Allison Neal studies parasites, especially how they interact with each other and their hosts. She earned her B.A. and Ph.D. in biology from the University of Vermont.
Neal’s research on the evolution and ecology of parasites currently focuses trematodes in Vermont, though she also works with lizard malaria parasites in California (this was the focus of her Ph.D. work). This research combines fieldwork, microscopy, and population genetics. Neal and her students collect snails and catch lizards, examine amazing parasites with a microscope, and analyze the genetics of parasites and their hosts.
Neal teaches a variety of classes at Norwich, including parasitology, ecology, evolution, genetics, microbiology, and introductory biology. She also co-directs the Vermont Science Fair and loves getting students of all ages involved in science.
Contact Information
U148
1 (802) 485-2343
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Publications
Neal, A.T. (2021) Distribution of clones among hosts for the lizard malaria parasite Plasmodium mexicanum. PeerJ 9: e12448
Neal, A. T., Ross, M. S., Schall, J. J. and Vardo-Zalik, A. M. (2016) Genetic differentiation over a small spatial scale of the sand fly Lutzomyia vexator (Diptera: Psychodidae). Parasites and Vectors 9: 550.
Neal, A. T. and Taylor, P. D. (2014). Local mate competition and transmission bottlenecks: a new model for understanding malaria parasite and other sex ratios. Journal of Theoretical Biology 363: 381-389.
Neal, A. T. and Schall, J. J. (2014). Testing sex ratio theory with the malaria parasite Plasmodium mexicanum in natural and experimental infections. Evolution 68: 1071 - 1081.
Neal, A. T. and Schall, J. J. (2014) Life history focus on a malaria parasite: linked traits and variation among genetic clones. Evolutionary Ecology 28: 89-102.
Neal, A. T. and Poulin, R. (2012) Substratum preference of Philophthalmus sp. cercariae for cyst formation under natural and experimental conditions. Journal of Parasitology 98: 293-298
Neal, A. T. (2011) Male gametocyte fecundity and sex ratio of a malaria parasite,Plasmodium mexicanum. Parasitology 138: 1203-1210.
Neal, A. T. and Schall, J. J. (2010) Gametocyte sex ratio in single-clone infections of the malaria parasite Plasmodium mexicanum. Parasitology 137: 1851-1859.
