Dr. Steve Kay is Provost Professor of Neurology, Biomedical Engineering, and Biological Sciences at the University of Southern California (USC), where he directs Convergent Bioscience, the USC Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience, and the MESH Academy. He holds the David L. Lee and Simon Ramo Chair in Health Science and Technology and co-directs the USC Norris Center for Cancer Drug Development. He previously served as the 21st Dean of the USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences (2012-2015), holding the Anna H. Bing Dean’s Chair. A world-renowned expert on the genetics and genomics of circadian rhythms, Kay's laboratory investigates the molecular architecture of circadian networks in plants and animals using high-throughput genomic and chemical biology pipelines. These networks integrate with metabolic, stress response, and developmental pathways. Recent research emphasizes circadian regulation in cancer such as glioblastoma and triple-negative breast cancer, plant abiotic stress responses, and therapeutic modulation of clock proteins through small molecule modulators.

Kay received his B.S. (1981) and Ph.D. (1984) in Biochemistry from the University of Bristol, UK, an honorary D.Sc. from the same institution, and completed postdoctoral training at The Rockefeller University. His career includes faculty positions at The Rockefeller University, University of Virginia, and The Scripps Research Institute; Dean of Biological Sciences at UC San Diego (Richard C. Atkinson Chair); President of The Scripps Research Institute (2015-2016); and Vice President of Discovery Research at the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation. With more than 200 publications, seminal works include "Identification of small molecular activators of cryptochrome" (Science, 2012), "A genome-wide RNAi screen for modifiers of the circadian clock in human cells" (Cell, 2009), "Cryptochrome mediates circadian regulation of cAMP signaling and hepatic gluconeogenesis" (Nature Medicine, 2010), and "The ELF4-ELF3-LUX Complex Links the Circadian Clock to Diurnal Control of Hypocotyl Growth" (Nature, 2012). Recognitions include election to the National Academy of Sciences (2008), AAAS Fellowship (2009), American Society of Plant Biologists’ Martin Gibbs Medal (2011), three Science “Breakthroughs of the Year” citations (1997, 1998, 2002), and Highly Cited Researcher status.

Professional Email: stevekay@usc.edu