Andrew Read

Andrew Read is the Senior Vice President for Research at Pennsylvania State University and holds dual titles as Evan Pugh Professor (Penn State's highest faculty honor) and Eberly Professor of Biotechnology within the Department of Biology. His research bridges evolutionary biology, ecology, and infectious disease, with a focus on understanding how pathogens evolve resistance to drugs and vaccines, particularly in malaria and bacterial infections.

Key areas of investigation include the evolution of virulence, drug resistance dynamics, and the ecological interactions between pathogens (e.g., Plasmodium parasites, myxoma virus), their hosts (including mosquitoes and rabbits), and environmental factors. He has pioneered studies on the evolutionary consequences of vaccination campaigns and antimicrobial therapies, emphasizing strategies to mitigate resistance emergence.

• Roles: Senior VP for Research, Department of Biology Professor, Entomology faculty affiliate
• Former Leadership: Director of Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences (2008–2020)

His work integrates field studies, experimental evolution, and mathematical modeling. Notable contributions include demonstrating how combination therapies can delay antibiotic resistance and uncovering evolutionary pathways of viruses like myxoma in wild rabbit populations. Read has also engaged in high-profile discussions on research policy, including executive actions impacting scientific funding.

• Awards: Evan Pugh Professorship, Eberly Chair in Biotechnology
• Labs/Teams: Leads interdisciplinary teams in the Huck Institutes and collaborates with global health organizations

Recent research highlights include developing biomaterials to prevent antibiotic resistance evolution and studying SARS-CoV-2 transmission dynamics in university settings. His work bridges fundamental science with real-world applications in public health and clinical medicine.