Rate My Professor Peter Fineran

Professor Peter Fineran is a Molecular Microbiologist and Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Biomedical Sciences, at the University of Otago, where he leads the Phage-host interactions (Phi) laboratory. His research centers on molecular microbiology, elucidating bacterial immune systems such as CRISPR-Cas, restriction-modification, and other defenses against bacteriophages and mobile genetic elements, alongside phage evasion strategies. This fundamental work informs translational applications, including phage-based antimicrobials targeting bacterial pathogens and CRISPR-Cas tools for biotechnology, exemplified by collaborations with Zespri International Limited to develop phage controls for Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa) in kiwifruit since 2011.

Fineran obtained a BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, and a PhD from the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, followed by postdoctoral research at Cambridge and the University of Otago, and a research assistant position at the Australian National University. He joined the University of Otago in 2008 as Principal Investigator, served as Rutherford Discovery Fellow from 2012 to 2018, and was promoted to full Professor in 2023. He is a Fellow of Royal Society Te Apārangi, James Cook Research Fellow (2023), recipient of the University of Otago Distinguished Research Medal (2025), Fleming Prize from the Microbiology Society UK (2019), Alexander von Humboldt Experienced Researcher Fellowship (2019), Genetics Society of AustralAsia Ross Crozier Medal (2017), NZ Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Custom Science Award (2015), and Thermo Fisher Scientific Award for Excellence in Molecular Biology (2015), among others. Fineran has authored over 140 peer-reviewed publications in leading journals such as Nature, Science, and Nature Microbiology, including 'Regulation of anti-CRISPR operons by structurally distinct families of Aca proteins' (Communications Biology, 2025), 'The early injected genomic region determines sensitivity to Type I restriction-modification defence against Autographiviridae phages' (Nucleic Acids Research, 2025), and 'Resistance is not futile: Bacterial innate and CRISPR-Cas adaptive immune systems' (Microbiology, 2019). His contributions are cited in 58 patents, have trained over 50 students and staff—many now in international academic positions—and include hosting a major international CRISPR conference, public lectures, media engagement, and science policy submissions.