Jan Rombouts
@janrombouts.bsky.social
250 followers 790 following 10 posts
Mathematics, physics, biology - not necessarily in that order. Currently postdoc at Université Libre de Bruxelles. Previously at EMBL Heidelberg and KU Leuven. Looking for the mathematical rules that describe nature. janrombouts.github.io
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janrombouts.bsky.social
What I really like about this paper is the combination of mathematical technique, interesting dynamics and biological experiments which each form an essential part of the story.
janrombouts.bsky.social
Finally, we predicted the distribution of observed patterns in an amazing set of experiments done by Michael. Primary cells from mouse embryos were confined to thin rectangular domains, effectively creating a one-dimensional system: a perfect setup to compare experiment and theory.
janrombouts.bsky.social
At these transitions, patterned steady states appear that are saddle points in phase space. They strongly influence the transient dynamics, by lengthening the time the system takes to evolve towards the attracting state: a polarized pattern where all particles are on one side.
janrombouts.bsky.social
We found a way to, in specific cases, analytically compute the parameter regions where patterns form. In addition, we studied the long-term behavior using numerical bifurcation techniques. These revealed a set of transitions as the size of the confining domain increases.
janrombouts.bsky.social
In this preprint, we use a nonlocal advection-diffusion equation that describes aggregating particles/cells. Such equations are flexible and general, but mathematically nontrivial to study on bounded domains.
janrombouts.bsky.social
Please allow me to introduce... our new preprint 🎉 Together with Michael Zhao, Anna Erzberger and Alexander Aulehla, we investigate pattern formation due to aggregation in confined systems.

You can find it at arxiv.org/abs/2509.08533

@michaelzhao.bsky.social @erzbergerlab.bsky.social
janrombouts.bsky.social
lendertgelens.bsky.social
🧵Why do early embryonic cell cycles speed up with temperature almost like simple chemical reactions, but not quite? 🌡️

Across frogs, fish, worms, and flies we found a shared scaling law, and uncovered why deviations from Arrhenius behavior emerge.

👉 doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62918-0
janrombouts.bsky.social
Many years in the making but now finally online! What determines the temperature scaling and thermal limits of cell cycle duration in embryos? We tackled the question using a combination of dynamical systems analysis and experimental measurements in embryos and in cycling Xenopus extracts.
A plot showing the duration of the early embryonic cell cycle of 5 different species as a function of temperature. Higher temperatures mean faster cycles, up to an optimum, beyond which the cycles slow down and eventually stop.
Reposted by Jan Rombouts
nicolettapetridou.bsky.social
Brand-new conference on collective behaviour! Join us to foster a community to study how interactions among the constituents trigger fascinating collective phenomena: biofilms, fish schools, tissue self-organisation, bird swarms & many more!

Thanks to amazing speakers for helping us realise this!
events.embl.org
✨ How do bird flocks form or diseases emerge?

Join the brand-new EMBO | EMBL Symposium #EESCollectivity and explore how collective behaviours arise from fundamental principles across biological systems 🧬🦠🐒

💻 s.embl.org/ees26-01-bl
✒️ Submit your abstract by 18 Nov
Reposted by Jan Rombouts
nicolettapetridou.bsky.social
We are searching for an enthusiastic scientist to join our team and establish annual killifish as a model system for early developmental biology and biophysics! @embl.org @embldbunit.bsky.social

Apply here:
embl.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com/EMBL/job/Hei...

Please re-post 🙏
Reposted by Jan Rombouts
embl.org
EMBL @embl.org · Aug 7
We’re looking for curious, innovative science leaders at EMBL Heidelberg! 🔬🧬🦠

Join a vibrant, interdisciplinary community where collaboration and innovation are nurtured at all levels.

Take a look at these four open positions 👇
Reposted by Jan Rombouts
hiscocklab.bsky.social
🚨Job alert in theory/math devbio 🚨
I’m currently advertising postdoc positions to join my group. We’re building reaction-diffusion models to understand some of the crazy things embryos can do. We are based in a beautiful part of Scotland :). Please share! www.abdnjobs.co.uk/vacancy/rese...
Reposted by Jan Rombouts
events.embl.org
Ready to explore what's next in the life sciences? 🧬🔍 Then check out our new 2026 EMBL Annual Poster 👉 s.embl.org/2026-poster

Join us for another year of asking the big questions in the life sciences. See you in 2026?

#EMBL #lifesciences #molecularbiology #bioinformatics
Reposted by Jan Rombouts
jennaelliott.bsky.social
🧵 🧪 1/ Hi! I’m excited to share our latest work, now on arXiv:

Repulsive particle interactions at cellular interfaces enable selective information processing (arxiv.org/abs/2506.14739)

Where we explore how the physical properties of living systems can help cells process spatial information.
Sketch of membrane-enclosed compartment with particles on its surface, which interact with an adjacent structure
Reposted by Jan Rombouts
bertaverd.bsky.social
Experimental embryology postdoc available in my lab at the @biology.ox.ac.uk @ox.ac.uk working on the evolution of vertebral counts. Reach out if you’re passionate about EvoDevo, enjoy lab work and microscopy and are into or could get into cichlid fishes. Deadline on the 16th June. Please share!
Reposted by Jan Rombouts
isabellagraf.bsky.social
We are organizing a conference for young researchers at the intersection between physics & biology: www.embl.org/about/info/c... @embl.org @events.embl.org @intcha.bsky.social
Please consider applying/registering -- the deadline is already in one week!
Reposted by Jan Rombouts
andrewgoryachev.bsky.social
🚨🚨Please repost!! 📢📢
Still time to submit short talk abstract for EindPBS2025!
Five themes this year:
• Mechanobiology
• Protein pattern formation
• 4D Genome
• Stochastic biology
• Biohydrodynamics
bit.ly/EdinPBS2025
Reposted by Jan Rombouts
eveseuntjens.bsky.social
Recently got your PhD on a cell or developmental biology topic in Belgium? Check out this call! Last week to submit your application! Thanks for reposting in your network :)
rbscdb.bsky.social
The deadline for our 2025 PhD excellence award is rapidly approaching. This 5000 Euro prize will reward a young scientist for outstanding achievements in cell and/or developmental biology [PhD done in a Belgian lab]. Deadline March 1, 2025. bscdb.be/phd-excellen...
Reposted by Jan Rombouts
events.embl.org
📣 Deadline extension alert! 📣

Good news for anyone who didn't have time to prepare an abstract for #EESTCBio: the submission deadline has been extended to 25 February! 🦬🧬 Submit your abstract here: s.embl.org/ees25-03-bl
janrombouts.bsky.social
I really enjoyed the 2023 edition of this conference! Looking forward to this one in May. Abstract deadline 11th of February.
events.embl.org
The living world offers discoveries from bacteria to ecosystems, but how do we turn vast data into meaningful concepts? 🧬🌍
Join the 2nd edition of #EESTCBio to explore the interplay between theory and biology!

📥 Abstract deadline: 11 Feb
💻 s.embl.org/ees25-03-bl