Leonardo Morsut
@leonardomorsut.bsky.social
scientist, yogi, father, husband - mostly here for science community - especially synthetic, developmental, stem cell biology. Profile not associated with my employer
Reposted by Leonardo Morsut
1/27 We have a new paper out! Turns out that snowflake yeast have been hiding a secret from us - they've evolved a (very!) crude circulatory system. Not with blood vessels or a heart, but through spontaneous fluid flows powered by their metabolism. 🧪🔬
www.science.org/doi/full/10....
www.science.org/doi/full/10....
June 24, 2025 at 4:52 PM
1/27 We have a new paper out! Turns out that snowflake yeast have been hiding a secret from us - they've evolved a (very!) crude circulatory system. Not with blood vessels or a heart, but through spontaneous fluid flows powered by their metabolism. 🧪🔬
www.science.org/doi/full/10....
www.science.org/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Leonardo Morsut
Join us! This will be a great meeting.
Are you a biologist with a research interest in #embryogenesis or synthetic biology? Join our upcoming residential scientific meeting in Brighton on the topic of generative biology: royalsociety.org/science-even... @jcornwallscoones.bsky.social @dbenzinger.bsky.social @cellysally.bsky.social
June 24, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Join us! This will be a great meeting.
Reposted by Leonardo Morsut
📣 New review! Dynamical systems and low-dimensional geometric structures in phase space help rationalize how embryos develop form and function, from large datasets. We focus on morphogenesis, cell differentiation, and their interconnection.
@alex-plum.bsky.social
sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
@alex-plum.bsky.social
sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
June 4, 2025 at 4:46 PM
📣 New review! Dynamical systems and low-dimensional geometric structures in phase space help rationalize how embryos develop form and function, from large datasets. We focus on morphogenesis, cell differentiation, and their interconnection.
@alex-plum.bsky.social
sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
@alex-plum.bsky.social
sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Leonardo Morsut
Senate hearing on the FY26 NIH budget with Jay Bhattacharya
June 10, 10am ET
www.appropriations.senate.gov/hearings/a-r...
June 10, 10am ET
www.appropriations.senate.gov/hearings/a-r...
A Review of the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request for the National Institutes of Health | United States Senate Committee on Appropriations
United States Senate Committee on Appropriations
www.appropriations.senate.gov
June 5, 2025 at 1:37 AM
Senate hearing on the FY26 NIH budget with Jay Bhattacharya
June 10, 10am ET
www.appropriations.senate.gov/hearings/a-r...
June 10, 10am ET
www.appropriations.senate.gov/hearings/a-r...
Reposted by Leonardo Morsut
Undergraduate educators, introduce your students to the wealth of information inside the Allen Brain Cell Atlas with our new student-friendly guide!
🧠📈 alleninstitute.org/resource/dat...
#EduSky #iTeachBio
🧠📈 alleninstitute.org/resource/dat...
#EduSky #iTeachBio
Database Guide: Allen Brain Cell (ABC) Atlas
An in-depth guide for undergraduate students on how to use the Allen Brain Cell (ABC) Atlas to ask and explore research questions
alleninstitute.org
June 2, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Undergraduate educators, introduce your students to the wealth of information inside the Allen Brain Cell Atlas with our new student-friendly guide!
🧠📈 alleninstitute.org/resource/dat...
#EduSky #iTeachBio
🧠📈 alleninstitute.org/resource/dat...
#EduSky #iTeachBio
Reposted by Leonardo Morsut
The 2025 Saltiel Life Sciences Symposium is this Thursday (5/29)!
@brangwynnelab.bsky.social will start us off with the Mary Sue and Kenneth Coleman Lecture at 9:00 AM, followed by talks from @jamesknunez.bsky.social at 9:55 and @leonardomorsut.bsky.social at 10:25.
myumi.ch/lsi-symposiu...
@brangwynnelab.bsky.social will start us off with the Mary Sue and Kenneth Coleman Lecture at 9:00 AM, followed by talks from @jamesknunez.bsky.social at 9:55 and @leonardomorsut.bsky.social at 10:25.
myumi.ch/lsi-symposiu...
May 27, 2025 at 3:18 PM
The 2025 Saltiel Life Sciences Symposium is this Thursday (5/29)!
@brangwynnelab.bsky.social will start us off with the Mary Sue and Kenneth Coleman Lecture at 9:00 AM, followed by talks from @jamesknunez.bsky.social at 9:55 and @leonardomorsut.bsky.social at 10:25.
myumi.ch/lsi-symposiu...
@brangwynnelab.bsky.social will start us off with the Mary Sue and Kenneth Coleman Lecture at 9:00 AM, followed by talks from @jamesknunez.bsky.social at 9:55 and @leonardomorsut.bsky.social at 10:25.
myumi.ch/lsi-symposiu...
Reposted by Leonardo Morsut
"I have a message for America's scientists: I want to tell you how much I appreciate your work, how much I value and treasure your work, how much support you have within the Congress...we are aware of the deep damage that is being done to your profession and we are determined to make it stop" 🧪
Science is under attack. The NIH, the NSF, and our research universities.
So today, I have a message for America's scientists:
youtu.be/MeoZDPy5cIY?...
So today, I have a message for America's scientists:
youtu.be/MeoZDPy5cIY?...
A Message to Scientists
YouTube video by Sen. Adam Schiff
youtu.be
May 28, 2025 at 10:03 PM
"I have a message for America's scientists: I want to tell you how much I appreciate your work, how much I value and treasure your work, how much support you have within the Congress...we are aware of the deep damage that is being done to your profession and we are determined to make it stop" 🧪
Reposted by Leonardo Morsut
The Education Lab is officially open! ✂️🎀
This custom-built 1327 ft² learning space allows students, educators, and scientists to take part in hands-on STEM activities offered by our Education and Engagement Program and powered by our open science and cutting-edge research.
#EduSky #iTeachBio
This custom-built 1327 ft² learning space allows students, educators, and scientists to take part in hands-on STEM activities offered by our Education and Engagement Program and powered by our open science and cutting-edge research.
#EduSky #iTeachBio
May 23, 2025 at 8:18 PM
The Education Lab is officially open! ✂️🎀
This custom-built 1327 ft² learning space allows students, educators, and scientists to take part in hands-on STEM activities offered by our Education and Engagement Program and powered by our open science and cutting-edge research.
#EduSky #iTeachBio
This custom-built 1327 ft² learning space allows students, educators, and scientists to take part in hands-on STEM activities offered by our Education and Engagement Program and powered by our open science and cutting-edge research.
#EduSky #iTeachBio
Reposted by Leonardo Morsut
Congratulations to Jason Toliao and Catcher Salazar!
USC Dornsife students have consistently won the prestigious Goldwater scholarship throughout the years--including every year since 2019.
USC Dornsife students have consistently won the prestigious Goldwater scholarship throughout the years--including every year since 2019.
Esteemed Goldwater scholarships go to USC Dornsife student scientists
The undergrads, majoring in neuroscience and biological sciences, are conducting research in developmental biology and pediatric neurology
dornsife.usc.edu
May 23, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Congratulations to Jason Toliao and Catcher Salazar!
USC Dornsife students have consistently won the prestigious Goldwater scholarship throughout the years--including every year since 2019.
USC Dornsife students have consistently won the prestigious Goldwater scholarship throughout the years--including every year since 2019.
Reposted by Leonardo Morsut
"We need the whole country to appreciate that by investing in university research and educating the next generation of explorers and innovators, the country has reaped, and will continue to reap, tremendous rewards in new cures, treatments, and inventions, and in new industries, companies, and jobs"
May 23, 2025 at 2:07 AM
"We need the whole country to appreciate that by investing in university research and educating the next generation of explorers and innovators, the country has reaped, and will continue to reap, tremendous rewards in new cures, treatments, and inventions, and in new industries, companies, and jobs"
Reading this article (must read) and finding the same words and sentiments I read here www.einaudi.it/catalogo-lib... in a book (Italian only sorry) that describes Italy in the 20s leading up to fascism.
May 14, 2025 at 5:27 AM
Reading this article (must read) and finding the same words and sentiments I read here www.einaudi.it/catalogo-lib... in a book (Italian only sorry) that describes Italy in the 20s leading up to fascism.
Reposted by Leonardo Morsut
Step up--great action plan here!!
Join us in the evolution tri-societies Week of Action for NSF!
Call/write congress, engage with colleagues, friends and family about the importance of NSF funding!
Scan the QR code on the attached image for instructions and scripts.
We must make noise! Pls RT!!!!
#WithoutNSF #SaveNSF #SupportNSF
Call/write congress, engage with colleagues, friends and family about the importance of NSF funding!
Scan the QR code on the attached image for instructions and scripts.
We must make noise! Pls RT!!!!
#WithoutNSF #SaveNSF #SupportNSF
May 5, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Step up--great action plan here!!
Reposted by Leonardo Morsut
I'd like to share a little bit of happy lab news in these chaotic times: a new preprint, driven by the brilliant Qinhao Cao!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
We address a big challenge in synbio: If you give me a protein "X", how can I give you a version of X whose activity is controlled by a kinase?
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
We address a big challenge in synbio: If you give me a protein "X", how can I give you a version of X whose activity is controlled by a kinase?
April 21, 2025 at 4:07 PM
I'd like to share a little bit of happy lab news in these chaotic times: a new preprint, driven by the brilliant Qinhao Cao!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
We address a big challenge in synbio: If you give me a protein "X", how can I give you a version of X whose activity is controlled by a kinase?
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
We address a big challenge in synbio: If you give me a protein "X", how can I give you a version of X whose activity is controlled by a kinase?
Reposted by Leonardo Morsut
Join me May 1st at Engineering Biology Club! This month: "Principles for introducing new genes and species for conservation" by @wskamau.bsky.social of the MIT Media Lab. Register here to attend👇
www.ginkgo.bio/events/engin...
www.ginkgo.bio/events/engin...
April 21, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Join me May 1st at Engineering Biology Club! This month: "Principles for introducing new genes and species for conservation" by @wskamau.bsky.social of the MIT Media Lab. Register here to attend👇
www.ginkgo.bio/events/engin...
www.ginkgo.bio/events/engin...
Reposted by Leonardo Morsut
This could be one of the coolest meetings of the year!!
Sign ups for the fall Barcelona multicellularity meeting are now up- come join us!
meetings.embo.org/event/25-mul...
meetings.embo.org/event/25-mul...
Evolution and origins of multicellularity across the tree of life
The study of the origins and evolution of multicellularity in different lineages has recently captured the attention of many research groups and is fueling the generation of numerous innovative resea…
meetings.embo.org
April 18, 2025 at 3:30 PM
This could be one of the coolest meetings of the year!!
Reposted by Leonardo Morsut
2025 Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Course in Synthetic Biology - apply!
Deadline: April 14, 2025
Financial Aid: Stipend awards are available.
Notifications: Applicants will be notified by May 15, 2025.
meetings.cshl.edu/courses.aspx...
Deadline: April 14, 2025
Financial Aid: Stipend awards are available.
Notifications: Applicants will be notified by May 15, 2025.
meetings.cshl.edu/courses.aspx...
Synthetic Biology
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Meetings & Courses -- a private, non-profit institution with research programs in cancer, neuroscience, plant biology, genomics, bioinformatics.
meetings.cshl.edu
March 31, 2025 at 6:45 PM
2025 Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Course in Synthetic Biology - apply!
Deadline: April 14, 2025
Financial Aid: Stipend awards are available.
Notifications: Applicants will be notified by May 15, 2025.
meetings.cshl.edu/courses.aspx...
Deadline: April 14, 2025
Financial Aid: Stipend awards are available.
Notifications: Applicants will be notified by May 15, 2025.
meetings.cshl.edu/courses.aspx...
Reposted by Leonardo Morsut
🙌🏽🙌🏽
We are excited to announce our official partnership with @indivisible.org for the National Day of Action on April 5th!
Stand Up for Science says: HANDS OFF OUR SCIENCE!
#standupforscience
#handsoffourscience
Find and register for an event near you: handsoff2025.com?utm_source=s...
Stand Up for Science says: HANDS OFF OUR SCIENCE!
#standupforscience
#handsoffourscience
Find and register for an event near you: handsoff2025.com?utm_source=s...
March 29, 2025 at 5:49 PM
🙌🏽🙌🏽
Reposted by Leonardo Morsut
🧵
When we're talking about something as significant as a government coup, you can't be late. If you wait until it becomes so obvious that you can't ignore it, it is often too late. That means the opposition has amassed so much power that they don't bother hiding it anymore.
March 27, 2025 at 10:34 PM
🧵
Reposted by Leonardo Morsut
Dear scientists, The public distrust in US means that the policy makers do not have as incentives to maintain the scientific enterprise as we know it in the US. We need to organize and use our voices in the public. Keeping our heads in the sand will not save us! What should we do? 1/
three ostrich cartoon characters are standing in the sand with the words head in the sand above them
ALT: three ostrich cartoon characters are standing in the sand with the words head in the sand above them
media.tenor.com
March 27, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Dear scientists, The public distrust in US means that the policy makers do not have as incentives to maintain the scientific enterprise as we know it in the US. We need to organize and use our voices in the public. Keeping our heads in the sand will not save us! What should we do? 1/
Reposted by Leonardo Morsut
Yes. The situation at NIH is worse than the public realizes.
The #NIH is on track to be effectively ended as a funder of evidence-based research within a year.
That is not an exaggeration. The firings and consolidation announced today will create a new, MUCH worse NIH.
1/
The #NIH is on track to be effectively ended as a funder of evidence-based research within a year.
That is not an exaggeration. The firings and consolidation announced today will create a new, MUCH worse NIH.
1/
The situation at the NIH and for all biomedical and cancer cure research in the United States is MUCH MUCH WORSE than you realize.
Ruining studies and potentially harming research subjects...
Abruptly terminating clinical trials...
Ignorant and evil
www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...
Abruptly terminating clinical trials...
Ignorant and evil
www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...
March 28, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Yes. The situation at NIH is worse than the public realizes.
The #NIH is on track to be effectively ended as a funder of evidence-based research within a year.
That is not an exaggeration. The firings and consolidation announced today will create a new, MUCH worse NIH.
1/
The #NIH is on track to be effectively ended as a funder of evidence-based research within a year.
That is not an exaggeration. The firings and consolidation announced today will create a new, MUCH worse NIH.
1/
Reposted by Leonardo Morsut
As part of an Engineering Design capstone course, UChicago undergrads majoring in molecular engineering design and present real-world products they developed under the guidance of industry mentors, helping bring their skills from the classroom to the real world. 🧪
pme.uchicago.edu/news/capston...
pme.uchicago.edu/news/capston...
Capstone course gives UChicago Engineering undergrads real-world experience – and real-world problems to solve
pme.uchicago.edu
March 25, 2025 at 6:30 PM
As part of an Engineering Design capstone course, UChicago undergrads majoring in molecular engineering design and present real-world products they developed under the guidance of industry mentors, helping bring their skills from the classroom to the real world. 🧪
pme.uchicago.edu/news/capston...
pme.uchicago.edu/news/capston...
Reposted by Leonardo Morsut
My OpEd in @elife.bsky.social
“It feels as if we are trying to fight a series of attacks on science with one arm tied behind our back and our lips half sewn shut.”
“Yet we are not beaten, and some of us are downright energized.”
elifesciences.org/articles/106...
“It feels as if we are trying to fight a series of attacks on science with one arm tied behind our back and our lips half sewn shut.”
“Yet we are not beaten, and some of us are downright energized.”
elifesciences.org/articles/106...
Science Under Threat in the United States: Feeling abandoned but energized
Many individual researchers are frustrated by the response - or the lack of a response - from universities to a growing crisis.
elifesciences.org
March 25, 2025 at 12:37 PM
My OpEd in @elife.bsky.social
“It feels as if we are trying to fight a series of attacks on science with one arm tied behind our back and our lips half sewn shut.”
“Yet we are not beaten, and some of us are downright energized.”
elifesciences.org/articles/106...
“It feels as if we are trying to fight a series of attacks on science with one arm tied behind our back and our lips half sewn shut.”
“Yet we are not beaten, and some of us are downright energized.”
elifesciences.org/articles/106...
Reposted by Leonardo Morsut
I'm looking at a National Park Service grant where, in applying, the applicant agrees to all White House executive orders. Obviously, institutions are going to balk at allowing researchers to even apply for this🏺🧪
March 25, 2025 at 6:52 PM
I'm looking at a National Park Service grant where, in applying, the applicant agrees to all White House executive orders. Obviously, institutions are going to balk at allowing researchers to even apply for this🏺🧪
Reposted by Leonardo Morsut
“Who runs casual errands with their passport?”
powerful detailed account of ICE captivity
"To put things into perspective: I had a Canadian passport, lawyers, resources, media attention, friends, family and even politicians advocating for me...Imagine what this system is like for every other person in there"
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
"To put things into perspective: I had a Canadian passport, lawyers, resources, media attention, friends, family and even politicians advocating for me...Imagine what this system is like for every other person in there"
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
I’m the Canadian who was detained by Ice for two weeks. It felt like I had been kidnapped
I was stuck in a freezing cell without explanation despite eventually having lawyers and media attention. Yet, compared with others, I was lucky
www.theguardian.com
March 19, 2025 at 2:04 PM
“Who runs casual errands with their passport?”
Reposted by Leonardo Morsut
Tissue engineered skeletal muscle typically generates force in 1 direction. We’ve developed STAMP: a method for patterning multi-oriented muscles with single fiber precision, and used it to build a tissue engineered “iris” robot capable of light-controlled pupil constriction:
doi.org/10.1039/D4BM...
doi.org/10.1039/D4BM...
March 17, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Tissue engineered skeletal muscle typically generates force in 1 direction. We’ve developed STAMP: a method for patterning multi-oriented muscles with single fiber precision, and used it to build a tissue engineered “iris” robot capable of light-controlled pupil constriction:
doi.org/10.1039/D4BM...
doi.org/10.1039/D4BM...