Hassan Salem
@hassansalem.bsky.social
Max Planck Research Group Leader, MPI for Biology | ERC Investigator | EMBO Young Investigator | Symbiosis, genomics & development
www.mutualisms.net
www.mutualisms.net
Pinned
Some news 🎉
After five incredible years in Tübingen, it’s time to say goodbye.
Starting February, the Mutualisms Lab will relocate to the John Innes Centre, right next door to @berasymbionts.bsky.social and her group at The Sainsbury Laboratory 🪲🦠
After five incredible years in Tübingen, it’s time to say goodbye.
Starting February, the Mutualisms Lab will relocate to the John Innes Centre, right next door to @berasymbionts.bsky.social and her group at The Sainsbury Laboratory 🪲🦠
Reposted by Hassan Salem
Super excited to be joining @thesainsburylab.bsky.social and to begin this new chapter in Norwich!!
And thrilled to be neighbours with the Mutualisms Research Group at @hassansalem.bsky.social and the wider community at @johninnescentre.bsky.social. Can’t wait to get started! 😁
And thrilled to be neighbours with the Mutualisms Research Group at @hassansalem.bsky.social and the wider community at @johninnescentre.bsky.social. Can’t wait to get started! 😁
November 24, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Super excited to be joining @thesainsburylab.bsky.social and to begin this new chapter in Norwich!!
And thrilled to be neighbours with the Mutualisms Research Group at @hassansalem.bsky.social and the wider community at @johninnescentre.bsky.social. Can’t wait to get started! 😁
And thrilled to be neighbours with the Mutualisms Research Group at @hassansalem.bsky.social and the wider community at @johninnescentre.bsky.social. Can’t wait to get started! 😁
Not all mentors wear capes 😊 Thanks for everything, Ruth!!
He’s the best!
PRESS RELEASE – Dr Hassan Salem to lead independent research group on plant-insect interactions
Following an international search, we are delighted to announce that Dr Hassan Salem @hassansalem.bsky.social will be joining us in early 2026: www.jic.ac.uk/press-releas...
Following an international search, we are delighted to announce that Dr Hassan Salem @hassansalem.bsky.social will be joining us in early 2026: www.jic.ac.uk/press-releas...
November 24, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Not all mentors wear capes 😊 Thanks for everything, Ruth!!
Some news 🎉
After five incredible years in Tübingen, it’s time to say goodbye.
Starting February, the Mutualisms Lab will relocate to the John Innes Centre, right next door to @berasymbionts.bsky.social and her group at The Sainsbury Laboratory 🪲🦠
After five incredible years in Tübingen, it’s time to say goodbye.
Starting February, the Mutualisms Lab will relocate to the John Innes Centre, right next door to @berasymbionts.bsky.social and her group at The Sainsbury Laboratory 🪲🦠
November 24, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Some news 🎉
After five incredible years in Tübingen, it’s time to say goodbye.
Starting February, the Mutualisms Lab will relocate to the John Innes Centre, right next door to @berasymbionts.bsky.social and her group at The Sainsbury Laboratory 🪲🦠
After five incredible years in Tübingen, it’s time to say goodbye.
Starting February, the Mutualisms Lab will relocate to the John Innes Centre, right next door to @berasymbionts.bsky.social and her group at The Sainsbury Laboratory 🪲🦠
Reposted by Hassan Salem
🚨RA/PhD position available in evolutionary neurobiology 🚨
Working on a deep dive into circuit changes during mushroom body expansion in Heliconius butterflies @camzoology.bsky.social
- employment benefits
- 4 years funding
- 1000% fun
Deadline: 14/1/2026
Details:
www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/researc...
Working on a deep dive into circuit changes during mushroom body expansion in Heliconius butterflies @camzoology.bsky.social
- employment benefits
- 4 years funding
- 1000% fun
Deadline: 14/1/2026
Details:
www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/researc...
November 21, 2025 at 2:31 PM
🚨RA/PhD position available in evolutionary neurobiology 🚨
Working on a deep dive into circuit changes during mushroom body expansion in Heliconius butterflies @camzoology.bsky.social
- employment benefits
- 4 years funding
- 1000% fun
Deadline: 14/1/2026
Details:
www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/researc...
Working on a deep dive into circuit changes during mushroom body expansion in Heliconius butterflies @camzoology.bsky.social
- employment benefits
- 4 years funding
- 1000% fun
Deadline: 14/1/2026
Details:
www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/researc...
Reposted by Hassan Salem
Hey folks, we (the School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University) are looking for an Assistant Teaching Professor in microbiology and immunology. Please pass this on to anyone you think might be interested, or check it out if you are interested yourself!
apply.interfolio.com/176994
apply.interfolio.com/176994
Apply - Interfolio
{{$ctrl.$state.data.pageTitle}} - Apply - Interfolio
apply.interfolio.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Hey folks, we (the School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University) are looking for an Assistant Teaching Professor in microbiology and immunology. Please pass this on to anyone you think might be interested, or check it out if you are interested yourself!
apply.interfolio.com/176994
apply.interfolio.com/176994
Reposted by Hassan Salem
A couple of days left to submit your abstract for the upcoming EMBO/EMBL Symposium on the Molecular Basis of Symbiosis ! Great line up of speakers :)
#ProtistsOnSky #SymbioSky
#ProtistsOnSky #SymbioSky
🧪 Submit your abstract for #EESSymbiosis and get the chance to present your research, receive qualified feedback and help develop our understanding of the complexities of symbiotic function.
You have until 25 Nov: https://s.embl.org/ees26-03-bl
🗓️ 17 – 20 Mar 2026
📍 EMBL Heidelberg and Virtual
You have until 25 Nov: https://s.embl.org/ees26-03-bl
🗓️ 17 – 20 Mar 2026
📍 EMBL Heidelberg and Virtual
November 19, 2025 at 3:28 PM
A couple of days left to submit your abstract for the upcoming EMBO/EMBL Symposium on the Molecular Basis of Symbiosis ! Great line up of speakers :)
#ProtistsOnSky #SymbioSky
#ProtistsOnSky #SymbioSky
Reposted by Hassan Salem
🧪 Submit your abstract for #EESSymbiosis and get the chance to present your research, receive qualified feedback and help develop our understanding of the complexities of symbiotic function.
You have until 25 Nov: https://s.embl.org/ees26-03-bl
🗓️ 17 – 20 Mar 2026
📍 EMBL Heidelberg and Virtual
You have until 25 Nov: https://s.embl.org/ees26-03-bl
🗓️ 17 – 20 Mar 2026
📍 EMBL Heidelberg and Virtual
November 18, 2025 at 10:05 AM
🧪 Submit your abstract for #EESSymbiosis and get the chance to present your research, receive qualified feedback and help develop our understanding of the complexities of symbiotic function.
You have until 25 Nov: https://s.embl.org/ees26-03-bl
🗓️ 17 – 20 Mar 2026
📍 EMBL Heidelberg and Virtual
You have until 25 Nov: https://s.embl.org/ees26-03-bl
🗓️ 17 – 20 Mar 2026
📍 EMBL Heidelberg and Virtual
Reposted by Hassan Salem
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 18, 2025 at 10:00 AM
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...
Reposted by Hassan Salem
NEW pub in @science.org 🥳
Is it sponges (panels A & B) or comb jellies (C & D) that root the animal tree of life?
For over 15 years, #phylogenomic studies have been divided.
We provide new evidence suggesting that...
🔗: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Is it sponges (panels A & B) or comb jellies (C & D) that root the animal tree of life?
For over 15 years, #phylogenomic studies have been divided.
We provide new evidence suggesting that...
🔗: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
November 13, 2025 at 8:34 PM
NEW pub in @science.org 🥳
Is it sponges (panels A & B) or comb jellies (C & D) that root the animal tree of life?
For over 15 years, #phylogenomic studies have been divided.
We provide new evidence suggesting that...
🔗: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Is it sponges (panels A & B) or comb jellies (C & D) that root the animal tree of life?
For over 15 years, #phylogenomic studies have been divided.
We provide new evidence suggesting that...
🔗: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Hassan Salem
New paper led by @metalichen.bsky.social from our group presenting a chromosome-level assembly of the Trebouxia photobiont alga from the lichen Xanthoria parietina - a resource we hope will enable significant new insight into the symbiosis @newphyt.bsky.social doi.org/10.1111/nph....
November 12, 2025 at 4:29 PM
New paper led by @metalichen.bsky.social from our group presenting a chromosome-level assembly of the Trebouxia photobiont alga from the lichen Xanthoria parietina - a resource we hope will enable significant new insight into the symbiosis @newphyt.bsky.social doi.org/10.1111/nph....
Reposted by Hassan Salem
Switzerland is joining Horizon Europe!
We are uniting two research powerhouses.
For cutting-edge innovation that will boost our energy security, digital transformation, health and so much more.
Today is a good day for science, and for our EU-Switzerland partnership.
We are uniting two research powerhouses.
For cutting-edge innovation that will boost our energy security, digital transformation, health and so much more.
Today is a good day for science, and for our EU-Switzerland partnership.
November 10, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Switzerland is joining Horizon Europe!
We are uniting two research powerhouses.
For cutting-edge innovation that will boost our energy security, digital transformation, health and so much more.
Today is a good day for science, and for our EU-Switzerland partnership.
We are uniting two research powerhouses.
For cutting-edge innovation that will boost our energy security, digital transformation, health and so much more.
Today is a good day for science, and for our EU-Switzerland partnership.
Reposted by Hassan Salem
🐝🦠 New paper: rdcu.be/eOf7A
Phages may drive microbial diversity, yet we often don’t even know how phages & bacteria correlate in nature. Our new study tackles this in the honeybee gut, thanks to the great work of PhD student @malickndiaye.bsky.social at @dmf-unil.bsky.social @fbm-unil.bsky.social
Phages may drive microbial diversity, yet we often don’t even know how phages & bacteria correlate in nature. Our new study tackles this in the honeybee gut, thanks to the great work of PhD student @malickndiaye.bsky.social at @dmf-unil.bsky.social @fbm-unil.bsky.social
Phage diversity mirrors bacterial strain diversity in the honey bee gut microbiota - Nature Communications
Authors analyse paired viral and bacterial shotgun metagenomics data from individual honeybee guts, revealing modular, nested phage–bacteria networks, with viral diversity mirroring bacterial strain c...
www.nature.com
November 4, 2025 at 8:36 PM
🐝🦠 New paper: rdcu.be/eOf7A
Phages may drive microbial diversity, yet we often don’t even know how phages & bacteria correlate in nature. Our new study tackles this in the honeybee gut, thanks to the great work of PhD student @malickndiaye.bsky.social at @dmf-unil.bsky.social @fbm-unil.bsky.social
Phages may drive microbial diversity, yet we often don’t even know how phages & bacteria correlate in nature. Our new study tackles this in the honeybee gut, thanks to the great work of PhD student @malickndiaye.bsky.social at @dmf-unil.bsky.social @fbm-unil.bsky.social
Reposted by Hassan Salem
🌿🌱 We’re hiring a tenure-track Assistant Professor (potentially open rank) at the Institute of Plant Sciences
@unibe.ch in Plant Population Ecology 🌻🌳
Be our colleague and join us in beautiful Bern, Switzerland
Apply by Jan 23 2026 👉 ohws.prospective.ch/public/v1/jo...
@unibe.ch in Plant Population Ecology 🌻🌳
Be our colleague and join us in beautiful Bern, Switzerland
Apply by Jan 23 2026 👉 ohws.prospective.ch/public/v1/jo...
October 30, 2025 at 3:55 PM
🌿🌱 We’re hiring a tenure-track Assistant Professor (potentially open rank) at the Institute of Plant Sciences
@unibe.ch in Plant Population Ecology 🌻🌳
Be our colleague and join us in beautiful Bern, Switzerland
Apply by Jan 23 2026 👉 ohws.prospective.ch/public/v1/jo...
@unibe.ch in Plant Population Ecology 🌻🌳
Be our colleague and join us in beautiful Bern, Switzerland
Apply by Jan 23 2026 👉 ohws.prospective.ch/public/v1/jo...
Reposted by Hassan Salem
📢 We have an open position for a postdoc to join my lab. It's a great position @animecol-uu.bsky.social, fully salaried for 2.5 years with all benefits.
www.uu.se/en/about-uu/...
The project is about transmission patterns of bacteria and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in aquatic insects. 🧬🦠 (1/3)
www.uu.se/en/about-uu/...
The project is about transmission patterns of bacteria and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in aquatic insects. 🧬🦠 (1/3)
Postdoctoral researcher in molecular ecology - Uppsala University
Postdoctoral researcher in molecular ecology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University
www.uu.se
October 27, 2025 at 7:43 AM
📢 We have an open position for a postdoc to join my lab. It's a great position @animecol-uu.bsky.social, fully salaried for 2.5 years with all benefits.
www.uu.se/en/about-uu/...
The project is about transmission patterns of bacteria and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in aquatic insects. 🧬🦠 (1/3)
www.uu.se/en/about-uu/...
The project is about transmission patterns of bacteria and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in aquatic insects. 🧬🦠 (1/3)
Reposted by Hassan Salem
📣 Our latest article is out in Cell @cp-cell.bsky.social:
doi.org/10.1016/j.ce...
A scientific adventure, retold as a 🧵!
doi.org/10.1016/j.ce...
A scientific adventure, retold as a 🧵!
Redirecting
doi.org
October 29, 2025 at 5:09 PM
📣 Our latest article is out in Cell @cp-cell.bsky.social:
doi.org/10.1016/j.ce...
A scientific adventure, retold as a 🧵!
doi.org/10.1016/j.ce...
A scientific adventure, retold as a 🧵!
Reposted by Hassan Salem
The first detailed look at how mosquitoes mate from @leslievosshall.bsky.social's lab reverses the assumption that male mosquitoes control the process, finding that a subtle female behavior dictates whether mating will take place or not. @currentbiology.bsky.social
More here: https://bit.ly/4huwEpL
More here: https://bit.ly/4huwEpL
October 28, 2025 at 4:23 PM
The first detailed look at how mosquitoes mate from @leslievosshall.bsky.social's lab reverses the assumption that male mosquitoes control the process, finding that a subtle female behavior dictates whether mating will take place or not. @currentbiology.bsky.social
More here: https://bit.ly/4huwEpL
More here: https://bit.ly/4huwEpL
Reposted by Hassan Salem
We selected the laziest mouse at each round to inoculate the next batch of germfree mice: over rounds of selection and passaging, behavior shifted without changes to the mouse genome: rdcu.be/eM3rO
🦠🧫
🦠🧫
Selection and transmission of the gut microbiome alone can shift mammalian behavior
Nature Communications - Here, the authors present evidence that the gut microbiome alone, without changes in the host genome, can shape how animals respond to selection, identifying a bacterium and...
rdcu.be
October 28, 2025 at 7:51 AM
We selected the laziest mouse at each round to inoculate the next batch of germfree mice: over rounds of selection and passaging, behavior shifted without changes to the mouse genome: rdcu.be/eM3rO
🦠🧫
🦠🧫
Reposted by Hassan Salem
This is a model strain we use in the lab. It's from a Kenyan fungus growing plant-ant nest and has ~60 biosynthetic gene clusters, many of which look novel. It's also amenable to genome editing, which is unusual in our environmental strain collection.
www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/jour...
www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/jour...
Microbe Profile: Streptomyces formicae KY5: an ANT-ibiotic factory
Streptomyces formicae KY5 was isolated from a Tetraponera penzigi plant-ant nest. It is primarily known for its production of the formicamycins, antibiotics with potent activity against Gram-positive ...
www.microbiologyresearch.org
October 24, 2025 at 12:05 PM
This is a model strain we use in the lab. It's from a Kenyan fungus growing plant-ant nest and has ~60 biosynthetic gene clusters, many of which look novel. It's also amenable to genome editing, which is unusual in our environmental strain collection.
www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/jour...
www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/jour...
It was such a treat to see you again @CorrieMoreau.bsky.social!! We’re still buzzing after a stellar seminar 🌟 turtle ants are amazing!
Had a fantastic visit to the Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen @maxplanckcampus.bsky.social Super thanks to @hassansalem.bsky.social and @berasymbionts.bsky.social for hosting me and showing me the town! Fun to talk symbiosis science with such superstars 🤩
October 21, 2025 at 11:11 AM
It was such a treat to see you again @CorrieMoreau.bsky.social!! We’re still buzzing after a stellar seminar 🌟 turtle ants are amazing!
Reposted by Hassan Salem
Wow, nature is too cool! Structures on stinkbug hind legs that used to be interpreted as ears are actually chambers with fungi. The bugs coat their eggs in those fungi to protect them against parasitoid wasps. 🧪
Defensive fungal symbiosis on insect hindlegs | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Defensive fungal symbiosis on insect hindlegs | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Defensive fungal symbiosis on insect hindlegs
Dinidorid stinkbugs were reported to possess a conspicuous tympanal organ on female hindlegs. In this study, we show that this organ is specialized to retain microbial symbionts rather than to perceiv...
www.science.org
October 17, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Wow, nature is too cool! Structures on stinkbug hind legs that used to be interpreted as ears are actually chambers with fungi. The bugs coat their eggs in those fungi to protect them against parasitoid wasps. 🧪
Defensive fungal symbiosis on insect hindlegs | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Defensive fungal symbiosis on insect hindlegs | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Hassan Salem
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 Hassan Salem
We have a project available for 2026 NRP Doctoral Training Partnership entry (i.e. PhD studentship opportunity!)
How do cells communicate when it's hot?
Don't know? Me either! Come work with us @johninnescentre.bsky.social and figure it out
biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/projects/how...
How do cells communicate when it's hot?
Don't know? Me either! Come work with us @johninnescentre.bsky.social and figure it out
biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/projects/how...
How do cells communicate when it’s hot? (FAULKNER_J26DTP) | Doctoral Training Partnership
Plant cells are connected to their neighbours via ‘tubes’ called plasmodesmata, creating an interconnected cytoplasm that joins cells within and between tissues and organs.
biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk
October 12, 2025 at 11:48 AM
We have a project available for 2026 NRP Doctoral Training Partnership entry (i.e. PhD studentship opportunity!)
How do cells communicate when it's hot?
Don't know? Me either! Come work with us @johninnescentre.bsky.social and figure it out
biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/projects/how...
How do cells communicate when it's hot?
Don't know? Me either! Come work with us @johninnescentre.bsky.social and figure it out
biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/projects/how...
Reposted by Hassan Salem
New PhD opportunity in my group @thesainsburylab.bsky.social through the BBSRC NRP DTP Programme - see details of host to apply below
biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/projects/van...
biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/projects/van...
Vanishing Virulence: Investigating pathogenicity loss in a plant pathogenic fungus (TALBOT_T26DTP) | Doctoral Training Partnership
What makes a plant killer lose its edge? This project will investigate why fungal pathogens lose virulence when they are grown in laboratory culture away from their host plant. Use cutting-edge…
biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk
October 12, 2025 at 5:20 PM
New PhD opportunity in my group @thesainsburylab.bsky.social through the BBSRC NRP DTP Programme - see details of host to apply below
biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/projects/van...
biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/projects/van...
Reposted by Hassan Salem
We have a PhD opportunity available in our group @johninnescentre.bsky.social through the NRP Doctoral Training Partnership. Help us uncover the Hidden Diversity of Bacterial NLRs.
Start date: October 2026. For more information and how to apply👉 biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/projects/bey...
Start date: October 2026. For more information and how to apply👉 biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/projects/bey...
Beyond Immunity: Uncovering the Hidden Diversity of Bacterial NLRs (SCHLIMPERT_J26DTP) | Doctoral Training Partnership
Join us in exploring the hidden functions of ancient immune proteins in bacteria. Bacteria, like plants and animals, have evolved sophisticated systems to detect and respond to threats.
biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk
October 13, 2025 at 6:46 AM
We have a PhD opportunity available in our group @johninnescentre.bsky.social through the NRP Doctoral Training Partnership. Help us uncover the Hidden Diversity of Bacterial NLRs.
Start date: October 2026. For more information and how to apply👉 biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/projects/bey...
Start date: October 2026. For more information and how to apply👉 biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/projects/bey...
Reposted by Hassan Salem
Thinking about a postdoc in microbiome science?
Our lab at the MPI for Biology (Tübingen) builds on the culture I established at Cornell: collaborative, creative, and internationally diverse. Postdocs lead their own projects with secure funding. Join us!
#PostdocJobs #HostMicrobe #AcademicJobs
Our lab at the MPI for Biology (Tübingen) builds on the culture I established at Cornell: collaborative, creative, and internationally diverse. Postdocs lead their own projects with secure funding. Join us!
#PostdocJobs #HostMicrobe #AcademicJobs
October 4, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Thinking about a postdoc in microbiome science?
Our lab at the MPI for Biology (Tübingen) builds on the culture I established at Cornell: collaborative, creative, and internationally diverse. Postdocs lead their own projects with secure funding. Join us!
#PostdocJobs #HostMicrobe #AcademicJobs
Our lab at the MPI for Biology (Tübingen) builds on the culture I established at Cornell: collaborative, creative, and internationally diverse. Postdocs lead their own projects with secure funding. Join us!
#PostdocJobs #HostMicrobe #AcademicJobs