Villum Young Investigator Grant Funds RNA research
A big congratulations to Assistant Professor Emil Laust Kristoffersen from Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO) and Molecular Biology and Genetics (MBG) for receiving a Villum Young Investigator grant.

The Villum Young Investigator Programme, aimed at supporting ambitious young researchers in establishing independent research groups, has awarded grants totaling DKK 150 million to 19 talented scientists. Among the recipients is Emil, who has been granted DKK 7 million for his groundbreaking project, The Circles of Life – Exploring RNA-Catalyzed Rolling Circle Self-Replication.
The process by which life emerges from chemical building blocks is a heavily researched yet unresolved area. A key requirement for the origin of life is sustainable self-replication. In modern life, the self-replication process is complex, involving DNA, RNA, and proteins, suggesting it did not emerge in this form. Inspired by the simplest natural replication, we will explore the potential of RNA to catalyze sustainable self-replication using small circular templates. The funding will enable Emil to establish a research team, including a PhD student and a postdoc
The Villum Young Investigator Programme offers career-defining opportunities for researchers, allowing them to build research teams and make significant contributions to their fields. Emil’s project is a testament to the innovative science being supported by this initiative.
Contact
Assistant Professor Emil Laust Kristoffersen
Aarhus University
Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO)
Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics
Phone: +45 29 27 13 06
Mail: emillk@inano.au.dk