Dr. Alison Robertson, Ph.D. is a professor and extension field crops pathologist in Department of Plant Pathology, Microbiology and Entomology at Iowa State University. Dr. Robertson has statewide responsibility for management of diseases of field crops. In that role she coordinates and provide leadership for corn and soybean disease diagnosis and management information, and education programs for corn and soybean farmers and agribusiness professionals throughout Iowa. Through her Extension activities, she strives to increase the plant pathology expertise of her clientele to facilitate more effective disease management. She routinely works with farmers to make decisions around the need to use antifungals to control disease loss and assure food security.

Dr. Robertson’s research focuses on diseases caused by fungal and oomycete pathogens and examines how agronomic practices—such as resistant varieties, fungicide applications, cover crops, planting dates, and crop rotation—affect disease development.

Dr. Robertson holds an M.Phil. in Plant Pathology from the University of Zimbabwe, and a Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from Clemson University.