💡 Did you knowNobel-winning neuroscientist
How Old is Karl Deisseroth?
Nobel-winning neuroscientist — live age, birthday and a short biography.
54 years old
Born November 18, 1971 · 54 years, 10 months, 18 days
Quick biography
Karl Alexander Deisseroth was born on November 18, 1971, in Boston, Massachusetts. He earned his bachelor’s degree in biochemical sciences from Harvard University and his MD and PhD in neuroscience from Stanford University, where he also completed his psychiatry residency.
At Stanford he pioneered optogenetics — a technique that uses light to switch individual brain cells on and off — giving scientists an unprecedented window into how thoughts, memories and emotions arise. He also created CLARITY and STARmap, methods that make brain tissue transparent for detailed imaging.
Career highlights
- ✦1992 — Graduates from Harvard in biochemical sciences.
- ✦1998 — Earns MD and PhD in neuroscience from Stanford.
- ✦2004 — Starts the Deisseroth Lab at Stanford.
- ✦2005 — Optogenetics breakthrough published.
- ✦2026 — Wins the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
Personal life in brief
Deisseroth is also a practising psychiatrist at Stanford Hospital, and his wife Michelle Monje is a noted neuroscientist.
Legacy & influence
His honours include the Breakthrough Prize (2016), the Kyoto Prize (2018) and the Lasker Award (2021). In 2026 he received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, shared with Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel, for the discoveries that made optogenetics possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Karl Deisseroth?
Karl Deisseroth was born on November 18, 1971. His live age in years, months and days is shown on this page and updates automatically.
What did Karl Deisseroth win the Nobel Prize for?
The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, shared with Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel, for discoveries about light-gated ion channels that made optogenetics possible.
What is optogenetics?
A technique that uses light to control the activity of specific brain cells, letting researchers study how individual neurons drive behaviour, memory and emotion.
Where does Karl Deisseroth work?
Stanford University, where he is professor of bioengineering and of psychiatry and behavioral sciences.
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Portrait: Wikimedia Commons contributors (CC licenses). Age calculated live from a verified date of birth. By PagalHo Tools Team.