Grace Avecilla
Lecturer Doc Sch
Weissman School of Arts and Sciences
- Biography
- Teaching
- 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
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSCHE Standard III Working Group | Committee Member | Present | |
| Department of Natural Sciences | Course Coordinator BIO 1015 & BIO 1016 | Present | |
| Pathways Assessment | Committee Member | Present | |
| Faculty Teaching Observations | Observer | Present | |
| Letters of recommendation | Faculty Mentor | Present | |
| New Faculty Orientation Teaching Panel | Panelist | 8/18/2026 | |
| Strategic Planning Mid-Point Summit | Attendee, Meeting | 2/6/2026 | |
| 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 |
University
| Committee Name | Position Role | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CUNY Research Scholars Program – Climate Scholars Selection Committee | Committee Member | 8/3/2026 | Present |
Professional
| Organization | Position Role | Organization State | Organization Country | Start Date | End Date | Audience |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNIDOS Center for HSI Community Coordination Working Group on "AI: How is it impacting our educational practices at HSI, including in how we teach, grade, and manage our own work?" | Committee Member | 4/17/2026 | Present | National |