Alison Pischedda

Alison Pischedda is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology, Neuroscience & Behavior at Barnard College, Columbia University. She joined the faculty in 2017 and leads the Pischedda Lab, which investigates the evolutionary and behavioral dynamics of sexual interactions in Drosophila melanogaster.

Education:

• BSc, MSc: Queen's University (Canada)
• PhD: University of California, Santa Barbara

Her research lies at the intersection of animal behavior, evolutionary biology, and genetics, with a focus on sexual selection and sexual conflict. She studies male mate choice, mating duration, and intralocus sexual conflict using experimental and genetic approaches. Her lab uses hemiclonal analysis to dissect how shared genomes influence sex-specific fitness.

The recent publications and research updates highlight a strong trend in understanding the hidden costs and benefits of prolonged copulation, male preferences for larger mates, genetic variation in mate choice, and body size evolution. These works reflect a deep engagement with behavioral ecology and evolutionary genetics, particularly in how reproductive behaviors evolve under conflicting selective pressures.

Scientific Awards:

• Tow Award for Innovative and Outstanding Pedagogy (2020)
• US National Academy of Sciences Kavli Fellow (2013, 2015)

She actively mentors students through guided research and senior thesis programs, teaching courses such as Animal Behavior and Laboratory in Animal Behavior. While specific advisees are not listed, her lab includes undergraduate researchers and lab technicians, indicating a strong commitment to training the next generation of scientists. The Pischedda Lab has been productive through the pandemic, maintaining research continuity and presenting at major conferences like the Evolution Meeting. The lab moved to Milbank Hall, reflecting institutional support and growth.

The lab is open to new students interested in fruit flies, sexual selection, and evolutionary genetics, emphasizing inclusivity and hands-on research training.