Allison Alberts
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Allison C. Alberts | |
|---|---|
 Alberts in 2019 | |
| Born | October 13, 1960 San Francisco, California, United States |
| Alma mater | University of California at Berkeley, B.A., University of California at San Diego, Ph.D. |
| Known for | Herpetology, Conservation Biology |
Allison Christine Alberts (born October 13, 1960) is an American herpetologist and conservation biologist. She began her career at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance in 1990 as a postdoctoral fellow, eventually serving as the zoo's Chief Conservation Officer and Benirschke Chair of Research from 2005 to 2020, the first woman in that role.[1][2] She is known for her work with rock iguanas, Komodo dragons, sea turtles, desert tortoises, and native California lizards and snakes,[3] and she is the author of more than 100 scientific and popular articles and three books.[4]
Alberts received her B.A. in biology from the University of California at Berkeley in 1982 and her Ph.D. from the University of California at San Diego in 1989. Her dissertation focused on chemical communication in the desert iguana, including the first demonstration of visual sensitivity to ultraviolet light in a reptile species.[5]
Career
Alberts began her career at the San Diego Zoo in 1990, working primarily with the highly endangered rock iguanas of the Caribbean.[6] She led a team that conducted a decade of research on the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, using the Cuban iguana as a model species. The work focused on headstarting, temporary alteration of social structure to enhance genetic diversity, and educational outreach to base residents.[7][8][9]
In 2005, Alberts was named Chief Conservation Officer and Benirschke Chair of Research for San Diego Zoo Global (now San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance). During her tenure, the research staff grew to 200 science professionals working in 38 countries.[2] Major initiatives included global species recovery programs, genetic banking, community-based conservation, and addressing wildlife trafficking and climate change.[10][11][12] Since retiring from the Zoo in 2020, Alberts has served as Senior Advisor for the strategic planning firm Ecoleaders.[13]
