Profile
My fundamental motivation for conducting research in ecology and evolution is my drive to contribute to conserving the planet and its fascinating biodiversity. Over the course of my education, my research interests have ranged from (applied) ethology, cognitive biology, and primatology to evolutionary ecology, behavioural genetics, and bioinformatics.
My postdoc at the Hoffman lab is a continuation of the work I conducted during my PhD here. In my PhD, I investigated mutation load dynamics and epigenetic changes during the mating season in male black grouse (Lyrurus tetrix). In my postdoc, I will build an epigenetic clock for the grouse and link epigenetic ageing to life-history traits, investigate mutation load dynamics in female black grouse, and explore the interaction between epigenetic mechanisms and deleterious mutations to give rise to fitness variation. My projects are conducted in collaboration with Prof Carl Soulsbury and Prof Kees van Oers.
Previous Research and Other Interests
During my BSc degree in Animal Behaviour, I studied a free-ranging population of tamarin monkeys in the Peruvian Amazon with Field Projects International, after which I wrote my BSc thesis on the relationship between breeding status and feeding behaviour in these New-World monkeys. In the following field season, I managed the Sensory Ecology team on various projects that investigated the role of olfactory communication in dispersal.
Since working with the unique population of feral chickens on Kauai, Hawaii, with the Wright lab for my MSc thesis, my interest in genomic-based approaches to address questions in evolutionary biology had exponentially grown. Whereas my MSc thesis focused on the behavioural changes as a consequence of feralization, working within a behavioural genetics lab inspired me to learn more about the proximate mechanisms that are responsible for phenotypic variation.
After assisting genome wide association studies at the Wright Lab to understand inter- and intra-individual behavioural variation of the feral chickens, I further developed my interests in genomics, epigenetics and bioinformatics during my Recent Graduate Erasmus internship at the Netherlands Institute for Ecology. Here, I worked on the intergenerational effects on DNA methylation in the great tit (Parus major).
Beyond molecular ecology, my research interests focus on responsible, rigorous and open science, including equity, diversity and inclusivity initiatives.
I enjoy staying active, especially in nature such as hiking or camping, or you can find me doing calisthenics in the gym.
Supervisors
Prof. Dr. Joe Hoffman, University of Bielefeld
Prof. Dr. Carl Soulsbury, University of Lincoln
Prof. Dr. Kees van Oers, Netherlands Institute of Ecology
Curriculum Vitae
- 2026 – current: Postdoc / Scientific Assistant – University of Bielefeld, Germany
- 2021 – 2026: PhD Student – University of Bielefeld, Germany
- 2021: Intern – Netherlands Institute of Ecology, the Netherlands
- 2018 – 2020: MSc Applied Ethology and Animal Biology – Linköping University, Sweden
- 2017 – 2018: Research Assistant / Field Manager – Field Projects International
- 2014 – 2018: BSc Animal Behaviour – University of Aberdeen, Scotland
Publication list
You can find a full list of Rebecca’s publications on ORCID.
Contact Details
Room 205 – Department of Evolutionary Population Genetics
Faculty of Biology
Bielefeld University
33615 Bielefeld
Germany
E-mail: rebecca.chen[at]uni-bielefeld.de
ResearchGate: Rebecca Chen
LinkedIn: Rebecca Chen
Personal website: https://rshuhuachen.github.io/rc/