News

The Spatial Multi-Omics Lab welcomes motivated Bachelor's and Master's students who are eager to explore the fascinating world of animal venoms using state-of-the-art analytical technologies.

Our projects combine mass spectrometry imaging, proteomics, metabolomics, spatial transcriptomics, and bioinformatics to understand how venoms are produced, organized, and function within complex biological systems. Whether your interests lie in laboratory work, computational analysis, or method development, we offer a supportive and interdisciplinary environment to complete your thesis while working on exciting questions in venom biology and molecular research.

Interested? We'd love to hear from you! Contact us to discuss available thesis projects and become part of our team. 

July 2026 | Berlin, Germany

Spatial Multi-Omics Lab member conducting a research exchange at the Holford Lab (Harvard University), supported by the COST Action VENOVATE. The visit focuses on learning and implementing Hybridization Chain Reaction (HCR) RNA-FISH while developing a standardized workflow that combines HCR with MALDI Mass Spectrometry Imaging (MALDI-MSI) on the same tissue section. This integrated spatial multi-omics approach will enable the direct correlation of gene expression with protein and metabolite distributions. The exchange strengthens international collaboration, promotes technology transfer, and contributes to the development of reproducible workflows for venom research and other biological systems.

June 2026 | Cambridge, USA

Our latest study, "Beyond Formic Acid: Bioactive Peptides in Carpenter Ant Venoms, aid in disease protection" has been published in Science Advances. Combining transcriptomics, proteomics, and functional assays, we demonstrate that carpenter ant venoms contain a rich diversity of bioactive peptides with antifungal activity. These findings challenge the long-held view that formicine ants rely solely on formic acid for defense and provide new perspectives on the evolution and ecological functions of animal venoms.

May 2026 | Berlin, Germany

We were pleased to present our latest research at the Annual Conference of the German Society for Mass Spectrometry (DGMS) with the poster "Decoding Venom Systems by Mass Spectrometry Imaging." The work highlights how mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) enables spatially resolved investigation of venom systems by visualizing the distribution of toxins directly within venom glands. The conference provided an excellent opportunity to discuss recent advances in spatial omics, exchange ideas with the mass spectrometry community, and establish new collaborations for future venom research. 

March 2025 | Göttingen, Germany