Lee Hughes

Lee Hughes serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences within the College of Science at the University of North Texas. They have been the primary instructor for multiple sections of BIOL 1750 (phage discovery/microbiology) and BIOL 1755 (phage genomics/bioinformatics) courses since Fall 2014 through projected offerings in Fall 2025, consistently teaching freshmen-heavy cohorts with 2 weekly meetings totaling 3-6 lab hours.

Research interests center on microbial genomics and bacteriophage characterization, specifically utilizing Streptomyces bacterial hosts including S. griseus, S. sanglieri, S. antibioticus, S. bicolor, and S. xanthochromogenes. Their work integrates wet-lab phage isolation (in situ) with computational genomics (in silico), spanning phage discovery, annotation, and evolutionary analysis.

Course data reveals consistent engagement with the HHMI Science Education Alliance-Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science (SEA-PHAGES) program, directing over 50 course sections across 11 academic years with total enrollment exceeding 1,000 students. Teaching methodology maintains standardized lab structures (2 meetings/week, 3-6 hours) while adapting to host-specific protocols and occasional pandemic-era modifications like split sessions and online instruction.