Michael Sars Centre
@msarscentre.bsky.social
The Michael Sars Centre, University of Bergen, is an international community of scientists studying the molecular and cellular biology of marine organisms.
https://linktr.ee/michaelsarscentre
https://linktr.ee/michaelsarscentre
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Introducing the Michael Sars Visitors Program
The Michael Sars Centre is launching a Visitors Program designed to foster scientific exchange and collaborations across disciplines.
tinyurl.com
We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Michael Sars Visitors Program! ✨🧪 To spark new connections, we are opening our doors to visiting researchers who wish to conduct a project in #SunnyBergen. Applications are open, help us spread the word!
More excellent tunicate news this morning, with a new preprint from the @mchatzigeorgiou.bsky.social lab 🤩 This work, led by @olegtolstenkov.bsky.social, describes the fascinating diversity of behaviors displayed by the larvacean Oikopleura throughout its life cycle ⤵️🧪
New preprint from our lab: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... @olegtolstenkov.bsky.social, Sissel and Rodolfo in collaboration with @appygenetics.bsky.social @msarscentre.bsky.social built a behavioral atlas of the planktonic tunicate Oikopleura dioica across its life cycle.
December 9, 2025 at 9:12 AM
More excellent tunicate news this morning, with a new preprint from the @mchatzigeorgiou.bsky.social lab 🤩 This work, led by @olegtolstenkov.bsky.social, describes the fascinating diversity of behaviors displayed by the larvacean Oikopleura throughout its life cycle ⤵️🧪
This great piece by @lionlchristiaen.bsky.social highlights the sea squirt Ciona as a versatile and tractable model for marine sciences, from cells to ecosystems 👏🧪 Read it in @natmethods.nature.com ⤵️ www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Very happy to see this piece on the Tunicate Ciona published. Grateful to @alexandrejan.bsky.social and @chiaracastelletti.bsky.social for the Illustrations, and to @natmethods.nature.com for the opportunity to showcase our ever emerging model organism www.nature.com/articles/s41...
The tunicate Ciona - Nature Methods
The ascidian tunicate Ciona, one of the closest relatives of the vertebrates, inhabits shallow temperate waters in the worldwide ocean. A unique combination of simple stereotyped embryogenesis, regula...
www.nature.com
December 9, 2025 at 7:58 AM
This great piece by @lionlchristiaen.bsky.social highlights the sea squirt Ciona as a versatile and tractable model for marine sciences, from cells to ecosystems 👏🧪 Read it in @natmethods.nature.com ⤵️ www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Michael Sars Centre
Finished with work, on my way home. Bergen is so beautiful — perfect evening for a boat ride. 💙⛴️🌄
December 4, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Finished with work, on my way home. Bergen is so beautiful — perfect evening for a boat ride. 💙⛴️🌄
Congratulations to @inesfournon.bsky.social and @ruthstyfhals.bsky.social on their amazing talks at the very first BIO-Early Career Community Conference at @unibergen.bsky.social ✨ We are proud to support this fantastic initiative that brought our local community of young scientists together 👏
December 4, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Congratulations to @inesfournon.bsky.social and @ruthstyfhals.bsky.social on their amazing talks at the very first BIO-Early Career Community Conference at @unibergen.bsky.social ✨ We are proud to support this fantastic initiative that brought our local community of young scientists together 👏
As Movember comes to an end, the Sars team sported real (and some suspiciously fake) mustaches to raise awareness for men’s health. Huge thanks to Brandon for leading this fundraising initiative at the Centre! 🥸
November 28, 2025 at 10:41 AM
As Movember comes to an end, the Sars team sported real (and some suspiciously fake) mustaches to raise awareness for men’s health. Huge thanks to Brandon for leading this fundraising initiative at the Centre! 🥸
We are welcoming a new critter at the Centre - the Norwegian red sea cucumber! These colorful echinoderms will be featured in @emclaereboudt.bsky.social's #MSCActions project on chemosensation 🧪 Of course, they had a moment in the spotlight with our in-house photographer @alexandrejan.bsky.social ✨
It’s such a joy working with these beautiful animals 😍😍
Huge thanks to @alexandrejan.bsky.social for capturing my gorgeous little creatures!
Can’t wait to share more cuke science and photos soon — stay tuned!
@msarscentre.bsky.social
Huge thanks to @alexandrejan.bsky.social for capturing my gorgeous little creatures!
Can’t wait to share more cuke science and photos soon — stay tuned!
@msarscentre.bsky.social
November 18, 2025 at 1:01 PM
We are welcoming a new critter at the Centre - the Norwegian red sea cucumber! These colorful echinoderms will be featured in @emclaereboudt.bsky.social's #MSCActions project on chemosensation 🧪 Of course, they had a moment in the spotlight with our in-house photographer @alexandrejan.bsky.social ✨
Very insightful talk by Dean Gunn Mangerud, who shared the latest updates and upcoming projects at our faculty @scienceandtechuib.bsky.social 👏 We are grateful for this opportunity to have an open dialogue, and look forward to new exciting challenges @unibergen.bsky.social!
November 14, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Very insightful talk by Dean Gunn Mangerud, who shared the latest updates and upcoming projects at our faculty @scienceandtechuib.bsky.social 👏 We are grateful for this opportunity to have an open dialogue, and look forward to new exciting challenges @unibergen.bsky.social!
In 2025, we celebrate #200years of knowledge at the University of Bergen! An occasion to honor the scientists who came before us and whose legacy we carry on today 🧪🔬 “This story goes from Michael Sars, the vicar and marine zoologist, to Michael Sars, the Centre.” - Prof. Anders Goksøyr ⤵️ 1/2
200 years of neurobiology at the University of Bergen
As the University Museum celebrates its 200 years jubilee, researchers reflected on breakthroughs in biological sciences made at UiB and how they relate to today’s research.
tinyurl.com
November 13, 2025 at 10:06 AM
In 2025, we celebrate #200years of knowledge at the University of Bergen! An occasion to honor the scientists who came before us and whose legacy we carry on today 🧪🔬 “This story goes from Michael Sars, the vicar and marine zoologist, to Michael Sars, the Centre.” - Prof. Anders Goksøyr ⤵️ 1/2
Reposted by Michael Sars Centre
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 Michael Sars Centre
Awesome to welcome and host @enricodanielloszn.bsky.social for a seminar and (short) visit at @msarscentre.bsky.social in #SunnyBergen, which - sometimes - is only a state of mind. 😉☀️🇳🇴
November 5, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Awesome to welcome and host @enricodanielloszn.bsky.social for a seminar and (short) visit at @msarscentre.bsky.social in #SunnyBergen, which - sometimes - is only a state of mind. 😉☀️🇳🇴
Reposted by Michael Sars Centre
Friday seminar treat with a talk by Prof. De Tomaso on the reproductive and regenerative prowesses of colonial ascidians at @msarscentre.bsky.social in #SunnyBergen
November 7, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Friday seminar treat with a talk by Prof. De Tomaso on the reproductive and regenerative prowesses of colonial ascidians at @msarscentre.bsky.social in #SunnyBergen
Reposted by Michael Sars Centre
Could not be more happy/proud/relieved to finally see this longstanding study published. Bluetorial to follow. @msarscentre.bsky.social
Cell cycle-driven transcriptome maturation confers multilineage competence to cardiopharyngeal progenitors | The EMBO Journal www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....
Cell cycle-driven transcriptome maturation confers multilineage competence to cardiopharyngeal progenitors | The EMBO Journal www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....
Cell cycle-driven transcriptome maturation confers multilineage competence to cardiopharyngeal progenitors | The EMBO Journal
imageimageDuring development, multipotent cardiopharyngeal progenitors express both cardiac
and pharyngeal muscle transcriptional programs. This study in the tunicate Ciona shows that cell cycle-regul...
www.embopress.org
November 4, 2025 at 6:05 AM
Could not be more happy/proud/relieved to finally see this longstanding study published. Bluetorial to follow. @msarscentre.bsky.social
Cell cycle-driven transcriptome maturation confers multilineage competence to cardiopharyngeal progenitors | The EMBO Journal www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....
Cell cycle-driven transcriptome maturation confers multilineage competence to cardiopharyngeal progenitors | The EMBO Journal www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Michael Sars Centre
Tiny sea cucumbers, big mysteries! 🪱
Out sampling for my MSCA project SensHolo at the @msarscentre.bsky.social, at the University of Bergen, 🇳🇴— exploring how these mini echinoderms sense their world.
Plus a few bonus echinoderms! 🌊✨
Out sampling for my MSCA project SensHolo at the @msarscentre.bsky.social, at the University of Bergen, 🇳🇴— exploring how these mini echinoderms sense their world.
Plus a few bonus echinoderms! 🌊✨
October 20, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Tiny sea cucumbers, big mysteries! 🪱
Out sampling for my MSCA project SensHolo at the @msarscentre.bsky.social, at the University of Bergen, 🇳🇴— exploring how these mini echinoderms sense their world.
Plus a few bonus echinoderms! 🌊✨
Out sampling for my MSCA project SensHolo at the @msarscentre.bsky.social, at the University of Bergen, 🇳🇴— exploring how these mini echinoderms sense their world.
Plus a few bonus echinoderms! 🌊✨
We had a full room today for a talk by Nicolas Minc @minclab.bsky.social from @ijmonod.bsky.social 👏 He presented his team's latest work on the mechanics of cell division, including how they use magnetic tweezers to rotate mitotic spindles 💥 Thank you for joining us!
October 17, 2025 at 2:28 PM
We had a full room today for a talk by Nicolas Minc @minclab.bsky.social from @ijmonod.bsky.social 👏 He presented his team's latest work on the mechanics of cell division, including how they use magnetic tweezers to rotate mitotic spindles 💥 Thank you for joining us!
Reposted by Michael Sars Centre
Very excited that our lab, together with @lionlchristiaen.bsky.social lab at the @msarscentre.bsky.social, got certified as MY GREEN LAB (mygreenlab.org) which helped us to take major steps towards a greener working environment.
Very thankful to all labmembers involved in this huge team effort!
Very thankful to all labmembers involved in this huge team effort!
October 16, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Very excited that our lab, together with @lionlchristiaen.bsky.social lab at the @msarscentre.bsky.social, got certified as MY GREEN LAB (mygreenlab.org) which helped us to take major steps towards a greener working environment.
Very thankful to all labmembers involved in this huge team effort!
Very thankful to all labmembers involved in this huge team effort!
It was fantastic welcoming back Chema Martin @chemamd.bsky.social from @qmulsbbs.bsky.social at the Centre today 👏 He shared with us his latest work on spiralian larvae evolution, with fascinating insights on the timing of gene expression during development. Thank you for visiting us!
October 10, 2025 at 2:28 PM
It was fantastic welcoming back Chema Martin @chemamd.bsky.social from @qmulsbbs.bsky.social at the Centre today 👏 He shared with us his latest work on spiralian larvae evolution, with fascinating insights on the timing of gene expression during development. Thank you for visiting us!
Congratulations to Michael Sars Centre alumna @oceanetourniere.bsky.social for this amazing achievement! A very inspiring path, both as a scientist and as an advocate for women in science 👏
Still can’t quite believe it 💫 I’ve received the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science “Jeunes Talents” France 2025 award!
I’m so deeply honored — this recognition means so much to me, both as a scientist and as a woman who loves research. 💙🔬 1/3
I’m so deeply honored — this recognition means so much to me, both as a scientist and as a woman who loves research. 💙🔬 1/3
October 9, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Congratulations to Michael Sars Centre alumna @oceanetourniere.bsky.social for this amazing achievement! A very inspiring path, both as a scientist and as an advocate for women in science 👏
We are on a journey to adopt greener practices at the Centre, and our efforts were recently recognized with TWO labs obtaining the highest-level certification from My Green Lab 🌱🤩 This work was driven by engineers @margauxfailla.bsky.social, @evanordmann.bsky.social & @paulamiramon.bsky.social 👏🧵
October 8, 2025 at 8:16 AM
We are on a journey to adopt greener practices at the Centre, and our efforts were recently recognized with TWO labs obtaining the highest-level certification from My Green Lab 🌱🤩 This work was driven by engineers @margauxfailla.bsky.social, @evanordmann.bsky.social & @paulamiramon.bsky.social 👏🧵
Incredible pictures by @alexandrejan.bsky.social, ctenophore whisperer in the @pawelburkhardt.bsky.social lab 😍 Happy belated ctenophore day! 🌈
Happy Ctenophore Day!
These glowing ocean drifters look like jellyfish but aren’t! They’re comb jellies, shimmering creatures that light up the sea with rows of beating cilia 💙🌈
Which species can you identify? 👀 Most are raised in @pawelburkhardt.bsky.social lab
#CtenophoreDay #CombJelly #Ctenophore
These glowing ocean drifters look like jellyfish but aren’t! They’re comb jellies, shimmering creatures that light up the sea with rows of beating cilia 💙🌈
Which species can you identify? 👀 Most are raised in @pawelburkhardt.bsky.social lab
#CtenophoreDay #CombJelly #Ctenophore
October 6, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Incredible pictures by @alexandrejan.bsky.social, ctenophore whisperer in the @pawelburkhardt.bsky.social lab 😍 Happy belated ctenophore day! 🌈
Reposted by Michael Sars Centre
HAPPY CTENOPHORE DAY (part II).
A full bucket of ctenophores for Ctenophore day - time to shimmer🌈🌊✨
Please watch till end: Mnemiopsis & Pleurobrachia included.
Alexandre @alexandrejan.bsky.social filmed and caught this ctenophore at the same time @msarscentre.bsky.social #ctenophores #GoPro
A full bucket of ctenophores for Ctenophore day - time to shimmer🌈🌊✨
Please watch till end: Mnemiopsis & Pleurobrachia included.
Alexandre @alexandrejan.bsky.social filmed and caught this ctenophore at the same time @msarscentre.bsky.social #ctenophores #GoPro
October 4, 2025 at 5:08 PM
HAPPY CTENOPHORE DAY (part II).
A full bucket of ctenophores for Ctenophore day - time to shimmer🌈🌊✨
Please watch till end: Mnemiopsis & Pleurobrachia included.
Alexandre @alexandrejan.bsky.social filmed and caught this ctenophore at the same time @msarscentre.bsky.social #ctenophores #GoPro
A full bucket of ctenophores for Ctenophore day - time to shimmer🌈🌊✨
Please watch till end: Mnemiopsis & Pleurobrachia included.
Alexandre @alexandrejan.bsky.social filmed and caught this ctenophore at the same time @msarscentre.bsky.social #ctenophores #GoPro
Reposted by Michael Sars Centre
HAPPY CTENOPHORE DAY (part I).
The fjords around Bergen are full with Mnemiopsis right now. Movie by the amazing @alexandrejan.bsky.social @msarscentre.bsky.social #ctenophores #GoPro
The fjords around Bergen are full with Mnemiopsis right now. Movie by the amazing @alexandrejan.bsky.social @msarscentre.bsky.social #ctenophores #GoPro
October 4, 2025 at 1:16 PM
HAPPY CTENOPHORE DAY (part I).
The fjords around Bergen are full with Mnemiopsis right now. Movie by the amazing @alexandrejan.bsky.social @msarscentre.bsky.social #ctenophores #GoPro
The fjords around Bergen are full with Mnemiopsis right now. Movie by the amazing @alexandrejan.bsky.social @msarscentre.bsky.social #ctenophores #GoPro
Comb jelly season has started in Bergen, Norway! 🌈🍂🧪
Another season has started as well. We now find many different ctenophores in Byfjorden, a fjord that runs into the city center of Bergen.
Here the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi: it uses a row of cilia called comb plates to swim. When hit by light, they create shimmering rainbows along their bodies.
Here the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi: it uses a row of cilia called comb plates to swim. When hit by light, they create shimmering rainbows along their bodies.
October 1, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Comb jelly season has started in Bergen, Norway! 🌈🍂🧪
Fantastic presentation by @malinkjosavik.bsky.social at the Tutzing basal metazoan workshop 👏 She shared her work on starvation and metabolism in Nematostella, conducted in collaboration between the @prhsteinmetz.bsky.social lab and the Dept of Biomedicine @unibergen.bsky.social ✨
September 25, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Fantastic presentation by @malinkjosavik.bsky.social at the Tutzing basal metazoan workshop 👏 She shared her work on starvation and metabolism in Nematostella, conducted in collaboration between the @prhsteinmetz.bsky.social lab and the Dept of Biomedicine @unibergen.bsky.social ✨
Explaining sea squirt development to the public? Challenge accepted! Our team had a great time at the #forskningsdagene science fair over the weekend. We met visitors of all ages who shared our excitement for science, and went back to the lab inspired and energized 🤩✨
September 23, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Explaining sea squirt development to the public? Challenge accepted! Our team had a great time at the #forskningsdagene science fair over the weekend. We met visitors of all ages who shared our excitement for science, and went back to the lab inspired and energized 🤩✨
Huge congratulations to postdoc Guillaume Poncelet @guillaumeponcelet.bsky.social who was awarded a UiB Early Idea innovation grant 🤩🎉 Inspired by his work in the @lionlchristiaen.bsky.social lab, he will be developing a new product derived from naturally occurring compounds 🔬 Read more below ⤵️
Michael Sars Centre researcher awarded UiB Idé innovation grant
Guillaume Poncelet, postdoctoral researcher in the Christiaen group, will receive funding from the UiB Idé innovation program to develop a novel product inspired by marine life.
tinyurl.com
September 17, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Huge congratulations to postdoc Guillaume Poncelet @guillaumeponcelet.bsky.social who was awarded a UiB Early Idea innovation grant 🤩🎉 Inspired by his work in the @lionlchristiaen.bsky.social lab, he will be developing a new product derived from naturally occurring compounds 🔬 Read more below ⤵️