Rebecca Heald

Summary

Rebecca Heald is the Flora Lamson Hewlett Chair and Professor in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of California, Berkeley. Her research focuses on cell division and size control mechanisms using Xenopus models. Key areas include spindle assembly, chromosome segregation, and organelle scaling across species and developmental stages. Her interdisciplinary work combines cytoplasmic extracts, synthetic cell systems, and comparative genomics to address fundamental biological questions.

Research interests span Xenopus laevis and Xenopus tropicalis systems to study interspecies scaling and developmental scaling during embryogenesis. Current projects investigate spindle architecture regulation, metabolic rate scaling, and the molecular basis of genomic instability. Collaborations with institutions like Stanford and MIT enhance her lab’s interdisciplinary approach.

Recent lab members include postdocs and graduate students exploring topics like Kleiber’s law, neuron development, and centromere stability. The lab emphasizes training future scientists, with alumni in academic and industry roles.

Publications highlight discoveries in spindle dynamics, chromosome scaling, and hybrid inviability mechanisms. The lab’s work has implications for cancer pathology and evolutionary biology.