Patricia Hunt

Patricia Hunt is a Regents Professor in the School of Molecular Biosciences at Washington State University, Pullman, WA. Her research focuses on understanding the high frequency of chromosomally abnormal eggs produced by human females and why the incidence is so strongly impacted by advancing maternal age. She remains fascinated by this complex problem, but the accidental exposure of her mice to bisphenol A (BPA) in 1998 diverted her attention to the effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals. Her studies in mice, monkeys, and humans have provided insight to the effects of EDCs on both the male and female germline, the effects of successive generations of exposure, and contributed to our understanding of EDC pharmacokinetics and the accuracy of current analytical methods for their measurement. Dr. Hunt is particularly interested in science communication and is dedicated to ensuring that future trainees not only will be outstanding scientists but easily able to communicate their findings to the general public. She recently developed a new course, ECHO (Endocrine disrupting chemicals: Hazards and Opportunities) at the MBL, Woods Hole that is designed to provide a bridging experience for the multiple disciplines involved in assessing the environmental and biological effects of the endocrine disrupting chemicals that have become prominent environmental contaminants.