Rebecca Koch

Rebecca Koch is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, with concurrent roles as Assistant Professor Curator of Ornithology at the UWSP Museum of Natural History. She holds a Ph.D. in Biology from Auburn University and a B.S. in Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity from the University of California-Davis.

Research Interests:

• Behavioral ecology
• Genetics
• Mitochondrial biology

Her recent research explores intersections between carotenoid metabolism, mitochondrial function, and honest signaling in animal coloration. Publications examine how captivity affects mitochondrial respiration and pigment metabolism, testosterone-driven gene expression coordination, and alternative pathways for red coloration in vertebrates. Keywords span endocrinology, disease biology, and evolutionary genetics.

Scientific Awards:

• Early Career Researcher Award, Australian Research Council (2018)
• National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Award (2012-2015)

Koch has reviewed 54 manuscripts across 23 journals since 2015 and designed courses in evolutionary theory and ornithology. Her work integrates physiological ecology with molecular mechanisms of signaling systems.