Faculty

Insights into groundbreaking faculty research, innovative projects, and academic thought leadership across Harvard’s schools and institutes.

Michèle Duguay, lecturer in music at Harvard University

Five Questions with Michèle Duguay

A Harvard scholar of music theory on how streaming services have changed the experience of music

by Olivia Farrar

Hyman professor of chemistry Charles Lieber has created a transistor so small it can be used to penetrate cell membranes and probe their interiors, without disrupting function. The transistor (yellow) sits near the bend in a hairpin-shaped, lipid-coated silicon nanowire. Its scale is similar to that of intra-cellular structures such as organelles (pink and blue orbs) and actin filaments (pink strand).

Charles Lieber's nanoscale transistors can enter cells without harming them

Chemist Charles Lieber and his colleagues have developed a nanoscale transistor so small it can enter, probe, and communicate with cells without harming them.

by Jonathan Shaw

When poverty is defined as living on $1.25 or less a day, about 40 percent of both Ethiopians and Uzbekistanis are considered poor. But by multidimensional measures that capture living standards, almost 90 percent of Ethiopians live in poverty, while only a small percentage of Uzbekistanis do.

Amartya Sen proposes a measure of poverty that looks beyond income

A multidimensional poverty index, based on the ideas of Amartya Sen, reveals a different map of the world's poor.

Peter Marsden named dean for social sciences

The sociologist oversees a large Arts and Sciences division.

The Radcliffe Institute’s “Why Books?” conference

The Radcliffe Institute’s “Why Books?” conference touches on a timely theme.

by Spencer Lee Lenfield

Warren Brown: Stars escaping the Milky Way help map matter in our galaxy

Stars escaping the Milky Way help Warren Brown and other astronomers map the distribution of matter in our galaxy.

Charts of economist Raj Chetty's findings about kindergarten teachers' influence

View charts of economist Raj Chetty's findings about kindergarten teachers' influence.

Amy Cuddy at Harvard Business School’s Baker Library

Profile of social psychologist Amy Cuddy of Harvard Business School

Amy Cuddy probes snap judgments, warm feelings, and how to become an “alpha dog.”

by Craig Lambert

Our sense of touch influences our actions

Tactile sensations change perceptions, says psychologist Christopher Nocera.

by Elizabeth Gudrais

Raj Chetty

Raj Chetty: Good kindergarten teachers boost pupils' lifetime earnings

An economist finds that good kindergarten teachers boost pupils' earnings later in life.

by Erin O’Donnell

Thick bunches of nerves leave the brain or spinal cord and branch intricately within muscle (fibers of which can be seen running vertically in the background at right). The inset image shows individual axons (yellow) connecting to single synapses (red). The red stain is a snake venom that binds only to muscle receptors; poisonous kraits use it to immobilize their prey.

Exercise and caloric restriction counter aging in neural synapses

Caloric restriction and exercise boost mental acuity and motor ability by rejuvenating synapses.

by Jonathan Shaw