Grace Avecilla
Lecturer Doc Sch
Weissman School of Arts and Sciences
- Biography
- Teaching
- Research and Creative Activity
- Grants
- Honors and Awards
- Service
Grace Avecilla is a Lecturer (Doctoral Schedule) in the Department of Natural Sciences at Baruch College. She earned her PhD in Biology from New York University, where she investigated the role of copy number variation in adaptive evolution, combining computational methods with experimental evolution in yeast. Before joining Baruch College, Grace was a Community Scientist at BioBus, a nonprofit dedicated to providing informal science education to students from historically underrepresented communities, ranging from kindergarten through college. Dr. Avecilla is passionate about making science accessible and relevant to all, and she is committed to ensuring that every student feels empowered to engage with scientific concepts. She continually strives to refine her teaching methods to create an inclusive, supportive environment that fosters curiosity and growth in her students.
Education
Ph.D., Biology, New York University New York United States
B.Sc., Biology, University of Central Florida Orlando United States
| Semester | Course Prefix | Course Number | Course Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer 2025 | BIO | 3001 | Principles of Biology II |
| Spring 2025 | BIO | 1015 | Fund Of Bio - Gen, Evol, & Eco |
| Spring 2025 | BIO | 1016 | Fundamentals of Biology |
| Spring 2025 | BIO | 1016 | Fundamentals of Biology |
| Fall 2024 | BIO | 1015 | Fund Of Bio - Gen, Evol, & Eco |
| Fall 2024 | BIO | 1016 | Fundamentals of Biology |
Journal Articles
De, T., Nun, N., Spealman, P., Suresh, I., Avecilla, G., Abdul-Rahman, F., Ram, Y., & Gresham, D. (2025). Segmental copy number amplifications are stable in the absence of selection. bioRxiv,
(2025). Template switching during DNA replication is a prevalent source of adaptive gene amplification. 13.
(2023). Copy number variation alters local and global mutational tolerance. 33(8). 1340-1353.
(2022). Complex genomic rearrangements following selection in a glutamine-limited medium over hundreds of generations. 11(11). e0072922.
(2022). Neural networks enable efficient and accurate simulation-based inference of evolutionary parameters from adaptation dynamics. 20(5). e3001633.
(2021). Small RNAs are implicated in regulation of gene and transposable element expression in the protist Trichomonas vaginalis. 6(1).
(2018). Single-cell copy number variant detection reveals the dynamics and diversity of adaptation. 16(12). e3000069.
Presentations
Avecilla, G., Yoshida, M., & Hirshfeld-Stoler, T. (2025, March 9). Hyperlocal community-focused environmental justice science education with K-12. NYC Science Education and Outreach Symposium. New York, NY
Avecilla, G., & Yoshida, M. Local environmental sensing with BioBus, Inquiry-Based Art and Design. : Teachers College Columbia University.
Pirovano, A., Avecilla, G., Frawley, R., & Delgado, M. (2025, October 7). Centering inquiry and student voice in informal STEM learning spaces through microscopy. Association of Science-Technology Centers. Charlotte, NC
Avecilla, G. Careers in science education and outreach. QBIST Workshop. New York, NY: New York University Department of Biology.
Avecilla, G. Careers in science education and outreach. QBIST Workshop. New York, NY: New York University Department of Biology.
Avecilla, G., Lauer, S., Spealman, P., & Gresham, D. A strong selection, strong mutation regime drives predictable copy number variant dynamics in the early stages of adaptive evolution. Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution Meeting. Manchester, United Kingdom: Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution.
Avecilla, G., Lauer, S., Spealman, P., & Gresham, D. Strong selection & strong mutation drive predictable copy number variant dynamics in early adaptive evolution. Gordon Research Seminar: Molecular Mechanisms in Evolution. Easton, MA: Gordon Research Conferences.
Avecilla, G. Lineage diversity and dynamics of copy number variants. Evolution in Philadephia Conference. Philadelphia, PA: Evolution in Philadelphia Conference.
Avecilla, G., Lauer, S., Spealman, P., Levy, S., & Gresham, D. Diversity and dynamics of copy number variation during adaptive evolution. Yeast Genetics Meeting. Stanford, CA: Genetics Society of America.
Avecilla, G., & Fedorka, K. An investigation of the correlation between temperature, cuticular melanization, and immune function in the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri. Showcase of Undergraduate Research Excellence. Orlando, FL: University of Central Florida.
Avecilla, G., & Song, H. Differential gene expression of heat shock proteins in crowded and isolated Schistocerca americana. Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting. Portland, OR: Entomological Society of America.
| Honor / Award | Organization Sponsor | Date Received | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community Science Fellowship | BioBus, Inc. | 2021-09-30 | Over the course of an academic year, BioBus fellows receive 10 hours of training in inquiry based learning, culturally competent pedagogy, and other related topics, and participate in at least 40 hours of work with K-12 students participating in BioBus programs such as internships, after school programs, or visits to the BioBus. |
| GSAS Dean's Dissertation Fellowship | New York University | 2021-09-07 | Dean's Dissertation Fellowships are awarded to GSAS doctoral students entering the final year of writing their dissertations, who have been nominated by their department and whose fellowship applications have been selected by a panel composed of faculty from across GSAS. The fellowship includes tuition, fees, and stipend for the academic year awarded. |
| Kopac Teaching Award II | New York University Department of Biology | 2019-09-06 | Awarded to graduate students who have demonstrated excellence as a teaching assistant or coordinator in the laboratories or recitation sections that accompany biology courses. $500 |
| Kopac Service Award | New York University Department of Biology | 2019-09-06 | Awarded to a doctoral student, by their fellow students, who has made an outstanding contribution to the Biology department and academic environment. $500 |
| Young Investigator Travel Award | Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution | 2019-07-01 | This award funded the cost of attending SMBE 2019 (registration, travel, and lodging). Required the submission of an abstract, which was accepted for a talk. |
| Summer Predoctoral Fellowship | New York University Graduate School of Arts & Sciences | 2019-05-01 | Awarded Summer 2019 to outstanding doctoral students who, within one year of the award, complete any remaining coursework and requirements (qualifying, comprehensive and language exams) other than the dissertation. This award was used for a visit to the Schacherer Lab at the University of Strasbourg, where research was conducted that was later used for my dissertation. $2000 |
| Yeast Genetics Meeting Poster Award | Genetics Society of America | 2018-08-17 | Poster award for poster presentation entitled "Diversity and dynamics of copy number variation during adaptive evolution" $500 |
| Graduate Research Fellowship Program | National Science Foundation | 2016-01-01 | The GRFP provides three years of tuition and stipend support over a five-year fellowship period for the graduate education of individuals who have demonstrated their potential for significant research achievements in STEM or STEM education. |
College
| Committee Name | Position Role | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faculty Teaching Observations | Observer | Present | |
| Department of Natural Sciences | Course Coordinator BIO 1015 & BIO 1016 | Present | |
| Baruch STEP Academy Showcase Judge | Judge | 7/30/2025 | |
| Biology CLT Hiring Committee | Committee Member | 5/9/2025 | |
| Natural Sciences Creative Inquiry Day | Judge | 5/6/2025 |