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Dr. Christine McAllister

Professor of Biology and Natural Resources · Chair of the Ecology & Ecosystem Management Department

Center for Sustainability, Ecology, & Chemistry

Dr. Christine McAllister joined the Department of Biology and Natural Resources in 1999 and is currently serving as head of the Math and Natural Sciences Unit. Her courses focus on botany, plant ecology, and conservation genetics, and she also maintains an active research program in these fields, centered around engaging undergraduate students in research. A big proponent of Principia's study abroad programs, McAllister has led numerous programs to New Zealand, Yellowstone National Park, and Dominica.

Education

  • PhD, Biology, Saint Louis University
  • MS, Kansas State University
  • BS, Principia College

Scholarly Interests

  • Botany
  • Grassland ecology
  • Plant ecophysiology
  • Plant population genetics

Memberships & Affiliations

  • Botanical Society of America
  • National Association of Biology Teachers

Publications & Presentations

  • McAllister, CA and AJ Miller. 2016. "SNP discovery via genotyping-by-sequencing for assessment of population genetic structure and recurrent polyploidization in big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)." American Journal of Botany 103:1314–1325.
  • Thompkins, RD, CA McAllister, and S Bloom. 2015. "Ploidy levels for some remnant eastern big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) populations: implications for their conservation and restoration." Ecological Restoration 33:289–296.
  • McAllister CA, RA Blaine, P Kron, B Bennett*, H Garrett*, J Kidson*, B Matzenbacher*, A Glotzbach*,and AJ Miller. 2015. "Environmental Correlates of Cytotype Distribution in Andropogon gerardii (Poaceae)." American Journal of Botany 102:92–102.
  • *Principia undergrad co-authors
  • For additional publications and presentations, please see the CV below.

Awards

  • National Science Foundation grant DEB-1427769, Evolution of dispersal and pollination in ecologically dominant grasses. PI: Elizabeth Kellogg (Danforth Plant Science Center), 2014
  • Undergraduate Research Grant (for involving undergraduate students in research), Principia College, 2012 and 2013
  • Best Poster, Genetics Section, Botanical Society of America, 2012
  • Faculty Research Grant, Principia College, 2012