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University research directory
Research labs at
Columbia University.
Compare 5 listed faculty-led profiles, explore their research interests, and follow the evidence in their selected work. These listings are a starting point for discovery and do not establish recruiting availability.
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Review each lab’s official website and recent publications. Compare the methods used, the questions being asked, and the practical requirements of any published opening. Unclaimed profiles are independently curated; the university has not approved or endorsed them.
How to compare research labs ↗Official university website ↗5 research-led lab profiles
Browse labs by their listed college affiliationBrent R. Stockwell Research Group
Columbia University
Brent R. Stockwell · William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Biological Sciences
What biochemical mechanisms trigger regulated forms of cell death and how can small molecules reveal therapeutic vulnerabilities? The Stockwell research group uses systematic small-molecule discovery and chemical biology to perturb cellular processes and dissect mechanisms of cell death. Researchers combine chemical synthesis with genomics, computational chemistry, biochemistry, and cell biology to identify compounds that modulate ferroptosis and related pathways. The group applies spatial and single-cell methods, multi-omics, and mass spectrometry imaging to map where and how small molecules act in tissues and tumors. These approaches aim to link cell-death mechanisms with disease contexts such as cancer and neurodegeneration.
Elias Bareinboim Research Group
Columbia UniversityElias Bareinboim · Associate Professor of Computer Science
How can causal inference methods enable reliable decision-making from biased observational data in real-world systems? The group conducts research on causal inference and probabilistic modeling to build formal methods for reasoning about interventions and counterfactuals. Researchers develop algorithms in sequential decision making that combine probabilistic models with decision-theoretic tools to support robust policy selection. Projects apply causal and probabilistic techniques to domains such as computational biology and computer vision to translate formal causal models into domain-specific analyses. The Causal Artificial Intelligence Lab integrates these methods to study both foundational theory and practical applications in language, vision, and robotics.
Richard Axel Research Group
Columbia UniversityRichard Axel · University Professor
How does the olfactory system translate odor molecule detection into a stable neural representation of odor quality? The lab maps odorant receptor gene expression patterns and combines them with electrophysiology to define the logic of olfactory discrimination. Researchers show individual olfactory sensory neurons express only one receptor gene and project their axons to defined glomeruli, producing spatial patterns of activity in the olfactory bulb. The group uses molecular genetics and gene transfer methods to isolate and analyze receptor genes and signaling cascades to study receptor function in sensory circuits. Current work centers on how odor recognition is translated into an internal representation of sensory quality that guides behavior.
Tim Roughgarden Research Group
Columbia UniversityTim Roughgarden · Professor of Computer Science
How can mechanism design create incentives for truthful behavior in decentralized blockchain systems? The research explores theoretical foundations connecting algorithms and mechanism design to model strategic behavior in networks and markets. The group develops algorithms and rigorous analysis from algorithmic game theory to characterize equilibrium outcomes and computational complexity. Work on blockchains studies incentive-compatible protocol design and consensus mechanisms to align participant behavior in decentralized systems. Researchers apply game-theoretic proofs and complexity bounds to evaluate robustness, optimality, and trade-offs of mechanisms and algorithms.
Virginia W. Cornish Research Group
Columbia UniversityVirginia W. Cornish · Helena Rubinstein Professor, Department of Chemistry
How can living cells be reprogrammed to synthesize nonstandard oligomers and enable in vivo directed evolution? The Cornish Laboratory combines organic chemistry and DNA technology to expand cellular synthetic capabilities and harness the ribosome for unnatural oligomer synthesis. The laboratory engineers yeast to enable directed evolution of molecules and metabolic pathways directly in living cells for evolving new functions. Researchers apply these synthetic biology methods to create tools for bioimaging, molecular diagnostics, and therapeutic molecule generation. The group integrates chemical and genetic strategies to incorporate synthetic amino acid building blocks into biological polymers.
Showing 1–5 of 5 labs