Andrew Patterson Named Hallowell Chair at Penn State

By Blake Jackson

Andrew Patterson, a leading researcher at Penn State, has been named the H. Thomas and Dorothy Willits Hallowell Chair in Agricultural Sciences, a distinguished professorship that recognizes exceptional faculty contributions in teaching, research, and public service.

The endowed chair, established in honor of H. Thomas Hallowell and Dorothy Willits Hallowell, supports Penn State’s land-grant mission by providing resources that help faculty expand their impact on science, education, and community engagement.

“Andrew's continued body of research on metabolomics is critical to human and animal health alike — work that underscores his and the college's commitment to Penn State's land-grant mission to serve communities across the state,” said Troy Ott, Peter and Ann Tombros Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences.

“I congratulate Andrew on his new professorship and look forward to seeing how his research continues to advance the understanding of factors affecting animal and human health.”

Patterson said the recognition reflects the collaborative efforts that have supported his work across multiple Penn State colleges and institutes.

“This recognition reflects the work of an outstanding group of students, trainees and collaborators, as well as the support I have received from across Penn State, including the College of Agricultural Sciences, the Eberly College of Science, the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, the Institute of Energy and the Environment, and the Cancer Institute,” Patterson said.

“The chair will give us the freedom to take risks, pursue ambitious questions, and increase the impact of our work on environmental exposures, metabolism and the microbiome.”

Patterson’s research centers on metabolomics, the study of small molecules produced during metabolism. His work investigates how gut microbes influence these metabolites and how those interactions affect health and disease. The research has important implications for both human and animal health.

In addition to his role in the College of Agricultural Sciences, Patterson serves as a professor of biochemistry and molecular biology in Penn State’s Eberly College of Science and as associate director for shared and core facilities in the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences.

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