Professor directory

Molecular biology professors in the United States

30 molecular biology professors in the United States, at 15 universities. The most represented are Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 30 of them are verified faculty: their current appointment was confirmed against their own university's pages or a current faculty record in ORCID, and they are listed first.

The list is built from open publication data (OpenAlex and ORCID), the same data ProfScout uses in the app: actively publishing faculty at the largest research universities in the United States whose recent work sits in molecular biology. Retired, trainee and staff-scientist records are filtered out where the public record identifies them. It is not a prestige ranking: professors are listed by how prominently molecular biology figures in their published work, verified faculty first. Reply-fit scores, which weigh how likely each professor is to answer a student's email, are computed for your own profile inside ProfScout. Updated September 2026; the list is rebuilt from the open record a few times a year.

  1. Steven L. SalzbergVerified faculty
    Johns Hopkins University
    Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Molecular Biology
    Genomics and Phylogenetic StudiesRNA and protein synthesis mechanismsRNA Research and Splicing
    Recent: Large-scale analysis of transcript data reveals thousands of recursive splicing events in human introns (2026)
  2. Peter James TurnbaughVerified faculty
    University of California, San Francisco
    Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Molecular Biology
    Gut microbiota and healthDiet and metabolism studies
    Recent: eLife Assessment: Bacterial and viral gut microbiome alterations characterize microbiome-immune-pathophysiology axes in sickle cell disease (2026)
  3. Ben LangmeadVerified faculty
    Johns Hopkins University
    Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Molecular Biology
    Genomics and Phylogenetic StudiesAlgorithms and Data CompressionGene expression and cancer classification
    Recent: Genomic repeats for single-cell molecular recording (2026)
  4. Vamsi Krishna MoothaVerified faculty
    Harvard University
    Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Molecular Biology
    Mitochondrial Function and PathologyRNA modifications and cancerMetabolism and Genetic Disorders
    Recent: Mitochondrial depolarization stabilizes the vitamin B 12 chaperone MMADHC in the cytosol to increase MTR activity (2026)
  5. Christopher B. BurgeVerified faculty
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Molecular Biology
    RNA Research and SplicingRNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
    Recent: Widespread naturally variable human exons aid genetic interpretation (2025)
  6. Mark GersteinVerified faculty
    Yale University
    Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Molecular Biology
    Genomics and Chromatin DynamicsBioinformatics and Genomic NetworksRNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
    Recent: pyGENIE: A Python library for programmatic access and mutational analysis of AACR Project GENIE (2026)
  7. Tom ManiatisVerified faculty
    Columbia University
    Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Molecular Biology
    RNA Research and Splicinginterferon and immune responsesDNA and Nucleic Acid Chemistry
    Recent: Genotype-specific interferon signatures in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis relate to disease severity (2025)
  8. Roderick Terry BronsonVerified faculty
    Harvard University
    Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Molecular Biology
    Chromatin Remodeling and CancerCancer Genomics and DiagnosticsEpigenetics and DNA Methylation
  9. Andrew P. FeinbergVerified faculty
    Johns Hopkins University
    Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Molecular Biology
    Pancreatic and Hepatic Oncology ResearchAcute Myeloid Leukemia ResearchEpigenetics and DNA Methylation
    Recent: Figure S6 from DNA Methylation Stochasticity Is Linked to Transcriptional Variability and Convergent Epigenetic Disruption across Genetic Subtypes of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (2026)
  10. Jeffrey I. GordonVerified faculty
    Washington University in St. Louis
    Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Molecular Biology
    Gut microbiota and healthEnzyme Structure and FunctionProbiotics and Fermented Foods
  11. Bing RenVerified faculty
    University of California San Diego
    Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Molecular Biology
    Genomics and Chromatin DynamicsEpigenetics and DNA MethylationRNA Research and Splicing
  12. Lior S. PachterVerified faculty
    California Institute of Technology
    Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Molecular Biology
    Single-cell and spatial transcriptomicsRNA Research and SplicingGenomics and Phylogenetic Studies
    Recent: Estimating cis and trans contributions to differences in gene regulation (2026)
  13. Chad Alexander MirkinVerified faculty
    Northwestern University
    Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Molecular Biology
    Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniquesGold and Silver Nanoparticles Synthesis and ApplicationsRNA Interference and Gene Delivery
    Recent: Colloidal Crystals Engineered with DNA and Perylenediimide Exhibit Symmetry-Breaking Charge Transfer (2026)
  14. Howard Y. ChangVerified faculty
    Stanford University
    Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Molecular Biology
    Cancer Genomics and DiagnosticsRNA modifications and cancerGenomics and Chromatin Dynamics
    Recent: Regulation of immune signal integration and memory by inflammation-induced chromosome conformation (2026)
  15. Cole TrapnellVerified faculty
    University of Washington
    Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Molecular Biology
    Single-cell and spatial transcriptomicsZebrafish Biomedical Research ApplicationsGenomics and Chromatin Dynamics
    Recent: Multiplexed single cell transcriptomics optimizes mesodermal patterning and hemogenic endothelial output from murine embryonic stem cells (2026)
  16. Chuan HeVerified faculty
    University of Chicago
    Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Molecular Biology
    RNA modifications and cancerEpigenetics and DNA MethylationRNA Research and Splicing
    Recent: The YTHDF proteins modulate Alzheimer’s disease-associated brain gene signatures (2026)
  17. Susan HolmesVerified faculty
    Stanford University
    Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Molecular Biology
    Gut microbiota and healthImmune Cell Function and InteractionHIV Research and Treatment
    Recent: Vaginal microbiota impacts of a Lactobacillus crispatus live biotherapeutic and predictors of colonization in randomized controlled trial (2026)
  18. John P. HuelsenbeckVerified faculty
    University of California, Berkeley
    Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Genetics
    Genomics and Phylogenetic StudiesEvolution and Paleontology StudiesGenetic diversity and population structure
    Recent: Data and code from: Estimating divergence times and diversification rates with the unresolved fossilized birth-death process (2026)
  19. Marc A. SuchardVerified faculty
    University of California, Los Angeles
    Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Molecular Biology
    Genomics and Phylogenetic StudiesSARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 ResearchCOVID-19 epidemiological studies
    Recent: Comparative Effectiveness of Ticagrelor vs. Prasugrel in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (2026)
  20. Rudolf JaenischVerified faculty
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Molecular Biology
    Pluripotent Stem Cells ResearchEpigenetics and DNA MethylationCRISPR and Genetic Engineering
    Recent: Heritable immunization of mice against Lyme disease enables ecological disease prevention (2026)
  21. Trey IdekerVerified faculty
    University of California San Diego
    Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Molecular Biology
    Bioinformatics and Genomic NetworksCancer Genomics and DiagnosticsEpigenetics and DNA Methylation
    Recent: Autism mutations rewire protein interaction networks to drive neurodevelopmental pathology (2026)
  22. James J. CollinsVerified faculty
    Harvard University
    Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Molecular Biology
    CRISPR and Genetic EngineeringRNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
    Recent: Deep learning–enabled discovery of antibiotics effective against Neisseria gonorrhoeae (2026)
  23. Evan E. EichlerVerified faculty
    University of Washington
    Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Genetics
    Chromosomal and Genetic VariationsGenomics and Phylogenetic StudiesGenomic variations and chromosomal abnormalities
    Recent: Cross-species discovery of large structural variants reveals distinct evolutionary dynamics in primates (2026)
  24. Gregg L. SemenzaVerified faculty
    Johns Hopkins University
    Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Cancer Research
    Cancer, Hypoxia, and MetabolismMitochondrial Function and Pathology
    Recent: Carrier-Free Core-Shell NVTIA™ Tart Cherry-Celery Seed-Bromelain Nanocomposite for Uric Acid Metabolic Support: Formulation Characterization and Mechanistic Rationale (2026)
  25. Paul T. SpellmanVerified faculty
    University of California, Los Angeles
    Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Cancer Research
    Cancer Genomics and DiagnosticsRNA Research and Splicing
    Recent: Psychosocial Stress and Allostatic Load Among Underrepresented Minority Women with Familial Cancer Risk (2026)
  26. Michael E. GreenbergVerified faculty
    Harvard University
    Neuroscience · Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
    Genetics and Neurodevelopmental DisordersNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
    Recent: The BAF complex works with FOS to regulate human neuronal activity-dependent ASD-associated gene programs (2026)
  27. Rameen BeroukhimVerified faculty
    Harvard University
    Medicine · Genetics
    Glioma Diagnosis and TreatmentCancer Genomics and DiagnosticsProtein Degradation and Inhibitors
    Recent: O-mannosylation and protein maturation checkpoints represent therapeutic opportunities in BRAF fusion protein oncogenesis (2026)
  28. Aviv RegevVerified faculty
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Molecular Biology
    Single-cell and spatial transcriptomicsCell Image Analysis TechniquesCancer Genomics and Diagnostics
    Recent: A multimodal atlas of COVID-19 severity identifies hallmarks of dysregulated immunity 2258066 (2026)
  29. Bernhard Ørn PalssonVerified faculty
    University of California San Diego
    Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Molecular Biology
    Microbial Metabolic Engineering and BioproductionRNA and protein synthesis mechanismsBacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
    Recent: The iModulon framework: how x-AI reveals microbial regulatory logic (2026)
  30. Robert A. WeinbergVerified faculty
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Medicine · Oncology
    Cancer Cells and MetastasisEpigenetics and DNA MethylationCancer Research and Treatments
    Recent: Inflammation awakens dormant cancer cells by modulating the epithelial–mesenchymal phenotypic state (2025)

Universities on this list: Harvard University (5) · Johns Hopkins University (4) · Massachusetts Institute of Technology (4) · University of California San Diego (3) · Stanford University (2) · University of California, Los Angeles (2) · University of Washington (2) · California Institute of Technology (1) · Columbia University (1) · Northwestern University (1) · University of California, Berkeley (1) · University of California, San Francisco (1) · University of Chicago (1) · Washington University in St. Louis (1) · Yale University (1)

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From the public publication record. Each person here is an active researcher at one of the largest research universities in the United States, publishing recently in molecular biology, and not flagged by the public record as retired, in training, or in a staff role. "Verified faculty" means ProfScout matched the professor to a faculty page on their own university's site or to a current faculty appointment in ORCID.

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Built on open data from OpenAlex & ORCID