We are very happy to welcome our new Writing-Up Fellow Paul Knabl to the KLI! Paul received his Master’s degree in Genetics and Developmental Biology from the University of Vienna. He is currently a PhD student in the Vienna Doctoral School of Ecology and Evolution (VDSEE) at the University of Vienna where he works at the Department of Neurosciences and Developmental Biology. He is also a Lecturer in Experimental Developmental Biology at the University of Vienna.

At the KLI, Paul will be working on his project, "Developmental roles of Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) signaling in Cnidaria”. The work explores hitherto unknown functions of BMP signals that are unrelated to axial patterning but indispensable for the survival of cnidarians. The findings thus far offer new insights into the pro-neural roles of BMP signaling in both Anthozoa and Medusozoa, suggesting that this may be an ancient trait that predates the cnidarian-bilaterian split.

Paul will be a Writing-Up Fellow at the KLI from 1^st February to 31^st July 2025.

Here’s wishing Paul a warm welcome and a productive stay at the KLI.