Brendan Hunt

Brendan Hunt is an Associate Professor in the Department of Entomology at the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. His research focuses on understanding the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms underlying social behavior, genome regulation, and evolutionary adaptations in insects, particularly fire ants, wasps, and bees. Hunt’s work integrates genomics, molecular biology, and evolutionary theory to explore questions about social polymorphism, supergene evolution, and host-pathogen interactions.

Education details are not explicitly stated, but his extensive publication record indicates advanced training in entomology and molecular genetics. Research interests include DNA methylation patterns, social insect behavior, and the genomic basis of eusociality. His lab (Hunt Lab) investigates how epigenetic modifications and genetic architecture shape phenotypic plasticity and social organization in insects. Notable projects include studies of social chromosome regulation in fire ants and genomic analyses of yellowjacket wasps.

Publications from 2025-2019 reveal a focus on supergene dynamics, viral interactions with insect vectors, and the evolutionary origins of social behaviors. While no awards or grants are listed here, his contributions to social insect genomics are widely recognized in entomological literature. The Hunt Lab collaborates on projects involving pest management, agricultural impacts, and comparative genomics across Hymenoptera species.