Friday Harbor Laboratories

The Friday Harbor Laboratories are located on San Juan Island and are easily reachable by seaplane or ferry from Seattle. The Laboratories are situated at water’s edge within 484 acres of protected woodland. Although ideally suited for studies of marine biology and shore ecology, the Labs also house researchers whose programs focus on developmental and cellular biology as well as behavior and biomechanics, particularly of marine organisms. The Labs include houses and dormitories for students and faculty, a library, and the Helen R. Whitely Center, which serves as a retreat for scholarly and creative activities. Finally, the Labs host the annual Department of Biology retreat in the autumn, when faculty, students and postdocs spend a weekend talking science and enjoying the island environment.