Anna-Karin GustavssonView profile
Assistant Professor
Anna-Karin Gustavsson is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Rice University, holding the Norman Hackerman-Welch Young Investigator Chair. Her research focuses on developing 3D single-molecule tracking and super-resolution imaging techniques to study cellular nanoscale structures and dynamics, with applications to aging and cancer. She leads the Gustavsson Lab, which integrates innovative microscopy tools and analysis algorithms to advance biomedical and biophysical understanding. Dr. Gustavsson earned her PhD in Physics from the University of Gothenburg (2015), followed by postdoctoral work in Nobel Laureate W.E. Moerner’s lab at Stanford University, where she pioneered light-sheet-based super-resolution imaging. Her honors include the FEBS Richard Perham Prize (2012), NIH K99/R00 Award (2019), and CPRIT Recruitment Award (2020). Research Interests: 3D Single-Molecule Super-Resolution Microscopy Cellular Nanoscale Architecture Primary Cilia Biogenesis FLASH Radiation Therapy Mechanisms Genomic Stability and Epigenetic Regulation Grants & Awards: CPRIT Recruitment of First-Time Tenure-Track Faculty (2020) NIH K99/R00 Pathway to Independence (2019) PicoQuant Young Investigator Award (2018) Lab Focus: The Gustavsson Lab develops microscopy platforms to investigate molecular mechanisms in health and disease, emphasizing translational applications in cancer and laminopathies. Their work bridges physics, chemistry, and biology through cutting-edge imaging innovations.






