Daniel Hahn, Ph.D.
Professor and Associate Chair of Entomology and Nematology
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences
Some insects ravage our crops and others spread diseases that can maim or kill us, but some, like pollinators, are essential.
Dan Hahn knows this well. His research focuses on understanding how insects sense and adapt to their environments, including human-modified environments. Hahn uses this knowledge of insect physiology and evolution to develop solutions to eliminate insects that may harm human health, agriculture and homes, as well as to protect and preserve insects that may have benefits to society.
“Dan is one of our department’s preeminent researchers and has an extensive track record in all four pillars of research excellence,” said Andrew Short, chair of the Department of Entomology and Nematology.
His research has made significant progress in the field of entomology. Over the last five years, his lab introduced the sterile insect technique to Florida’s mosquito control programs in order to, in part, stop the spread of the Zika virus in Miami in 2016 and 2017. The system introduced non-reproducing insects to a disease-carrying or harmful species to kill off their population.
The lab also reduced U.S. fruit and vegetable producers’ risk from invasive insects in fresh commodities, thus facilitating the safe process of international trade. They studied the best practices for placing fresh fruits and vegetables in low-oxygen packaging to eliminate insects, which resulted in protocol changes by the USDA.
In the past five years, Hahn has had 35 publications on both basic and applied science in respected journals, including the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and Ecology Letters. His diverse funding portfolio has surpassed $3 million, including grants from the National Science Foundation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Florida Department of Health.
As a fellow of the American Academy for the Advancement of Science and a recipient of the Joseph Y. Porter Distinguished Achievement Award from the Florida Mosquito Control Association in 2023, Hahn’s expertise is well-known in Florida and across the globe. For his expertise in phytosanitary treatments for fresh commodities, he was selected to consult on a five-year working group for the United Nations.
Hahn is also passionate about mentorship, both among junior faculty and students. Over his career, he has been a mentor for more than 100 undergraduate students, seven master’s students, six doctoral students and 14 post-doctoral researchers. He is also engaged in helping junior faculty members develop their own research programs.