Douglas Richardson

Douglas Richardson serves as Director of Imaging at the Harvard Center for Biological Imaging (HCBI) since 2013 and Lecturer in Molecular and Cellular Biology within Harvard's Faculty of Arts and Sciences since 2016. He leads a state-of-the-art microscopy core facility serving Harvard and Greater Boston researchers through confocal, light sheet, super-resolution, and slide scanning systems.

His educational background includes:

• PhD in Cancer Cell Biology from Queen's University (Canada), Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine
• Alexander von Humboldt Postdoctoral Fellowship at Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry under Nobel Laureate Stefan Hell

Richardson's research expertise spans super-resolution microscopy, light sheet imaging, tissue clearing techniques, and image processing methodologies. He actively develops and evaluates advanced microscopy approaches for biological applications in cancer, neuroscience, and ophthalmology. His work emphasizes practical implementation of cutting-edge imaging technologies for diverse research questions.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals dominant trends in 3D tissue imaging applied to neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer's), cancer biology (melanoma, breast cancer), and vascular ophthalmology. His contributions to tissue clearing standardization and light sheet microscopy optimization enable high-resolution whole-organ analysis, while his technical tutorials address critical microscopy artifacts.

His scientific recognition includes:

• Alexander von Humboldt Postdoctoral Fellowship

Richardson teaches MCB 68 (Cell Biology through the Microscope) and MCB 352 (Microscopy), directs the HCBI Lunch and Learn Lecture Series, and organizes tissue clearing workshops. The HCBI facility he leads provides critical infrastructure for Harvard researchers, with recent expansions including high-content screening (2024) and Zeiss Lightfield 4D integration (2025).

Under Richardson's leadership, the Harvard Center for Biological Imaging serves as a national resource for advanced microscopy training and consultation, maintaining active YouTube educational content and developing protocols for challenging biological specimens through its tissue clearing initiatives.