Anders Serj Hansen, Class of 1943 Career Development Professor in the Biological Engineering Department, has been honored with the 2024-25 Harold E. Edgerton Faculty Achievement Award.
The annual accolade was initiated in the fall of 1982 as a lasting homage to Institute Professor Emeritus Harold E. Edgerton for his substantial and ongoing support of junior faculty over the years. The award aims to acknowledge outstanding excellence in pedagogy, research, and community service.
Hansen leads the Hansen Lab, which pioneers innovative techniques to unravel 3D genome configurations at high spatiotemporal resolution to comprehend how DNA looping and 3D folding influence gene expression in both health and disease scenarios. His research interests encompass cancer biology, computational systems biology, instrumentation, measurement, and synthetic biology.
“My research centers on how our genes’ expression is controlled,” Hansen states. “Every cell in our body shares the same DNA and identical genes. Therefore, the software or functions assigned to each cell are uniform. The distinction between a neuron and a blood cell lies in the specific genes they opt to express. My research delves into how this regulation occurs.”
Nominators of Anders for the honor highlighted his extraordinary productivity, referencing his two “highly cited, paradigm-shifting research publications in Science and Nature Genetics,” along with his presentations at 50 invited talks, inclusive of two keynote addresses, at prestigious institutions and conferences globally. They also accentuated his enthusiasm for mentoring and fostering career advancement for the current 20 members of his laboratory.
Anders serves as an exemplary role model and representative of biological engineering, merging a robust research initiative with dedicated mentorship and progressive undergraduate instruction,” remarks Christopher Voigt, the Daniel I.C. Wang Professor in Biological Engineering and head of the Department of Biological Engineering.
Laurie Boyer, a professor of biology and biological engineering, adds, “His research unveils new perspectives on the dynamics of gene regulation that would not otherwise be attainable. The Hansen Lab’s contributions establish a cohesive framework rapidly embraced by the field to understand how conserved regulators exert intricate spatial and temporal control over gene expression within the context of 3D genome architecture.”
Throughout the nomination process, students commended Hansen’s commitment to his work and his adeptness in preparing them to leverage their education beyond the classroom.
“He consistently endeavors to steer each lab member toward both immediate scientific achievements and long-term career strategies through regular one-on-one sessions, fostering collaborations and providing access to scientific resources, while sharing his own experiences,” notes Jin Yang, a graduate student in biological engineering and a member of the Hansen Lab.
“Dr. Hansen’s contagious enthusiasm for the course material made attending class enjoyable and allowed us to envision possible applications of the fundamental concepts he taught,” remarks another of his students. “An exceptional lecturer!”
Hansen attained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry at Oxford University. He earned his PhD in chemistry and chemical biology from Harvard University, where he employed systems biology methodologies to discern how cells encode and transmit information in the dynamics of transcription factor activation. During his postdoctoral research at the University of California at Berkeley, Hansen devised new imaging techniques for analyzing the behavior of architectural proteins with single-molecule precision in live cells. He became part of MIT’s faculty as an assistant professor of biological engineering in early 2020.
His accolades include an NIH K99 Pathway to Independence Award (2019), NIH Director’s New Innovator Award (2020), Pew-Stewart Scholar for Cancer Research Award (2021), NSF CAREER Award (2024), and NIH Director’s Transformative Research Award (2024).
Hansen has participated in various committees at MIT, including the MIT Biological Engineering Graduate Program Admissions Committee, the MIT Computational and Systems Biology Graduate Admissions Committee, and the MIT Biological Engineering Graduate Recruiting Committee, which he has chaired since 2023.
“I have been aware of the Edgerton Award since I began my journey at MIT, and I believe that the broad emphasis on research, teaching, and service encapsulates what makes MIT such a distinct and remarkable institution,” expresses Hansen. “I was, therefore, absolutely delighted to learn that I would be honored with the Edgerton Award this year, and I am immensely thankful to all the incredible colleagues at MIT who have supported me throughout the years, as well as to all the exceptional individuals in my lab whose efforts are being acknowledged.”