Department of Molecular
and Cellular Biology

About us

Our Science 

We research and teach how the collective behavior of molecules and cells forms the basis of life. We are driven by a passion for discovery and value collaborative approaches to scientific inquiry, where connections between people fuel interdisciplinary science and break boundaries across varied experimental systems. Against a backdrop of cutting-edge biological research, we work as a team of educators and mentors to inspire and train the next generation of scientists and global citizens. 

 Our Community 

At the core of the MCB department is a commitment to foster an environment in which all individuals have the opportunity to thrive. It is our shared responsibility to create an inclusive culture, where we support and respect each other as colleagues. We embrace a diverse range of perspectives, expertise, identities, experiences, talents, and abilities. By continually strengthening this foundation of investing in the well-being of our people, we enable our community’s growth and pursuit of the creative and innovative approaches that underlie scientific excellence. 

Our Guiding Principles

We hold ourselves and the community accountable to the following set of values: 

Respect
We foster a safe and supportive environment where everyone is treated with respect and dignity and is able to work towards their aspirations. 

Engagement
We encourage difficult conversations about racial, gender, structural and other inequities in our labs, institutions, and society.We listen actively and openly and seek to continually learn from one another during these respectful and open dialogues. 

Action
We take active steps to diversify our community demographics, promote equitable practices, and eliminate systemic racism and other inequities in our departmental structures. 

Support
We prioritize the well-being of our community members and create avenues of support for all, with a particular focus on the needs of Black people, Indigenous people, people of color, first generation students, people from underprivileged backgrounds, and other community members underrepresented in the scientific community.We prioritize diversity, inclusion, and belonging work, advocate for it at all levels and actively include it in all departmental discussions.  

Integrity 

We carry out our work responsibly and ethically, recognizing that our own choices are reflections of both ourselves and our community. As a department, we are committed to building institutional accountability and transparency in our decision-making processes.  

Our research

Latest News

Mini-Course Explores Scientific Controversy and the Evolution of Ideas

Harvard MCO PhD student Jeremy Koob and his longtime friend, Alexander Mitchell, an MD/PhD student at the University of Connecticut, recently co-taught a mini-course offered through  Harvard’s Graduate […]

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James Berger will Deliver the Paul Doty Lecture on April 10

This year, James M Berger, of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine will return to Harvard to present the Doty Lecture, “Still Unscrambling the Puzzle of Biological Machines: […]

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SAVE THE DATE – MCB Community Forum on April 25

The MCB Community Forum takes place once each semester. This spring, MCB Chair Rachelle Gaudet will lead the meeting on Friday, April 25, at 4:00 pm in the […]

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Dulac Lab Postdocs Awarded Grants from NIH and Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (BBRF)

Two postdocs from the Dulac Lab have recently been awarded fellowships. Changwoo Seo was selected for an NIH K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award, and Mostafizur Rahman received a […]

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Upcoming Events

MCB Thursday Seminar, Prather Lectures: Feng Zhang, Ph.D. (MIT)

  • 12pm - Friday Apr 4, 2025
  • Northwest Building (Room NW B103), 52 Oxford St, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA

MCB Friday Talks @ 4: Heer Joisher & Jeremy Koob

  • 4pm - Friday Apr 4, 2025
  • Biological Laboratories (Room BL1080), 16 Divinity Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA