Allan Larson

Allan Larson is a Professor of Biology and Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Biology at Washington University in St. Louis. His primary affiliations include the Arts & Sciences division and Bayer Lab 413. Research focuses on evolutionary biology, genetics, and the history of these disciplines, integrating molecular biology with natural history to study biogeography, genomic evolution, and developmental morphology in salamanders, lizards, and moray eels.

His work spans global ecosystems, including studies in the United States, Caribbean, Asia, Africa, South America, and the Indo-Pacific. Larson teaches courses on molecular evolution, macroevolution, and the history of evolutionary theory. He co-authored major zoology textbooks and collaborates on digital resources like the online primary sources collection of evolutionary theory with Dr. Garland Allen.

Publications emphasize theoretical frameworks in evolution and educational materials. No specific grants or awards are listed, but his contributions to undergraduate education and textbook development highlight his pedagogical impact. Research continues to explore genetic structures of natural populations through phylogenetic and population genetics approaches.