Rebecca Ursin, MS, PhD

Within a decade of earning her undergraduate degree at DePaul, Rebecca (Becca) Ursin, MS, PhD, has distinguished herself as both a decorated scientist and champion for diversity in STEM. From her beginnings as a standout student-athlete to her current role leading cutting-edge immunology projects at one of the world’s foremost pharmaceutical companies, Becca’s journey reflects resilience, dedication, the bolstering of diverse voices, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

Becca has won multiple awards for her work at the bench and in the scientific community, including the New Investigator Award from the Organization for the Study of Sex Differences and lifetime achievement honors from the Johns Hopkins Delta Omega Society. Equally impressive is her dedication to advancing equity in science: she founded, chaired, and coordinated several diversity and inclusion initiatives at Johns Hopkins, co-directed the Ragon Women in STEM Empowerment group, and continues to champion representation today through leadership roles in the industry.

As a scientist at Astra Zeneca, Becca leads projects aimed at developing first- and best-in-class therapeutics against autoimmune disease indications. Her path—from presenting  undergraduate research at DePaul, to earning advanced degrees at Georgetown and Johns Hopkins, to postdoctoral training at the Ragon Institute of Harvard, MIT, and MGH—demonstrates not only her scientific rigor but also her determination to open doors for others.

As a student at DePaul, Becca became interested in Dr. Jingjing Kipp’s reproductive biology and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) research, as she had been diagnosed with PCOS only a few years before. Now a new mother, Becca credits research like Dr. Kipp’s for helping women with PCOS build families and opening doors to young, enthusiastic undergraduates like herself.

Becca's achievements in discovery, leadership, and advocacy embody the highest ideals of our alumni community. She stands as a role model for women in science and an inspiring example of how dedication and vision can transform both a field and the lives of those within it.