Barry Pittendrigh

Barry Pittendrigh is an Adjunct Professor and Lab Director in the Department of Entomology at Michigan State University (MSU). Previously, he held the C.W. Kerns, C.L. Metcalf and W.P. Flint Endowed Chair in Insect Toxicology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (2008-2016) and was a faculty member at Purdue University (2000-2008). He earned his Doctorate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (1999) and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Germany (1999).

His research focuses on structural and functional genomics of insecticide resistance, population genetics of pest species, and international development strategies for agricultural systems. Key projects include sequencing the human body louse genome and developing pest management strategies for cowpea crops in West Africa. He co-founded Scientific Animations Without Borders (SAWBO), a platform delivering accessible educational content to diverse global audiences through animated videos.

Pittendrigh’s work bridges laboratory research with practical applications:

• Genomic approaches to study detoxification mechanisms and resistance evolution in Drosophila
• Functional genomics of human lice to understand parasitic adaptations
• High-throughput extension systems for disseminating agricultural knowledge

His outreach efforts emphasize technology-driven solutions to address literacy and language barriers in agricultural education. Recent initiatives include using animated videos to combat misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic and promoting pest management practices in Bangladesh and Burkina Faso.