They look like crawling leaves, but these sea slugs are anything but ordinary. MCB Professor Nick Bellono calls them “the weirdest animal we’ve ever studied”—a bold claim from…
News from 2025
Octopuses Use Microbial Signals to Guide Complex Behaviors
A new study published in Cell from the lab of MCB faculty member Nick Bellono reveals that octopuses detect microbial cues on surfaces to distinguish prey and eggs…
Understanding Dopamine Neurons on Multiple Timescales
A new paper in Nature (PDF) presents intriguing science on how dopamine neurons operate across multiple timescales to guide learning and decision-making. The study provides compelling experimental evidence…
Brittany Walsh Receives 2025 FAS Dean’s Distinction Award
Brittany Walsh, Research Assistant for the Bellono Lab, has been named a 2025 recipient of the FAS Dean’s Distinction Award, one of Harvard’s highest staff honors. The award…
Congratulations to the Class of 2025!
The Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) proudly congratulates all of our graduating students! First and foremost, we celebrate our PhD graduates. This year, 18 students in…
Senior MCB, CPB, and Neuroscience Concentrators Receive the Thomas Temple Hoopes and Henderson Prizes
Six graduating seniors in our MCB, Chemical and Physical Biology (CPB), and Neuroscience concentrations have received the prestigious Thomas Temple Hoopes Prize. These prizes, which carry a $5,000…
Marissa Gredler to Join Multiverse Concert Exploring “Growth in the Universe”
MCB developmental biologist Marissa Gredler will bring her scientific insight and stunning microscopy videos to the upcoming Multiverse Concert: Growth in the Universe, a unique fusion of science…
David Kang (Neuroscience ‘25) Awarded the 2025 John E. Dowling Thesis Prize
David Kang, neuroscience concentrator, has been selected as the recipient of this year’s John E. Dowling Thesis Prize for his outstanding senior thesis, "Pannexin-1 activity regulates neurogenesis and…
Joshua Sanes Elected Fellow of the British Royal Society
Joshua Sanes, the Jeff C. Tarr Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology, has been named a Fellow of the British Royal Society, one of the highest honors in…
New Stars in Neural Circuits: Astrocytes Guide Brain State Changes
Astrocytes, the most abundant non-neuronal cell type in the brain, have traditionally been thought of as passive supporters of neuronal circuits. However, in recent years, work from many…
