Biodiversity & Systematics Faculty

Through a variety of field, laboratory, and model-based evolutionary studies along with the outstanding collections, facilities and other resources of Harvard’s natural history institutions—the Museum of Comparative Zoology, the Harvard University Herbaria, the Arnold Arboretum, and the Harvard Forest—we investigate the origins and maintenance of biodiversity, without restriction to organism. Two of the strengths in the department are in the areas of documenting and describing biodiversity and in the study of the biogeographical and phylogenetic relationships among organisms.

Colleen Cavanaugh

cavanaug@fas.harvard.edu

Sabbatical Academic Year 2025-2026

Edward C. Jeffrey Professor of Biology

Not Accepting Graduate Students for 2026-2027

Colleen Cavanauth with medium dark hair wearing glasses, a black top and grey jacket in front of grey background

Charles C. Davis

cdavis@oeb.harvard.edu

Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology

Curator of Vascular Plants in the Harvard University Herbaria

Charles Davis, with short brown hair wearing a suit outside in front of a tree

Scott V. Edwards

sedwards@fas.harvard.edu

Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology

Curator of Ornithology in the Museum of Comparative Zoology

Scott Edwards smiling, with short grey hair and beard, wearing light blue button down, with light grey background

Brian D. Farrell

farrellb@oeb.harvard.edu

Sabbatical Academic Year 2025-2026

Monique and Philip Lehner Professor for the Study of Latin America

Professor of Biology

Curator of Entomology in the Museum of Comparative Zoology

Brian D. Farrell with grey beard and hair, wearing white short sleeve button down, with spike green leaves behind him

William (Ned) Friedman

ned@oeb.harvard.edu

Arnold Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology

Director of the Arnold Arboretum

Faculty Fellow of the Arnold Arboretum

William Friedman smiling, with gray hair and glasses wearing a suit, in front of leafy trees

Peter R. Girguis

pgirguis@oeb.harvard.edu

Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology

Co-Director of the Harvard Microbial Sciences Initiative

Peter Girguis wearing blue blazer, white shirt and glasses, in front of leaf covered building

Gonzalo Giribet

ggiribet@g.harvard.edu

Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology

Curator of Invertebrate Zoology in the Museum of Comparative Zoology

Director of the Museum of Comparative Zoology

Gonzalo Giribet sitting, with short hair, wearing white button down, in front of white wall with framed picture

Hopi E. Hoekstra

hopi_hoekstra@harvard.edu

Edgerley Family Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences

C.Y. Chan Professor of Arts and Sciences

Xiaomeng Tong and Yu Chen Professor of Life Sciences

Senior Fellow of the Society of Fellows, ex officio

Not Accepting Graduate Students

Hopi Hoekstra smiling, learning on doorway, with long hair and black shirt with white pattern

Noel Michele Holbrook

holbrook@oeb.harvard.edu

Sabbatical Academic Year 2025-2026

Charles Bullard Professor of Forestry

Faculty Fellow of the Arnold Arboretum

Affiliate of Environmental Science and Engineering

Professor Noel Michele Holbrook standing in a field wearing a purple top

Mandë Holford

mholford@fas.harvard.edu

Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology

Curator of Malacology in the Museum of Comparative Zoology

Mande Holford, smiling, with long dark hair and blue and white patterned tops, in front of dark background

Robin Hopkins

rhopkins@fas.harvard.edu

Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology

Faculty Fellow of the Arnold Arboretum

Robin Hopkins smiling, with short hair, grey sweater and pink top, in front of light grey background

Elena Kramer

ekramer@oeb.harvard.edu

Bussey Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology

Dean of Science Education

Faculty Fellow of the Arnold Arboretum

Co-Director of Harvard Integrated Life Sciences

Director of Graduate Programs in the Natural Sciences

Elena Kramer smiling, with long dark hair, glasses, and wearing a blue shirt, in front of grey background

George V. Lauder

glauder@oeb.harvard.edu

Henry Bryant Bigelow Professor of Ichthyology

Curator of Ichthyology in the Museum of Comparative Zoology

George Lauder with short gray hair wearing glasses and a plaid shirt in front of grey background

James Mallet

jmallet@oeb.harvard.edu

Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology in Residence

Associate of the Museum of Comparative Zoology

James Mallet with short grey hair, wearing white shirt and dark jacket, with grass and brick building behind him

Javier Ortega-Hernández

jortegahernandez@fas.harvard.edu

Associate Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology

Curator of Invertebrate Paleontology in the Museum of Comparative Zoology

Affiliate of the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences

Javier Ortega-Hernandez wearing colorful glasses, a pink check shirt, and with a short dark beard, in front of grey background

Naomi E. Pierce

npierce@oeb.harvard.edu

Sidney A. and John H. Hessel Professor of Biology

Curator of Lepidoptera in the Museum of Comparative Zoology

Senior Fellow of the Society of Fellows

Naomi Pierce with long grey hair pulled back, glasses on head, dark sweater, light shirt, and colorful scarf

Mansi Srivastava

mansi@oeb.harvard.edu

Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology

Curator of Invertebrate Zoology in the Museum of Comparative Zoology

Co-Chair of the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology

Mansi Srivistava with long, brown hair wearing a green blouse, in front of grey background