Rachael Bay

Rachael Bay is an Associate Professor in the Department of Evolution and Ecology at the University of California, Davis. She investigates how human-induced environmental changes intersect with evolutionary processes, focusing on climate change impacts across diverse species.

• Education:
  • B.S. in Marine Science/Biology, University of Miami (2008)
  • M.Sc. in Biology, Dalhousie University (2010)
  • Ph.D. in Biology, Stanford University (2015)

Her research combines ecological experiments, physiological studies, and large-scale genomic analysis to explore evolutionary responses to anthropogenic stressors. Key areas include climate adaptation in migratory birds, coral resilience, and conservation genomics.

Recent publications highlight genomic shifts linked to climate change, thermal tolerance mechanisms in corals, and migratory behavior dynamics. Her work emphasizes using evolutionary insights for proactive conservation strategies.

• Scientific Awards:
  • Packard Fellowship (2021)
  • Sloan Fellowship (2019)
  • UC Davis Top Safety Award (2022)

Bay is affiliated with the Center for Population Biology and graduate groups in Integrative Genetics & Genomics and Population Biology. She leads the Bay Lab, which focuses on eco-evolutionary dynamics in marine and avian systems.