A Guest in the Höbartner Group: Six Weeks of Research, Franconia, and Friendships
08/03/2026From Oxford to Würzburg: for six weeks, Luke Pearse, a chemistry student at the University of Oxford, enriched the Höbartner Group, in particular, Dr Takumi Okuda’s early-career research group in nucleic acid chemistry as an intern. In this interview, he shares why he chose our lab, what he learned about RNA research – and what has stuck with him the most.
Six weeks and many new impressions later: Luke Pearse, a chemistry student at the renowned University of Oxford, spent part of his summer with the Höbartner Group. His research background so far has been in synthetic organic chemistry. With an internship in a chemical biology lab, he specifically wanted to develop new skills and gain deeper research insight. The decisive tip came from his supervisor, Professor Aye Yimon, who warmly recommended the Höbartner Group for its excellent mentoring and internationally recognized research.
Looking ahead: REX methodology in the Aye Lab
His next career step is already set: next year, Luke will join the Aye Lab, where he will study reactive electrophile signalling pathways in vivo using the group's signature REX methodology. His internship in Würzburg was therefore an ideal starting point to become familiar with chemical biology methods in preparation.
From little prior knowledge to a real contribution
At the start of his stay, Luke had only limited experience with the methods used daily in the chemical biology lab. That made him all the more motivated to learn alongside Tina and Takumi. His goal was to make a small but reliable contribution to the RNA research – and he succeeded. After six intensive weeks, he looks back on an enormous gain in knowledge.
Oxford and Würzburg – closer than you might think
Asked about the differences between research in Oxford and Würzburg, Luke answered that both institutions are marked by outstanding laboratories and a clear drive for academic excellence. Even though the two cities are vastly different, the labs and the expertise are comparably excellent – a testament to how internationally connected research is today.
Discovering Franconia: Bamberg, bratwurst, and Kiliani
Alongside the science, there was also time to explore the region. Luke was especially taken with a trip to Bamberg. Franconian cuisine also won him over – and Würzburg's Kiliani festival will certainly stay in his memory for a long time.
We thank Luke for six insightful and hot weeks with our team and wish him all the best for his studies in Oxford and the start of his time in the Aye Lab!
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