معرفی
Sonia M. Altizer is a Professor and Department Head of Entomology at the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Her research focuses on the intersection of insect ecology, animal migrations, and the ecology of infectious diseases in natural populations. With a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota and a B.S. from Duke University, she has established herself as a leading expert on monarch butterfly migration and disease dynamics. Her work combines field studies, laboratory experiments, and mathematical modeling to understand host-parasite interactions in migratory systems.
- Ph.D. – University of Minnesota
- B.S. – Duke University
Dr. Altizer investigates how migration affects disease transmission in wildlife populations, with particular emphasis on monarch butterflies and their protozoan parasites. Her research explores the evolution of host resistance, parasite virulence, and the impacts of climate change and anthropogenic factors on these interactions. She has pioneered studies on tropical milkweed's role in monarch disease risk and developed conservation strategies for declining migratory species.
Dr. Altizer's recent articles examine thermal tolerance in butterfly-parasite systems, migratory phenology shifts, and the consequences of resource supplementation for disease dynamics. These publications consistently address climate change effects, pesticide impacts, and conservation-oriented solutions across ecological, evolutionary, and epidemiological contexts.
- 2025: UGA Distinguished Research Professor
- 2024: Fellow, Ecological Society of America
- 2020: AAAS Fellow
- 2018: Lamar Dodd Creative Research Award
- 2016: Lothar Tresp Outstanding Honors Professor
- 2014: UGA Athletic Association Professor of Ecology
- 2008: Presidential Early Career Award in Science and Engineering (PECASE)
- 2008: UGA Award for Teaching Excellence
As head of the Altizer Lab (altizerlab.org), she leads interdisciplinary research teams investigating migratory animal health, with applications to conservation policy and practice. Her work has shaped understanding of how human-altered landscapes affect disease risks in wildlife populations, particularly for pollinators like monarch butterflies.
