Dr. Stearns is an associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Stanford University and in the Department of Genetics at the Stanford University School of Medicine. He received his B.S. degree in genetics at Cornell University and his Ph.D. in biology in David Botstein's lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In addition, he was a postdoctoral fellow with Marc Kirschner at the University of California–San Francisco. Dr. Stearns has received both the Dean's Award for Distinguished Teaching, and the School of Medicine Award for Graduate Teaching at Stanford.

Tim Stearns's research focuses on cell biology, particularly the microtubule cytoskeleton, a dynamic network of filaments and associated motors and organizing factors found in all eukaryotic cells. He will create a program that will train undergraduates to be the next generation of leaders in biological research through close interaction with faculty members in course work, research, and advising.