Steven Finkel

Steven Finkel is Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Southern California's Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and Professor of Gerontology at the USC Davis School of Gerontology. He currently serves as College Dean of Graduate & Professional Education for Dornsife College and was recently elected AAAS Fellow (2024).

His academic credentials include:

• Ph.D. in Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles (1994)
• B.A. in Molecular Biology, University of California, Berkeley (1987)
• Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Harvard Medical School (1994-1999)

Professor Finkel's research centers on bacterial long-term survival and evolution, with five interconnected themes: (1) Stationary phase physiology and GASP phenotype mechanisms; (2) Bacterial diversity generation through error-prone DNA polymerases; (3) DNA-protein interactions in gene regulation and chromosome protection (focusing on Dps protein); (4) DNA utilization as nutrient source; (5) Applications in microbial fuel cells and deep subseafloor environments. His lab employs Escherichia coli, Shewanella oneidensis, and gut microbiota as model systems.

Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals consistent focus on bacterial adaptation under nutrient/energy limitation, with recurring emphasis on stationary phase dynamics, evolutionary trajectories in long-term cultures, and molecular mechanisms of survival. His work bridges fundamental microbiology with applications in bioelectrochemical systems and deep biosphere studies.

Notable scientific recognitions:

• AAAS Fellow (2024)
• American Academy of Microbiology Fellow (2016)
• Albert S. Raubenheimer Outstanding Faculty Award (2019-2020)
• NSF CAREER Award (2003-2009)

Professor Finkel actively mentors graduate students including Zlatas Serebnitskiy and Caitlin Nickson, and has secured major funding through NSF and C-DEBI. His laboratory operates within the USC Geobiology program and maintains strong ties with the Center for Deep Energy Biosphere Investigations. Current research explores bacterial evolution in nutrient-limited environments with implications for astrobiology and biotechnology.