Mark Harnett

Mark Harnett is an Associate Professor and Graduate Officer in the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at MIT's McGovern Institute. His research focuses on how biophysical features of neurons (e.g., ion channels, dendrites) enable neural circuits to perform computations underlying behavior. He leads the Harnett Lab, which pioneered studies on human dendritic physiology and spatial navigation computations. Key areas include synaptic plasticity, dendritic integration, and neural circuit dynamics.

Research interests center on linking cellular biophysics to circuit-level computations. Notable projects include describing human dendritic physiology, investigating silent synapses in adult neocortex, and developing tools like ONIX for multimodal neural recording. His work bridges electrophysiology, imaging, and computational modeling to understand how neurons encode spatial variables and adapt to environmental changes.

Publications emphasize cortical neuron properties, synaptic mechanisms, and experimental platforms. While no explicit awards are listed, his contributions to neuroscience methodologies and discoveries in dendritic function are internationally recognized. The lab emphasizes diversity and inclusion, fostering collaborative environments for scientific innovation.