On Structured Models of Coordinating Systems
McAlister J. S. (2026) On Structured Models of Coordinating Systems. Dissertation at the University of Tennesse - Knoxville
CV
You can download a more complete version of my CV here. The overview is presented below.
Education
- Ph.D in Mathematics, University of Tennessee - Knoxville, 2026 (expected)
- M.S. in Mathematics, University of Tennessee - Knoxville, 2023
- B.S. in Mathematics (Mathematical Biology Concentration), The Ohio State University, 2021
- B.S. In Zoology, The Ohio State University, 2021
Publications
Classification of dynamics for a two person model of planned behavior
Dadlani R., McAlister J.S., Eissa T.L., Fefferman N.H (2026) Classification of dynamics for a two person model of planned behavior. preprint. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2506.13929
A game theoretic treatment of contagion in trade networks
McAlister J. S., Brunner, J.L., Galvin, D. J., Fefferman, N.H. (2025) A Game Theoretic Treatment of Contagion in Trade Networks.PLOS computational Biology. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1013845
A nonlinear nonlocal diffusion equation for the analysis of continuous coordination and anti-coordination type games
McAlister J.S., Fefferman, N.H. Mengesha, T.A. (2025) Nonlinear Nonlocal Diffusion Equation for the Analysis of Continuous Coordination and Anti-coordination Type Games. preprint. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2506.13929
Insights into the coordination game with neutral options through simulation
McAlister, J.S., Fefferman N. H. (2025) Insights into the coordination game withneutral options through simulation. Dynamic Games and Applications https://doi.org/10.1007/s13235-024-00612-4
Edge addition and the change in kemeny’s constant
Kirkland, S., Li, C., McAlister, J.S., and Zhang, X. (2023) Edge Addition and the Change in Kemeny's Constant. Discrete Applied Mathematics. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dam.2025.04.031
An interdisciplinary perspective of the built-environment microbiome
McAlister, J.S., M.J. Blum, Y. Bromberg, N.H. Fefferman, Q. He, E. Lofgren, D.L.Miller, C. Schreiner, K. Selcuk Candan, H. Szabo-Rogers, and J. M. Reed (2025) An Interdisciplinary Perspective of the Built-Environment Microbiome. FEMS Microbiology Ecology https://doi.org/10.1093/femsec/fiae166
A new paradigm for pandemic preparedness
Fefferman, N.H., McAlister, J.S., Akpa, B.S., Akwataghibe, K., Azad F.T., BarkleyK., Bleichrodt, A., Blum M.J., Bourouiba, L., Bromberg, Y., Candan K.S., Chowell,G.,Clancey, E., Cathroan, F.A., DeWitte, S.N., Fernandez, P., Finnoff, D., Flaherty, D.T.,Gibson, N.L., Harris, N., He, Q., Lofgren, E.T., Miller, D.L., Moody, J., Muccio, K.,Nunn, C.L., Papes, M., Pachalidis, I.Ch., Pasquale, D.K., Reed, M.J., Rogers, M. B.,Schreiner, C. L., Strand E.B., Swanson C.S., Szabo-Rodgers, H. L., and Ryan, S. J. (2023) A New Paradigm for Pandemic Preparedness. Current Epidemiological Reports. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40471-023-00336-w
An adaptive dynamic model of a vigilance game among group foragers
McAlister, J.S., Hamilton, I. (2022) An Adaptive Dynamic Model for the Vigilance Game in Group Foragers. Journal of Theoretical Biology. 538:111033. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtbi.2022.111030
Talks
Non-local models for eco-evolutionary processes
Talk at Interfacing Ecology and Evolution - Mini Symposium at Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey
On Structured Models of Coordinating Systems
Talk at Dissertation Defense at the University of Tennessee - Knoxville, Knoxville, Tennessee
On Structured Models of Coordinating Systems
Talk at Arizona State University School of Math and Natural Sciences Invited Seminar, Phoenix, AZ
Structured Coodination Games in the Plane
Talk at University of Tennessee - Knoxville Geometric Analysis Seminar, Knoxville, TN
Replicator Dynamics on Games with Spatial Structure
Talk at Joint Math Meetings 2026, Washington, DC
Replicator Dynamics with Spatial Structure for Evolutionary Games
Talk at University of Tennessee - Knoxville Mathematical Biology Seminar, Knoxville, TN
Replicator dynamics with spatial structure for evolutionary games
Talk at NSF APPEX Center Symmer Research Symposium, Knoxville, TN
Structured coordination in continuous spatial and strategic domains
Talk at AMETHYST: Game Theory in Complex Systems during the Conference on Complex Systems, Exeter, UK
The structured coordination game with neutral options
Talk at Mathematical Association of America South East Sectional Conference, Knoxville, TN, USA
Spatially structured coordination games and their applications in theoretical ecology
Talk at Oral Specialy Exam at the University of Tennessee - Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, USA
An adaptive dynamic model for the vigilance game in group foragers
Talk at SIAM graduate research showcase at the University of Tennessee - Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, USA
Teaching
Service and leadership
- 2022-2024: Member of the Graduate Student Teaching Advisory Council in the department of Mathematics at the University of Tennessee - Knoxville
- 2023-2024: Senator on the Graduate Student Senate at the university of Tennessee - Knoxville
- 2022-2023: President of the Math Gradute Student Council in the department of mathematics at the university of tennessee - Knoxville
Work experience
- 2022-Present Graduate Research Associate - Fefferman lab
- University of Tennessee - Knoxville
- Advisor: Dr. Nina Fefferman
- 2018-2021: Undergraduate Researcher - Hamilton Lab
- The Ohio State University
- Advisor: Dr. Ian Hamilton
- 2019: Undergraduate Research Fellow - Ecological Modeling of the Mississippi River Basin
- University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
- Advisors: Dr. Robert Allen, Dr. Anita Davelos, Dr. James Pierce, Dr. Greg Sandland
Software experience
- Proficient
- R
- Python
- MATLAB
- \(\LaTeX\)
- Mathematica
- Experienced
- C#
- Java
- Maple
- JMP
- NetLogo