World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!
Timothy J. Mitchison

Timothy J. Mitchison

Award Badge
Biology and Biochemistry
USA
2026

D-Index & Metrics

Biology and Biochemistry

D-Index
155
Citations
96294
World Ranking
148
National Ranking
105

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2026 - Research.com Biology and Biochemistry in United States Leader Award
  • 2025 - Research.com Biology and Biochemistry in United States Leader Award
  • 2023 - Research.com Biology and Biochemistry in United States Leader Award
  • 2014 - Member of the National Academy of Sciences
  • 2008 - Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
  • 1997 - Fellow of the Royal Society, United Kingdom

Overview

Timothy J. Mitchison is affiliated with Harvard University in the United States and specializes in the fields of Biochemistry, Genetics, and Molecular Biology. Their research spans several subfields including Cell Biology, Mechanical Engineering, Paleontology, Molecular Biology, and Global and Planetary Change.

The research topics covered by Mitchison focus on:

  • Cellular Mechanics and Interactions
  • Zebrafish Biomedical Research Applications
  • Proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans research
  • Advanced Materials and Mechanics
  • Marine Invertebrate Physiology and Ecology
  • Protist diversity and phylogeny
  • Marine Ecology and Invasive Species

Recent publications by Mitchison include the following:

  • "Extracellular hyaluronate pressure shaped by cellular tethers drives tissue morphogenesis," 2021, Cell
  • "Extracellular hyaluronate pressure shaped by cellular tethers drives tissue morphogenesis," 2020, bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
  • "Depletion of a neural cell adhesion molecule disrupts both epithelial and germ layer identity in sea anemone embryos," 2025, bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
  • "Dynamic microtubules as sensors in animal cells," 2025, Biophysical Journal

Frequent co-authors working with Mitchison include:

  • Akankshi Munjal
  • Édouard Hannezo
  • Sean G. Megason
  • Tony Tsai
  • A. S. Postnikova

The main publication venues for Mitchison's work are bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Cell, and Biophysical Journal.

Timothy J. Mitchison has received several recognitions, including:

  • Member of the National Academy of Sciences (2014)
  • Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2008)
  • Fellow of the Royal Society, United Kingdom (1997)

Best Publications

  • Dynamic instability of microtubule growth

    Tim Mitchison;Marc Kirschner

  • Chemical inhibitor of nonapoptotic cell death with therapeutic potential for ischemic brain injury

    Alexei Degterev;Zhihong Huang;Michael Boyce;Yaqiao Li

  • MICROTUBULE POLYMERIZATION DYNAMICS

    Arshad Desai;Timothy J. Mitchison

  • A chemical method for fast and sensitive detection of DNA synthesis in vivo

    Adrian Salic;Timothy J. Mitchison

  • Actin-Based Cell Motility and Cell Locomotion

    T.J Mitchison;L.P Cramer

  • Small Molecule Inhibitor of Mitotic Spindle Bipolarity Identified in a Phenotype-Based Screen

    Thomas U. Mayer;Tarun M. Kapoor;Stephen J. Haggarty;Stephen J. Haggarty;Randall W. King

  • A tissue-scale gradient of hydrogen peroxide mediates rapid wound detection in zebrafish

    Philipp Niethammer;Clemens Grabher;Clemens Grabher;A. Thomas Look;Timothy J. Mitchison

  • Beyond self-assembly: from microtubules to morphogenesis

    Marc Kirschner;Tim Mitchison

  • Dissecting Temporal and Spatial Control of Cytokinesis with a Myosin II Inhibitor

    Aaron F. Straight;Amy Cheung;John Limouze;Irene Chen

  • Active liquid-like behavior of nucleoli determines their size and shape in Xenopus laevis oocytes.

    Clifford P. Brangwynne;Timothy J. Mitchison;Anthony A. Hyman

  • Cytoskeletal dynamics and nerve growth.

    Tim Mitchison;Marc Kirschner

  • Nucleation of microtubule assembly by a gamma-tubulin-containing ring complex.

    Yixian Zheng;Mei Lie Wong;Bruce Alberts;Bruce Alberts;Tim Mitchison

  • Microtubule assembly nucleated by isolated centrosomes

    Tim Mitchison;Marc Kirschner

  • Actin microfilament dynamics in locomoting cells

    Julie A. Theriot;Timothy J. Mitchison

  • Identification of a Protein That Interacts with Tubulin Dimers and Increases the Catastrophe Rate of Microtubules

    Lisa D Belmont;Timothy J Mitchison

  • A standardized kinesin nomenclature.

    Carolyn J. Lawrence;R. Kelly Dawe;Karen R. Christie;Don W. Cleveland

  • Mitotic spindle organization by a plus-end-directed microtubule motor.

    Kenneth E. Sawin;Katherine LeGuellec;Michel Philippe;Timothy J. Mitchison

  • Probing spindle assembly mechanisms with monastrol, a small molecule inhibitor of the mitotic kinesin, Eg5.

    Tarun M. Kapoor;Thomas U. Mayer;Margaret L. Coughlin;Timothy J. Mitchison

  • Kin I Kinesins Are Microtubule-Destabilizing Enzymes

    Arshad Desai;Suzie Verma;Timothy J. Mitchison;Claire E. Walczak

  • Polewards microtubule flux in the mitotic spindle: evidence from photoactivation of fluorescence.

    T J Mitchison

Frequent Co-Authors

Edward D. Salmon
Edward D. Salmon University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Marc W. Kirschner
Marc W. Kirschner Harvard University
Aaron F. Straight
Aaron F. Straight Stanford University
Anthony A. Hyman
Anthony A. Hyman Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics
Ralph Weissleder
Ralph Weissleder Harvard University
Claire E. Walczak
Claire E. Walczak Indiana University
Arshad Desai
Arshad Desai University of California, San Diego
Julie A. Theriot
Julie A. Theriot University of Washington
Guillaume Charras
Guillaume Charras London Centre for Nanotechnology
Ronald D. Vale
Ronald D. Vale University of California, San Francisco

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