Major areas of Huntington Willard’s research include genetic and genomic studies of X chromosome inactivation, functional genomics of human and other mammalian centromeres, creation of human artificial chromosomes as a tool for genome exploration, and the epigenetic basis of gene silencing. He developed a four-year research program that provides undergraduates interested in a research career with a coherent research experience in the genome sciences. The program consists of a series of interdisciplinary courses that combine genomics and its implications for science and society, laboratory research experiences, a literature-based course, and a course in scientific writing.