Heather Bruce

Heather Bruce is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Zoology at The University of British Columbia. Her research focuses on evolution, particularly evolutionary developmental biology (evo devo), using crustacean and beetle species to study the origin and evolution of novel structures. Her work investigates how genetic networks contribute to morphological diversity. Bruce earned her Ph.D. in Molecular & Cellular Biology from UC Berkeley and has conducted research on arthropod legs. She joined UBC in 2024 as an Assistant Professor. Her lab website is https://zoology.ubc.ca/person/heather-bruce, and her email is heather.bruce@ubc.ca.

Heather S Bruce is an Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia, specializing in evolutionary developmental biology. Her research focuses on the genetic mechanisms underlying the evolution of arthropod structures, particularly crustacean and insect appendages. Using model organisms like Parhyale hawaiensis, she investigates the roles of Hox genes in limb specification, regeneration, and the evolutionary origins of structures such as insect wings and body walls. Her work also explores cis-regulatory elements and the molecular basis of appendage diversity. Bruce employs advanced techniques like CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis and hybridization chain reaction (HCR) in situ protocols to analyze gene expression and developmental processes.