Finn Werner has been awarded a Hood Fellowship from the University of Auckland, New Zealand. The fellowship, valued at NZD 25,000, will support Finn’s sabbatical in the laboratory of Professor Anthony Poole from January to April 2027.

Finn and Anthony’s scientific connection goes back many years, including their collaboration on Evolutionary history of the TBP-domain superfamily (doi:10.1093/nar/gkt045), and is rooted in a shared passion for early evolution and Archaea.

During the sabbatical, Finn and Anthony will explore fundamental questions surrounding the evolution and diversification of information-processing systems, including DNA-dependent RNA polymerases; possible evolutionary connections between Archaea and large DNA viruses, such as African Swine Fever Virus; the origin of DNA; and the remarkable diversification of Asgård Archaea, now widely regarded as the closest living prokaryotic relatives of all eukaryotes. More hands-on, Finn is particularly looking forward to the fieldwork component of his visit: joining colleagues in New Zealand to sample the extraordinary geothermal vent fields of Rotorua.

Further information: Hood Fellowship — University of Auckland · Professor Anthony Poole — University of Auckland· Rotorua geothermal region — New Zealand Tourism