @ara-latifkar.bsky.social , www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Laura Lorenzo Orts
Off he is ...
Ulrich is one of the most remarkable scientists I had the pleasure to work with. I learned so much from him about biochemistry, proteins, structural biology, and so much more.
Great people make great things happen.
The really great people are rare.
Ulrich is one of them ...
Ulrich is one of the most remarkable scientists I had the pleasure to work with. I learned so much from him about biochemistry, proteins, structural biology, and so much more.
Great people make great things happen.
The really great people are rare.
Ulrich is one of them ...
Thrilled to share that I’ll be joining @imbmainz.bsky.social in February 2026 to start my own group!
We will explore new mechanisms in eukaryotic gene expression, leveraging ‘evolutionary play’ to uncover how regulation, repurposing, and hijacking shape RNA biology.
PhD positions available!
We will explore new mechanisms in eukaryotic gene expression, leveraging ‘evolutionary play’ to uncover how regulation, repurposing, and hijacking shape RNA biology.
PhD positions available!
October 12, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Off he is ...
Ulrich is one of the most remarkable scientists I had the pleasure to work with. I learned so much from him about biochemistry, proteins, structural biology, and so much more.
Great people make great things happen.
The really great people are rare.
Ulrich is one of them ...
Ulrich is one of the most remarkable scientists I had the pleasure to work with. I learned so much from him about biochemistry, proteins, structural biology, and so much more.
Great people make great things happen.
The really great people are rare.
Ulrich is one of them ...
Reposted by Laura Lorenzo Orts
Thrilled to share that I’ll be joining @imbmainz.bsky.social in February 2026 to start my own group!
We will explore new mechanisms in eukaryotic gene expression, leveraging ‘evolutionary play’ to uncover how regulation, repurposing, and hijacking shape RNA biology.
PhD positions available!
We will explore new mechanisms in eukaryotic gene expression, leveraging ‘evolutionary play’ to uncover how regulation, repurposing, and hijacking shape RNA biology.
PhD positions available!
October 12, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Thrilled to share that I’ll be joining @imbmainz.bsky.social in February 2026 to start my own group!
We will explore new mechanisms in eukaryotic gene expression, leveraging ‘evolutionary play’ to uncover how regulation, repurposing, and hijacking shape RNA biology.
PhD positions available!
We will explore new mechanisms in eukaryotic gene expression, leveraging ‘evolutionary play’ to uncover how regulation, repurposing, and hijacking shape RNA biology.
PhD positions available!