Stephen Liberles

Stephen D. Liberles, Ph.D., is a Professor of Cell Biology at Harvard Medical School and an HHMI Investigator. He holds a joint appointment as a Tutor in Molecular and Cellular Biology at the Faculty of Arts & Sciences. His research focuses on the molecular and neural mechanisms underlying sensory systems, including olfaction, pheromone sensing, taste, and internal organ sensation via the vagus nerve. Liberles earned his B.A. in Chemistry from Harvard University (1994) and his Ph.D. in Chemistry and Chemical Biology (1999), working with Stuart Schreiber. Postdoctoral training followed under Linda Buck at Harvard Medical School and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

Key research themes include: (1) non-classical olfactory receptor families, (2) vagus nerve-mediated autonomic physiology, and (3) mechanisms of visceral sensation. His lab has identified novel odorant receptors, characterized innate behavior-stimulating odors/pheromones, and mapped vagal sensory neuron pathways regulating behaviors like nausea and feeding.

Current grants include NIH funding for studying olfactory behavior modulation (R01DC020593) and nausea-associated neurons in the Area Postrema (R01NS122767). Notable awards include HHMI Investigator status (2016–present). Collaborative projects include vagal motor neuron diversity (R01DK122976) and cardiac nervous system mapping (OT2OD023848).

Literature contributions span 62+ publications since 2000, with recent focus on airway mechanoreceptors, gut-brain communication, and sensory receptor evolution. His work bridges molecular biology, neuroscience, and physiology to understand how sensory inputs drive organismal physiology and behavior.