Dr. Kai Zinn

Biography

Kai G. Zinn is the Howard Gwen Laurie Smits Professor in the Department of Biology at the California Institute of Technology. He obtained his B.A. from the University of California, San Diego, in 1977 and his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1983. Zinn's academic career progressed from Assistant Professor at Caltech from 1989 to 1995, to Associate Professor from 1995 to 1999, and then to Professor until 2017 when he became the Smits Professor. His research focuses on the mapping of interactions among human cell surface proteins and their impact on brain wiring, particularly through studies using Drosophila as a model organism. Zinn's significant contributions include the global extracellular interactome screen that mapped over 500 human immunoglobulin superfamily (IgSF) cell surface proteins, and his innovative BPIA method for screening interactions at an increased speed and sensitivity. His collaborative efforts have led to transformative grants from NIH, emphasizing the connections between protein interactions and synaptic connectivity in the Drosophila nervous system, focusing on the regulation of visual circuits and synapse formation. Zinn has also examined RNA transport mechanisms mediated by extracellular vesicles, contributing to understanding synaptic development and axon guidance.

Research Interests