Facilities, Institutes, and Research Centers

The offices and laboratories of the primary members of EEB are housed in Osborn Memorial Laboratories (OML), the Environmental Science Center (ESC), and on Yale’s new west campus.  In addition to these laboratories, listed below are additional facilities, institutes and centers accessible to students for research and study at Yale.

Peabody Museum of Natural History: With collections dating to 1825 and now numbering over 2,000,000 units, Yale’s Peabody Museum is a major resource for research and teaching in the biological sciences. Of particular interest to those studying the history and diversity of life are its world-famous holdings of fossil vertebrates, including dinosaurs (150,000 units), fossil invertebrates (275,000 units), and fossil plants (100,000 units), as well as its collections of modern birds (100,000 units), insects (1,250,000 units), other animals (300,000 units), and plants (250,000 units). Research and work-study opportunities with any of the scientific staff members of the Museum are accessible to students.

Yale Institute for Biospheric StudiesThe Yale Institute for Biospheric Studies (YIBS) serves as a principal focus for Yale University’s research and training efforts in the environmental sciences.  YIBS is committed to the teaching of environmental studies to future generations and provides physical and intellectual centers for research and education that address biospheric issues. YIBS was created in May, 1990 with a generous endowment from Mr. Edward P. Bass. Below are links to specific YIBS centers and programs:

Center for Earth Observation 

Earth System Center for Stable Isotopic Studies

Center for Genetic Analysis of Biodiversity

Program in Spatial Biodiversity Science and Conservation 

Program for Eco-Epidemiology

Program in Reproductive Ecology

Imaging Facilities: The MCDB Department operates imaging facilities on science hill which include light and electron microscopes.  More information is available at mcdb.yale.edu/imaging-facility-science-hill.

Marsh Botanical Garden: The University’s botanic garden and arboretum is located north of OML on the grounds of Marsh Hall at Prospect Street and Hillside Terrace. The garden features a diverse collection of native and exotic trees, shrubs, and perennials highlighting plant communities and environmental change. The greenhouses feature plants from tropical regions and arid climates as well as economically important crops.  Marsh Botanical Garden offers support for researchers, faculty and students at Yale, as well as an informative and eye-catching experience for visitors. 

Yale Peabody Museum Natural Lands:  Among Yale University’s properties are natural lands administered by the Yale Peabody Museum that are open to faculty, affiliated scientists and students for short-term and long-term biological and geological research in environmentally protected areas in and adjacent to Long Island Sound. These lands include a coastal field station in Guilford, CT, Linsley Pond in North Branford, CT, and Horse Island – a 17 acre uninhabited island 1.5 miles offshore from Stony Creek, CT. 

Yale Forests: There are more than 10,000 acres of Yale Forests managed as working forests by the School of Forestry & Environmental Studies. They are also available by arrangement for research and instruction. The largest and closest is the 7,800-acre Yale-Meyers Forest in northeastern Connecticut. It has some small lakes and a diversity of fauna, flora, and natural habitats.

LibrariesThe several science libraries collectively constitute one of the great collections of biological literature in the world. The Marx Science and Social Science LibraryPeabody Museum, Kline Geology Library, School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, Engineering Library and Medical Library, together represent a total collection of approximately one million volumes.  

FAS Science and Engineering Cores: These provide Yale Faculty, Postdocs, and Students with access to state of the art scientific instrumentation with the intent to keep Yale’s scientific research at the cutting edge. Each Core employs highly trained staff that may provide training and assistance with use of instrumentation as well as aid in experimental design. 

Yale Information and Technology Services (ITS): ITS provides both mainframe and microcomputer resources to the student and research community. ITS supports several High Performance Clusters across campus for use by the research community.