Dr. Steven Jacobsen is a preeminent molecular geneticist whose pioneering work has fundamentally shaped our understanding of epigenetic inheritance mechanisms. He currently serves as an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Professor of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology at the University of California, Los Angeles. After receiving his PhD in Plant Biology from the University of Minnesota in 1993, he conducted postdoctoral research in Plant Developmental Genetics at the California Institute of Technology before establishing his independent research program at UCLA. His rapid ascent in the field was recognized with prestigious early-career awards including the Beckman and Searle Young Investigator Awards, which supported his foundational work on epigenetic regulation.
Dr. Jacobsen's groundbreaking research has positioned him as a world leader in the study of DNA methylation and epigenetic inheritance, with his laboratory making seminal contributions to understanding how epigenetic information is stably transmitted across cell divisions without changes to the underlying DNA sequence. He was among the first researchers to describe purely epigenetic mutants that demonstrate heritable changes in gene expression solely through alterations in DNA methylation patterns, a discovery that provided crucial evidence for the biological significance of epigenetic inheritance. His team developed innovative genome-wide analysis methods for DNA methylation that have been widely adopted throughout the scientific community, revealing how histone methylation and small interfering RNAs critically shape methylation patterns. These discoveries have been disseminated through more than 230 highly influential publications that have collectively transformed our understanding of epigenetic gene regulation across diverse organisms.
Beyond his individual research accomplishments, Dr. Jacobsen has been instrumental in cultivating the next generation of epigenetic researchers through extensive mentorship and leadership within the scientific community, with numerous former trainees now holding prominent positions in academia and industry. His far-reaching influence in the field was formally recognized through his election to the National Academy of Sciences in 2011 and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2016. Currently, his laboratory continues to push the frontiers of epigenetic research, developing sophisticated CRISPR-based tools for targeted epigenome editing in plants and advancing fundamental understanding of RNA-directed DNA methylation pathways. Dr. Jacobsen's ongoing work promises to further illuminate the complex mechanisms governing epigenetic inheritance while opening new avenues for agricultural innovation through the fact that Steve Jacobsen, Professor of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology at UCLA, is a scientific co-founder of Inari Agriculture, where his scientific insights are being translated into practical applications for sustainable crop development.
