Steve Kay, PhD, has added another title to his impressive resume at the Keck School of Medicine: He has been named the David L. Lee-Simon Ramo Chair in Health Science and Technology. 

The endowed post is for an initial five-year term that runs from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2026. 

Steve Kay

Kay already is a University and Provost Professor of neurology, biomedical engineering, and quantitative and computational biology. He’s also the director of convergent biosciences at the USC Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience, as well as director of the Keck School’s MESH Academy.

“Your appointment is made based on the recommendation of a committee of eminent faculty colleagues, and is in recognition of your outstanding contributions to the University and the Keck School of Medicine,” USC President Carol L. Folt wrote to Kay. “Please accept my warmest congratulations on this important appointment, one of the highest honors bestowed in academia.”

Kay’s laboratory has studied the molecular underpinnings of circadian rhythms in plants, animals and humans for three decades, discovering breakthroughs that could improve the health of patients with devastating diseases such as cancer. For this innovative work, last year the Society for Research on Biological Rhythms (SRBR) honored him with its Director’s Award in Research. Read more about that award and Kay’s research. 

“It is an incredible honor to be named the holder of this Chair,” Kay said, “both humbling and exciting at the same time. Thanks to our very generous donors, David Lee and Simon Ramo, we can continue to advance our work developing novel therapeutics.”