Gladstone’s Seth Shipman Named Fellow of the California Academy of Sciences

Seth Shipman, PhD, an investigator at Gladstone Institutes, has been elected a Fellow of the California Academy of Sciences. Shipman joins a governing body of more than 400 distinguished scientists, researchers, and leaders recognized for their exceptional contributions to scientific research, education, and public engagement.

We are deeply honored to welcome this year’s cohort of new Fellows and recognize their amazing accomplishments: their excellence and leadership in their fields build the Academy’s reputation and positive impact well beyond what we could do on our own,” says Academy Dean of Science and Research Collections Shannon Bennett, PhD. “We are grateful to work together towards a better future for science and science-based solutions.

Pioneering Precision Genome Editing

Shipman’s lab focuses on building novel molecular tools designed to interrupt the root biological mechanisms of disease. Among his team’s breakthroughs are technologies for precisely editing genomes, including one known as an “editron,” which is capable of changing the exact sequence of a cell’s genome. By engineering a hybrid system that draws from two bacterial immune mechanisms—CRISPR and retrons (which naturally induce cell death to stop viral infections)—the group has opened unprecedented possibilities for genome editing.

“My lab builds molecular tools to push the boundaries of disease intervention,” Shipman says. “We want to make these technologies as versatile and accessible as possible so researchers across the world can uncover new biology. We’re particularly excited about pairing cell data with AI models, creating a feedback loop where each iteration makes the system smarter and more precise.”

Expanding on this foundation, Shipman’s team recently led a nine-lab collaborative network to integrate retrons into 14 bacterial species, far beyond standard laboratory models like E. coli. By tweaking the retron’s structure, his lab demonstrated significant boosts in gene-editing efficiency—a breakthrough that promises to reshape drug discovery, environmental biotechnology, and industrial processes.

Engineering Phages to Combat Superbugs

Shipman is also leading the new Center for PhAIge Therapy, making Gladstone one of three national hubs tackling the global threat of antibiotic-resistant “superbugs.” Supported by a major five-year grant, Shipman and some of his colleagues will deploy high-precision platforms to engineer phages—viruses that naturally destroy bacteria— designed to combat deadly drug-resistant pathogens.

“Seth’s election to the Academy not only underscores the impact of his research, but is a well-deserved recognition of his exceptional leadership and innovative spirit,” says Katie Pollard, PhD, director of the Gladstone Institute of Data Science and Biotechnology. “His pioneering work at the intersection of molecular biology, high-throughput technologies, and data science is opening entirely new frontiers in how we understand and combat disease.”

Shipman, who joined Gladstone in 2019, also serves as an associate professor in the Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences at UC San Francisco. Shipman earned a degree in neuroscience from Wesleyan University and a doctorate in neuroscience from UCSF. Before joining Gladstone, Shipman conducted postdoctoral research at Harvard Medical School.

The Fellows of the California Academy of Sciences is a group of scientists who have made notable contributions to the natural sciences and helped further the reach of research and education initiatives through individual and collaborative efforts. Nominated by their colleagues and selected by the Board of Trustees, Academy fellows remain members of the Fellowship for life.