Brian F Allan

Professor Brian F Allan is a faculty member at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, serving as Professor of Entomology and Associate Director for Academic Affairs in the School of Integrative Biology. He is further affiliated with the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA), the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, and the Center for African Studies.

Education:

• PhD, 2009, Washington University in St. Louis

Research Interests:

Professor Allan’s research program investigates the ecology of infectious diseases, with a particular emphasis on vector-borne pathogens transmitted by ticks and mosquitoes. His work explores how climate change and human land-use alter wildlife communities and, consequently, the risk of human exposure to parasites and pathogens. Integrating molecular techniques, remote sensing, and theoretical modeling, his lab seeks to predict and mitigate emerging disease threats in both temperate and tropical regions.

Key focal systems include Lyme disease, Kyasanur Forest disease, dengue, and West Nile virus. By examining landscape-level drivers—such as invasive plants, livestock-wildlife interactions, and urban storm-water infrastructure—the Allan Lab translates ecological insights into actionable public health and conservation strategies.

Scientific Awards & Honors:
No specific awards are listed in the provided materials.

Graduate Advising & Mentorship:

Professor Allan mentors a vibrant team of graduate researchers and has trained numerous PhD and MS students who now hold positions in academia, government, and public health. Current advisees include:

• Derek McFarland, PhD Student, PEEC
• Fahren Zackery, PhD Student, PEEC
• Maria Munoz, PhD Student, PEEC
• Caylee Chan, MS Student, PEEC

Laboratory & Collaborations:
The Allan Lab is housed in 337 Morrill Hall on the Urbana campus. The group maintains active collaborations across disciplines—including genomics, computational biology, veterinary medicine, and social sciences—both within Illinois and with international partners in Kenya, India, and Vietnam. These partnerships leverage the University’s unique resources, such as the NCSA supercomputing facilities and the Illinois Global Institute’s area-studies centers.