Brian Leydet

Brian Leydet is an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Biology at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF). He leads the Leydet Lab, which focuses on understanding vector-borne disease systems, particularly Lyme disease and tick ecology. His research integrates field studies, molecular biology, and proteomics to explore pathogen transmission dynamics and ecological influences.

Research Interests: Vector-borne diseases, tick ecology, Borrelia species (Lyme disease pathogens), gut microbiota in fish, and microbial interactions in aquatic ecosystems. The lab investigates factors driving tick expansion, reservoir hosts for pathogens, and microbial communities in fish such as northern pike.

Advising & Students: Current graduate advisees include Elizabeth Anderson (MS), Theo Black (PhD), and Zoe Hutcheson (MS). Their work spans tick-borne disease ecology, microbiome research, and fish health.

Labs & Collaborations: The Leydet Lab collaborates on projects like the Central New York Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Alliance. Research highlights include studies on Borrelia transmission, fish gut microbiomes, and ecological drivers of disease emergence.