Tim Sterne-Weiler

I joined Genentech in 2019 as a Principal Scientist. I currently lead an interdisciplinary Cancer Dependencies Team focused on identifying novel cancer vulnerabilities and biomarkers. Utilizing multimodal genomics data, we develop and apply interpretable machine learning and AI architectures to model cancer biology and discover new therapeutic targets. Additionally, my team engages in target assessment and early-pipeline projects within Discovery Oncology.

Prior to Genentech, I obtained my PhD in Bioinformatics at UC Santa Cruz, studying human disease variants that alter RNA splicing regulation. I moved to the University of Toronto for a postdoctoral fellowship in 2014, where I continued studying post-transcriptional gene regulation, investigating high-entropy splicing dysregulation in cancer.

Postdoctoral Mentor

A postdoctoral fellowship is an ideal period to develop scientific independence in hypothesis-driven research. It demands creativity to formulate new hypotheses, rigorous design of models and experiments, and a strategic vision to contextualize work within the broader literature. As a mentor, I create an environment with space for independent growth while providing the guidance and support necessary for the success and career development of a postdoctoral fellow. I am deeply committed to the growth and achievements of researchers in my lab.