Alister joined the department in 2002 from the Institute for German Studies, University of Birmingham where he completed his PhD on German security policy and the European Union. Alister is interested in European and global security issues and all aspects of European integration.

Dr Miskimmon is a post-doctoral fellow on the European Foreign and Security Policy Studies Programme of the Compagnia di San Paolo - Riksbankens Jubileumsfond - VolkswagenStiftung for a research project entitled, "The Europeanisation of National Strategic Planning: National and European Union level policy adaptation and maladaptation within the framework of the European Security and Defence Policy." This research project will last for two years from August 2005 – August 2007. He has received a grant of 260,000 Swedish Crowns to fund this project.

Alister is Director of European Studies and Co-Director, alongside Dr James Sloam, of the department’s new Centre for European Politics.

Alister is External Examiner on the Masters in European Studies, Kings College London.