Dr. Sam Sternberg

Associate Professor

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Biography

Sam Sternberg is an Associate Professor and Principal Investigator in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics at Columbia University since February 2018, and is also an Investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. He completed his B.A. in Biochemistry at Columbia University in 2007 and earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley in 2014, where he was mentored by Professor Ruben Gonzalez. His postdoctoral work included a fellowship with Nobel Laureate Jennifer Doudna. Sam has been recognized with several awards such as the NIH Director's New Innovator Award and the NSF CAREER Award. His research focuses on the mechanisms of nucleic acid targeting and the development of RNA-guided bacterial immune systems (CRISPR-Cas), aimed at genome engineering applications. He has published work in prestigious journals like Nature, Science, and Cell and has participated in various mentorship programs. Sam is also an advocate for science communication and presents on topics related to CRISPR-Cas and gene editing, including a TEDMED talk in 2015. In addition to his professional interests, he enjoys playing squash, the saxophone, and reading.

Research Interests

Requirements for Columbia University

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
TOEFL
Total
Required:100
IELTS
Overall
Required:7.5
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree or international equivalent
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Transcripts
  • Statement of Academic Purpose
  • Personal Statement
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • CV or Resume
  • Application fee
Specialization Notes

Department of Anthropology (GSAS)