Kyle Benowitz

Kyle Benowitz is an Assistant Professor at Arizona State University's School of Applied Sciences and Arts. His research focuses on evolutionary genetics, particularly how social interactions influence evolution through indirect genetic effects (IGE). He uses burying beetles as a primary model organism to study genes associated with parental care and their evolutionary dynamics. Benowitz also collaborates on projects related to multilevel selection, insecticide resistance, and complex trait genetics in desert-adapted flies.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Genetics, University of Georgia, 2017
• B.A. in Biology, University of Virginia, 2012

Research Interests:

• Genomic and behavioral mechanisms of IGE
• Evolution of parental care in burying beetles
• Insecticide resistance in agricultural pests
• Genetic basis of social behavior transitions

Recent work highlights trends in genomic analysis of burying beetles, comparative genomics of Drosophila species, and studies on Bt crop resistance. His lab combines behavioral studies with quantitative and population genomic approaches.

Benowitz teaches courses in genetics and applied biological sciences at ASU. His research has been supported by grants focusing on IGE detection and evolutionary genomics.