Susannah Hannaford

Susannah Hannaford is a Professor and Chair of the Biology department at the University of Puget Sound. Her research focuses on sensory physiology, particularly how insects detect and process environmental stimuli to mediate behaviors such as mating, predation avoidance, and flight control. She has conducted long-term studies on insect sensory systems, including taste detection in flies, mate localization in moths, and wing-force sensing in flight.

Education:

• Bachelor of Science (BS), California Institute of Technology, 1987
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Washington, 1993

Research Interests: Dr. Hannaford’s work bridges neurobiology and ecology, examining how neural circuits translate sensory inputs into adaptive behaviors. She collaborates with psychologists like Robin Foster to study bumblebee brain plasticity and behavioral changes with age. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates physiological experiments with ecological observations to understand sensory-driven decision-making in insects.

Teaching: Currently teaches Comparative Animal Physiology (BIOL 334-A) and Health and Exercise (CONN 123-A) in Fall 2025. Office located in Thompson 223C.