Helen Zenner
@helenzsci.bsky.social
Community Manager at FocalPlane (@focalplane.bsky.social) and Journal of Cell Science (@jcellsci.bsky.social) Online Editor. Views my own.
Reposted by Helen Zenner
The next deadline for @jcellsci.bsky.social FocalPlane Training Grants is 20 February. These grants are open to early-career researchers in cell biology that require funding to attend a microscopy or bioimage analysis training course.
www.biologists.com/grants/jcs-f...
www.biologists.com/grants/jcs-f...
January 24, 2026 at 10:00 AM
The next deadline for @jcellsci.bsky.social FocalPlane Training Grants is 20 February. These grants are open to early-career researchers in cell biology that require funding to attend a microscopy or bioimage analysis training course.
www.biologists.com/grants/jcs-f...
www.biologists.com/grants/jcs-f...
Reposted by Helen Zenner
🚨 Job Alert! 🚨
We have an opening at our Microscopy Core Facility in Turku 🇫🇮.
If you love imaging 🔬 and helping scientists succeed, we want you! 👇
abo.rekrytointi.com/paikat/index...
#Microscopy #ScienceJobs #CoreFacility #Imaging
@turkubioscience.bsky.social
We have an opening at our Microscopy Core Facility in Turku 🇫🇮.
If you love imaging 🔬 and helping scientists succeed, we want you! 👇
abo.rekrytointi.com/paikat/index...
#Microscopy #ScienceJobs #CoreFacility #Imaging
@turkubioscience.bsky.social
Laboratory Engineer (Senior), in Advanced Imaging, 1.5.2026-31.12.2028
abo.rekrytointi.com
January 15, 2026 at 2:04 PM
🚨 Job Alert! 🚨
We have an opening at our Microscopy Core Facility in Turku 🇫🇮.
If you love imaging 🔬 and helping scientists succeed, we want you! 👇
abo.rekrytointi.com/paikat/index...
#Microscopy #ScienceJobs #CoreFacility #Imaging
@turkubioscience.bsky.social
We have an opening at our Microscopy Core Facility in Turku 🇫🇮.
If you love imaging 🔬 and helping scientists succeed, we want you! 👇
abo.rekrytointi.com/paikat/index...
#Microscopy #ScienceJobs #CoreFacility #Imaging
@turkubioscience.bsky.social
Reposted by Helen Zenner
The next stop on our ‘Imaging with…’ series is at Unidad de Microscopía Avanzada, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
Meet the team (including the microscopes), discover how you can access the facility and learn their pet peeve!
focalplane.biologists.com/2026/01/15/i...
Meet the team (including the microscopes), discover how you can access the facility and learn their pet peeve!
focalplane.biologists.com/2026/01/15/i...
Imaging with… Unidad de Microscopía Avanzada, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UMA UC) - FocalPlane
Imaging with… Unidad de Microscopía Avanzada, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UMA UC) - News
focalplane.biologists.com
January 15, 2026 at 4:03 PM
The next stop on our ‘Imaging with…’ series is at Unidad de Microscopía Avanzada, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
Meet the team (including the microscopes), discover how you can access the facility and learn their pet peeve!
focalplane.biologists.com/2026/01/15/i...
Meet the team (including the microscopes), discover how you can access the facility and learn their pet peeve!
focalplane.biologists.com/2026/01/15/i...
Fridays = preprints and #FluorescenceFriday.
I'm looking forward to brightening up a cold, rainy day!
I'm looking forward to brightening up a cold, rainy day!
January 9, 2026 at 9:03 AM
Fridays = preprints and #FluorescenceFriday.
I'm looking forward to brightening up a cold, rainy day!
I'm looking forward to brightening up a cold, rainy day!
Reposted by Helen Zenner
🔬🔦Imaging spotlight: Lock-in-SIM
Our latest imaging spotlight focusses on structured illumination microscopy, as Wenjie Liu & team present Lock-in-SIM.
Check out their post to discover how & why you should try it with your SIM workflow: focalplane.biologists.com/2026/01/08/i...
Our latest imaging spotlight focusses on structured illumination microscopy, as Wenjie Liu & team present Lock-in-SIM.
Check out their post to discover how & why you should try it with your SIM workflow: focalplane.biologists.com/2026/01/08/i...
Imaging spotlight: Lock-in-SIM - FocalPlane
Imaging spotlight: Lock-in-SIM - Tools
focalplane.biologists.com
January 8, 2026 at 2:21 PM
🔬🔦Imaging spotlight: Lock-in-SIM
Our latest imaging spotlight focusses on structured illumination microscopy, as Wenjie Liu & team present Lock-in-SIM.
Check out their post to discover how & why you should try it with your SIM workflow: focalplane.biologists.com/2026/01/08/i...
Our latest imaging spotlight focusses on structured illumination microscopy, as Wenjie Liu & team present Lock-in-SIM.
Check out their post to discover how & why you should try it with your SIM workflow: focalplane.biologists.com/2026/01/08/i...
Wow, what a fantastic line up of instructors! Don't miss this opportunity to learn from some of the best in the business ❤️🔬
🔬 🖥️ Applications are open for the CSHL course Quantitative Imaging: From Acquisition to Analysis (April 6–21, 2026)!
An intensive, hands-on course covering advanced fluorescence microscopy and quantitative image analysis using open-source tools.
🗓️ Apply online by Jan 30, 2026
An intensive, hands-on course covering advanced fluorescence microscopy and quantitative image analysis using open-source tools.
🗓️ Apply online by Jan 30, 2026
Quantitative Imaging: From Acquisition to Analysis
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Meetings & Courses -- a private, non-profit institution with research programs in cancer, neuroscience, plant biology, genomics, bioinformatics.
meetings.cshl.edu
January 7, 2026 at 9:45 AM
Wow, what a fantastic line up of instructors! Don't miss this opportunity to learn from some of the best in the business ❤️🔬
The 2023 version of this meeting was fantastic and the 2026 programme promises to be just as brilliant! (I may also be thinking of chatting all thing microscopy in the Spanish sunshine while huddled inside in a cold and snowy Cambridge.)
Sign up by Friday 16 Jan for the early-bird discount ⤵️
Sign up by Friday 16 Jan for the early-bird discount ⤵️
Early-bird deadline to join @jcellsci.bsky.social at their meeting on Imaging Cell Dynamics in Spain in May is Friday 16 January. Apply to attend at:
biologists.com/meetings/jcs...
#JCSimaging
biologists.com/meetings/jcs...
#JCSimaging
January 6, 2026 at 10:00 PM
The 2023 version of this meeting was fantastic and the 2026 programme promises to be just as brilliant! (I may also be thinking of chatting all thing microscopy in the Spanish sunshine while huddled inside in a cold and snowy Cambridge.)
Sign up by Friday 16 Jan for the early-bird discount ⤵️
Sign up by Friday 16 Jan for the early-bird discount ⤵️
Reposted by Helen Zenner
🔬 🖥️ Applications are open for the CSHL course Quantitative Imaging: From Acquisition to Analysis (April 6–21, 2026)!
An intensive, hands-on course covering advanced fluorescence microscopy and quantitative image analysis using open-source tools.
🗓️ Apply online by Jan 30, 2026
An intensive, hands-on course covering advanced fluorescence microscopy and quantitative image analysis using open-source tools.
🗓️ Apply online by Jan 30, 2026
Quantitative Imaging: From Acquisition to Analysis
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Meetings & Courses -- a private, non-profit institution with research programs in cancer, neuroscience, plant biology, genomics, bioinformatics.
meetings.cshl.edu
January 6, 2026 at 7:18 PM
🔬 🖥️ Applications are open for the CSHL course Quantitative Imaging: From Acquisition to Analysis (April 6–21, 2026)!
An intensive, hands-on course covering advanced fluorescence microscopy and quantitative image analysis using open-source tools.
🗓️ Apply online by Jan 30, 2026
An intensive, hands-on course covering advanced fluorescence microscopy and quantitative image analysis using open-source tools.
🗓️ Apply online by Jan 30, 2026
Amazing research and such a fantastic scicomm video.
I'd like to show it to my kids, but I'm afraid that it'll backfire and they'll use it to explain why all the clothes in their cupboards are unfolded despite the fact they were folded when they went in....
I'd like to show it to my kids, but I'm afraid that it'll backfire and they'll use it to explain why all the clothes in their cupboards are unfolded despite the fact they were folded when they went in....
(1/n) What if you never had to make your bed? What if your laundry could fold itself? Folding is everywhere around us - but did you know that folding flat sheets are at the ❤️ of diversity of shapes in the animal world - since 500 million years ago. Our latest work: www.youtube.com/watch?v=nudC...
Self-folding laundry
YouTube video by PrakashLab
www.youtube.com
December 19, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Amazing research and such a fantastic scicomm video.
I'd like to show it to my kids, but I'm afraid that it'll backfire and they'll use it to explain why all the clothes in their cupboards are unfolded despite the fact they were folded when they went in....
I'd like to show it to my kids, but I'm afraid that it'll backfire and they'll use it to explain why all the clothes in their cupboards are unfolded despite the fact they were folded when they went in....
Thanks for catching that background slide, Chris!
And thanks for the shout to @the-node.bsky.social, @prelights.bsky.social & @focalplane.bsky.social, Jez.
I'm sad to miss the UK membrane trafficking meeting this year, but hope to see you both at @jcellsci.bsky.social imaging meeting next year!
And thanks for the shout to @the-node.bsky.social, @prelights.bsky.social & @focalplane.bsky.social, Jez.
I'm sad to miss the UK membrane trafficking meeting this year, but hope to see you both at @jcellsci.bsky.social imaging meeting next year!
Haven’t posted for a while but @jezcarlton.bsky.social opening up the annual UK membrane trafficking meeting #UKMT seems like an appropriate reason to post!
Great line up - as ever - with organisers Jez and Chris Stefan introducing a poster session too 🤓
Great line up - as ever - with organisers Jez and Chris Stefan introducing a poster session too 🤓
December 15, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Thanks for catching that background slide, Chris!
And thanks for the shout to @the-node.bsky.social, @prelights.bsky.social & @focalplane.bsky.social, Jez.
I'm sad to miss the UK membrane trafficking meeting this year, but hope to see you both at @jcellsci.bsky.social imaging meeting next year!
And thanks for the shout to @the-node.bsky.social, @prelights.bsky.social & @focalplane.bsky.social, Jez.
I'm sad to miss the UK membrane trafficking meeting this year, but hope to see you both at @jcellsci.bsky.social imaging meeting next year!
Love this story from @andreamurillo.bsky.social.
It was fun to think back to when @em-stp.bsky.social & @jemimaburden.bsky.social taught me EM and I got to play with gold*, sapphire^ and diamond**! I was so excited to get our paper published in JCS, & now I have the pleasure to be part of the team.
It was fun to think back to when @em-stp.bsky.social & @jemimaburden.bsky.social taught me EM and I got to play with gold*, sapphire^ and diamond**! I was so excited to get our paper published in JCS, & now I have the pleasure to be part of the team.
As we reflect on the past 100 years, one thing becomes clear: the impact we have had on the communities we serve is only possible because of our inspiring and motivated staff. Read more about the people behind the Company here: bit.ly/44nyx2r
December 12, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Love this story from @andreamurillo.bsky.social.
It was fun to think back to when @em-stp.bsky.social & @jemimaburden.bsky.social taught me EM and I got to play with gold*, sapphire^ and diamond**! I was so excited to get our paper published in JCS, & now I have the pleasure to be part of the team.
It was fun to think back to when @em-stp.bsky.social & @jemimaburden.bsky.social taught me EM and I got to play with gold*, sapphire^ and diamond**! I was so excited to get our paper published in JCS, & now I have the pleasure to be part of the team.
Now that's image stitching!
My fun discovery this Friday is this montage of 33 electron micrographs in published in @jcellsci.bsky.social in the 1960s. The original measured 3ft square!
My fun discovery this Friday is this montage of 33 electron micrographs in published in @jcellsci.bsky.social in the 1960s. The original measured 3ft square!
October 3, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Now that's image stitching!
My fun discovery this Friday is this montage of 33 electron micrographs in published in @jcellsci.bsky.social in the 1960s. The original measured 3ft square!
My fun discovery this Friday is this montage of 33 electron micrographs in published in @jcellsci.bsky.social in the 1960s. The original measured 3ft square!
Reposted by Helen Zenner
Probably the coolest thing I learned at #ABRF was that there is a website called "core in a box" all about starting a core and management. Check it out!
www.hopkinsmedicine.org/research/res...
www.hopkinsmedicine.org/research/res...
Core in a Box
www.hopkinsmedicine.org
March 31, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Probably the coolest thing I learned at #ABRF was that there is a website called "core in a box" all about starting a core and management. Check it out!
www.hopkinsmedicine.org/research/res...
www.hopkinsmedicine.org/research/res...
Reposted by Helen Zenner
#MicroscopyMonday!
Join @bioimagingna.bsky.social for a conversation with @clairebrown514.bsky.social as part of our Career Speaker series!
Learn More & Register here
buff.ly/9nB1qnC
Join @bioimagingna.bsky.social for a conversation with @clairebrown514.bsky.social as part of our Career Speaker series!
Learn More & Register here
buff.ly/9nB1qnC
March 31, 2025 at 2:59 PM
#MicroscopyMonday!
Join @bioimagingna.bsky.social for a conversation with @clairebrown514.bsky.social as part of our Career Speaker series!
Learn More & Register here
buff.ly/9nB1qnC
Join @bioimagingna.bsky.social for a conversation with @clairebrown514.bsky.social as part of our Career Speaker series!
Learn More & Register here
buff.ly/9nB1qnC
At the end of last year, I was lucky enough to chat with both Jennifer and Manu. Check out these interviews in @jcellsci.bsky.social to find out more about these extraordinary scientists!
Our final plenary session at #biologists100 is on emerging technologies with talks from Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz and Manu Prakash @prakashlab.bsky.social. You can read our interviews with Jennifer and Manu in JCS: journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
March 27, 2025 at 9:37 AM
At the end of last year, I was lucky enough to chat with both Jennifer and Manu. Check out these interviews in @jcellsci.bsky.social to find out more about these extraordinary scientists!
Reposted by Helen Zenner
We're turning 15 this year🥳The past and present Community Managers got together to chat about what it's like working at the Node, and what they've been doing since:
@easternblot.bsky.social @catcvicente.bsky.social @aidanmaartens.bsky.social @helenzsci.bsky.social @joyceyu.bsky.social #biologists100
@easternblot.bsky.social @catcvicente.bsky.social @aidanmaartens.bsky.social @helenzsci.bsky.social @joyceyu.bsky.social #biologists100
A conversation with the Node Community Managers, past and present - the Node
To mark the 15th birthday of the Node, the past and present Community Managers of the Node got together to chat about what it's like working at the Node, and how this job has influenced their subseque...
thenode.biologists.com
March 24, 2025 at 11:32 AM
We're turning 15 this year🥳The past and present Community Managers got together to chat about what it's like working at the Node, and what they've been doing since:
@easternblot.bsky.social @catcvicente.bsky.social @aidanmaartens.bsky.social @helenzsci.bsky.social @joyceyu.bsky.social #biologists100
@easternblot.bsky.social @catcvicente.bsky.social @aidanmaartens.bsky.social @helenzsci.bsky.social @joyceyu.bsky.social #biologists100
I always get a little nervous when attending conferences and knowing what to expect helps. We give a few insights into what to expect at #biologists100 & do reach out if you have any qs about the meeting.
Also, there's a possibility that I once went to the wrong door at the ACC, so we explain all!!
Also, there's a possibility that I once went to the wrong door at the ACC, so we explain all!!
Attending #biologists100 in Liverpool?
We’ve put together a pre-conference recording together with @the-node.bsky.social and @prelights.bsky.social.
And @jens-cells.bsky.social has published a general conference guide on the Node to help you prep!
focalplane.biologists.com/2025/03/17/b...
We’ve put together a pre-conference recording together with @the-node.bsky.social and @prelights.bsky.social.
And @jens-cells.bsky.social has published a general conference guide on the Node to help you prep!
focalplane.biologists.com/2025/03/17/b...
Biologists @ 100 video guide - FocalPlane
Biologists @ 100 video guide - News
focalplane.biologists.com
March 18, 2025 at 10:35 AM
I always get a little nervous when attending conferences and knowing what to expect helps. We give a few insights into what to expect at #biologists100 & do reach out if you have any qs about the meeting.
Also, there's a possibility that I once went to the wrong door at the ACC, so we explain all!!
Also, there's a possibility that I once went to the wrong door at the ACC, so we explain all!!
It's almost impossible to choose!
We're excited to get the images back from the printers, along with something for another little project that our community sites are working on with our conference reporters 😉 for #biologists100.
We're excited to get the images back from the printers, along with something for another little project that our community sites are working on with our conference reporters 😉 for #biologists100.
A very hard decision 🙈 but choosing a favourite will help them feature at #biologists100!!
Voting is open in our image competition with @the-node.bsky.social.
Thanks to everyone that entered, and congratulations to our final 15. Now it's your turn to pick your favourite!
Look out for our gallery of images at the Biologists @ 100 conference #biologists100.
Thanks to everyone that entered, and congratulations to our final 15. Now it's your turn to pick your favourite!
Look out for our gallery of images at the Biologists @ 100 conference #biologists100.
March 13, 2025 at 9:58 AM
It's almost impossible to choose!
We're excited to get the images back from the printers, along with something for another little project that our community sites are working on with our conference reporters 😉 for #biologists100.
We're excited to get the images back from the printers, along with something for another little project that our community sites are working on with our conference reporters 😉 for #biologists100.
Reposted by Helen Zenner
@the-node.bsky.social #biologists100 reporter @jens-cells.bsky.social is putting together a conference survival guide. What are your top tips for getting the most out of your conference experience.
🧪Getting ready for #biologists100; what’s the best way to prepare? 🤔
Conference Survival Guide Needed! 📝 If you could give ONE piece of advice to a first-time attendee, what would it be? Let’s help the newcomers thrive! ✨ #SciComm #ConferenceTips #AcademicLife #AcademicSky @the-node.bsky.social
Conference Survival Guide Needed! 📝 If you could give ONE piece of advice to a first-time attendee, what would it be? Let’s help the newcomers thrive! ✨ #SciComm #ConferenceTips #AcademicLife #AcademicSky @the-node.bsky.social
March 6, 2025 at 2:14 PM
@the-node.bsky.social #biologists100 reporter @jens-cells.bsky.social is putting together a conference survival guide. What are your top tips for getting the most out of your conference experience.
Good choice! But if we are allowed to play favourites, I thought this one from Malina Iwanski, Lukas Kapitein and team was pretty cool.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
If we had to pick a favorite 👇
"Geometry-driven asymmetric cell divisions pattern cell cycles and zygotic genome activation in the zebrafish embryo" from @heisenbergcplab.bsky.social et al.
🔗 to preprint: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
🔗 to full list: focalplane.biologists.com/2025/02/21/m...
"Geometry-driven asymmetric cell divisions pattern cell cycles and zygotic genome activation in the zebrafish embryo" from @heisenbergcplab.bsky.social et al.
🔗 to preprint: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
🔗 to full list: focalplane.biologists.com/2025/02/21/m...
Our preprints list is now up on FocalPlane! This week we focus on research that has applied microscopy to answer questions in biology. As always, let us know if there are any recent preprints that you think we should highlight.
focalplane.biologists.com/2025/02/21/m...
focalplane.biologists.com/2025/02/21/m...
February 21, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Good choice! But if we are allowed to play favourites, I thought this one from Malina Iwanski, Lukas Kapitein and team was pretty cool.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
As part of @biologists.bsky.social 100-year anniversary, it has been fun to look at the older journal content. For this post, I went all the way back to 1853 to look at early efforts at segmentation, wise words on peer review and the benefits of sharing tips and tricks rather than whole stories.
Bringing the past into the future with JCS and FocalPlane - FocalPlane
Bringing the past into the future with JCS and FocalPlane - News
focalplane.biologists.com
February 19, 2025 at 2:33 PM
As part of @biologists.bsky.social 100-year anniversary, it has been fun to look at the older journal content. For this post, I went all the way back to 1853 to look at early efforts at segmentation, wise words on peer review and the benefits of sharing tips and tricks rather than whole stories.
Reposted by Helen Zenner
There's still time to enter our image competition for your chance to win £250!
All the shortlisted images will be displayed in our gallery at the Biologists @ 100 conference in Liverpool.
Deadline: 24 February 2025
#Biologists100
focalplane.biologists.com/2025/02/05/t...
All the shortlisted images will be displayed in our gallery at the Biologists @ 100 conference in Liverpool.
Deadline: 24 February 2025
#Biologists100
focalplane.biologists.com/2025/02/05/t...
February 17, 2025 at 3:08 PM
There's still time to enter our image competition for your chance to win £250!
All the shortlisted images will be displayed in our gallery at the Biologists @ 100 conference in Liverpool.
Deadline: 24 February 2025
#Biologists100
focalplane.biologists.com/2025/02/05/t...
All the shortlisted images will be displayed in our gallery at the Biologists @ 100 conference in Liverpool.
Deadline: 24 February 2025
#Biologists100
focalplane.biologists.com/2025/02/05/t...
Reposted by Helen Zenner
#FocalPlaneCorrespondent Greg Redpath shares the first post in his biosensor series. Greg discusses the key considerations in selecting & using signalling biosensors and highlights GFP, the original biosensor.
focalplane.biologists.com/2025/01/16/h...
focalplane.biologists.com/2025/01/16/h...
Highlighting signalling biosensors 1. - FocalPlane
Highlighting signalling biosensors 1. - How to
focalplane.biologists.com
January 30, 2025 at 10:24 AM
#FocalPlaneCorrespondent Greg Redpath shares the first post in his biosensor series. Greg discusses the key considerations in selecting & using signalling biosensors and highlights GFP, the original biosensor.
focalplane.biologists.com/2025/01/16/h...
focalplane.biologists.com/2025/01/16/h...
Reposted by Helen Zenner
Read about the experiences of our 2024 correspondents, Daniel Doucet, @sdutta.bsky.social and Greg Redpath, in our end of year post: focalplane.biologists.com/2024/12/19/o...
Our 2024 FocalPlane correspondents - Daniel Doucet, Subhajit Dutta and Greg Redpath - FocalPlane
Our 2024 FocalPlane correspondents - Daniel Doucet, Subhajit Dutta and Greg Redpath - Interviews
focalplane.biologists.com
January 16, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Read about the experiences of our 2024 correspondents, Daniel Doucet, @sdutta.bsky.social and Greg Redpath, in our end of year post: focalplane.biologists.com/2024/12/19/o...
Reposted by Helen Zenner
We are looking for our next cohort of #FocalPlaneCorrespondents! If you are interested in getting some #scicomm experience alongside your research, check out our call and drop us an email if you have any questions.
Deadline for applications: 20 January 2025
Deadline for applications: 20 January 2025
Become a FocalPlane correspondent - FocalPlane
Become a FocalPlane correspondent - Discussions
focalplane.biologists.com
January 16, 2025 at 2:52 PM
We are looking for our next cohort of #FocalPlaneCorrespondents! If you are interested in getting some #scicomm experience alongside your research, check out our call and drop us an email if you have any questions.
Deadline for applications: 20 January 2025
Deadline for applications: 20 January 2025