#  Physiology Faculty 

 



We work to understand how organisms function at the molecular, cellular, and organ-systems levels, with a focus on the ecological and evolutionary aspects of physiology. OEB has a strong program in biomechanics and physiology, with expertise in microbes, plants, invertebrates, and vertebrates, and has a wide array of facilities for studying organismal function in the laboratory and in the field.



 

  [### Jeannine Cavender-Bares

 ](/people/jeannine-cavender-bares) <jcavender@fas.harvard.edu>Climate Action Acceleration Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology

Director of the Harvard University Herbaria

Chair of the Harvard Forest Leadership Committee

 

 

 

      ![Jeannine Cavender-Bares smiling, with long dark hair, standing in a field](/sites/g/files/omnuum6811/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-04/Cavender-Bares_6_2025.jpg?itok=6tk4hyhg) 

 

 

 

   [### Benjamin L. de Bivort

 ](/people/benjamin-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](/sites/g/files/omnuum6811/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/oeb/files/benjamin_de_bivort-2.jpeg?itok=wrRgNY_x) 

 

 

 

   [### 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) 

 

 

 

   [### Noel Michele Holbrook

 ](/people/noel-m-holbrook) <holbrook@oeb.harvard.edu>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](/sites/g/files/omnuum6811/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2026-01/NM%20Holbrook%20cropped.jpg?itok=2mhe1mBK) 

 

 

 

   [### 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) 

 

 

 

   [### L. Mahadevan

 ](/people/l-mahadevan) <lm@seas.harvard.edu>Lola England de Valpine Professor of Applied Mathematics, of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and of Physics

Faculty Dean of Mather House of Harvard College

 

 

 

      ![L. Mahadevan with short dark hair and beard, wearing white button down shirt, with grass and shrubs behind him](/sites/g/files/omnuum6811/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/oeb/files/l_mahadevan.jpg?itok=rQFF6Kfy) 

 

 

 

   [### Benton Taylor

 ](/people/benton-taylor) <bentontaylor@fas.harvard.edu>John L. Loeb Associate Professor of the Natural Sciences

Faculty Fellow of the Arnold Arboretum

 

 

 

      ![Benton Taylor with dark hair and a beard wearing a white shirt, in front of grey background](/sites/g/files/omnuum6811/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/oeb/files/benton_taylor_crop.jpeg?itok=DMb22veH)