New Dean of Science at Harvard Takes the Helm with Ambition to Boost Collaboration and Innovation

Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) has announced the appointment of Jeff W. Lichtman as the new dean of Science, following an announcement by FAS Dean Hopi E. Hoekstra. Lichtman, a renowned neuroscientist known for teaching the introductory course Neuroscience 80, will officially assume the role on July 1.

Hoekstra’s appointment of Lichtman to lead the Sciences division was significant for her, given that she is also a biologist herself. Besides teaching, Lichtman is involved with the Molecular and Cell Biology department’s curriculum committee and sits on the Mind, Brain, and Behavior program committee, coordinating neuroscience pedagogy across various departments. As a key figure in Harvard’s MBB program, Lichtman embodies the interdisciplinary approach that Hoekstra was seeking in a new dean.

Lichtman is known for his research on creating a “connectome,” a map illustrating the brain’s neural pathways. His lab has developed innovative methods for visualizing these connections. Hoekstra emphasized in her announcement that Lichtman’s ambitious research and dedication to promoting collaboration align with the qualities she sought in a new dean. Despite his new administrative responsibilities, Lichtman will no longer teach Neuro 80 in the fall, with plans for a different instructor to take over the course.

For more information about this appointment, please contact Staff writer Tilly R. Robinson at tilly.robinson@thecrimson.com or Staff writer Neil H. Shah at neil.shah@thecrimson.com or follow them on X @tillyrobin and @neilhshah15 respectively