Brandon Shannon

Brandon Shannon

  • Post-Doctoral Research Fellow (Honey Bees)
  • Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology
bps0055@auburn.edu
952 Bee Lab Road
Google Scholar
LinkedIn
Download CV
ORCID
Dr. Brandon Shannon is a postdoctoral fellow at Auburn University investigating practical solutions for beekeepers to manage Varroa and exploring ways to improve beekeeper decision-making strategies. Brandon received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Central Florida, and his master’s and PhD in Environmental Science with a graduate minor in Entomology from The Ohio State University. His graduate work focused on the inert ingredients in pesticides - the risks that toxic compounds pose to bees in agricultural settings, as well as the benefits that bee-safe inert ingredients can provide in Varroa control. Brandon is a recipient of the American Association of Professional Apiculturists’ Exceptional Student Award and the Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees Graduate Student Scholarship.

Education

  • B.S.University of Central Florida2018

  • M.S.The Ohio State University2023

  • Ph.D.The Ohio State University2025

Research

Peer Reviewed Publications

  • Tarpy, D., Rogers, G., Rash, J., Shannon, B. (under review). Timing of oxalic acid extender pads is critical for Varroa mite control. Journal of Apicultural Research.
  • Shannon, B., Tarver, L., Jeon, H., & Johnson, R. M. (2025). Assessing toxicity of pesticide inert ingredients and spray adjuvant principal functioning agents to honey bees (Apis mellifera). Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1093/etojnl/vgaf283.
  • Shannon, B., Zhang, R., Marsh, L., & Johnson, R. M. (2025). Adjuvants to improve efficacy of miticides in managed honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies to control Varroa destructor. PLOS ONE, 20(6), e0320037. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0320037.
  • Shannon, B., Jeon, H., & Johnson, R. M. (2023). Review: the risks of spray adjuvants to honey bees. Journal of Insect Science. 23(6):20. https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/iead100.
  • Shannon, B., Walker, E., & Johnson, R. M. (2023). Toxicity of spray adjuvants and tank mix combinations used in almond orchards to adult honey bees (Apis mellifera). Journal of Economic Entomology. 116(5):1467–1480. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toad161.
  • Ranjit, S., Deblais, L., Rotondo, F., Shannon, B., Johnson, R. M., Miller, S. A., & Rajashekara, G. (2023). Discovery of Novel Small Molecule Growth Inhibitors to Manage Pseudomonas Leaf Spot Disease on Peppers (Capsicum sp.). Plant Disease. 107(11):3560-3574. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-12-22-2976-RE.
Grants (Funded)

  • Shannon, B. & Williams, G. (2026). Adjuvants to improve thymol formulation for Varroa control. Nate’s Hives’ Research Grant Program. Awarded $29,209.

  • Shannon, B. & Johnson, R. M. (2024). Managing adjuvant risk to honey bees: designing improved risk communication for pesticide applicators. One Hive Foundation. Awarded $70,957.
  • Shannon, B. & Johnson, R. M. (2022). Using adjuvants to improve efficacy of Varroa control active ingredients in managed honey bee colonies. CFAES IGP Graduate Student Proposal. Awarded $5,000.
  • Shannon, B. & Johnson, R. M. (2022). Adjuvants to improve efficacy of Varroa control active ingredients in managed honey bee colonies. California State Beekeeper’s Association. Awarded $40,000.
  • Johnson, R. M. & Shannon, B. (2021). Understanding risks and potential benefits of spray adjuvants for honey bees. National Honey Board and Project Apis m. Awarded $36,250.
Professional Presentations and Symposia
  • Shannon, B., DeMoras, B., Giacobino, A., Williams, G. (2026, January). Evaluation of newly registered products for Varroa control [Platform presentation]. American Bee Research Conference, Mobile, AL, United States.
  • Richard, S., Shannon, B., West, J. D., Johnson, R. M. (2026, January). Exploring surfactant-based treatments for Varroa mite in honey bee colonies [Poster presentation]. American Bee Research Conference, Mobile, AL, United States.
  • Shannon, B. & Johnson, R. M. (2025, May). Exploring pesticide inert and spray adjuvant toxicity to honey bees [Platform presentation]. Ohio Valley Chapter Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) Webinar.
  • Shannon, B. (2025, April). The risks and benefits of pesticide adjuvants to honey bees [Platform presentation]. The Ohio State University Department of Entomology PhD Defense, Wooster, OH, United States.
  • Shannon, B. & Johnson, R. M. (2025, January). Adjuvants to improve Varroa control: A commercial field study [Platform presentation]. American Bee Research Conference, Reno, NV, United States.
  • Johnson, R. M., Shannon, B., French, M. (2025, January). Effect of foliar micronutrients on the survival of honey bee larvae [Poster presentation]. American Bee Research Conference, Reno, NV, United States.
  • Shannon, B., Johnson, R. M., Wilson, R. (2024, November). Managing adjuvant risk to honey bees: Designing improved risk communication for pesticide applicators [Platform presentation]. Entomological Society of America Conference, Phoenix, AZ, United States.
  • Shannon, B. & Melathopoulos, A. [chair]. (2024, November). Improving communication between researchers and stakeholders to reduce threats to pollinators. [PBT Section Symposium]. Entomological Society of America Conference, Phoenix, AZ, United States.
  • Shannon, B. & Johnson, R. M. (2024, January). Using low-risk adjuvants to improve Varroa miticides [Platform presentation]. American Bee Research Conference, New Orleans, LA, United States.
  • Shannon, B., Tarver, L., & Johnson, R. M. (2023, November). Characterizing structure-toxicity relationships for alcohol ethoxylate adjuvants to honey bees [Platform presentation]. Entomological Society of America Conference, National Harbor, MD, United States.
  • Shannon, B. & Johnson, R. M. (2023, April). Are inert ingredients really inert? Understanding the toxicity of adjuvants to honey bees [Platform presentation]. US EPA Webinar. Shannon, B. & Johnson, R. M. (2023, April). Toxicity of the not so “inert ingredients” in pesticides to honey bees [Platform presentation]. Master’s Defense Presentation, Wooster, OH, United States.
  • Shannon, B. & Johnson, R. M. (2023, March). Toxicity of the not so “inert ingredients” in pesticides to adult worker honey bees [Platform presentation]. CFAES Annual Research Conference, Wooster, OH, United States.
  • Shannon, B. & Johnson, R. M. (2023, March). Toxicity of the not so “inert ingredients” in pesticides to adult worker honey bees [Platform presentation]. Spring Delong and Root Competition, Wooster, OH, United States.
  • Shannon, B. & Johnson, R. M. (2023, February). Toxicity of the not so “inert ingredients” in pesticides applied to almonds during bloom to adult worker honey bees [Platform presentation]. Hayes Research Conference, Columbus, OH, United States.
  • Shannon, B. & Johnson, R. M. (2023, January). Toxicity of the not so “inert ingredients” in pesticides to adult worker honey bees [Platform presentation]. American Bee Research Conference, Jacksonville, FL, United States.
  • Shannon, B. & Johnson, R. M. (2022, December). Toxicity of the not so “inert ingredients” in pesticides to adult worker honey bees [Poster presentation]. The Almond Conference, Sacramento, CA, United States.
  • Shannon, B. & Johnson, R. M. (2022, November). Toxicity of the not so “inert ingredients” in pesticides to adult worker honey bees [Poster presentation]. Society of Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology (SETAC) Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.
  • Shannon, B. & Johnson, R. M. (2022, November). Toxicity of the not so “inert ingredients” in pesticides to adult worker honey bees [Platform presentation]. Fall Delong and Root Competition, Wooster, OH, United States.
  • Shannon, B. & Johnson, R. M. (2022, November). Toxicity of spray adjuvants and tank mix combinations to adult honey bees [Poster presentation]. Translational Data Analytics Institute Interdisciplinary Fall Forum, Columbus, OH, United States.Shannon, B. & Johnson, R. M. (2022, April). Toxicity of spray adjuvants and tank mix combinations to adult honey
  • bees [Poster presentation]. CFAES Annual Research Conference, Wooster, OH, United States.
  • Shannon, B. & Johnson, R. M. (2022, March). Toxicity of spray adjuvants and tank mix combinations to adult honey bees [Platform presentation]. Spring Delong and Root Competition, Wooster, OH, United States.
  • Johnson, R. M. & Shannon, B. (2022, March). Effect of adjuvants, pesticides and combinations applied to almonds during bloom on honey bees. Entomological Society of America North Central Branch, Minneapolis, MN, United States.
  • Shannon, B. & Johnson, R. M. (2022, January). Toxicity of spray adjuvants and tank mix combinations to adult honey bees [Platform presentation]. American Bee Research Conference, Virtual Meeting.
  • Shannon, B., Letang, B., & Beazley M. (2018, April). The tolerance and degradation of parabens and their chlorinated derivatives by bacterial isolates [Platform presentation]. University of Central Florida Undergraduate Research Report Presentation, Orlando, FL, United States.

Patents

  • ADJUVANTS TO IMPROVE EFFICACY OF VARROA CONTROL ACTIVE INGREDIENTS IN MANAGED HONEY BEE COLONIES. Nov 2024. Patent WO2025106839(https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/WO2025106839). Licensed to Chemicals Laif.