Dr. Long Cai

Professor

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Biography

Long Cai is a Professor in the Department of Biology and the Department of Biological Engineering at the California Institute of Technology. He earned his B.A. from Harvard University in 2001 and completed his Ph.D. in 2006. Prior to his current position, he held various roles including Assistant Professor from 2010 to 2017, Research Professor in 2017-2018, and Visiting Associate in the 2017-2018 academic year. Professor Cai's research focuses on spatial genomics, a field he has pioneered by developing innovative tools such as seqFISH, which allows for the detection of over 10,000 genes with single-molecule resolution in tissues. His collaborative work with Michael Elowitz's lab has led to the development of MEMOIR, a transformative tool that records molecular events in the genomes of cells. His research seeks to uncover unexpected dynamics in stem cell biology and to explore questions in developmental biology and neuroscience, aiming to generate a spatial atlas of organisms at single-cell resolution. Professor Cai's contributions provide critical insights into the spatial organization of genes within tissues, offering powerful tools for identifying unknown factors in biological research.

Research Interests

Requirements for California Institute of Technology

Doctorate Program
Requirements
TOEFL
Total
Required:100
IELTS
Overall
Required:7
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree or equivalent Strong background in mathematics and physical sciences
Application Checklist
  • Online Application
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Three Letters of Recommendation
  • Transcripts
  • Resume/CV
Specialization Notes

Most Caltech graduate programs are PhD-only. GRE General and Subject tests vary by department; many have made them optional or no longer accept them.