Murray's work currently focuses on mitosis, the process of cell division and reproduction. Much of his research has examined the concept of a "spindle checkpoint," by which a dividing cell checks that each daughter cell receives exactly one half of each chromosome pair.

When he comes to Harvard, Murray said he hopes to augment these experiments by examining the way cellular structures react to evolutionary pressures, rather than focus solely on mitosis in a static environment.

Until recently, such analysis has been extremely difficult, due to the inability of scientists to identify which portions of a cell change in reaction to such pressures.

But with the advances of genomics in recent years, scientists have a new lens through which to single out mutations of individual proteins in a DNA strand.

According to Murray, Harvard's research facilities provide an excellent resource for tapping these methods, which Murray said allow "a quantum leap in our understanding" of the principles of genetic adaptation.

Murray emphasized that a change of environment will help him keep his creative juices of discovery flowing.

"It's both exciting and unsettling," he said, "and that combination is good for doing new things."

Faculty in the biological sciences department could not be reached for comment.