Allison Cruikshank Research Teaching CV

About Me

I am a fourth-year PhD candidate in mathematics at Duke. Previously, I was an undergraduate at University of Nebraska-Lincoln where I earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Biochemistry. I study mathematical biology and am interested in the mathematical modeling of human physiological processes to answer and inform questions in medicine. I plan to obtain a career in the biotech/pharmaceutical industry after graduation and am interested in PK/PD and QSP modeling for drug development.

I grew up Columbus, Nebraska and graduated from a high school in Lincoln, Nebraska. In my spare time, I enjoy running, reading, and spending time with my family.

Email:
Office: Gross Hall 304

me

Research

Currently, I am focusing on two biological systems: sex differences in oxidative stress management and interactions between neurotransmitters in the brain and their implications in neurological diseases. In these projects I work with systems of ordinary differential equations to model the biochemistry of liver metabolism and neurotrasmitter synthesis, respectively. These dynamical systems offer insight into compelling mathematical questions, such as periodic forcing within nonlinear ordinary differential equations, while also being instrumental in analyzing and addressing biological questions.

Publications

Graduate Work

  1. [2024] Sergio Mena, Allison Cruikshank, Janet Best, H. Frederick Nijhout, Michael C. Reed, Parastoo Hashemi. "Modulation of Serotonin Transporter Expression by Escitalopram under Inflammation; Implications for SSRI Effectiveness." Communications Biology. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-06240-3.

  2. [2024] Allison Cruikshank, Michael C. Reed, H. Frederick Nijhout. "Sex Differences in Glutathione Metabolism and Acetaminophen Toxicity." Metabolism and Target Organ Damage. https://doi.org/10.20517/mtod.2023.44.

  3. [2024] Anna Marie Buchanan, Sergio Mena, Iman Choukari, Aditya Vasa, Jesseca N. Crawford, Jim Fadel, Nick Maxwell, Lawrence Reagan, Allie Cruikshank, Janet Best, H. Frederick Nijhout, Michael Reed, Parastoo Hashemi. "Serotonin as a Biomarker of Toxin-Induced Parkinsonian." Molecular Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1186/s10020-023-00773-9.

  4. [2023] Allison Cruikshank, Janet Best, H. Frederick Nijhout, Michael C. Reed."Dynamical Questions in Volume Transmission." Journal of Biological Dynamics. https://doi.org/10.1080/17513758.2023.2269986.

    Undergraduate Work

  5. [2023] Madison Albert, Allison Cruikshank, Kausik Das, Luoding Zhu, Jared Barber. Image Digitization and Calculation of forces for osteocyte viscoelastic networks.

  6. [2023] Archer Harrold, Allison Cruikshank, Bryan Penas, Rebecca Roston. "Introducing High School Biology Students to Biochemistry with a Short, Content-Oriented Intervention." Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education. https://doi.org/10.1002/bmb.21782.

Teaching

Course Title Term Role
Math 111L Calculus 1 Fall 2022 Instructor of Record
Math 111L Calculus 1 Lab Fall 2021 Teaching Assistant