Rebecca Kimball

Rebecca Kimball is a Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Florida, focusing on evolutionary biology through molecular techniques and field research. Her work spans three primary areas: phylogenetics for comparative studies, microevolutionary processes like mating systems and sexual selection, and linking genomic changes to organismal evolution.

• Education: Ph.D. (University of New Mexico, 1995)
• Research Themes: Phylogenetic reconstruction, genome-phenome mapping, sensory system evolution, and avian diversification.

Her lab, the Braun-Kimball Lab, trains students in phylogenetics, computational biology, and population genetics. Current projects include galliform evolution, chemosensory systems in vultures, and hybridization studies in paradise flycatchers. She collaborates on NSF-funded phylogenomic initiatives and emphasizes rigorous lab practices, including long-term commitments for researchers and interdisciplinary training.

Scientific Awards: No explicit awards listed, but her lab receives external grants (e.g., NSF, University Scholars Program).

Advising & Grants: Mentors numerous graduate and undergraduate researchers. Lab members often co-author publications and pursue independent projects. Grants focus on phylogenomic tools and avian evolutionary questions.

Labs & Teams: Leads the Braun-Kimball Lab, which engages in global collaborations (e.g., Field Museum, New York State Museum) and interdisciplinary work in genomics and ecology.