Dr. Shapiro received his Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Maryland in 1978, with undergraduate work in mathematics and physics. During his association with the NIH, Dr. Shapiro did extensive work in image processing, nucleic acid structure prediction and analysis, and computational and experimental nanobiology, leading to several novel algorithms, computer systems, experimental techniques and discoveries in RNA biology. His interests included RNA nanobiology, understanding the relationships between RNA structure and function, and the use of parallel high-performance computer architectures to solve problems related to RNA computational and experimental biology and molecular modeling.
Dr. Shapiro retired as a Senior Investigator in 2021 and is now an NCI Scientist Emeritus.