Daniel Cristol

Professor Daniel Cristol is a Chancellor Professor in the Biology Department at the College of William and Mary, where he also directs the 1693 Scholars Program. He joined the university in 1996 after postdoctoral work at Oxford University and the University of California-Davis. His research focuses on ecotoxicology of mercury in birds, behavioral ecology, and ornithology. Cristol holds a B.S. in Biology from Cornell University (1985) and a Ph.D. in Biology from Indiana University (1993).

His research explores mercury's impacts on avian physiology, behavior, and ecology, with studies on spatial cognition, reproductive success, and developmental biology in songbirds like zebra finches. He has secured significant grants totaling over $3M from NSF, DuPont, and other organizations. Notable awards include the 2007 Outstanding Faculty Award from the State Council of Higher Education in Virginia.

Cristol's work extends to interdisciplinary projects like the Shenandoah River mercury study, examining contaminant movement across ecosystems. He investigates how golf courses and agricultural land use affect bird populations, and studies evolutionary traps caused by mercury pollution. His teaching includes courses on Animal Behavior, Ornithology, and introductory biology.

Recent projects include analyzing mercury's effects on cognitive functions and spatial learning, as well as its role in altering sexual selection traits and sex ratios in animals. Collaborations span ecotoxicology, behavioral neuroscience, and conservation biology, with a focus on translating findings into environmental policy and management strategies.