Dr. Sam Perli
Co-Founder, Chief Scientific Officer
Thinkhat
Dr. Sam Perli is the Chief Scientific Officer and a founding member of Thinkhat, a venture studio at the forefront of innovation where Artificial Intelligence converges with Healthcare and Life Sciences. An interdisciplinary scientist and entrepreneur, Dr. Perli bridges Computer Science and Molecular Biology to develop breakthrough technologies that address some of the most complex challenges in human health.
Dr. Perli’s career is distinguished by his rare and historic contributions to two Nobel Prize–winning scientific teams. He served as a Lead Investigator with Dr. Shinya Yamanaka, who received the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of induced pluripotent stem cells. He also collaborated with Dr. Jennifer Doudna, co-inventor of CRISPR-Cas9 and 2020 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry. As one of the early authors advancing the CRISPR-Cas system, Dr. Perli helped shape one of the most transformative platforms in modern biotechnology.
Before turning to biology, Dr. Perli earned the Institute Medal for top academic record at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, and as an undergraduate, developed an award-winning wireless protocol that received the 2008 COMSNETS International Best Paper Award. He completed his Master’s in Computer Science at MIT, working with Dina Katabi, a MacArthur “Genius” Fellow, then transitioned into Molecular Biology for his PhD, where he pioneered early CRISPR tools to engineer human cells. His thesis was honored with the Dimitris N. Chorafas Award for excellence in doctoral research.
Following his PhD, Dr. Perli joined Dr. Yamanaka’s lab for postdoctoral research, developing novel tools to decode mammalian RNA translation. He has authored over 15 highly cited scientific publications featured in top journals like Science and Molecular Cell, and his work has been spotlighted in the Boston Globe. His DNA constructs are used in more than 750 labs worldwide, advancing both R&D and science education.
Dr. Perli’s career is distinguished by his rare and historic contributions to two Nobel Prize–winning scientific teams. He served as a Lead Investigator with Dr. Shinya Yamanaka, who received the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of induced pluripotent stem cells. He also collaborated with Dr. Jennifer Doudna, co-inventor of CRISPR-Cas9 and 2020 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry. As one of the early authors advancing the CRISPR-Cas system, Dr. Perli helped shape one of the most transformative platforms in modern biotechnology.
Before turning to biology, Dr. Perli earned the Institute Medal for top academic record at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, and as an undergraduate, developed an award-winning wireless protocol that received the 2008 COMSNETS International Best Paper Award. He completed his Master’s in Computer Science at MIT, working with Dina Katabi, a MacArthur “Genius” Fellow, then transitioned into Molecular Biology for his PhD, where he pioneered early CRISPR tools to engineer human cells. His thesis was honored with the Dimitris N. Chorafas Award for excellence in doctoral research.
Following his PhD, Dr. Perli joined Dr. Yamanaka’s lab for postdoctoral research, developing novel tools to decode mammalian RNA translation. He has authored over 15 highly cited scientific publications featured in top journals like Science and Molecular Cell, and his work has been spotlighted in the Boston Globe. His DNA constructs are used in more than 750 labs worldwide, advancing both R&D and science education.
