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Brian Harfe


Associate Dean/Interim Associate Provost for Teaching and Technology
Faculty page

Areas of Responsibility

  • Cognizant Associate Dean for
    • Department of Astronomy
    • Department of Biology
    • Department of Chemistry
    • Department of Geological Sciences
    • Department of Mathematics
    • Department of Physics
    • Department of Statistics
    • Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research
    • Center for Applied Mathematics
    • Center for Applied Optimization
    • Center for Catalysis
    • Center for Chemical Physics
    • Center for Chemical Research at the Bio/Nano Interface
    • Center for Nanostructured Electronic Materials
    • Center for Condensed Matter Sciences
    • Center for Macromolecular Science and Engineering
    • Florida Center for Heterocyclic Compounds
    • Institute for Fundamental Theory
    • Institute for High Energy Physics and Astrophysics (IHEPA)
    • Quantum Theory Project
  • CLAS participation in the UF Marine Laboratory at Seahorse Key and Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience
  • CLAS Scholars Program
  • University Scholars Program
  • Distance learning initiatives
    • Online education, including UF Online
    • Self-funded/Off-book programs
  • Dual Enrollment
  • Faculty fellowship awards
  • International Committee
    • International Student and Educator Awards
    • Liaison to UFIC
    • Study Abroad
  • International exchanges and bilateral agreements
  • Outside activities and conflict of interest
  • Pre-Health Post-Bac
  • Research
    • Review of matching requests
    • Review of new faculty startup funding requests
  • Workshops and non-degree programs

Brief Biography

Dr. Harfe is a tenured Professor in the College of Medicine at the University of Florida. He has published more than 100 peer-reviewed papers in developmental biology and genetics that have been cited over 20,000 times (h-index 68). Funding for his research has been provided by the National Institute of Health and private foundations. For 17 years, he was the course director for the first-year medical student course Genetics and Health, which he also designed. Currently, he teaches an innovative course he designed entitled “Can we design “better” humans? Should we?” to more than 500 undergraduates each academic year. He is the Associate Dean for the Natural Sciences and Mathematics in the UF College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS). As Associate Dean, he is responsible for the Departments of Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Geological Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics, 10 Centers, and the College’s international portfolio, among other duties. As Interim Associate Provost, he oversees all units within the division of Teaching and Technology (>115 staff), which include UF Online, Center of Teaching Excellence, Distance Programs Services, Center for Online Innovation and Production, Dual Enrollment, and the Teaching and Technology Finance/HR and Technology Data and Analytical Services. As a New Yorker who received his BSc degree from the University of Glasgow, he strongly believes that students should have opportunities to experience different cultures in college. This likely explains his extensive involvement in international activities, including developing and running 15 international exchange programs.