Warmest congratulations to Dr Juan Rodriguez-Molina, Clare Hall Associate, who has been appointed Assistant Professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. Juan joined the Clare Hall community in 2018 as a Postdoctoral Affiliated Member, continuing on as a Research Fellow from 2019-2023, and transitioning into an Associate from 2023 to present.

In his new lab, Juan will be working to elucidate the conserved mechanisms of RNA Polymerase II transcription termination. Transcription termination is an essential step in gene expression and recent evidence shows that it is frequently altered in cancer, viral infection, and environmental stress. Altered termination can significantly impact a cell’s gene expression programme, but exactly how this occurs remains poorly understood. His lab will use a combinatorial approach that integrates structural biology (e.g., cryo-EM), biochemistry, and genomics to address key biological questions: (i) How is RNA Polymerase II transcription terminated, and how is this process regulated? (ii) How do disease states and environmental stress disrupt termination? (iii) How can disease-driven defects in transcription termination be rescued? His lab’s research will lay the foundation for therapies that target transcription termination to restore cellular health.

On his time at Clare Hall, Juan shares the following reflection.

Clare Hall was our first collegiate home within the University. The College warmly welcomed my entire family, enabling us to fully participate in college life. This enriched our overall Cambridge experience and deepened our connection to the University’s academic community. Clare Hall allowed us to engage with students and fellows alike, row with the College on the Cam and beyond, and share our research and experiences with a broader community of scholars. As we embark on the next chapter of our lives, we carry with us an extended international academic family, lifelong friends, unique memories and experiences, a longing to return, and the excitement of a new adventure.

-Juan Rodriguez-Molina