Rachel Simons

Rachel Simons, PhD is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Southern Maine (USM), part of the College of Science, Technology, and Health. She joined USM in 2015 and has taught part-time there since 2004. Dr. Simons specializes in functional morphological research, focusing on the evolutionary integration of respiratory and locomotor systems. She holds a PhD in Biology from the University of Utah and a BA in Biology from the University of Pennsylvania.

Her teaching responsibilities include Human Anatomy and Physiology courses (BIO 111/112/113/114), Plant and Animal Physiology (BIO 109), and Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy (BIO 309). She also serves as Health Professions Advisor for students pursuing medical, dental, or optometry schools.

Dr. Simons has held prior teaching roles at Monroe Community College and Nazareth College of Rochester, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.