Eric S. Lander is interested in every aspect of the human genome and its application to medicine. He is a Professor of Biology at MIT and Professor of Systems Biology at Harvard Medical School. He is the Founding Director of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. Lander was one of the principal leaders of the Human Genome Project. He and his colleagues are using these findings to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the basis of human diseases.

Olivia Corradin is a Class of 1922 Career Development Professor of Biology and Core Member of the Whitehead Institute. Olivia’s lab studies genetic and epigenetic variation that contributes to human disease by disrupting gene expression programs. They utilize biological insights into the mechanisms of gene regulation to determine the impact of disease-associated variants on cellular function. They aim to identify actionable insights into disease pathogenesis by studying the confluence of genetic and epigenetic risk factors of human diseases, including multiple sclerosis and opioid use disorder. Learn more from the lab website.

Mary Ellen earned her Ph.D. from the Department of Biology at MIT in 2009 and returned in 2013 to create 7.00x Introduction to Biology with Professor Eric Lander. Mary Ellen oversees the execution and evolution of MIT Department of Biology’s digital learning strategy. The group develops digital learning content for MIT students, advises evidence-based teaching practices, creates MITx courses, and studies the impact of design on learner engagement in their research. In 2016, Mary Ellen earned the MIT Infinite Mile Award. In 2019, their work received a silver award at the Reimagine Education science of learning category.

As a core member of the MITx Biology course development team, Darcy blends her pedagogical and scientific expertise to foster authentic learning experiences online, including the creation of visual resources and assessments. Previously, she completed her Ph.D. in the Traniello lab studying the evolutionary neurobiology of social insects, and additionally developed curricula for outreach programs while at Boston University.

Christopher Stevens is also a member of the MIT Digital Learning Lab of Open Learning. He aims to continue the development of his curriculum design skills and contribute to the developing landscape of digital learning and its relationship with AI tools. He completed his PhD at the University of Wisconsin – Madison in the field of pharmaceutical sciences, studying targeted protein degradation therapeutic tools. He helped to design and instruct several courses across a range of biology, as well as conducted several educational research projects during his graduate work.