Adrian Brennan

Dr Adrian Brennan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biosciences at the University of Durham, UK. He holds leadership roles including Academic Lead of the Durham Genomics and Bioinformatics Facility (since 2024), Academic Director of Durham Botanic Garden (since 2022), and Deputy International Exchange Coordinator (since 2023). His research focuses on the genomic basis of adaptive trait variation, speciation, hybridization, and invasive species biology, primarily in plants like Linum (flax), Haeterina damselflies, and Centaurea solstitialis. He has a PhD (DPhil) and BA from the University of Oxford.

Research Interests:

• Genetic architecture of adaptive traits
• Plant speciation and hybridization
• Invasive species genomics
• Domestication and crop wild relatives

Teaching: Coordinates the Genomics course and teaches Evolution, Genes and Diversity workshops, and Research Skills at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. He actively supervises PhD and MSc students in flax genetics, wildflower seed mix efficacy, and plant breeding.

Editorial Roles: Associate editor for Frontiers in Plant Science, AoB Plants, and Evolutionary Ecology. His recent publications (2020–2025) span genomic analyses of hybrid speciation, plant invasion mechanisms, and crop disease resistance.