About Allison

I am an Associate Professor (and currently Associate Head of Department) in the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior in the College of Biological Sciences at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities.

My research uses math to understand the similarities -- and reconcile the differences -- across species. In particular, I am fascinated by movement: a behavior found in all organisms that is often adaptable on short time scales, and influences the ecology and evolution of populations. I am interested in the factors that drive organisms to move, the consequences of movement, and feedback between these two. Most recently I have been focused on how the causes and consequences of long-distance movement are shaped by interspecific interactions (especially mutualism, parasitism, and pathogens). Generally, I construct either analytic or simulation models, which are fantastic tools for studying the interface between ecological and evolutionary processes.

About my lab community

• I believe that fostering a diversity of voices in science is both the just thing to do and leads to better science overall (read my thoughts on the role of diversity for theory in biology).
• I am committed to providing a safe and equitable lab environment; a commitment I realize in part through clear communication of lab expectations and regular self-assessments.
• My lab community consists of both lab members and so-called 'friends of the lab', You can read more about these folks and their research interests (which often diverge from mine).
• My lab and friends recently developed a framework of personas that researchers can use to frame theoretical research questions