Rachel Haurwitz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rachel Haurwitz
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Rachel Haurwitz in 2019
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Rachel Elizabeth Haurwitz
May 20, 1985 Austin, Texas, U.S.
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| Alma mater |
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| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Biochemistry |
| Institutions | Caribou Biosciences |
| Thesis | The CRISPR endoribonuclease Csy4 utilizes unusual sequence- and structure-specific mechanisms to recognize and process crRNAs (2012) |
| Doctoral advisor | Jennifer Doudna |
Rachel Elizabeth Haurwitz (born May 20, 1985) is an American biochemist and structural biologist. She is a co-founder, CEO, and president of Caribou Biosciences. This company focuses on genome editing, which is like making precise changes to the DNA of living things.
Early Life and Education
Rachel Haurwitz was born on May 20, 1985, in Austin, Texas. Her mom was a teacher, and her dad was a journalist who wrote about the environment.
Rachel became interested in science early on. She started researching RNA, a molecule important for life, while she was still in college. She studied at Harvard College and earned her first degree there.
In 2007, when she was 21, Rachel began her advanced studies at the University of California, Berkeley. She joined the lab of Jennifer Doudna, a famous scientist. Rachel earned her Ph.D. in molecular and cell biology in 2012. At first, Rachel thought about becoming a lawyer for new science inventions. But she loved science so much that she decided to keep working in research.
Career in Gene Editing
In 2011, Rachel Haurwitz and Jennifer Doudna started a company together called Caribou Biosciences. This company is a "spinout" or "startup" from the university. It helps bring new science ideas from the lab into the real world. Rachel is the CEO (Chief Executive Officer) and president of the company.
Caribou Biosciences uses a special technology called CRISPR. CRISPR is a powerful tool that allows scientists to edit genes very accurately. Rachel holds several patents for these CRISPR-based technologies. This means she owns the rights to some of the new ideas and methods for using CRISPR.
The company's first office was in the basement of Jennifer Doudna's lab building. Caribou Biosciences works to use CRISPR technology in healthcare and agriculture. They explore solutions for big problems like diseases that resist medicines (antimicrobial resistance). They also work on ways to improve food supply and create more vaccines.
In 2018, Rachel announced that Caribou Biosciences would focus more on medicine. They are now working on developing new ways to treat cancer using gene editing.
Hobbies and Recognition
Outside of her scientific work, Rachel Haurwitz enjoys running long distances. She is even training to run a marathon. She also likes to knit as a hobby.
In 2021, Rachel was chosen as a Bloomberg New Economy Catalyst. This program recognizes people who are making a big difference in the world's economy. As part of this honor, she attended special events in Singapore.
See also
In Spanish: Rachel Haurwitz para niños
