John Rinn Portrait
Professor • Leslie Orgel Professor of RNA Science • Marvin H. Caruthers Endowed Chair for Early-Career Faculty
john.rinn@colorado.edu

Office: JSCBB B417

Our research bridges computational and experimental sciences to discover new regulatory aspects in the human genome - - Specifically how long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) genes regulate numerous biological processes. We have continually applied and developed many technologies such as single-molecule RNA imaging, RNA-sequencing, Single Cell RNA-sequencing, CRISPR-Display and SNP-CLING. This multifaceted and cross-disciplinary approach is focused on unraveling the molecular modalities underlying RNA biology and in turn how it regulates cell state. 

Google Scholar​

Our teaching of University of Colorado Biochemistry Undergraduate and Graduate Students aims to enable all students to perform bioinformatic and data science analyses on ever emerging forms of genome-wide data such as RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, ATAC-seq.

Rinn Lab Teaching

  • 2020 - Web of Science top 1% most influential scientists in the world over the past decade
  • 2016 - HHMI Faculty Scholars
  • 2014 - Thompson Reuters Most Influential Scientist
  • 2014 - National Academy of Science Distinctive Voices
  • 2014 - National Academy of Science Sackler Colloquium
  • 2013 - Alvin and Esta Starr Associate Professorship
  • 2012 - PopTech Science Fellow
  • 2010 - Merkin Next Generation Fellow
  • 2009 - Damon Runyon-Rachleff Innovation            
  • 2009 - NIH Innovator
  • 2009 - Popular Science Magazine’s “Brilliant 10”
  • 2008 - Smith Family Foundation Fellowship
  • 2005 - Damon Runyon Cancer Foundation Fellowship
  • 2004 - Yale University School of Arts and Sciences Commencement Marshall 
  • 2003 - McDougal Fellowship, Yale University, for Professional Development.
  • 2002 - AAAS Biovision Fellowship.
  • 1999 - Department of Chemistry Honors : Awarded to top 10 chemistry graduates.
  • 1999 - Casmir Illunda Award : best senior thesis research and presentation.