Harvard Biological & Biomedical Sciences PhD Program
Welcome to Harvard BBS!
Our Mission
At the Harvard PhD Program in Biological and Biomedical Sciences we are dedicated to training the next generation of scientists who will shape the future of biomedical science with excellence and a commitment to crossing boundaries between diverse fields. We strive to expand scientific understanding through research driven by the highest standards of integrity. Our community nurtures a vibrant environment of intellectual rigor and encourages creative, interdisciplinary approaches to tackling complex biological challenges.
News & Research
Susan Dymecki Named Next Chair of HMS Department of Genetics
Susan Dymecki , the George Fabyan Professor of Genetics in the Field of Comparative Pathology in the Blavatnik Institute at Harvard Medical School, has been named the next chair of the HMS Department of Genetics, effective Jan. 2, 2027. She will become...
Catalog of Mitochondria Across Tree of Life Unearths New Roles for the Cell’s Powerhouse
Researchers have built a catalog of mitochondrial proteins found in six eukaryotic organisms — five parasites and one plant — that, along with existing inventories of human and yeast mitochondria, reveals new insights into this essential organelle. By...
‘Molecular Movie’ Fills in Blanks of How Non-Enveloped Viruses Infect Cells
Researchers have answered a longstanding question about how certain non-enveloped viruses punch through the cell membrane to deliver their genetic material. The findings deepen understanding of virology and could aid the biotech industry’s search for ways...
Imaging Lipid Droplets: Insights Into Health and Disease
Specialized imaging technology allows members of the Harper Lab to make new discoveries about how lipid droplets support human health but can also contribute to metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases. Watch the video.
New Mechanism of Antiviral Immunity Discovered
Researchers have figured out a missing piece of the puzzle of how human cells detect invading viruses and mount an immune response within an hour. This new insight into the mechanics of the battle between viruses and hosts could provide important clues...
How Cancer Cells Decide Their Fate
For 16 hours at a time, Galit Lahav peered into the microscope, watching and waiting. It was the early 2000s, and Lahav, then a postdoctoral fellow in Israel, was captivated by a conundrum that had long frustrated cancer researchers. Two cancer cells...
Meet the Leadership Team
David Van Vactor
Director, Biological & Biomedical Sciences (BBS)
Professor of Cell Biology
Monica Colaiácovo
Associate Director, Biological & Biomedical Sciences (BBS)
Professor of Genetics
Deirdre Duckett
Assistant Director, Biological & Biomedical Sciences (BBS)
Danny Gonzalez
Program Administrator, Biological & Biomedical Sciences (BBS)
Anne O'Shea
Program Administrator, Biological & Biomedical Sciences (BBS)
