Julia Eckert
@juliaeckert.bsky.social
@dfg.de Walter Benjamin Fellow & Postdoctoral Researcher @yap-lab.bsky.social | Co-organizer @epimechfc.bsky.social | Mechanobiology - Cell & Tissue Mechanics - Soft Matter Physics - Image Analysis
👉 https://julia-eckert.github.io
👉 https://julia-eckert.github.io
Pinned
Julia Eckert
@juliaeckert.bsky.social
· Aug 15
Now published in @natcomms.nature.com! 🥳
👉 rdcu.be/eATn3
We developed image analysis tools to capture the nematic orientation field of 3D tissue surfaces. Tested on epithelial aggregates, zebrafish hearts, myoblasts on spheres & micro-vessels, we combined soft matter physics with exp. biology.
👉 rdcu.be/eATn3
We developed image analysis tools to capture the nematic orientation field of 3D tissue surfaces. Tested on epithelial aggregates, zebrafish hearts, myoblasts on spheres & micro-vessels, we combined soft matter physics with exp. biology.
Reposted by Julia Eckert
Karnat, Narayana, Peneti, Guglielmotti, Rahaman, Jain, Ladoux, Lin, Tlili, M\`ege, Rupprecht: Noninvasive rheological inference from stable flows in confined tissues https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.20155 https://arxiv.org/pdf/2511.20155 https://arxiv.org/html/2511.20155
November 26, 2025 at 6:43 AM
Karnat, Narayana, Peneti, Guglielmotti, Rahaman, Jain, Ladoux, Lin, Tlili, M\`ege, Rupprecht: Noninvasive rheological inference from stable flows in confined tissues https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.20155 https://arxiv.org/pdf/2511.20155 https://arxiv.org/html/2511.20155
Reposted by Julia Eckert
📢 Paper alert 📢
Chirality is known to be important for the movement of microorganisms and active matter. In our new paper out today in @natphys.nature.com, we show that chirality is used by malaria parasites to control their motion patterns:
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Here comes a 🧵 ... (1/9)
Chirality is known to be important for the movement of microorganisms and active matter. In our new paper out today in @natphys.nature.com, we show that chirality is used by malaria parasites to control their motion patterns:
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Here comes a 🧵 ... (1/9)
November 24, 2025 at 5:50 PM
📢 Paper alert 📢
Chirality is known to be important for the movement of microorganisms and active matter. In our new paper out today in @natphys.nature.com, we show that chirality is used by malaria parasites to control their motion patterns:
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Here comes a 🧵 ... (1/9)
Chirality is known to be important for the movement of microorganisms and active matter. In our new paper out today in @natphys.nature.com, we show that chirality is used by malaria parasites to control their motion patterns:
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Here comes a 🧵 ... (1/9)
Reposted by Julia Eckert
Optogenetic control of mechanotransduction based on light-induced homodimerization of talin url: journals.biologists.com/jcs/article-...
Optogenetic control of mechanotransduction based on light-induced homodimerization of talin
Integrin-based adhesion complexes serve as primary sites for actomyosin force transmission to the extracellular matrix, providing traction that drives cell mechanical responses including adhesion, mig...
journals.biologists.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Optogenetic control of mechanotransduction based on light-induced homodimerization of talin url: journals.biologists.com/jcs/article-...
Reposted by Julia Eckert
In our new #Preprint, we pilot a revolutionary new idea: no supplemental data (it has 21 figures, though):
Multiplexed imaging of G-proteins and ERK activity upon activation of CaSR
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Multiplexed imaging of G-proteins and ERK activity upon activation of CaSR
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Multiplexed imaging of G-proteins and ERK activity upon activation of CaSR
We have previously shown that the calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) activates different G proteins and second messengers in single cells, and that GPCR and G protein-mediated ERK activity can be highly ...
www.biorxiv.org
November 24, 2025 at 8:29 AM
In our new #Preprint, we pilot a revolutionary new idea: no supplemental data (it has 21 figures, though):
Multiplexed imaging of G-proteins and ERK activity upon activation of CaSR
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Multiplexed imaging of G-proteins and ERK activity upon activation of CaSR
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Fascinating #EpithelialMechanics thread by @jorgealmagro.bsky.social, exploring the connection between tissue geometry and tumor growth 👇
It’s time to talk about epithelial geometry and cancer. How can the architecture of an epithelium affect how tumors will grow and spread? In this thread, @jorgealmagro.bsky.social
November 23, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Fascinating #EpithelialMechanics thread by @jorgealmagro.bsky.social, exploring the connection between tissue geometry and tumor growth 👇
Reposted by Julia Eckert
The law of the jungle.
Interactions of cells in a collective lead to global rotation.
In 80% of the case HUVEC cells turn clockwise.
How many cells does it take for this to happen?
Interactions of cells in a collective lead to global rotation.
In 80% of the case HUVEC cells turn clockwise.
How many cells does it take for this to happen?
November 21, 2025 at 1:07 PM
The law of the jungle.
Interactions of cells in a collective lead to global rotation.
In 80% of the case HUVEC cells turn clockwise.
How many cells does it take for this to happen?
Interactions of cells in a collective lead to global rotation.
In 80% of the case HUVEC cells turn clockwise.
How many cells does it take for this to happen?
Reposted by Julia Eckert
Lee, J., Abdeen, A. A., Wycislo, K. L., Fan, T. M., & Kilian, K. A. (2016). Interfacial geometry dictates cancer cell tumorigenicity. Nature materials, doi.org/10.1038/nmat... #EpithelialMechanics
November 21, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Lee, J., Abdeen, A. A., Wycislo, K. L., Fan, T. M., & Kilian, K. A. (2016). Interfacial geometry dictates cancer cell tumorigenicity. Nature materials, doi.org/10.1038/nmat... #EpithelialMechanics
Reposted by Julia Eckert
Congrats Ben, Claude, et al! A beautiful characterization of roles of Ca++ waves and gap junction functions in tissue patterning!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Retinal calcium waves coordinate uniform tissue patterning of the Drosophila eye
Optimal neural processing relies on precise tissue patterning across diverse cell types. Here, we show that spontaneous calcium waves arise among non-neuronal support cells in the developing Drosophil...
www.science.org
November 21, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Congrats Ben, Claude, et al! A beautiful characterization of roles of Ca++ waves and gap junction functions in tissue patterning!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Julia Eckert
The lab’s first pre-print! We investigated how growth-inducing Erk activity waves are regulated in regenerating zebrafish scales. We discovered that Erk waves are followed by waves of expression of their own inhibitors, as predicted by excitable waves theory. tinyurl.com/26r2cmpj
November 20, 2025 at 6:11 PM
The lab’s first pre-print! We investigated how growth-inducing Erk activity waves are regulated in regenerating zebrafish scales. We discovered that Erk waves are followed by waves of expression of their own inhibitors, as predicted by excitable waves theory. tinyurl.com/26r2cmpj
Reposted by Julia Eckert
Fiore, V. F., Almagro, J., & Fuchs, E. (2025). Shaping epithelial tissues by stem cell mechanics in development and cancer. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, doi.org/10.1038/s415... #EpithelialMechanicsReviews
November 20, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Fiore, V. F., Almagro, J., & Fuchs, E. (2025). Shaping epithelial tissues by stem cell mechanics in development and cancer. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, doi.org/10.1038/s415... #EpithelialMechanicsReviews
Welcome to Bluesky, @r-g-morris.bsky.social ! 🥳
OK. First post on Bluesky…
November 19, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Welcome to Bluesky, @r-g-morris.bsky.social ! 🥳
Reposted by Julia Eckert
Gautham Gopinath, Emmanuel Y. Mintah, Aashrith Saraswathibhatla, Jonah J. Spencer, Shahar Nahum, Lior Aria, Jacob Notbohm, Mark D. Shattuck, Corey S. O'Hern: Cell Shape Emerges from Motion https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.14707 https://arxiv.org/pdf/2511.14707 https://arxiv.org/html/2511.14707
November 19, 2025 at 6:43 AM
Gautham Gopinath, Emmanuel Y. Mintah, Aashrith Saraswathibhatla, Jonah J. Spencer, Shahar Nahum, Lior Aria, Jacob Notbohm, Mark D. Shattuck, Corey S. O'Hern: Cell Shape Emerges from Motion https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.14707 https://arxiv.org/pdf/2511.14707 https://arxiv.org/html/2511.14707
Reposted by Julia Eckert
Data-driven traction force microscopy in 3D collagen hydrogels https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.17.688772v1
November 17, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Data-driven traction force microscopy in 3D collagen hydrogels https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.17.688772v1
Reposted by Julia Eckert
Hi, I’m David Brückner @davidbrueckner.bsky.social.
I’ll take you through how cells in a tissue can use information distributed by biochemical gradients to make decisions, and how we can measure such positional information.
buff.ly/RFxVeHh
I’ll take you through how cells in a tissue can use information distributed by biochemical gradients to make decisions, and how we can measure such positional information.
buff.ly/RFxVeHh
November 15, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Hi, I’m David Brückner @davidbrueckner.bsky.social.
I’ll take you through how cells in a tissue can use information distributed by biochemical gradients to make decisions, and how we can measure such positional information.
buff.ly/RFxVeHh
I’ll take you through how cells in a tissue can use information distributed by biochemical gradients to make decisions, and how we can measure such positional information.
buff.ly/RFxVeHh
Reposted by Julia Eckert
Microfluidic pumping with active nematics! Self-organized and self-sustained. No external pumps.
@pnas.org @ub.edu
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
#ActiveMatter #Microfluidics #SoftMatter
@pnas.org @ub.edu
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
#ActiveMatter #Microfluidics #SoftMatter
Active nematic pumps | PNAS
Microfluidics involves the manipulation of flows at the microscale, typically requiring
external power sources to generate pressure gradients. Alte...
www.pnas.org
November 12, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Microfluidic pumping with active nematics! Self-organized and self-sustained. No external pumps.
@pnas.org @ub.edu
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
#ActiveMatter #Microfluidics #SoftMatter
@pnas.org @ub.edu
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
#ActiveMatter #Microfluidics #SoftMatter
Reposted by Julia Eckert
Alexander J. H. Houston: The Role of Elastic Anisotropy in Active Nematics https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.08520 https://arxiv.org/pdf/2511.08520 https://arxiv.org/html/2511.08520
November 12, 2025 at 6:43 AM
Alexander J. H. Houston: The Role of Elastic Anisotropy in Active Nematics https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.08520 https://arxiv.org/pdf/2511.08520 https://arxiv.org/html/2511.08520
Reposted by Julia Eckert
Launching celldynamicslab.com, the homepage of our new group at EPFL working on cell fragmentation, membrane and cortex mechanics, FLIM imaging, and microfluidics tools. MSc/PhD or postdocs interested in quantitative cell biology are welcome to reach out. We're also hiring a lab manager in 2026!
Main - Cell Dynamics and Fragmentation Lab
The Cell Dynamics and Fragmentation lab at We study how single cells move and fragment in complex environments using microfluidics. We bring tools and concep...
celldynamicslab.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Launching celldynamicslab.com, the homepage of our new group at EPFL working on cell fragmentation, membrane and cortex mechanics, FLIM imaging, and microfluidics tools. MSc/PhD or postdocs interested in quantitative cell biology are welcome to reach out. We're also hiring a lab manager in 2026!
Reposted by Julia Eckert
Just out! Our work on active transport in epithelial tissues. Congrats to Huiqiong Wu, Greg Arkowitz and Ranjith Chilupuri in collaboration with C. Duclut and J. Prost!
PNAS www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
PNAS www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
November 11, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Just out! Our work on active transport in epithelial tissues. Congrats to Huiqiong Wu, Greg Arkowitz and Ranjith Chilupuri in collaboration with C. Duclut and J. Prost!
PNAS www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
PNAS www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by Julia Eckert
Reposted by Julia Eckert
Jan Rozman, Sumesh P. Thampi, Julia M. Yeomans: Why Extensile and Contractile Tissues Could be Hard to Tell Apart https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.07012 https://arxiv.org/pdf/2511.07012 https://arxiv.org/html/2511.07012
November 11, 2025 at 6:43 AM
Jan Rozman, Sumesh P. Thampi, Julia M. Yeomans: Why Extensile and Contractile Tissues Could be Hard to Tell Apart https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.07012 https://arxiv.org/pdf/2511.07012 https://arxiv.org/html/2511.07012
Reposted by Julia Eckert
Epithelial convergent extension as a tuning process https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.06.687029v1
November 8, 2025 at 3:49 AM
Epithelial convergent extension as a tuning process https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.06.687029v1
Reposted by Julia Eckert
We finally made it over here ! And excited to share our new paper on mechanical forces regulating stem cell plasticity in colorectal cancer, involving force transduction via mechanosensitive calcium channels! www.cell.com/cell-reports...
Mechanosensitive calcium channels and integrins coordinate the reprogramming of colorectal cancer cells into a fetal-like state
van der Net et al. show that mechanical interactions with the stromal component collagen
I trigger reprogramming of colorectal cancer cells into a fetal-like state, through
mechanosensitive integrins ...
www.cell.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:33 PM
We finally made it over here ! And excited to share our new paper on mechanical forces regulating stem cell plasticity in colorectal cancer, involving force transduction via mechanosensitive calcium channels! www.cell.com/cell-reports...
Reposted by Julia Eckert
Beussman, K. M., Mollica, M. Y., Leonard, A., Miles, J., Hocter, J., ..., Thomas, W. E., & Sniadecki, N. J. (2023). Black dots: High-yield traction force microscopy reveals structural factors contributing to platelet forces. Acta biomaterialia, 163, 302–311. #EpithelialMechanics
buff.ly/cByoHep
buff.ly/cByoHep
November 7, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Beussman, K. M., Mollica, M. Y., Leonard, A., Miles, J., Hocter, J., ..., Thomas, W. E., & Sniadecki, N. J. (2023). Black dots: High-yield traction force microscopy reveals structural factors contributing to platelet forces. Acta biomaterialia, 163, 302–311. #EpithelialMechanics
buff.ly/cByoHep
buff.ly/cByoHep
Reposted by Julia Eckert
