Behavior Faculty

We investigate causal, developmental, functional, and evolutionary aspects of animal behavior. This includes analyzing genetic, neural and psychological mechanisms underlying behavior, with a focus on the neurobiology of learning and memory, the behavioral ecology of species interactions, and the role of mating behavior and in species divergence.

Benjamin L. de Bivort

debivort@oeb.harvard.edu

Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology

Co-Chair of the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology

Benjamin de Bivort with beard and mustache wearing a red shirt and black jacket smiling

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

David A. Haig

dhaig@oeb.harvard.edu

George Putnam Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology

Associate of Dudley House

David Haig with gray hair, a beard, wearing glasses and a suit, in front of grey background

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

Bence P. Ölveczky

olveczky@fas.harvard.edu

Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology

Bence Olveczky smiling, with short brown hair, a light purple shirt, and dark red sweater

Stephanie E. Pierce

spierce@oeb.harvard.edu

Sabbatical Spring 2026

Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology

Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology and Interim Curator of Mammalogy in the Museum of Comparative Zoology

Alexander Agassiz Professor of Zoology in the Museum of Comparative Zoology

Director of Graduate Studies

Stephanie Pierce with long, blonde hair wearing a green sweater, patterned shirt, 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

Yun Zhang

yzhang@oeb.harvard.edu

Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology

Yun Zhang with short black hair, glasses, and black patterned shirt, standing near window