Dr. Jonathon Howard

Biography

Jonathon (Joe) Howard is the Eugene Higgins Professor of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry at Yale University, as well as a Professor of Physics and Director of the Quantitative Biology Institute. His notable research focuses on the mechanical properties of motor proteins and the cytoskeleton, investigating techniques for observing, measuring, and manipulating individual biological molecules. Dr. Howard's research includes studying purified kinesin motors and microtubule-associated proteins, exploring various cellular systems where force and motion are critical, such as neuronal development, cilia and flagella function, and mechanoreception in ears and skin. Originally from Australia, he studied mathematics and neurobiology at the Australian National University. He has had a distinguished career in the United States, serving as a professor at the University of Washington Medical School in Seattle, and in Germany, where he played a key role in establishing the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics in Dresden. In 2013, he returned to the United States to focus on new research projects, teaching, and writing.

Research Interests