Thomas Dean Pollard is a prominent educator, cell biologist and biophysicist whose research focuses on understanding cell motility through the study of actin filaments and myosin motors. He is Sterling Professor of Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology and a Professor of Cell Biology and Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry at Yale University. He was Dean of Yale's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences from 2010 to 2014, and President of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies from 1996 to 2001. Pollard is very active in promoting scientific education and research primarily through two major societies, both of which he is a past President: the American Society for Cell Biology and the Biophysical Society

Section I Introduction to Cell Biology 1.Introduction to Cells 2.Evolution of Life on Earth Section II Chemical and Physical Background 3.Molecules: Structures and Dynamics 4.Biophysical Principles 5.Macromolecular Assembly 6.Research Strategies Section III Chromatin, Chromosomes, and the Cell Nucleus 7.Chromosome Organization 8.DNA Packaging in Chromatin and Chromosomes 9.Nuclear Structure and Dynamics Section IV Central Dogma: From Gene to Protein 10.Gene Expression 11.Eukaryotic RNA Processing 12.Protein Synthesis and Folding Section V Membrane Structure and Function 13.Membrane Structure and Dynamics 14.Membrane Pumps 15.Membrane Carriers 16.Membrane Channels 17.Membrane Physiology Section VI Cellular Organelles and Membrane Trafficking 18.Posttranslational Targeting of Proteins 19.Mitochondria, Chloroplasts, Peroxisomes 20.Endoplasmic Reticulum 21.Secretory Membrane System and Golgi Apparatus 22.Endocytosis and the Endosomal Membrane System 23.Processing and Degradation of Cellular Components Section VII Signaling Mechanisms 24.Plasma Membrane Receptors 25.Protein Hardware for Signaling 26.Second Messengers 27.Integration of Signals Section VIII Cellular Adhesion and the Extracellular Matrix 28.Cells of the Extracellular Matrix and Immune System 29.Extracellular Matrix Molecules 30.Cellular Adhesion 31.Intercellular Junctions 32.Connective Tissues Section IX Cytoskeleton and Cellular Motility 33.Actin and Actin-Binding Proteins 34.Microtubules and Centrosomes 35.Intermediate Filaments 36.Motor Proteins 37.Intracellular Motility 38.Cellular Motility 39.Muscles Section X Cell Cycle 40.Introduction to the Cell Cycle 41.G1 Phase and Regulation of Cell Proliferation 42.S Phase and DNA Replication 43.G2 Phase, Responses to DNA Damage, and Control of Entry Into Mitosis 44.Mitosis and Cytokinesis 45.Meiosis 46.Programmed Cell Death Appendix Cell SnapShots