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Molecular Biology
USA
2026

D-Index & Metrics

Best Female Scientists

D-Index
135
Citations
69976
World Ranking
282
National Ranking
175

Molecular Biology

D-Index
134
Citations
69479
World Ranking
158
National Ranking
101

Joan A. Steitz publication distribution in Molecular Biology in 2026

The chart shows the distribution of publications by all Research.com ranked scientists in the field of Molecular Biology in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Joan A. Steitz sits on this spectrum.

47–56 publications: 7 scientists 57–66 publications: 17 scientists 67–76 publications: 65 scientists 77–86 publications: 90 scientists 87–96 publications: 125 scientists 97–106 publications: 131 scientists 107–116 publications: 162 scientists 117–126 publications: 177 scientists 127–136 publications: 158 scientists 137–146 publications: 158 scientists 147–156 publications: 146 scientists 157–166 publications: 159 scientists 167–176 publications: 131 scientists 177–186 publications: 110 scientists 187–196 publications: 112 scientists 197–206 publications: 100 scientists 207–216 publications: 89 scientists 217–226 publications: 98 scientists 227–236 publications: 74 scientists 237–246 publications: 72 scientists 247–256 publications: 63 scientists 257–266 publications: 53 scientists 267–276 publications: 54 scientists 277–286 publications: 49 scientists 287–296 publications: 52 scientists 297–306 publications: 43 scientists 307–316 publications: 46 scientists 317–326 publications: 41 scientists 327–336 publications: 42 scientists 337–346 publications: 31 scientists 347–356 publications: 28 scientists 357–366 publications: 29 scientists 367–376 publications: 26 scientists 377–386 publications: 24 scientists 387–396 publications: 24 scientists 397–406 publications: 14 scientists 407–416 publications: 13 scientists 417–426 publications: 20 scientists 427–436 publications: 12 scientists 437–446 publications: 20 scientists 447–456 publications: 11 scientists 457–466 publications: 10 scientists 467–476 publications: 14 scientists 477–486 publications: 14 scientists 487–496 publications: 10 scientists 497–506 publications: 13 scientists 507–516 publications: 13 scientists 517–526 publications: 2 scientists 527–536 publications: 4 scientists 537–546 publications: 6 scientists 547–556 publications: 8 scientists 557–563 publications: 6 scientists 564+ publications: 100 scientists
47 publications 564+

This scientist: 335 publications — 85th percentile

85% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 564 publications or more.

Joan A. Steitz D-index placement in Molecular Biology in 2026

The chart shows the D-index (discipline H-index) distribution of Molecular Biology scientists ranked by Research.com in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Joan A. Steitz sits on this spectrum.

40–41 D-Index: 36 scientists 42–43 D-Index: 101 scientists 44–45 D-Index: 115 scientists 46–47 D-Index: 121 scientists 48–49 D-Index: 118 scientists 50–51 D-Index: 130 scientists 52–53 D-Index: 106 scientists 54–55 D-Index: 116 scientists 56–57 D-Index: 113 scientists 58–59 D-Index: 129 scientists 60–61 D-Index: 120 scientists 62–63 D-Index: 105 scientists 64–65 D-Index: 131 scientists 66–67 D-Index: 95 scientists 68–69 D-Index: 97 scientists 70–71 D-Index: 106 scientists 72–73 D-Index: 83 scientists 74–75 D-Index: 89 scientists 76–77 D-Index: 77 scientists 78–79 D-Index: 70 scientists 80–81 D-Index: 73 scientists 82–83 D-Index: 60 scientists 84–85 D-Index: 48 scientists 86–87 D-Index: 45 scientists 88–89 D-Index: 50 scientists 90–91 D-Index: 31 scientists 92–93 D-Index: 51 scientists 94–95 D-Index: 43 scientists 96–97 D-Index: 38 scientists 98–99 D-Index: 39 scientists 100–101 D-Index: 41 scientists 102–103 D-Index: 29 scientists 104–105 D-Index: 33 scientists 106–107 D-Index: 35 scientists 108–109 D-Index: 20 scientists 110–111 D-Index: 38 scientists 112–113 D-Index: 19 scientists 114–115 D-Index: 28 scientists 116–117 D-Index: 13 scientists 118–119 D-Index: 23 scientists 120–121 D-Index: 16 scientists 122–123 D-Index: 15 scientists 124–125 D-Index: 11 scientists 126–127 D-Index: 21 scientists 128–129 D-Index: 7 scientists 130–131 D-Index: 13 scientists 132–133 D-Index: 14 scientists 134–135 D-Index: 17 scientists 136–137 D-Index: 9 scientists 138–139 D-Index: 8 scientists 140–141 D-Index: 16 scientists 142–143 D-Index: 7 scientists 144 D-Index: 7 scientists 145+ D-Index: 100 scientists
40 D-Index 145+

This scientist: 134 D-Index — 95th percentile

95% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 145 D-Index or more.

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2026 - Research.com Molecular Biology in United States Leader Award
  • 2025 - Research.com Best Female Scientists Award
  • 2025 - Research.com Molecular Biology in United States Leader Award
  • 2023 - Research.com Molecular Biology in United States Leader Award

Overview

Joan A. Steitz is affiliated with Yale University in the United States and has contributed extensively to the fields of Biochemistry, Genetics, and Molecular Biology. Their research predominantly focuses on Molecular Biology, specifically RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms, RNA research and splicing, and RNA modifications related to cancer. Additional research interests include Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics, Infectious Diseases, and Cancer Research.

Steitz's recent publications demonstrate engagement with various molecular and infectious disease topics. Notable papers include:

  • "Hyperosmotic stress alters the RNA polymerase II interactome and induces readthrough transcription despite widespread transcriptional repression," 2021, published in Molecular Cell
  • "SARS-CoV-2 expresses a microRNA-like small RNA able to selectively repress host genes," 2021, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
  • "Who let the DoGs out? - biogenesis of stress-induced readthrough transcripts," 2021, Trends in Biochemical Sciences
  • "RNA stabilization by a poly(A) tail 3'-end binding pocket and other modes of poly(A)-RNA interaction," 2021, Science
  • "STL-seq reveals pause-release and termination kinetics for promoter-proximal paused RNA polymerase II transcripts," 2021, Molecular Cell

Frequent co-authors collaborating with Steitz include Nicolle A. Rosa-Mercado, Joshua T. Zimmer, Matthew D. Simon, Seyed-Fakhreddin Torabi, and Suzanne J. DeGregorio. These collaborators have co-authored multiple papers, indicating consistent research partnerships.

The scientist's research has been published in several key venues beyond Molecular Cell and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, such as bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Trends in Biochemical Sciences, and Science. Molecular Cell and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences are the most frequent publication venues.

Main research topics covered in Steitz's work include:

  • RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
  • RNA Research and Splicing
  • RNA modifications and cancer
  • Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics
  • SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
  • Cancer-related molecular mechanisms research
  • Animal Virus Infections Studies

Best Publications

  • Switching from repression to activation: microRNAs can up-regulate translation.

    Shobha Vasudevan;Yingchun Tong;Joan A. Steitz

  • Telomere shortening associated with chromosome instability is arrested in immortal cells which express telomerase activity.

    C.M. Counter;A.A. Avilion;C.E. LeFeuvre;N.G. Stewart

  • The noncoding RNA revolution-trashing old rules to forge new ones.

    Thomas R. Cech;Thomas R. Cech;Joan A. Steitz

  • Are snRNPs involved in splicing

    Michael R. Lerner;John A. Boyle;Stephen M. Mount;Sandra L. Wolin

  • Target mRNAs are repressed as efficiently by microRNA-binding sites in the 5' UTR as in the 3' UTR.

    J. Robin Lytle;Therese A. Yario;Joan A. Steitz

  • Antibodies to small nuclear RNAs complexed with proteins are produced by patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

    Michael Rush Lerner;Joan Argetsinger Steitz

  • A general two-metal-ion mechanism for catalytic RNA

    Thomas A. Steitz;Joan A. Steitz

  • HuR and mRNA stability

    C. M. Brennan;J. A. Steitz

  • OVEREXPRESSION OF HUR, A NUCLEAR-CYTOPLASMIC SHUTTLING PROTEIN, INCREASES THE IN VIVO STABILITY OF ARE-CONTAINING MRNAS

    Xinhao Cynthia Fan;Joan A. Steitz

  • How ribosomes select initiator regions in mRNA: base pair formation between the 3' terminus of 16S rRNA and the mRNA during initiation of protein synthesis in Escherichia coli.

    Joan Argetsinger Steitz;Karen Jakes

  • Identification of a sex-factor-affinity site in E. coli as gamma delta

    M. S. Guyer;R. R. Reed;J. A. Steitz;K. B. Low

  • Monoclonal antibodies to nucleic acid-containing cellular constituents: probes for molecular biology and autoimmune disease

    Ethan A. Lerner;Michael R. Lerner;Charles A. Janeway;Joan A. Steitz

  • AU-Rich-Element-Mediated Upregulation of Translation by FXR1 and Argonaute 2

    Shobha Vasudevan;Joan A. Steitz

  • Polypeptide Chain Initiation: Nucleotide Sequences of the Three Ribosomal Binding Sites in Bacteriophage R17 RNA

    Joan Argetsinger Steitz

  • Two small RNAs encoded by Epstein-Barr virus and complexed with protein are precipitated by antibodies from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

    Michael R. Lerner;Nancy C. Andrews;George Miller;Joan A. Steitz

  • U2 as well as U1 small nuclear ribonucleoproteins are involved in premessenger RNA splicing

    Douglas L. Black;Benoit Chabot;Joan A. Steitz

  • The U1 small nuclear RNA-protein complex selectively binds a 5' splice site in vitro.

    Stephen M. Mount;Ingvar Pettersson;Monique Hinterberger;Aavo Karmas

  • HNS, a nuclear-cytoplasmic shuttling sequence in HuR

    Xinhao Cynthia Fan;Joan A. Steitz

  • Human Upf proteins target an mRNA for nonsense-mediated decay when bound downstream of a termination codon.

    Jens Lykke-Andersen;Mei-Di Shu;Joan A. Steitz

  • 遺伝子の分子生物学 = Molecular biology of the gene

    James Dewey Watson;Nancy Hopkins;Jeffrey W Roberts;Joan Argetsinger Steitz

Frequent Co-Authors

Sandra L. Wolin
Sandra L. Wolin National Cancer Institute
John A. Hardin
John A. Hardin Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Thomas A. Steitz
Thomas A. Steitz Yale University
Tetsuro Hirose
Tetsuro Hirose Osaka University
Benoit Chabot
Benoit Chabot Université de Sherbrooke
Daniel DiMaio
Daniel DiMaio Yale University
Jimin Wang
Jimin Wang Yale University
Erik J. Sontheimer
Erik J. Sontheimer University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School

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Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

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