Brendan Zietsch

Affiliations & Roles

Associate Professor Brendan Zietsch holds a position in the School of Psychology at the University of Queensland (UQ), supported by an ARC Future Fellowship and previous ARC DECRA Fellowship. He directs the Centre for Psychology and Evolution, a research hub focused on evolutionary and genetic foundations of human behavior.

Education

• PhD in Evolutionary Behavioral Genetics from UQ (2009)
• Postdoctoral training at UQ’s Genetic Epidemiology Laboratory and QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

Research Interests

Zietsch’s work explores the genetic and evolutionary underpinnings of human behavior, including personality, sexual preferences, attractiveness determinants, and sex differences. His research integrates evolutionary modeling with large-scale genetic studies to address questions such as the origins of same-sex behavior and the role of genetics in social constructs like socioeconomic status. Key themes include:

• Behavioral genetics and heritability
• Evolutionary adaptations in human mating strategies
• Genomic correlates of mental health and reproductive outcomes

Publications & Grants

Zietsch has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles, including high-impact studies on the genetics of sexual orientation, facial attractiveness, and evolutionary paradoxes. He has secured major grants such as the ARC DECRA and Future Fellowship to support his research. Recent work emphasizes genomic insights into human behavior and the interplay between genes and environment.

Awards & Recognition

• ARC Future Fellowship (2021–present)
• ARC DECRA Fellowship (2013–2016)

Labs & Collaborations

As director of the Centre for Psychology and Evolution, Zietsch leads interdisciplinary research teams investigating topics such as evolutionary modeling, behavioral genetics, and the application of AI to facial attractiveness analysis. Collaborations span institutions like QIMR Berghofer, Karolinska Institutet (Sweden), and the University of Oslo.