Stephen Harris

Dr. Stephen Harris is an Assistant Professor of Biology at Purchase College, SUNY, within the School of Natural and Social Sciences. His research focuses on genomics, environmental change, and urban ecology, employing cutting-edge techniques like Oxford Nanopore sequencing. He holds a BS from Ohio State University, an MA from City College of New York, and a PhD from the CUNY Graduate Center. Prior to his faculty role, he conducted postdoctoral research at Columbia University, Metabiota, and Stanford University, exploring topics ranging from snapping shrimp eusociality to viral diversity in tropical wildlife.

Dr. Harris’s research interests include environmental DNA (eDNA) and metabarcoding to study biodiversity, democratizing science through portable sequencing tools, and co-founding Science-Corps, a nonprofit enhancing global science education. His work spans field studies in NYC, Florida Keys, Belize, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Notable awards include NSF grants, the Fishbein Junior Faculty Award, and the Robert O. Fehr Research Professorship.

His publications highlight urban ecology, molecular analysis of wildlife trade, and viral genomics. He teaches courses like Cell Biology and Molecular Biology, emphasizing hands-on genomic techniques for undergraduates. Current projects include investigating holobiont evolution in duck symbionts and exploring viral diversity in bat and rodent populations.