#  Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology 

 



#  About Us 

The Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology (OEB) researches biological processes that span a continuum from single cells to entire ecosystems. We conduct field and laboratory studies that are key to understanding the evolution of organisms, how biodiversity is generated and maintained, how organisms work, and how organisms interact with their environment.



 

 [ Learn more about us arrow\_circle\_right ](https://www.oeb.harvard.edu/oeb-history) 

 

       ![Images of OEB Graduate Students in the lab and field](/sites/g/files/omnuum6811/files/styles/hwp_21_9__1920x825/public/2025-04/Banner_2025_OEB%20Home.jpg?itok=u80sfAh9) 

 

 



 

 



 

##  OEB News 

 



  [### State of the World's Plants and Fungi

 ](/news/2026/06/state-worlds-plants-and-fungi) June 16, 2026 

 

   ![Researcher digitizing fungi at the Royal Botanical Garden in Kew](/sites/g/files/omnuum6811/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-06/06.%20Fungarium%20Digitisation%20station%20-%20CREDIT%20-%20Sebastian%20Kettley%20%C2%A9%20RBG%20Kew.jpg?itok=n1hZeV5e) 

 



 

 

   [### David Haig named Officer of the Order of Australia

 ](/news/2026/06/david-haig-named-officer-order-australia) June 15, 2026 

 

   ![David Haig](/sites/g/files/omnuum6811/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/oeb/files/david_haig_square.jpeg?itok=s_m_OyYs) 

 



 

 

   [### How venom can lead to cures

 ](/news/2026/06/how-venom-can-lead-cures) June 08, 2026 

 

   ![A hand among a collection of mollusks shells from the MCZ at Harvard](/sites/g/files/omnuum6811/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-06/Mande_Holford_MCZ%20Mollusks.jpg?itok=I5hZAtM_) 

 



 

 

  

 

 [ More news arrow\_circle\_right ](/news) 

 

 

 

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##  Upcoming Events 

 



  [### Sophie Everbach Thesis Defense (N. Michele Holbrook, Advisor)

 ](/event/sophie-everbach-thesis-defense-n-michele-holbrook-advisor?occ_id=0)June 25, 2026

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 1:00PM - 2:00PM EDT 

 

 

   ![PhD candidate Sophie Everbach sitting outside](/sites/g/files/omnuum6811/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-06/Sophie%20Everbach%20crop.jpeg?itok=qbhQcAWH) 

 



 

 

  

 

 [ More events arrow\_circle\_right ](/calendar)