Rebecca Fuller

Rebecca Fuller serves as Head and Professor in the Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior within the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She holds additional appointments as Teaching Professorial Scholar in Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior, Professor in the Neuroscience Program, and Affiliate at the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology.

Her research focuses on fish evolutionary biology, investigating speciation mechanisms, sexual selection, phenotypic plasticity, and visual ecology using killifish and guppy models. Key research themes include:

• How natural/sexual selection varies across environments
• Genetic vs. plastic contributions to phenotypic variation
• Visual system adaptations affecting coloration selection
• Genomic drivers of speciation

Her lab increasingly integrates genomic approaches to address these questions.

Recent publications (2022-2025) demonstrate strong activity in evolutionary morphology, behavioral ecology, and visual signaling, with recurring focus on killifish systems. Though no specific awards are listed, her work appears in high-impact journals including Evolution and Molecular Ecology.

Fuller actively mentors graduate students in evolutionary research and maintains laboratory facilities supporting fish evolution studies. Her outreach initiatives connect evolutionary science with broader societal contexts through public engagement programs.