Anne Danielson-Francois, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Biological Sciences
Anne Danielson-Francois
College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters
Natural Sciences
313-593-4995

Teaching Areas:

Biological Sciences, Master of Science in Environmental Science

Research Areas:

Animal Behavior, Evolutionary Biology

Biography and Education

  • Ph.D., Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, 2002
  • M.A., Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, 1999
  • B.A., Biology, Swarthmore College, 1990

My research bridges ecology, evolution, and behavior to explore how sexual selection shapes sperm competition, how genetic variation in mating behavior is maintained in natural populations, and the impact of urbanization on arthropods in riparian ecosystems.

Selected Publications

  • Bleakley, B. and A. Danielson-François. Behavioral Genetics: Beyond Nature and Nurture, in Animal Behavior: Volume I Causation and Development, K. Yasukawa ed. Westport, Praeger Publishers. Published Jan 2014.
  • Bowlin, M., McLeer, D. and Danielson-François, A. 2014. Spiders in motion: Demonstrating adaptation, structure-function relationships, and trade-offs in invertebrates. Advances in Physiology Education, 38:71-79.
  • Danielson-François, A., Hou, C., Cole*, N., and I-M. Tso. 2012. Scramble competition for molting females as a driving force for extreme male dwarfism in spiders. Animal Behavior, 84: 937-945.
  • Danielson-François, A., Y. Zhou, and M. D. Greenfield. 2009. Indirect genetic effects and the lek paradox. Genetica, 136: 27-36.

Awards and Recognition

  • Undergraduate Diversity Research Scholarships awarded to three research students, Evolution meetings, 2010.
  • University of Michigan-Dearborn Undergraduate Research Summer Fellowships, 2008, 2009, 2010.
  • Research Fellowship to Tunghai University, Tai'chung, Taiwan, Summer 2008.
  • Keystone Symposium Scholarship Winner, Natural Variation and Quantitative Genetics in Model Organisms, 2004.
  • Warder Clyde Allee Award Honorable Mention for Best Student Paper, Animal Behavior Society, 2002.
  • Dean’s Fellowship from the University of Arizona, 1999-2000.
  • Doctoral Fellowship from Analysis of Biological Diversification NSF Research Training Grant, Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, 1998.
  • Outstanding Teaching Award, 1997.