Rebecca Butcher, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Chemistry
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
A vast and largely invisible community of organisms shapes life on Earth, influencing ecosystems, agriculture and human health in ways that are only beginning to be understood. Rebecca Butcher’s research focuses on one of the largest and least explored of these groups— nematodes — and the chemical signals they use to communicate, survive and reproduce.
Nematodes, or roundworms, are found in nearly every environment and include many parasitic species that affect both crops and humans. Butcher’s work uncovers the chemical “language” these organisms use to control their development and behavior. By identifying the molecules nematodes produce and understanding how those signals are made and function, her research opens new possibilities for disrupting harmful species. As Butcher explains, her goal is to “identify and characterize the chemical structures of nematode signaling molecules” and understand how they regulate the worm lifecycle.
Her research blends analytical chemistry, biochemistry, organic chemistry and biology in a highly interdisciplinary approach. Butcher’s laboratory has discovered key signaling molecules known as ascarosides, which help coordinate how nematodes grow, reproduce and respond to stress. Her team has also uncovered how these molecules are produced within the organism, revealing biological pathways that had previously been unknown.
That work, department chair Ronald Castellano noted, is rigorous, scholarly and has “opened new ground” for chemical biology.
Butcher’s research extends beyond basic discovery into areas with direct human relevance. Her group has identified additional compounds with activity against cancer cells and is working to understand how they function. Because many of the signaling systems she studies are shared across nematode species, her findings may ultimately help develop new ways to control parasites that pose global agricultural and public health challenges.
In addition to her research contributions, Butcher trains undergraduate and graduate students — the next generation of scientists working at the intersection of chemistry and biology. Her work has been widely published in leading journals and supported by major federal grants, reflecting both its impact and continued momentum.