Rebecca A. Zufall

 

 

Department of Biology and Biochemistry

University of Houston

Houston, TX 77204

Telephone: 713-743-8172

Fax: 713-743-2636

e-mail: rzufall@uh.edu

 

Employment and Education

 

2006-present            Assistant Professor, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston TX

 

2003-2005                Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Biological Sciences, Smith College, Northampton, MA, Advisor: Laura Katz

 

2003                           Ph.D., Department of Biology and Program in Genetics, Duke University, Durham, NC, Advisor: Mark Rausher

 

1996                           B.S., Biology, concentration Genetics and Development, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, Advisor: Sara Via

 

 

Grants and Fellowships

 

2006               Starter Grant: Cis-acting signals and genome-wide effects of extensive genome

processing in diverse ciliates, National Science Foundation, $50,000

2006               Grants to Enhance and Advance Research: Evolution of extensive genome

processing in ciliates, University of Houston, $30,000

2003-2005    Postdoctoral Fellowship in Microbial Biology, National Science Foundation,

$100,000

2001-2002    Dissertation Research: Anthocyanin biosynthesis and the evolution of red-

flowered Ipomoea, National Science Foundation, $9,000

2000               Grant in Aid of Research, Department of Zoology, Duke University

1999-2002    Travel Grant, Graduate School, Duke University

1999               Grant in Aid of Research, Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society

1999               International Travel Grant, Graduate School, Duke University

1996-98         NIH Training Grant Fellow, University Program in Genetics, Duke University

1995-96         Undergraduate Honors Research Grant, Cornell University

1992-96         Cornell Tradition Fellowship, Cornell University

 

 

Publications 

 

Zufall, R. A., C. L. McGrath, S. V. Muse, L. A. Katz.  2006.  Genome architecture drives protein

evolution in ciliates.  Molecular Biology and Evolution 23:1681-1687.

McGrath, C. L., R. A. Zufall, L. A. Katz.  2006.  Genome evolution in ciliates.  In L. Katz and D.

Bhattacharya (Eds.), Genomics and evolution in eukaryotic microbes.

Fleet, C. M., M. F. Rosser, R. A. Zufall, M. Pratt, T. S. Feldman, P. P. Lemons.  2006.  Hiring criteria

in biology departments of academic institutions.  BioScience 56: 430-436.

Zufall, R. A., T. Robinson, and L. A. Katz.  2005.  Evolution of developmentally regulated genome

rearrangements in eukaryotes.  Journal of Experimental Zoology (Mol Dev Evol) 304B: 448-455.

Zufall, R. A. and M. D. Rausher.  2004.  Genetic changes associated with floral adaptation restrict

future evolutionary potential.  Nature 428: 847-850.

Rutter, M. T. and R. A. Zufall.  2004.  Pathway length and evolutionary constraint in amino acid

biosynthesis.  Journal of Molecular Evolution 58: 218-224.

Zufall, R. A. and M. D. Rausher.  2003.  The genetic basis of a flower-color polymorphism in the

common morning glory, Ipomoea purpurea.  Journal of Heredity 94: 442-448

 

Manuscripts in review

 

Zufall, R.A. and L.A. Katz.  Micronuclear and macronuclear forms of b-tubulin genes in the ciliate

Chilodonella uncinata reveal insights into genome processing and protein evolution.  Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology.

McGrath, C.L., R.A. Zufall, and L.A. Katz.  An initial survey of macronuclear genome content of

three ciliates with extensive chromosomal fragmentation.  Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology.

 

 

Presentations (select)

 

University of Houston-Downtown, Department of Natural Sciences, 2006

Rice University, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 2006

Trinity University, Biology Department, 2006

The College of William and Mary, Biology Department, 2005

Harvard University Herbarium, 2004.

University of Houston, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, 2004

Oberlin College, Biology Department, 2004

Colby College, Biology Department, 2004

Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution Annual Meeting, Fitch Prize Symposium, 2004

Hofstra University Biology Department, 2004

Western Kentucky University Biology Department, 2004

New England Molecular Evolutionary Biologists Meeting, Prize for outstanding presentation, 2003

Duke University Graduate Student Symposium, 2001

 

 

Professional Experience and Service

 

NSF Workshop Participant, Postdoctoral Appointments: Policies and Practices, 2004

Travel Awards Coordinator, Society of Protozoologists Genome Evolution Symposium, 2004

Interim Director and Executive Committee, Teaching Certificate in Biology, Duke University, 2000-2003

Guest Lecturer, Microbial Eukaryotes, Smith College; Science without Borders, Elon College, 2000, 2005

Instructor, Biotechnology: From Science to Industry, Duke University, 2001

Assistant Director, Howard Hughes Research Fellows Program, Duke University, 2001-2002

Mentor, Howard Hughes Research Fellows; Howard Hughes Pre-College Program, Duke University

Teaching Assistant, Principles of Evolution; HIV and Emerging Diseases; Population Biology; Cell and Developmental Biology II; Introductory Biology, Duke University, 1999-2003

Preparing Future Faculty Fellow, Graduate School, Duke University, 1999-2001

Certificate in Teaching College Biology, Duke University, 2003

Steering Committee, Zoology Graduate Students, Duke University, 1999-2000

Peer reviewer, Evolution, Journal of Molecular Evolution, Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology