Our scientists develop and apply a predictive, multi-scale, and integrative understanding of biological responses of metazoans to environmental challenges, to improve human and biosphere health, and drive responsible economic growth using model systems.

 Portrait of Harshini Mukundan, a person with long black hair falling over shoulders, wearing a black top.

In addition to Interim Department Head, Mukundan is the Chemical and Biological Technologies Program Lead in the Lab’s Office of National Homeland Security and the Biosciences Area’s Strategic Programs Development Group. She has been leading chemical and biological technologies program development and establishing her lab in the Biosciences Area.

 Portrait of Deepanwita Banerjee, a person outside with black hair in a side ponytail wearing glasses. Portrait of Mina Bissell, a person with short, brown hair with gray bangs in front, wearing glasses. Portrait of Eleanor A. Blakely, a smiling person with short blond hair. smiling person with light brown hair falling onto shoulders, wearing glasses person with very short, black hair, wearing dark glasses Abby Dernburg bald white man with glasses and white beard Asian man with glasses and short dark hair in natural setting Catherine Park woman with shoulder-length gray hair standing in front of a microscope A portrait of Vivek Mutalik, a person with short black and gray hair wearing a black and white shirt. Photographed outdoors. Henrik Scheller A person with glasses wearing a blue shirt looks at a sample of brain tissue that has been exposed to wildfire smoke to study the effects the smoke has on the brain.