When Aarhus University celebrates its Annual Celebration on 12 September, one of the distinguished guests will be a scientist of truly international stature. Structural biologist Lori Passmore, FRS, will be conferred Honorary Doctor in recognition of her pioneering contributions to molecular biology and her long-standing collaboration with researchers at the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics (MBG).

From cryo-EM to gene regulation

Lori Passmore leads a research group at the renowned MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge. She has made a lasting impact on international biomedical science through her research into how cells regulate gene expression, and how multi-protein complexes drive processes such as mRNA maturation and DNA repair.

In particular, her technological breakthroughs in cryo-electron microscopy, a method that makes it possible to visualize biomolecules at atomic resolution, have had a profound impact on modern structural biology. By combining cryo-EM with X-ray crystallography based on biochemical reconstitution of macromolecular complexes, her laboratory has become one of the world leaders in unraveling the mechanisms of gene expression.

A close partnership with Aarhus

For MBG, this honorary doctorate carries a special significance. For more than fifteen years, Lori Passmore has collaborated with Aarhus scientists on some of the most fundamental questions in molecular biology.

Together with Professor Ditlev E. Brodersen, she determined the first structure of the bacterial carbon–phosphorus lyase complex, published in Nature, and investigated bacterial toxin regulation. With Professor Torben Heick Jensen, she uncovered mechanisms of mRNA 3′-end formation, resulting in a Genes & Development paper in 2021.

Several young researchers have also benefited from her mentorship. Among them is Pablo Alcon, who after a postdoc in Cambridge has now established his own research group at MBG with a Lundbeck Fellowship.

“This honorary doctorate is both a celebration of Lori Passmore’s scientific excellence and of the strong ties and shared achievements that connect her work with our department,” says Head of Department Claus Oxvig. “She has not only advanced the field internationally – she has also had a lasting impact on our research environment here in Aarhus.”

From research to inspiration

Before the formal conferment at the Annual Celebration, MBG staff and students will have several opportunities to meet Lori Passmore.

On Thursday 11 September, she will give she will give an Honorary Doctor Lecture in the Nucleus Auditorium, titled Molecular insights into the mRNA poly(A) tail machinery. Here she will present the latest findings on how the poly(A) tail controls gene expression through the interplay between RNA adaptor proteins and deadenylase complexes. The lecture runs from 1:00 to 2:00 PM and is open to all.

That same day, she will join a mentoring lunch with MBG PhD students and postdocs – giving the next generation of researchers a unique chance to meet one of the most influential figures in the field in an informal setting.

“It is a unique opportunity to gain insight into both the science and the scientist behind it,” says Claus Oxvig. “I strongly encourage everyone to attend, whether you are a student, researcher, or member of the technical staff.”

International recognition

Lori Passmore is among Europe’s most highly recognized structural biologists. She has received the Suffrage Science Award (2016), was elected a member of EMBO in 2018, and in 2023 was named a Fellow of the Royal Society.

Her appointment as Honorary Doctor at Aarhus University is not only a recognition of her individual achievements, but also a symbol of the vibrant research community that links Aarhus with leading international institutions.

Fact box: Honorary Doctorates at Aarhus University

At its Annual Celebration in September, Aarhus University appoints honorary doctors among researchers from other institutions with which the university has close collaborations. These collaborations include research, teaching, and academic networks, and help ensure strong connections between Aarhus University and the latest international research