Gamma-ray Burst Host Galaxies as Probes of Galaxy Formation and
  Evolution
  Host galaxies are an excellent means of probing the natal environments that
generate gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Surveys of long-duration GRB (LGRB) host
environments and their ISM properties have produced intriguing new results with
important implications for LGRB progenitor models. These host studies are also
critical in evaluating the utility of LGRBs as potential tracers of star
formation and metallicity at high redshifts, particularly when considering the
implications for properties of host galaxies above z ~ 6. I will summarize our
group's latest research on LGRB host galaxies, and discuss the resulting impact
on our understanding of these events' progenitors, energetics, afterglow
properties, and cosmological applications.
