Brett Hurst

2026 Outstanding Graduate Mentor of the Year Award

S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Agriculture & Natural Resources | Animal, Dairy & Veterinary Sciences (ADVS)

Brett Hurst received his Bachelor’s of Science from Weber State University in 2006 in Microbiology. He was hired as a Research Technician by the Institute for Antiviral Research at Utah State University. As a full-time employee, he completed a Master’s degree in Bioveterinary Science in 2013 evaluating the pathogenesis of four different strains of influenza in mice. He completed a Doctorate degree in Animal Health and Disease in 2018 which established a mouse model for the evaluation of antiviral therapies against enterovirus D68.

Dr. Hurst was hired as a Research Assistant Professor in 2018 by the Institute for Antiviral Research where he focused on evaluating compounds for antiviral efficacy in cell culture and animal models against several respiratory viruses. In 2020, he shifted focus to research the newly emerging severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated oronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). During this busy time, he mentored several graduate students who were able to publish their research in peer-review journals and present their data at international scientific conferences. He was promoted to Research Associate Professor in 2024 and has developed new areas of research into Mpox virus (formerly monkeypox) and highly pathogenic avian influenza virus with the support of his graduate students.