Faculty and Research

The backbone of Whitehead Institute’s research is represented by its faculty and fellows, who are chosen not only for their outstanding scientific instincts but also for a rare combination of independent thinking and collaborative spirit. The Institute’s research program covers a rich tapestry of disciplines: molecular genetics; cancer genetics; neurobiology; infectious diseases; cell and developmental biology; biomedical engineering; and robotics.

Whitehead Institute’s world-renowned faculty include the recipient of the 1997 National Medal of Science; seven Members of the National Academy of Sciences; five Members of the Institute of Medicine; and six Fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. All Whitehead faculty are also professors at MIT.

One of the unique features of the training experience at the Whitehead Institute is the Whitehead Fellows Program. This program, designed to nurture future leaders in science, provides exceptionally talented young scientists with the rare opportunity to set up an independent research program as an alternative to a traditional postdoctoral position. Whitehead currently has five fellows who are conducting pioneering research programs in diverse fields.

Whitehead Institute’s faculty research support comes through competitive research grants from the federal government, but it also has significant support from foundations, corporations, and individuals, as well as the endowment begun by Whitehead Founder Jack [Edwin C.] Whitehead. These private funds provide the seed money necessary to advance new directions in science. The Institute has the resources to explore new territories — to do the initial experiments that will then lead to external support.

Each year, the Whitehead provides advanced scientific training to more than 200 students, postdoctoral fellows, physicians, and visiting scientists from more than 25 countries. The synergy of creative people and a supportive environment has produced extraordinary results. Senior faculty have made vital contributions to human health and welfare and younger scientists have extended the frontiers of biology in ways that no one could have predicted when the Institute was founded.