Liam Hunt

Liam Hunt is an Assistant Professor of Biology at Rhodes College, focusing on molecular mechanisms of aging and skeletal muscle biology. He utilizes Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism to study evolutionarily conserved genes and pathways involved in cellular homeostasis and muscle function decline during aging.

• Education:
• B.Sc. in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Pharmacology from the University of Melbourne
• Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the University of Melbourne, studying leukemia inhibitory factor receptor signaling in muscle growth

Dr. Hunt's research spans genetics, molecular biology, and aging, with a focus on ubiquitination pathways, epigenetic modifications, and circadian rhythm genes. His lab investigates transcriptional responses to heat stress, chromatin state changes, and systemic health effects of muscle-specific gene regulation.

Recent publications highlight his work on proteostasis during aging, myokine signaling, and circadian clock contributions to longevity. Articles frequently employ Drosophila and mouse models to explore conserved mechanisms.

Undergraduate students in the Hunt Lab contribute to research through projects involving transgenic RNAi screens, gene silencing, and proteomic analysis. Funding sources and lab collaborators are implied through co-authorships with institutions like St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and cross-institutional teams.

Key laboratory resources include genetic variant libraries, cell-specific expression systems, and proteomic/genomic analytical tools for studying muscle aging and protein quality control.