Biology

Cell researcher and author Katharina Vestre joins Gaute Einevoll for a Norwegian-language conversation about the cells that build the human body. They explore how diverse cells, from muscle fibres to red blood cells, cooperate while sharing a common organisation of membranes and organelles. The discussion considers how that internal machinery allows cells to survive, perform specialised functions and divide, drawing on Vestre’s book about cellular life.

This episode examines the history of genetics and the Genetics Society’s relationship with the eugenics movement. The discussion draws on an article investigating how ideas about heredity became entangled with the discredited programme of applying selective breeding to human populations. It invites listeners to consider the scientific community’s own history and the responsibilities attached to genetic research.

Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove and Brianne Barker discuss a newly identified mechanism for RNA-guided DNA recognition and genetic control that may predate CRISPR pathways. They also examine research proposing that features of Alzheimer’s disease neuropathology could have originated as a host response to infection in the brain, including evidence concerning phosphorylated tau and herpesvirus activity. The episode connects ancient molecular recognition mechanisms with questions about antiviral defence.

Vincent Racaniello speaks with Roberto Cattaneo and Kalpana Yadav at the 2026 American Society for Virology meeting about measles persistence in the brain. They discuss selection for highly fusogenic viral variants when usual measles receptors are absent, neuron-to-neuron spread, and the development of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, a rare, fatal delayed complication of measles infection.

Help Danish research institutions recruit faculty and establish independent research groups in life sciences, medicine and other fields relevant to health or sustainability, including data science and AI. Four-year support is capped at DKK 5 million for assistant professors, DKK 8 million for associate professors and DKK 10 million for full or eligible clinical professors. The institution’s appointment authority must apply for an identified candidate. The deadline is 8 October 2026 at 2 p.m. Copenhagen time.

Two faculty appointments in the Laboratory of Phytopathology will develop new approaches to plant–pathogen interactions, disease resilience and pathogen adaptation. Relevant directions include theoretical phytopathology, predictive modelling, quantitative immunity and structural biology. The roles combine research funding, teaching, supervision, collaboration and staff mentoring within the university’s Professor Career Paths framework. Apply online by 10 October inclusive; applications are reviewed regularly and posts may fill earlier.

Study the transition from normal blood stem cells to leukaemic stem cells and identify mechanisms that enable disease progression and therapeutic evasion. The project uses patient material and experimental approaches in cell and molecular biology, with opportunities to integrate omics and functional perturbation. This full-time temporary post is in Petter Woll’s research group. Apply by 11 October 2026.

We are seeking a new Director for the Microscopy Bioscience Platform (https://www.bio.cam.ac.uk/microscopy-platform), based within the School of the Biological Sciences city centre campus. This strategically important position will manage, develop and inspire an established team that delivers cutting-edge approaches and supports more routine imaging techniques. Through wide-ranging collaborations with our world-leading scientists, who use microscopy in a huge range of modalities and subject areas, the chosen candidate will have unique opportunities to foster research that contributes to our reputation as a global centre of biological sciences research. In addition to the knowledge and skills to drive innovation and support our world-leading research the successful candidate will have proven leadership skills and demonstratable experience in people and facility management. Building on a foundation of innovative microscopy, the Microscopy Bioscience Platform was successfully launched in 2024 and has received substantial investment in staff and instrumentation from both internal and external funders (including successful bids to UKRI equipment calls). The role holder will capitalise on this existing commitment, ensuring that the Platform is at the forefront of microscopy and that it is accessed by a diverse portfolio of academic, industry and commercial users to secure financial sustainability. To achieve this, they will establish and maintain wide-ranging contacts across the user groups, to be familiar with their needs and future plans, as well as networking with the national and international microscopy community to keep at the forefront of the field and seize opportunities for partnerships. There would also be the opportunity to embed a research group funded from external grant applications for those who wished to further advance a relevant field. Appointment at the Associate Research Professor (G10) or Research Professor (G11) level will be dependent on experience. For Grade 11 evidence of strategic leadership, responsibility for major research programmes, management of major budgets and resources, leadership of external networks, and a broader impact through consultancy and commercial activities would be expected. The Microscopy Bioscience Platform The Microscopy Bioscience Platform is an initiative to provide a focus for microscopy support and development across seven Departments in the School of the Biological Sciences. The primary aim of the Platform is to foster innovation and collaboration, offering supported access to a wide array of advanced instruments and a focal point for technology development in the biological sciences, delivered via the Cambridge Advanced Imaging Centre (CAIC) and externally funded research grants. Across light, advanced and electron microscopy, the Platform has a substantial user group of over 180 research groups and commercial companies. The Platform operates across an extremely diverse range of science, encompassing a wide breadth of organisms and microscopy modalities. This diversity requires an agile response, based on the experience and skills of senior team members, and an excellent instrument portfolio that has been subject to significant investment from both internal and external sources of funding. This is in addition to CAIC's bespoke microscope construction that enables both development of new research approaches and technical translation to commercial applications. In fulfilling their role, the Director will be guided by an established strategic board, and their post will be managed by the Head of the Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience. For more information about the role and list of essential skills and experience, please refer to the Further Particulars. Informal enquiries about the position can be made to Professor Sarah Bray sjb32@cam.ac.uk or Dr Ben Steventon bjs57@cam.ac.uk. Apply: Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online. Applications should consist of a letter of application, a research and operational vision for developing the Microscopy Bioscience Platform (2 pages maximum) and a curriculum vitae. The full contact details for three professional referees should be provided. Please note that we will assume that you are happy for us to approach your referees at any stage, unless you indicate otherwise in the space provided on the form. The closing date for applications is 11 October 2026. Interviews are expected to be held in November. Please quote reference PM51041 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy. The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society. The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

Rafael Rosengarten and BioPharmaTrend co-founder Andrii Buvailo discuss how to assess progress in AI-assisted drug discovery. They trace the move from individual computational tasks to connected research workflows and question whether counting AI-associated drug candidates captures the technology’s value. Topics include research productivity, trial design, biomarkers, human expertise and the use of patient-derived data, organoids and other representative biological systems to improve translation. The conversation also considers why AI has become polarising and how specialised models may fit into pharmaceutical research.

Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove and Brianne Barker discuss a newly identified mechanism for RNA-guided DNA recognition and genetic control that may predate CRISPR pathways. They also examine research proposing that features of Alzheimer’s disease neuropathology could have originated as a host response to infection in the brain, including evidence concerning phosphorylated tau and herpesvirus activity. The episode connects ancient molecular recognition mechanisms with questions about antiviral defence.

Cell researcher and author Katharina Vestre joins Gaute Einevoll for a Norwegian-language conversation about the cells that build the human body. They explore how diverse cells, from muscle fibres to red blood cells, cooperate while sharing a common organisation of membranes and organelles. The discussion considers how that internal machinery allows cells to survive, perform specialised functions and divide, drawing on Vestre’s book about cellular life.

This episode examines the history of genetics and the Genetics Society’s relationship with the eugenics movement. The discussion draws on an article investigating how ideas about heredity became entangled with the discredited programme of applying selective breeding to human populations. It invites listeners to consider the scientific community’s own history and the responsibilities attached to genetic research.