Andrew W. Murray, a specialist in the process of cell division, will join the biological sciences department next fall, as a tenured professor working primarily in the new Harvard Center for Genomics Research.

The move will be a considerable one for Murray, who will finish this academic year at the University of California at San Francisco before coming to Harvard.

Murray's west coast colleagues expressed both their admiration for him, and their dismay at his departure.

David O. Morgan, a professor in physiology, biophysics and biochemistry at the University of California who has worked across the hall from Murray for the past 10 years, said Murray is an extraordinary researcher.

"He's one of our best scientists we have, in any field," Morgan said. "I think there's a widespread disappointment he's leaving."

"He has been a catalyst for a lot of great science both in his own lab and in others," Morgan added.

Murray said the breadth of Harvard's expertise in scientific and technical fields--from biology to computer science to mathematics--was an incentive to come to Cambridge, as well as the opportunity to teach undergraduates. At his previous post, Murray taught only graduate students.

Another enticement was the opportunity to be a part of the new Harvard Center for Genomics Research, part of a $200 million science initiative the University unveiled last winter.