Alyson F Brokaw, PhD

Behavioral Ecologist & Bat Scientist

I WROTE A BOOK!

The Weird and Wonderful World of Bats

These woefully misunderstood creatures dwell in darkness, inspire fear, and threaten danger. They’ve been viewed as the pawns of evil deities and taken the undeserved blame for the spread of deadly viruses. The Weird and Wonderful World of Bats provides a fresh introduction to these curious flying mammals, explaining how they experience the world through unique senses, where and how they fly, the origins of their complex relationships with humans, and how we can learn from them—not only to coexist, but potentially grow healthier and wiser together.

Over 180 personality-filled photographs showcase the rich diversity of bats from all over the world.

Releasing February 11, 2025!

Get yours:

I am a behavioral and sensory ecologist, focused on olfactory navigation and integration in mammals.

Currently I am a postdoctoral researcher at Lehigh University, where I am studying the behavioral algorithms mice use to follow odors.

I completed my PhD in the Smotherman lab at Texas A&M University. My dissertation research focused on understanding how bats use smell while foraging, with an emphasis on the behavioral strategies they use to locate odor sources.

I am also broadly interested in foraging behaviors, animal decision-making, social interactions and evolutionary morphology of bats and other mammals.

I am interested in learning more about how animals navigate their environment using olfaction and other senses, how sensory inputs are integrated during foraging and decision-making, how sensory behaviors are influenced by environmental and evolutionary processes, and how these behaviors might be affected by environmental changes such as climate change.

I am also passionate about science communication and outreach. You can find me talking bats on Instagram and TikTok. I am also a contributor to Bat Conservation International’s bat blog!

Alyson F Brokaw
Postdoctoral Researcher, Lehigh University
Ph.D, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Texas A&M University
M.Sc, Biology, Humboldt State University
B.Sc, Biological Sciences, Cornell University

afbrokaw[at]gmail[dot]com
@alyb_batgirl
Google Scholar

Got questions about bats? Looking for a bat scientist or author to talk with your classroom or group? Please reach out! Talking about bats is *literally* my favorite thing!