Academic focus: Chemical ecology, chemical evolution, agricultural chemistry
Research summary: My research program investigates the functional roles of metabolites in plant–insect–microbe interactions. Integrating metabolomics, molecular biology and genomics, we study the mechanisms by which insect herbivores adapt to plant toxins and experimentally test evolutionary hypotheses underlying pigment and pheromone diversification in moth and butterfly. In parallel, we analyze volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by organisms in order to decode plant–pathogen and plant–insect communications, with the aim of advancing the early detection of crop diseases before symptoms appear and improving pest monitoring by developing new insect pest pheromone lures.
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
I enjoy watching my favorite TV music show, “Tracks,” on the French-German channel Arte. I also like reading science fiction books, cooking new recipes, playing with my dogs and walking in the sun when it is not too cold in Ithaca.
What brought you to Cornell CALS?
Cornell has had a significant historical impact on the development of chemical ecology as a scientific field, with a legacy spanning over 50 years. Before joining Cornell, I devoured old classic publications written by Cornellians in this field and admired the recent papers by the many amazing, internationally recognized chemical ecologists at Cornell. I never thought, not even in my wildest dreams, that I could work here as a faculty member and collaborate with these people, of whom I am a big fan. The science and the people brought me here; the sense of community and belonging keep me here.
What is an interesting fact about your field of study that you think everyone should know?
There are only two ways to make color in animals. Structural color and pigments. Although structural colors can generate green, like in a hummingbird’s feather, there is no green pigment in animals (only the green pigment chlorophyll in plants). To make green with pigments, animals mix blue and yellow pigments. This was demonstrated in the 1980s when one of my favorite entomologists, Miriam Rothschild, fed monarch butterfly caterpillars with milkweed plants that were depleted of carotenoids, the orange pigments found in carrots. The monarch’s chrysalis was blue, not green. Next time you see a green caterpillar, remember that it’s a walking painting!
Why did you feel inspired to pursue a career in this field?
I have been passionate about chemistry since a very young age. Watching my mom bake a tarte tatin (a caramelized apple pie) and teaching me about the delay in caramel formation caused by the pectin, a carbohydrate in apples, sparked my interest in understanding more about chemistry … and cooking! I studied organic chemistry for my Ph.D. and postdoc and then I realized that I wanted to work with natural systems, aiming to discover impactful tools in chemical ecology and green chemistry to improve agriculture.
What advice do you have for students interested in your field of study?
You can learn new things every day, even at an older age. Stay curious and try to make connections between plants, microbes and animals that don’t seem related. Stay humble, curious and perseverant. Seek advice and find nice people to work with. Embrace interdisciplinary science and learn as much chemistry and biology as possible. Know your organism. Have fun!
What are your current or future outreach/extension projects?
My extension responsibilities include collaborating with the agricultural industry to facilitate the development of pest management products for New York state stakeholders, contributing to economic growth. Current projects in collaboration with industry include improving insect pest trapping systems, using a new electronic nose in agricultural systems, and providing guidance on adjuvants in pesticide tank formulations. One of my goals is to increase chemistry literacy among a large audience and make chemistry fun and accessible.
Learn more about Christophe from his CALS profile and recent interview on Cornell's Research Matters podcast.
