Professor Dr. Finn Werner
Education. Finn Werner is a Danish/German scientist who trained at universities in Copenhagen (3-year Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry, and a 3-year Candidatum scientiarium post graduate degree in molecular biology under the guidance of Morten Johnsen) and in London (3-year PhD in biochemistry, mentored by Robert Weinzierl). Finn established his own laboratory at University College London (UCL) where he currently is a UCL professor of molecular biophysics. Finn has held senior leadership positions at UCL including as director of the Institute for Structural and Molecular biology, ISMB, and as program director for the Wellcome Trust funded 4-year PhD program.
Research. Finn’s team, the RNA polymerase laboratory, works on transcription machineries in Archaea and eukaryotic Nuclear-Cytoplasmic Large DNA Viruses (NCLDV), in particular the African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV). The RNAP lab explores knowledge across the scales of biology, from the molecular- to the cellular level, by developing and using methods in biochemistry, biophysics, structural biology, genetics and functional genomics. Apart from gene expression, Finn is interested in the origin of life and the evolution of the cosmos.
China. Finn has worked closely with scientists in China, including at universities in Beijing, Harbin, and Qingdao. Finn views China’s rapidly advancing research landscape and remarkable work ethic as offering valuable opportunities for UK scientists who are looking to engage globally and drive ambitious science forward. His current activities in China are supported by a ‘Distinguished Scientist Fellowship’ from the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Top-5 articles (2021-2026)
- Cbp1 and Cren7 form chromatin-like structures that ensure efficient transcription of long CRISPR arrays., Blombach F, et al., Nat Commun. 2024 doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-45728-8
- Structure of the recombinant RNA polymerase from African Swine Fever Virus. Pilotto S, et al., Nat Commun. 2024 doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-45842-7
- DNA-bridging by an archaeal histone variant via a unique tetramerisation interface. Ofer S, et al., Commun Biol. 2023 doi: 10.1038/s42003-023-05348-2.
- Structural basis of RNA polymerase inhibition by viral and host factors. Pilotto S, et al., Nat Commun. 2021 doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-25666-5
- Promoter-proximal elongation regulates transcription in archaea. Blombach F, et al., Nat Commun. 2021 doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-25669-2
