Dr. Allison Merrow Tracy

Assistant Professor · Tenure-Track

Department of Marine Biotechnology

College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences

She/Her/Hers/Herself

About

Dr. Allison Tracy is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (UMBC/UMB-IMET). Research in the Tracy Lab focuses on the health of marine ecosystems in a changing ocean, including the ecology and evolution of host-parasite interactions and the microbiome, spatial ecology, fisheries management, and restoration. Prior to joining IMET, Dr. Tracy conducted research on oysters at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Edgewater, MD. She completed her PhD at Cornell University in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Dr. Tracy graduated with a BA from Princeton University in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology with a minor in Spanish Languages and Culture.

Research interests

Ecology and evolution of host-parasite interactions, the microbiome, biodiversity, spatial ecology, foundation species health, restoration, fisheries

Teaching interests

Disease ecology, eco-evo dynamics, scientific writing, natural history

Education

  • Ph D, Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyCornell University (2019)
    The Environment and Co-Infection Mediate Disease Risk in Corals through Impacts on the Microbiome and Immunity
  • AB, Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyPrinceton University (2010)
    The Impact of Chronic Stress on Immunity and Reproductive Hormones in Zebu Cattle (Bos indicus)