NZer scores $2.6m research award

Otago University graduate Rob Knight has won a United States award worth more than US$1.5 million ($2.6 million).

Prof Knight, 32, is one of 50 US-based scientists who will have their salary paid for six years, plus a research budget of US$1.5m, from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Prof Knight is assistant professor of chemistry, biochemistry and computer science at the University of Colorado, in Boulder.

His research focuses on the evolution of the composition of biomolecules, genomes and communities.

"We all share more than 99 per cent of our genomes, but only a tiny fraction of our microbial species so understanding the sources and roles of these microbes is crucial," he said.

Prof Knight was born in Dunedin and educated at College St School and Otago Boys High School. He studied for a BSc at Otago University before gaining a PhD scholarship to Princeton University.

In 2001, his thesis on the Origin and Evolution of the Genetic Code won an award from the US Council of Graduate Schools for best PhD thesis in life sciences.

- NZPA