SciSoc Spotlight Issue 26 – Professor Eric Miska
20 Oct 2021. Professor Eric Miska is with the Department of Genetics and the Gurdon Institute. A PDF version of this Issue is available here.
Which organisation and faculty are you currently attached to?
I am the Herchel Smith Professor of Molecular Genetics affiliated with the Department of Genetics and the Deputy Director of the Gurdon Institute, both at the University of Cambridge. I am also an Associated Faculty Member at the Tree of Life Programme at the Wellcome Sanger Institute. I am a founder and Director of the University of Cambridge spin-out company STORM Therapeutics. Finally, I am a Fellow, Tutor and Director of Studies at St. John’s College, Cambridge.
What is your sepcialisation?
I am a molecular geneticist
A short summary of your current research topic
I am a molecular geneticist who has done pioneering work on RNA biology. I developed new technologies that led to genome-wide analyses of microRNAs, now a diagnostic tool. I discovered the piRNA pathway in C. elegans, which controls fertility and transposons in germlines of animals. I demonstrated that RNA pathways can lead to a multigenerational, truly epigenetic memory in C. elegans, a first in animals. I also developed C. elegans into a host pathogen model identifying a new class of RNA-modifying enzymes, Tutases, that restrict RNA viruses in animals. Finally, I developed revolutionary tools to determine RNA structure in living cells.
What made you decide to pursue research?
I have always enjoyed figuring out how things work. I remember being fascinated with structural colour and have never really recovered from discovering romanesco cauliflower. I like math. I don’t like having a boss.
One piece of advice…
Be sceptical of flashy research buildings. Truly ground-breaking research is more likely done in a “shed”.
Trackback from your site.
