In December 2025, the Leakey Foundation awarded research grants to 30 scientists advancing our understanding of human origins, evolution, and behavior. Among them is Becca DeCamp, a PhD candidate at Rutgers University, whose work examines how environmental seasonality shapes reproductive biology in primates.
Becca’s dissertation focuses on how seasonal changes in temperature and light cycles influence male reproductive function, particularly sperm production, in primates. Their research centers on the gray mouse lemur, a small nocturnal primate native to Madagascar that reproduces highly seasonally, during only a few weeks per year. Working in collaboration with the Center for Research in Microcebus murinus (CREMm) in Brunoy, France, they are studying a captive colony of gray mouse lemurs to investigate how reproductive systems respond to seasonal pressures.
At the core of their project is a fundamental biological question: how do testicular functions shift between breeding and nonbreeding seasons? Becca is especially interested in the molecular mechanisms that regulate these changes. By examining which genes are activated in the testes during the breeding season, they aim to understand how sperm production is initiated, halted, and resumed across seasonal cycles.
In particular, their work explores how mouse lemurs seasonally regulate fertility at the cellular level. In some animals, sperm production stops through the destruction of developing cells, while in others it is paused through cellular interactions within the testes. Becca seeks to determine how these processes operate in mouse lemurs, including whether other protective functions of the testes, such as shielding sperm from immune responses or oxidative stress, are also seasonally regulated.
Becca’s path to this research began during their undergraduate studies, where they developed a strong interest in evolutionary biology and genetics. A course on primate evolution introduced them to lemurs and surprising gaps in knowledge about their evolutionary history. Despite often being described as “primitive,” lemurs have undergone over 50 million years of adaptation in Madagascar’s unique ecological environment.
At the same time, their undergraduate research on the evolution of olfaction in primates revealed that traits often assumed to be ancestral in lemurs may instead reflect adaptive changes. These experiences shaped their decision to pursue graduate study and to use modern genomic tools to better understand lemur evolution.
Their current work has broader implications for understanding primate and human evolution. While lemurs are the most seasonal breeders among the primates, seasonal reproduction is not unique to them. It has been observed across primates, including in human populations, where seasonal environmental conditions can influence reproductive timing. Madagascar represents an especially extreme case, with unpredictable weather patterns, limited resources, and strong seasonal variation in temperature. By studying how mouse lemur reproduction adapts to these conditions, Becca’s research contributes to a deeper understanding of how environmental pressures shape reproductive strategies across primates.
Becca DeCamp doing fieldwork in Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar
The Leakey Foundation grant builds directly on Becca’s earlier support from the National Science Foundation. While their NSF-funded work examines overall molecular changes in the testes, this new funding allows them to take the research further by identifying which specific cell types are responsible for those changes using single-nucleus RNA sequencing.
For Becca, this project represents years of sustained effort. From designing and redesigning the study, to securing collaborations and ethical approvals across institutions and countries, the work has been long in development. A recent visit to France to observe the first round of sample collection marked a major milestone. Seeing the project finally take shape, after years of preparation, has been one of the most rewarding moments of Becca’s doctoral training.
Looking ahead, Becca hopes to build a long-term research program focused on the reproductive biology of mouse lemurs, both in captive settings and in the wild in Madagascar. Their goal is to understand not only reproduction, but also how it interacts with other biological systems such as immunity. Ultimately, they aim to establish themself as a leading scholar in this field and continue advancing research on primate evolution through integrative genomic approaches.
Reflecting on their journey, Becca offers clear advice to other graduate students: persistence matters. Securing external funding often requires multiple attempts, resilience, and a willingness to apply broadly. Their own experience, which included several rejections before success, underscores the importance of continuing to refine and resubmit proposals.
Through their work, Becca DeCamp is contributing to a deeper understanding of how environmental forces shape reproductive biology across primates, offering insights that extend from Madagascar’s forests to the broader story of human evolution.
Becca’s achievement is a great example of what is possible at the School of Graduate Studies at Rutgers. Our doctoral students are encouraged to take on ambitious, interdisciplinary work that speaks to real questions in their fields. With strong mentorship, access to the right tools, and ongoing support for their professional growth, SGS creates the kind of environment where students can pursue meaningful research and successfully compete for major external funding.