Dr. Sean Megason

Professor

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Biography

Sean Megason is a Professor in the Department of Systems Biology at Harvard Medical School. His research focuses on elucidating systems-level principles of animal development through imaging-based systems biology. He is particularly interested in long-standing problems in embryology such as patterning, morphogenesis, and size control. The Megason Lab employs a variety of techniques, including genetics, microscopy, and modeling, to explore questions related to the inner ear and spinal cord in zebrafish. The lab has pioneered the use of toto imaging to reveal the origins of biological form, leveraging completed genome projects to investigate the similarities between animals and the sets of genes that dictate biological structures. Megason's work has implications for understanding how linear genetic sequences are transformed into complex tissues with precise organization required for function. As development occurs from a seemingly simple egg to a complex embryo, he believes that mechanistic principles bridge molecular, cellular, and tissue levels of organization. By overcoming the limitations of reductionist approaches, his research utilizes advanced imaging techniques to capture dynamic biological information across multiple scales. This combination of technologies and mathematical modeling aims to clarify the multiscale principles that govern development.

Research Interests

Requirements for Harvard Medical School

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
TOEFL
Total
Required:100
IELTS
Overall
Required:7
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree Undergraduate preparation in the sciences Biology Chemistry Physics
Application Checklist
  • Online application form
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Personal Statement
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Transcripts
  • CV/Resume
  • Application fee ($105)
Specialization Notes

Administered by the Division of Medical Sciences (DMS). GRE is not required and will not be considered for BBS, Immunology, and Neuroscience.