On March 6, the lab of MCB’s Venkatesh Murthy will open its doors to the Harvard community for a special Lab Open House, offering visitors an inside look at how researchers decode one of the brain’s most complex and mysterious senses: smell.
Time: Two approximately one-hour tours, starting at 2:00 pm and 3:00 pm
Location: Tours begin on the fourth floor of the BioLabs (BL), in room 4027 (the Murthy Lab tea room).
The Open House will feature interactive stations highlighting the Murthy lab’s interdisciplinary approach to understanding how odors are detected, processed, and ultimately perceived. From computational modeling to live imaging of neural circuits, guests will experience how the lab integrates theory, behavior, and physiology to uncover the principles of olfactory coding.
Station 1 – Modeling Smell: Receptors to Percepts
At this station, the lab’s computational neuroscientists will explore how theoretical models help us understand how odor receptors and circuits give rise to perception.
Station 2 – Parsing the Odor World
Researchers will demonstrate how odor molecules combine to form recognizable percepts and how mice excel at discriminating complex smells.
Station 3 – The Olfactory Brain in Action
This station will explore imaging and electrophysiological techniques used to measure how smells are learned and represented in the brain.
A Slice of Science: 4–5 PM
In addition to hosting the Open House, the Murthy lab will present its latest research from 4:00–5:00 PM at A Slice of Science, held in the BioLabs’ Lecture Hall (BL 1080). The talks will offer a deeper dive into current projects in olfactory neuroscience and computational modeling.
Following the presentations, the lab will host TGIF in the BioLounge, providing an opportunity for informal conversation, community building, and continued discussion about the science of smell.
All members of the Harvard community – non-scientists as well as scientists – are encouraged to attend.
