Dana E. Hunt

Associate Professor of Microbial Ecology

My research focus is on understanding the ecology of microbes through examination of their genes and lifestyles. Bacteria are the most diverse organisms on earth and play a pivotal role in planetary cycling of nutrients and energy. Yet, we have a poor understanding of the factors that drive their diversity and dynamics in the environment. The lab's emphasis is on studying bacterial interactions with the environment at the appropriate temporal and spatial scale including the effect of temperature changes on bacterial populations and bacterial interactions with other organisms. Another area of active research is the response and adaptation of bacteria to emerging pollutants such as antibiotics and nanoparticles.

Appointments and Affiliations

  • Associate Professor of Microbial Ecology
  • Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Contact Information

  • Office Location: 135 Duke Marine Lab Rd, Beaufort, NC 28516
  • Email Address: dana.hunt@duke.edu
  • Websites:

Education

  • Ph.D. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2008

Courses Taught

  • UPE 701: Ecological Perspectives: Evolution to Ecosystems
  • MARSCI 393A: Research Independent Study
  • MARSCI 321A: Coastal Watershed Science and Policy
  • MARSCI 309A: Oceans in Human and Environmental Health
  • MARSCI 308A: Oceans in Human and Environmental Health
  • GLHLTH 309A: Oceans in Human and Environmental Health
  • GLHLTH 308A: Oceans in Human and Environmental Health
  • EVANTH 741: Ecological Perspectives: Evolution to Ecosystems
  • ENVIRON 841: Ecological Perspectives: Evolution to Ecosystems
  • ENVIRON 822A: Coastal Watershed and Policy
  • ENVIRON 729A: Oceans in Human and Environmental Health
  • ENVIRON 593: Independent Studies and Projects
  • ENVIRON 393A: Research Independent Study
  • ENVIRON 321A: Coastal Watershed Science and Policy
  • ENVIRON 309A: Oceans in Human and Environmental Health
  • ENVIRON 308A: Oceans in Human and Environmental Health
  • BIOLOGY 841: Ecological Perspectives: Evolution to Ecosystems
  • BIOLOGY 319A: Coastal Watershed Science and Policy
  • BIOLOGY 309A: Oceans in Human and Environmental Health
  • BIOLOGY 308A: Oceans in Human and Environmental Health

In the News

Representative Publications

  • Li, Jiaqian, Ningdong Xie, Xiuping Liu, Mohan Bai, Dana E. Hunt, and Guangyi Wang. “Oxygen levels differentially attenuate the structure and diversity of microbial communities in the oceanic oxygen minimal zones.” The Science of the Total Environment 948 (October 2024): 174934. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174934.
  • Wang, Zhao, Christina M. Bergemann, Marie Simonin, Astrid Avellan, Phoebe Kiburi, and Dana E. Hunt. “Interactions shape aquatic microbiome responses to Cu and Au nanoparticle treatments in wetland manipulation experiments.” Environmental Research 252, no. Pt 3 (July 2024): 118603. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2024.118603.
  • Gray, P. C., I. Savelyev, N. Cassar, M. Lévy, E. Boss, Y. Lehahn, G. Bourdin, et al. “Evidence for Kilometer-Scale Biophysical Features at the Gulf Stream Front.” Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans 129, no. 3 (March 1, 2024). https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JC020526.
  • Hunt, D., A. Dewar, F. Dal Molin, and N. Willey. “Enhancing radiological monitoring of 137Cs in coastal environments using taxonomic signals in brown seaweeds.” Journal of Environmental Radioactivity 268–269 (November 2023): 107261. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2023.107261.
  • Pavlopoulos, Georgios A., Fotis A. Baltoumas, Sirui Liu, Oguz Selvitopi, Antonio Pedro Camargo, Stephen Nayfach, Ariful Azad, et al. “Unraveling the functional dark matter through global metagenomics.” Nature 622, no. 7983 (October 2023): 594–602. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06583-7.