Rebecca Delventhal

Rebecca Delventhal is an Assistant Professor of Biology at Lake Forest College. She teaches courses including BIOL 221 (Molecules, Genes, and Cells), BIOL 342 (Developmental Biology), and BIOL 477 (Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Neurological Disease). Her research focuses on neurodegenerative mechanisms using Drosophila melanogaster models, with a particular emphasis on traumatic brain injury (TBI) and circadian rhythm disruptions.

Education: PhD in Biology from Yale University (2016), BA from Macalester College (2009).

Research Interests: Neurodegeneration pathways, developmental biology, molecular mechanisms of neurological diseases, and course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs). Her work integrates genetic tools like CRISPR and behavioral assays to study disease models in fruit flies.

Presentations include talks at the Genetics Society of America conferences and seminars at institutions like Vassar College and Soka University. She has also contributed to workshops on scientific teaching practices.

Grants & Awards include NIH funding for cardiovascular research (2017–2019) and a predoctoral fellowship from the NIH/NIDCD (2012–2015). Her NSF recognition highlights innovative educational approaches.