Biography
Brian Harfe, Ph.D., is a Senior Associate Provost in the Office of the Provost, supervising a staff of >120. He oversees UF Online and all distance education programs, dual enrollment, the Center for Online Innovation and Production, data analytics fiscal and HR teams, the Office of Professional Workforce Development, UF Self-supporting Programs, and Marketing and Conference Service teams. Before joining the Provost Office, Dr. Harfe served for 11 years as Associate Dean in the UF College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, where he oversaw the seven science and math departments and the college research office and was also the Associate Dean of Research (ADR). He continues to run 14 international exchange programs and a study abroad program while teaching >500 students each semester. He is a tenured full professor in the UF College of Medicine and has published >100 papers that have been cited >21,000 times in development biology and genetics. He received his BSc (honors) degree from the University of Glasgow, Ph.D. from The Johns Hopkins University, and performed postdoctoral research at Emory University and Harvard Medical School.
Degrees
Awards & Honors
-
Exemplary Online Teaching Award
University of Florida ▪ 2024
-
Exemplary Course Designation
Univeristy of Florida ▪ 2024
-
Fellow for the Southeastern Conference Academic Consortium’s Academic Leadership Development Program
Southeastern Conference (SECU) ▪ 2023
-
Online Education Excellence Award
Univeristy of Florida ▪ 2017
-
Runner-up for the Developmental Biology Outstanding
Society of Developmental Biology ▪ 2016
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Penn State Academic Leadership Academy
Penn State University ▪ 2011
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Top Cited Article of 2008-2010
Society of Developmental Biology ▪ 2010
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Six-time Exemplary Teacher, University of Florida, College of Medicine (only one year listed)
UF College of Medicine ▪ 2009
Publications
Last updated on 7/31/25.
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Peer Review Positions
NIH Study Section, NIH; 2009 - 2012
Professional Presentations
Mouse model for Chordoma;
Chordoma Community Conference, Bethesda, Maryland; Chordoma Foundation; 2009
Formation of a vertebrate embryo;
NIH invitation; Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland; 2009
The Notochord: back pain, stem cells and cancer;
Invited speaker; Harvard Stem Cell Institute Seminar Series; 2009
Biography
Brian Harfe, Ph.D., is a Senior Associate Provost in the Office of the Provost, supervising a staff of >120. He oversees UF Online and all distance education programs, dual enrollment, the Center for Online Innovation and Production, data analytics fiscal and HR teams, the Office of Professional Workforce Development, UF Self-supporting Programs, and Marketing and Conference Service teams. Before joining the Provost Office, Dr. Harfe served for 11 years as Associate Dean in the UF College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, where he oversaw the seven science and math departments and the college research office and was also the Associate Dean of Research (ADR). He continues to run 14 international exchange programs and a study abroad program while teaching >500 students each semester. He is a tenured full professor in the UF College of Medicine and has published >100 papers that have been cited >21,000 times in development biology and genetics. He received his BSc (honors) degree from the University of Glasgow, Ph.D. from The Johns Hopkins University, and performed postdoctoral research at Emory University and Harvard Medical School.
Speaking Details
Speaker Topics
Ai In Higher Education
Generative Ai
Human Cloning
Human Genetic Engineering
Human Genetics
Intervertebral Disc Development
Limb Development
Using Model Systems In Research
Target Audiences
Adults
Elementary School
High School
Middle School
Fee Range
Expenses Only
Greater than $500
Less than $500
No Cost
Presentations
Formation of a vertebrate limb.
Discover the molecular pathways responsible for forming a limb. The talk investigates why most people have 5 digits and 4 limbs and focuses on the genes responsible for forming these structures.
Healing a damaged disc: A cell-based approach.
Low back pain will affect most people over the age of 65 in industrialized countries. In the U.S., treatment of low back pain is estimated to cost 50-100 billion dollars per year. In this talk I will discus my labs experiments at developing a stem cell-based therapy for disc degeneration.
Videos
Can We Design "better" humans? Should We?
This is a brief introduction to a course I designed and taught that explores two broad questions: Can a human be created that has specific characteristics? Should we design “better” humans? In the course, we examine the technologies behind how the human genome can be modified and discuss the controversies surrounding these technologies.
Year:
2004
Link:
Source:
vimeo
Keywords:
Duration: 00:17:52
When Assignments Meet ChatGPT
What does it look like when AI tools are accepted and integrated into a course? Dr. Brian Harfe of the University of Florida sat down with Dr. Brenda Such in the UF COIP studio to examine the use Chatbots in his course assignments. They discuss the pros and cons of using Chatbots, as well as strategies that can push and accelerate the learning experiences for students.
Year:
2023
Link:
Source:
vimeo
Keywords:
Videos
Can We Design "better" humans? Should We?
This is a brief introduction to a course I designed and taught that explores two broad questions: Can a human be created that has specific characteristics? Should we design “better” humans? In the course, we examine the technologies behind how the human genome can be modified and discuss the controversies surrounding these technologies.
Year:
2004
Link:
Source:
vimeo
Keywords:
Duration: 00:17:52
When Assignments Meet ChatGPT
What does it look like when AI tools are accepted and integrated into a course? Dr. Brian Harfe of the University of Florida sat down with Dr. Brenda Such in the UF COIP studio to examine the use Chatbots in his course assignments. They discuss the pros and cons of using Chatbots, as well as strategies that can push and accelerate the learning experiences for students.
Year:
2023
Link:
Source:
vimeo
Keywords:
Co-Investigator Network
Inactive Expert
Richard Moyer
Professor Emeritus
Md-Molecular Genetics-Gen, College-Medicine
Professor and Program Director
Md-Physiology and Aging, College-Medicine
Inactive Expert
Brad Fletcher
Associate Professor
Md-Surgery-Surgical Oncology, College-Medicine
Inactive Expert
Rodney Edwards
Professor
Md-Obgyn-Maternal Fetal Medici, College-Medicine
Inactive Expert
Michael Phillips
Aso VP & Prof
Md-Physiology-General, College-Medicine
Professor
Md-Pathology, College-Medicine
Inactive Expert
Jose Pineda Soto
Ast Professor
Md-Physiology-General, College-Medicine
Professor
Md-Molecular Gentcs - Microbio, College-Medicine
Asst Prof
Ls-Biology, College-Liberal Arts and Sciences
Expertnet Author Network
Experts within Florida Expertnet that have co-authored works with Brian Harfe.
Inactive Expert
William Hauswirth
Eminent Scholar
Md-Molecular Gentcs - Microbio, College-Medicine
Works Co-Authored: 294
Prof & Aso Chr
Md-Cognital Hrt Center Excellence, College-Medicine
Works Co-Authored: 221
Professor and Associate Program Director
Md-Molecular Gentcs - Microbio, College-Medicine
Works Co-Authored: 168
Inactive Expert
Henry Baker
Hazel Kitzman Professor and Chair
Md-Molecular Gentcs / Microbio, College-Medicine
Works Co-Authored: 129
Associate Dean For Research
Hp-Office Of The Dean, College-Publ Hlth - Hlth Profs
Works Co-Authored: 358
Professor
Md-Molecular Gentcs - Microbio, College-Medicine
Works Co-Authored: 105
Inactive Expert
Michael Miyamoto
Prof
Ls-Zoology, College-Liberal Arts/Sciences
Works Co-Authored: 38
Inactive Expert
John Alexander
Professor
Dcp-Urban Regional / Planning, College-Design Construc / Plan
Works Co-Authored: 21
Inactive Expert
Danielle Maatouk
Grad Asst - R
Md-Molecular Genetics-Gen, College-Medicine
Works Co-Authored: 11
Professor
Md-Molecular Gentcs - Microbio, College-Medicine
Works Co-Authored: 259
Inactive Expert
Howard Seay
Laboratory Manager
Md-Pathology-General, College-Medicine
Works Co-Authored: 19
Asst Prof
Ls-Biology, College-Liberal Arts and Sciences
Works Co-Authored: 102
Associate Professor
Md-Child Health Res Institute, College-Medicine
Works Co-Authored: 85
Inactive Expert
Ying Wang
Associate Professor
Ag-Plant Pathology, College- Agricul - Nat Res
Works Co-Authored: 25
Medicine, Medical
Works Co-Authored: 46
