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.

Charles C. Davis
Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology
Curator of Vascular Plants in the Harvard University Herbaria
Accepting Graduate Students for the 2027-2028 Academic Year
Charles Davis, with short brown hair wearing a suit outside in front of a tree

Brian D. Farrell
Monique and Philip Lehner Professor for the Study of Latin America
Professor of Biology
Curator of Entomology in the Museum of Comparative Zoology
Accepting Graduate Students for the 2027-2028 Academic Year
Brian D. Farrell with grey beard and hair, wearing white short sleeve button down, with spike green leaves behind him

Gonzalo Giribet
Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology
Curator of Invertebrate Zoology in the Museum of Comparative Zoology
Director of the Museum of Comparative Zoology
Accepting Graduate Students for the 2027-2028 Academic Year
Gonzalo Giribet sitting, with short hair, wearing white button down, in front of white wall with framed picture

Hopi E. Hoekstra
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
Charles Bullard Professor of Forestry
Faculty Fellow of the Arnold Arboretum
Affiliate of Environmental Science and Engineering
Not Accepting Graduate Students for the 2027-2028 Academic Year
Professor Noel Michele Holbrook standing in a field wearing a purple top

Mandë Holford
Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology
Curator of Malacology in the Museum of Comparative Zoology
Accepting Graduate Students for the 2027-2028 Academic Year
Mande Holford, smiling, with long dark hair and blue and white patterned tops, in front of dark background

Robin Hopkins
Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology
Faculty Fellow of the Arnold Arboretum
Head Tutor, Integrative Biology Undergraduate Program
Accepting Graduate Students for the 2027-2028 Academic Year
Robin Hopkins smiling, with short hair, grey sweater and pink top, in front of light grey background

Elena Kramer
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
Accepting Graduate Students for the 2027-2028 Academic Year
Elena Kramer smiling, with long dark hair, glasses, and wearing a blue shirt, in front of grey background

George V. Lauder
Henry Bryant Bigelow Professor of Ichthyology
Curator of Ichthyology in the Museum of Comparative Zoology
Not Accepting Graduate Students for the 2027-2028 Academic Year
George Lauder with short gray hair wearing glasses and a plaid shirt in front of grey background

James Mallet
Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology in Residence
Associate of the Museum of Comparative Zoology
Not Accepting Graduate Students for the 2027-2028
James Mallet with short grey hair, wearing white shirt and dark jacket, with grass and brick building behind him

Javier Ortega-Hernández
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
Accepting Graduate Students for the 2027-2028 Academic Year
Javier Ortega-Hernandez wearing colorful glasses, a pink check shirt, and with a short dark beard, in front of grey background

Mansi Srivastava
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
Accepting Graduate Students for the 2027-2028
Mansi Srivistava with long, brown hair wearing a green blouse, in front of grey background