Lisa Sheina McAllister, a doctoral student in the Integrative Anthropological Sciences unit of the Department of Anthropology, has spent 21 months in Bolivia and Belize conducting fieldwork for her research. Lisa's research on Human Behavioral Ecology focuses on the impact of the environment and other critical factors (e.g., security, power, migration) on family planning, health, and child development.
Lisa has a B.S. in Biology with an emphasis in Zoology, an M.S. in Evolutionary Psychology, and an M.A. in Anthropology. Lisa is excited to add a Ph.D. to the list of her achievements when she graduates in 2014.
Lisa took the time to share details of her research, her experiences as a graduate student, and how her son and husband keep her motivated as she finishes her dissertation.
Tell us a little about your research and how you came to choose the topic.
Lisa Sheina McAllisterMy active research is among a population of South American forager-horticulturalists, the Tsimane of Bolivia. This research has two foci: (1) how changing environments affect women’s and men’s fertility preferences and fertility, and consequently women’s reproductive health and autonomy; and (2) how adolescent mothers’ resource allocation – among the competing demands of growth, reproduction and somatic maintenance – affect their and their children’s health, growth, and development.
In addition, I am preparing, with colleagues, grants to begin a new long-term project in 2015-16 with Garifuna populations in Belize and their migrant relatives in the United States. My part of this project will focus on the local causes of international migration, including environmental degradation, climate change, and economic and health insecurity, and how international migration affects: (1) household security and vulnerability; (2) household division of labor and power; (3) family planning and health; and (4) childhood growth and development.
Lisa Sheina McAllister's research focuses on a population of South American forager-horticulturalists, the Tsimane of Bolivia. Here are Tsimane children with their mother. Credit: Lisa Sheina McAllisterI became interested in women’s and men’s fertility preferences through my master's thesis in the U.K. My M.A. thesis focused on parental investment decisions based on sibship size and sex, and their cross-generational outcomes. My interest in parental investment stemmed from my own family dynamic and observing how the differential investment decisions of my grandparents had affected their children and grandchildren. I came to UCSB to continue this research but upon spending my first six months working with the Tsimane I realized there were a few more immediate and salient questions that “needed” answering among this group and others like them. I also had many men and women ask me questions about their fertility and family planning. So, I changed my focus slightly and began working in family planning and fertility preferences – an earlier stage of parental investment than I had originally planned. The final questions I formulated for my Ph.D. studies were based on personal observations among the Tsimane and Tsimane peoples' requests for more information, and what was academically interesting and fundable.
What has graduate student life been like for you?
It was an upward struggle. I left the U.K. to move to the U.S. for my Ph.D. as I wanted to be an anthropologist but my original training was in biology. The U.S. system of M.A. then Ph.D., I hoped, would provide me the training in anthropological theory and methods I was lacking. The UCSB Integrative Anthropological Sciences Ph.D. is a little less structured than I had planned. But, it turned out to be a great program for me once I got over the initial shock. The fact that there are few core classes has allowed me to focus on my direct interests and take classes across campus at the Bren School and Psychology, Geography, and Math departments, to name a few. This has provided me with a breadth of knowledge that allows me to be multidisciplinary (a growing necessity in the social sciences) and helped me form cross-campus collaborations. And, I have still managed to ground myself in anthropological theory and methodology with the help of my great mentors (all professors in the Anthropology Department at UCSB): Michael Gurven, Susan Stonich, Aaron Blackwell, and Steve Gaulin.
What has been a source of motivation or drive for you in your graduate studies?
Lisa with son, Sean Levenson, and husband, Robert LevensonFieldwork and my husband have been my main motivators. My first time in Bolivia, and subsequent trips, working with the Tsimane has motivated my research interests and has driven me to become more applied in my work. When my resolve to finish my Ph.D. flags, I look to my husband. My husband is a Ph.D. student in the Chemistry department at UCSB. He never gives up and is obsessed with his research. It is hard to be in a room with that kind of determination and passion and not also be inspired.
Name an accomplishment you are most proud of.
In 2012 I received the Fiona Goodchild Award for Graduate Student Mentorship of an Undergraduate Student at UCSB. It was an awesome experience working with the undergraduate, Genie Garcia. It was inspiring to help Genie grow her original idea, form testable hypotheses, test them, learn quantitative methods and analyses, and create an impressive written thesis. It was especially rewarding to work with Genie, since at first she did not seem to think herself capable of writing an honors thesis. But by the end, her confidence, writing, and analytical skills had all improved. Genie also joined a colleague in the field in Bolivia for six months and is a co-author on a paper I have in prep. Seeing Genie grow as a researcher was great and getting the recognition of the Fiona Goodchild Award was a very proud moment for me.
Lisa conducting fieldwork with the TsimaneWhat do you do to relax? Any hobbies, collections, pastimes, favorite places to go, favorite things to do? Along these same lines, what makes you happy?
Spending time with my family makes me happy. I have a six-month-old son and spending quality time with him and my husband is my greatest joy. Whether this is at my son’s music or swimming class (yes, they have these for babies too), exploring the outdoors or snuggling in bed.
Since having my son I have little time for my own hobbies. My son and completing my Ph.D. are my top priorities. But I do enjoy going to the movies to completely switch off (when we can find/afford a babysitter), lunch with my girlfriends, a few at-home arts and crafts projects, and after my son has gone to bed, relaxing on the couch with my husband, playing board games, or watching Breaking Bad/Treme/Boardwalk Empire. I also attend a weekly mommy and me yoga class that helps reduce my stress.
What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
I am terrified of small heights (standing on a chair), but I am fine with big heights. No idea why. I have no memory of taking a serious fall from a chair.
What do you hope to be doing 5 or 10 years out of graduate school?
Tenured with my field site and project in Belize well established and funded. I also want to establish a field school in Belize with a focus on Human Behavioral Studies: Methods and Research. On a personal note, I hope to have another child and that my family remains healthy and happy.
Do you have any advice for current grad students?
If you are unhappy in your Ph.D. program or thinking of quitting, talk to people. Bottling it up will not make it go away or help motivate you. Talking to others, such as an older student in the program, your advisor, or a mentor, will help you work out what is right for you and what you need to do to move forward.
Also, network within your department and across your campus and other campuses. Collaborations will help you get publications, grants, job offers, and help drive your own research interest and motivation.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Stay focused and get it done! Good luck, fellow grad students; I will see you on the other side.