#  Biology of Marine Systems Faculty 

 



Through a variety of laboratory, field, and model based studies Harvard faculty and students investigate unique aspects of the biology of marine organisms, and explore their relationships with the chemical and physical environment of the ocean, from the surface to the deep ocean floor and its sedimentary layers. These organisms are uniquely interesting in their own right, and research in recent decades has demonstrated the significance of marine organisms, from the smallest microbes to the largest mammals, in Earth’s biogeochemical cycles.

OEB's programs in this area include ecology and physiological genomics, biogeography, and systematics as well as fluid dynamics of life in the marine environments. Organisms and habitats studied include microbial populations in deep-sea hydrothermal vent communities, plankton in oceanic and coastal waters, invertebrates in coastal and near-shore bottom habitats, and wide ranging marine vertebrates.



 

  [### Colleen Cavanaugh

 ](/people/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](/sites/g/files/omnuum6811/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/oeb/files/colleen_cavanaugh_crop.jpeg?itok=lYix3xo3) 

 

 

 

   [### Peter R. Girguis

 ](/people/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](/sites/g/files/omnuum6811/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/oeb/files/peter_girguis_by_kristen_deangelis_crop.jpeg?itok=EO4dQGlH) 

 

 

 

   [### Mandë Holford

 ](/people/mande-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](/sites/g/files/omnuum6811/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/oeb/files/mande_holford.jpg?itok=m6_FG0Zu) 

 

 

 

   [### George V. Lauder

 ](/people/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](/sites/g/files/omnuum6811/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/oeb/files/george_lauder_crop.jpeg?itok=SCZBahUU)