Alison Norton '26

Alison is concentrating in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and plans to attend graduate school to obtain her PhD after graduation. In the summer she has worked at the Boyce Thompson Institute Research Experience for Undergraduates (2023), and the Caltech Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (2024). She conducts research in the area of chemical ecology in the Jander Lab at the Boyce Thompson Institute. This lab studies the interactions between plants and insects on the chemical level. Her main project involves determining the chemical pathway for the synthesis of defensive metabolites called cardiac glycosides in milkweed. She is also a CALS ambassador and member of the dance team BASE productions. When she wants to relax, she walks around the natural areas on campus. This includes the Botanic Gardens, Mundy Wildflower Garden, the A.D. White House garden, and Beebe Lake. For fun, she typically goes to the Ithaca Mall or the Commons with friends.

Doreen's words of advice to incoming students:

“When I was starting out, I was very worried about fulfilling major requirements and only chose classes that I was certain would count towards one. If there is a class that sounds interesting to you but you are worried taking it may put you behind because it isn't fulfilling a requirement, you should take it! It is your first semester here and you should take something that sounds fun. There is enough time to do so and still graduate on time. At the very least, it will count towards the total number of credits you need to graduate.”

College: CALS

Tutoring: BIOMG 1350, MATH 1110, BIOEE 1610, BIOEE 1780, BIOMG 2800

Email: ajn63 [at] cornell.edu