David Schaffer
InvestorProfessor of Bioengineering; Co-founder, 4D Molecular and Axent Biosciences; Faculty Advisor at UC Berkeley Skydeck
Berkeley, California, United States
About
David Schaffer is the Hubbard Howe Distinguished Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, where his research applies engineering principles to problems in cell biology and bioengineering. His laboratory works in stem cell biology and gene therapy, studying signal transduction and gene regulation networks that govern stem cell behavior. He also works on developing viral vectors to improve gene delivery vehicles for therapeutic applications, including stem cell-based therapies.
Experience
- University of California, BerkeleyHubbard Howe Distinguished Professorcurrent1999 — presentBerkeley, California, United States
- National Academy of EngineeringMembercurrent2025 — present
- QB3Directorcurrent2022 — present
- Bakar Labs for Energy & MaterialsDirectorcurrent2022 — presentBerkeley, California, United States
- Bakar Bio LabsDirectorcurrent2022 — presentBerkeley, California, United States
- Axent BiosciencesCo-Founder, Director, Chief Scientific Advisorcurrent2019 — presentBerkeley, California, United States
- BreezeBioDirectorcurrent2021 — presentBerkeley, California, United States
- Vivere OncotherapiesCo-Founder, Directorcurrent2022 — presentBerkeley, California, United States
- Kerna VenturesAdvisorcurrent2022 — present
- FreeFlow VenturesAdvisorcurrent2025 — present
- BEVCAdvisorcurrent2023 — present
- ValitorCo-Founder, Chairman of the SABcurrent2011 — presentBerkeley, California, United States
- NIH/Berkeley Stem Cell Biological Engineering Training ProgramDirector of Stem Cell Biological Engineering Training Programcurrent2011 — presentUniversity of California, Berkeley
- QB3-BerkeleyDirector2020 — 2022Berkeley, California, United States
- Berkeley Stem Cell CenterDirector2012 — 2022Berkeley, California, United States
- Rewrite TherapeuticsCo-Founder, Consultant2020 — 2022Berkeley, California, United States
- 4D Molecular TherapeuticsCo-Founder, Chief Scientific Advisor, Director2012 — 2022San Francisco Bay Area
- uniQureDirector2014 — 2020Lexington, MA
- Ignite Immunotherapy IncCo-Founder, Co-Chairman of the SAB2016 — 2019Alameda, California
- Salk Institute for Biological StudiesPostdoctoral Scholar1998 — 1999
Education
- Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyPh.D., Chemical Engineering1993 — 1998
- Stanford UniversityBS, Chemical Engineering1989 — 1993
- Ridge High School1987 — 1989
Skills & more
Stem Cells99Cell Culture93Molecular Biology99Cell Biology99Signal Transduction39Fluorescence Microscopy21Bioengineering48Gene Therapy25Microscopy36Biotechnology39Nanotechnology20Cell86
+12 more
BiomaterialsDrug DeliveryBiochemistryConfocal MicroscopyFlow CytometryELISAImmunohistochemistryLaboratoryChemistryBiomedical EngineeringScienceCancerFrom David's professional profile.
Colleagues at UC Berkeley Skydeck
Alberto Sangiovanni-Vincentelli
EECS Professor (Strategy Council) at UC Berkeley Skydeck
Alec Opdyke
Business Development Manager at UC Berkeley Skydeck
Aleksander Kuczek
Ambassador, EMEA at UC Berkeley Skydeck
Allen Yang
Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences; Executive Director, FHL Vive Center for Enhanced Reality (Faculty Advisor) at UC Berkeley Skydeck
Amy E. Herr, Ph.D.
Professor of Bioengineering; Faculty Director, Bakar BioEnginuity Hub (Faculty Advisor) at UC Berkeley Skydeck
Anca Dragan
Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences; Director, Interact Lab (Faculty Advisor) at UC Berkeley Skydeck
Armando Fox
Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences (Faculty Advisor) at UC Berkeley Skydeck
Balu Masti
Ambassador, India at UC Berkeley Skydeck
Frequently asked questions
- Where does David Schaffer work?
- David Schaffer is Professor of Bioengineering; Co-founder, 4D Molecular and Axent Biosciences; Faculty Advisor at UC Berkeley Skydeck.
Founder mafias
Stanford University mafia837
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Reid HoffmanB.S.Founded Manas AI +1Joe LonsdaleBSFounded Opto +3Mike Maples JrBSFounded Pattern BreakersSteve JurvetsonBSEEFounded Mojo VisionBalaji SrinivasanGraduate StudentFounded Counsyl +1Jess LeeBSFounded Polyvore
+ 830 more
Massachusetts Institute of Technology mafia521
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Elad GilPhDFounded Brain Co.Hemant TanejaM.Eng.Founded CommureNat FriedmanBachelor of ScienceFounded XamarinMatt HuangB.S.Founded HotspotsDelian AsparouhovDropoutFounded Nightingale +1Noubar AfeyanPhDFounded ProFound Therapeutics +12
+ 514 more
UC Berkeley Skydeck mafia3
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Rewrite Therapeutics mafia2
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Ridge High School mafia2
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Same school
Also attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology1,280
Fred WilsonCo-founder & Partner at Union Square VenturesElad GilSolo general partner investing through Gil CapitalAileen LeeFounder & Managing Partner of Cowboy VenturesHemant TanejaCEO & Managing Director of General CatalystNat FriedmanCo-lead of Meta Superintelligence Labs; co-founder of NFDGBrad FeldCo-founder of Foundry and Techstars
+ 1,274 more
Also attended Stanford University2,000
Peter ThielCo-founder & Partner at Founders FundReid HoffmanCo-founder of LinkedIn; Partner at GreylockDavid SacksCo-founder & General Partner at Craft Ventures; PCAST co-chair; former White House AI & crypto czarKeith RaboisManaging Director at Khosla VenturesGarry TanPresident & CEO of Y CombinatorAlfred LinPartner at Sequoia Capital
+ 1,994 more
