PalmerLab

Bio-photonics & bio-inspired materials lab in Ben-Gurion University. We study the fascinating materials chemistry underlying animal colors and vision.

[PalmerLab @BenpalmerLab]

Check out our review @angew_chem on ‘organic biocrystallization’. We summarize strategies organisms use to control the morphological and optical properties of crystals and highlight open questions in the field https://t.co/RxkNiY1eWr @shashanka_indri @ERC_Research @bengurionu

[PalmerLab @BenpalmerLab]

In our latest article @NatureBiotech we show how N-storage crystals in microalgae, formed by direct molecular uptake, are used to regulate cell growth during nutrient depletion. This has important implications for understanding aquatic nitrogen cycling, marine ecology and biogeochemistry. We then manipulate this innate behavior, transforming microalgae into ‘cellular factories’ for the biosynthesis of difficult-to-crystallize materials. We show how culture conditions and crystallization inhibitors can be used to tailor the morphologies and optical properties of a range of optical crystals including xanthine and guanine. This work was funded by @ERC_Research and involved a collaboration between @bengurionu @BristolUni @CharlesUniPRG @UofMaryland @UniofOxford @cardiffuni

[PalmerLab @BenpalmerLab]

I’m delighted to share that I was awarded the ERC CoG. A big thank you to my amazing teams at @bengurionu and @BristolUni @BristolChem and to @ERC_Research for funding CRYST_ALGAE.
Lots of other news coming soon…including new PhD and postdoc positions
https://t.co/RHfDaqd6sv

[Panče Naumov, PhD ACSF FRSC @Pance_Naumov]

A fantastic start to the inaugural Telluride meeting on Structure and Reactivity in the Ordered Solid State! The blend of talks and inspiring discussions on structure, reactivity, and dynamics was remarkable. This gathering serves as a long-awaited forum for leaders in the solid-state chemistry community, fostering collaboration, inspiring innovative ideas, and reinforcing the strength and progress of our research community.

[PalmerLab @BenpalmerLab]

Super excited to be in Telluride for the ‘Structures & Reactivity in the Ordered Solid State’ workshop! Was not prepared for the beauty of this place or for the sketchy landing into TEX. Thanks to @Pance_Naumov @RuncevskiLab Stephanie Lee & Pierangelo Metrangalo

[PalmerLab @BenpalmerLab]

@aranyakar @J_A_C_S @shashanka_indri @floriandietrix @matteoslvlgl @bengurionu Thank you Aranya

[PalmerLab @BenpalmerLab]

Very happy to see this collaborative work out @J_A_C_S - @shashanka_indri @floriandietrix and @matteoslvlgl use in situ cryo-EM and unbiased MD simulations to reveal the ‘particle attachment’ crystallization mechanism of guanine

@bengurionu

https://t.co/1V5qyGA9bz

[PalmerLab @BenpalmerLab]

@KozuchSebastian @BlavatnikAwards @NYASciences @IsraelAcademy @bengurionu @Chem_BGU Haha ….diolch yn fawr!

[PalmerLab @BenpalmerLab]

A massive thank you to the @BlavatnikAwards, @NYASciences, @IsraelAcademy for this recognition and for all of the hard work and support of my amazing team and mentors @bengurionu @Chem_BGU

[Blavatnik Awards @BlavatnikAwards]

📣Announcing the 2025 Laureates 🥇🥇🥇 of the @Blavatnikawards in Israel! Congratulations to Benjamin Palmer @bengurionu, Chaim Garfinkel @HebrewU, Yonatan Stelzer @WeizmannScience! Each will receive US$100,000 for their groundbreaking scientific research: https://t.co/ALFm3Ri4gc

[PalmerLab @BenpalmerLab]

@SamerGnaim @BlavatnikAwards @NYASciences @IsraelAcademy @bengurionu @Chem_BGU Thank you Samer! Hope to catch up soon!

[PalmerLab @BenpalmerLab]

@Hod_Lab @BlavatnikAwards @NYASciences @IsraelAcademy @bengurionu @Chem_BGU Cheers Idan !

[PalmerLab @BenpalmerLab]

@at_bgu @BlavatnikAwards @NYASciences @IsraelAcademy @bengurionu @Chem_BGU Toda Menny!!!

[PalmerLab @BenpalmerLab]

@BarakRotblat @BlavatnikAwards @NYASciences @IsraelAcademy @bengurionu @Chem_BGU Thanks so much Barak!!

[PalmerLab @BenpalmerLab]

@GidronOri @BlavatnikAwards @NYASciences @IsraelAcademy @bengurionu @Chem_BGU Toda Ori!

[PalmerLab @BenpalmerLab]

@ShaiAvraham1 @BlavatnikAwards @NYASciences @IsraelAcademy @bengurionu @Chem_BGU Thank you Shai!🙏😊

[PalmerLab @BenpalmerLab]

@AhmadMasarwa2 @BlavatnikAwards @NYASciences @IsraelAcademy @bengurionu @Chem_BGU Thank you Ahmad!

[PalmerLab @BenpalmerLab]

@AJCruzCabeza @Chem_BGU @bengurionu Thank you Aurora!

[PalmerLab @BenpalmerLab]

Super proud of Avital Wagner, my first PhD student, who has won the 2024 Israel Chemical Society Prize for Excellence! You are a star Avital! Congratulations 🎊🍾🎊🍾 and good luck in the postdoc! @Chem_BGU @bengurionu

[PalmerLab @BenpalmerLab]

Beautiful day in Boston! For those of you @Materials_MRS the PM01 symposium, “Crystal Clear” starts tomorrow morning! We have a great line up of speakers, so come on by! @LingLiPenn @DvirGur

[PalmerLab @BenpalmerLab]

@at_bgu @KAlagarRaja @Hod_Lab @NokedLab @JesBarrio_ @Angus_Pedersen Congrats Menny and team! Really awesome work 😎 🍾 🎊