Hernan Garcia

Research Bio

Hernan Garcia is an associate professor in the the Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, and the Department of Physics. 
Research focus: In development a single cell goes through a series of repeated divisions and these cells read the program encoded in their DNA in order to become familiar cell types such as those found in muscle, liver or our brains. The goal of the Garcia lab is to uncover the rules behind these decisions with the objective of predicting and manipulating developmental programs from just looking at DNA sequence. In order to reach this predictive understanding they combine physics, synthetic biology and new technologies to query and control developmental decisions in real time at the single cell level in the fruit fly embryo.

Research Expertise and Interest

genetics, genomics, biophysics

In the News

Teaching

Courses taught during the three most recent terms
2026 Spring
  • Supervised Independent Study and Research  [MCELLBI 199]  

  • Physical Biology of Living Organisms  [MCELLBI 249MM]  

  • Research  [MCELLBI 292]  

  • Supervised Independent Study  [MCELLBI 99]  

  • Honors Research  [MCELLBI H196A]  

  • Honors Research  [MCELLBI H196B]  

  • Research  [PHYSICS 299]  

2025 Fall
  • Supervised Internship  [MCELLBI 197]  

  • Supervised Independent Study and Research  [MCELLBI 199]  

  • Physical Biology of Living Organisms  [MCELLBI 249MM]  

  • Research  [MCELLBI 292]  

  • Supervised Independent Study  [MCELLBI 99]  

  • Honors Research  [MCELLBI H196A]  

  • Honors Research  [MCELLBI H196B]  

  • Research  [PHYSICS 299]  

  • Senior Honors Thesis Research  [PHYSICS H195A]  

  • Supervised Research: Biological Sciences  [UGIS 192C]  

2025 Summer
  • Research  [PHYSICS 299]  

2025 Spring
  • Physical Biology of the Cell  [MCELLBI 137L]  

  • Supervised Independent Study and Research  [MCELLBI 199]  

  • Advanced Physical Biology of the Cell  [MCELLBI 237L]  

  • Physical Biology of Living Organisms  [MCELLBI 249MM]  

  • Research  [MCELLBI 292]  

  • Supervised Independent Study  [MCELLBI 99]  

  • Honors Research  [MCELLBI H196A]  

  • Honors Research  [MCELLBI H196B]  

  • Research  [PHYSICS 299]  

  • Senior Honors Thesis Research  [PHYSICS H195B]  

  • Supervised Research: Biological Sciences  [UGIS 192C]