100 years biochemical sciences tutorial

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

Arshia Mostoufi

MCO PhD Candidate Arshia Mostoufi Receives Prestigious Canadian Doctoral Fellowship

Arshia Mostoufi, an MCO PhD candidate in the lab of  Ya-Chieh Hsu in Harvard’s Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, has received a prestigious doctoral fellowship from […]

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(l to r) Giri Anand, Heitor Megale, Roya Huang, and Sharad Ramanathan

New CRISPR Method Reveals Genes That Shape the Developing Brain

Understanding how a single genetic mutation can alter the shape of a developing organ has long posed a challenge for developmental biologists. While researchers can readily study the […]

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(l to r) Maya Leonard, Jessenia Yupangui Yupa, and Carolyn Elya

Got a Zombie Fly? MCB Scientists Want Your Help Mapping a Mind-Controlling Fungus

A dead fly perched high on a blade of grass, wings raised, glued in place by its own mouthparts, might look like something out of a horror movie. […]

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Nao Uchida

Naoshige Uchida to Lead MCB as New Department Chair

After nearly two decades at Harvard, neuroscientist Naoshige Uchida is preparing to take on a new role: chair of the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB). Uchida, […]

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Upcoming Events

A Slice of Science: José Díaz Maldonado

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  • Biological Laboratories (Room BL1080), 16 Divinity Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA