

Karin Strauss
Senior Principal Research Manager
About
I am a Principal Research Manager at Microsoft. I am also an Affiliate Professor at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at University of Washington.
My research lies at the intersection of computer architecture, systems, and biology. As traditional semiconductor scaling has started to slow down, I investigate alternative approaches to continue the improvement we have been seeing in computer systems over the last few decades. Approaches I have been studying include hardware accelerators for machine learning, emerging memory technologies, and the use of biotechnology to the benefit of the IT industry. I also work on system software for these new architectures.
Lately, my focus has been on creating an end-to-end system that stores digital data in DNA, for which I was named one of the 2016 “100 Most Creative People in Business” by Fast Company. I have the privilege to work with a team of brilliant researchers and we have…
Featured content

Storing digital data in synthetic DNA with Dr. Karin Strauss
Episode 48, October 31, 2018 - Dr. Strauss talks about life at the intersection of computer science and biology which, for many, is more like the intersection of science fiction and science, and explains how the unique properties of DNA could eventually enable us to store really big data in really small places for a really long time.