Karl Deisseroth (American Neuroscientist) Biography

Quick Info

Profession	Neuroscientist, psychiatrist, bioengineer
Nationality	American
Date of Birth	18/11/1971
Age	54 years
Birthplace	Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.

Latest News about Karl Deisseroth

25/09/2025

Karl Deisseroth was named the 2025 recipient of the Asan Award in Basic Medicine for his work on optogenetics. The award recognized his discovery of light-gated ion channels and the development of optogenetics as a major research method in neuroscience.

01/07/2025

Stanford announced that Karl Deisseroth would share the 2025 Asan Award in Basic Medicine, highlighting his foundational contributions to optogenetics. The recognition added to a long list of international honors for his work on neural circuit research and tissue-clearing technologies.

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Bio/Wiki

Full Name	Karl Alexander Deisseroth
Known For	Pioneering optogenetics and developing CLARITY/hydrogel-tissue chemistry methods.
Current Position	D.H. Chen Professor of Bioengineering and of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University; Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Educational Qualification(s)

Undergraduate	Harvard University, A.B. in Biochemical Sciences (1992)
Graduate	Stanford University, PhD in Neuroscience (1998)
Medical	Stanford University, MD (2000)
Training	Postdoctoral training, medical internship, and adult psychiatry residency at Stanford University School of Medicine

Career

Academic Roles	Professor at Stanford University in Bioengineering and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Practicing psychiatrist at Stanford Director of Undergraduate Education in Bioengineering at Stanford
Research Focus	Neural circuits Affective disorders Autism-spectrum disease Brain stimulation therapies
Major Contributions	Development of optogenetics Development of CLARITY and related tissue-clearing methods
Honors & Awards	Asan Award in Basic Medicine (2025) Japan Prize in Life Sciences (2023) Luisa Gross Horwitz Prize (2022) Lasker Basic Medical Research Award (2021) Ariëns Kappers Award (2020) J.E. Wallace Sterling Lifetime Achievement Award in Medicine (2020) Heineken Prize in Medicine (2020) Warren Alpert Prize (2019) Kyoto Prize (2018) Berthold Leibinger Prize (2018) Eisenberg Prize (2018) Rumford Prize (2018) Massry Prize (2017) Harvey Prize in Human Health (2017) NOMIS Distinguished Scientist Award (2017) BBVA Award (2016) Redelsheimer Award (2016) Breakthrough Prize in Life Science (2015) Dickson Prize in Medicine (2015) Albany Prize in Medicine (2015) Keio Medical Science Prize (2014) Richard Lounsbery Prize (2013) Brain Prize (2013) Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (2005) NIH Director's Pioneer Award (2005) Young Investigator Award, Society for Neuroscience (2009)

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. Board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
2. Serves as Director of Undergraduate Education in Bioengineering at Stanford.
3. Has received major awards for work in optogenetics and neuroscience.

Karl Deisseroth Neuroscientist, psychiatrist, bioengineer American Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.