He received his doctorate from Penn State Harrisburg in American Studies with a dissertation that examined the role of Western mythology in the Americanization process of Mormons during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His article, "The Sacred and Supernatural: Mormon Missionary Memorates of Dissuasive Spiritual Intervention," is currently under review at the Folklore Historian, and his award-winning article, "Playing for Change: The Performative Functions of Children's Piano Play" was published in the Children's Folklore Review. Furthermore, Brant has published encyclopedia articles on a variety of topics including on John Hope Franklin, Olympic Games, Native American Youth Groups, and Mormons. He has also published book reviews and presented scholarship at national conferences of American Studies, Folklore, and Mormon history.