Mark Rebeiz

Mark Rebeiz is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh. His research focuses on evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo), particularly investigating how changes in gene regulation drive morphological diversity in Drosophila. Key areas include the evolution of pigmentation patterns, genital structures, and gene expression networks. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of California, San Diego, and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Wisconsin-Madison before joining the University of Pittsburgh in 2010.

Research interests encompass the molecular mechanisms behind novel traits, such as the evolution of Drosophila genitalia and light pigmentation in D. santomea. His lab employs genetic, genomic, and developmental approaches to study regulatory networks and their evolutionary modifications. Notable awards include the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellowship.

The Rebeiz Lab has produced significant contributions to understanding gene regulatory networks, including studies on silencers, Hox gene regulation, and the role of transcription factors in morphogenesis. Recent work includes a 2022 promotion to full Professor, an NIH R01 grant, and collaborative efforts on genomic tools like GenePalette. Lab members include graduate students and postdocs actively involved in projects on pigmentation, genital development, and regulatory evolution.

Publications highlight discoveries in cis-regulatory evolution, network co-option, and morphological novelties. The lab maintains an anatomical atlas of Drosophila genitalia and collaborates on genomic resources to advance evolutionary studies. Ongoing work explores how regulatory changes lead to phenotypic diversity, with a focus on Drosophila as a model system.