Aimee Dunlap

Aimee Dunlap is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Missouri-Saint Louis, affiliated with the College of Arts and Sciences. Her research explores the intersection of evolutionary biology and cognitive ecology, focusing on how environmental variability shapes animal cognition and decision-making mechanisms.

• Ph.D., University of Minnesota
• M.S., Northern Arizona University
• B.S./B.A., University of Memphis

The Dunlap Cognitive Ecology Lab, affiliated with the Whitney R. Harris World Ecology Center and Center for Neurodynamics, investigates:

• Evolutionary origins of cognitive traits
• Adaptive foraging strategies in bees
• Social information vs. personal experience
• Effects of urbanization on pollinator behavior
• Integrating molecular mechanisms with natural history

Her recent publications analyze trends in urban bee ecology, decision theory, and experimental evolution. She received the UMSL Research Award and teaches courses including Behavioral Ecology and Evolution of Cognition. Lab members have defended theses on topics like cicada behavior and sensory ecology.