Professor - We use the tools and concepts of chemical ecology to study small molecules that have large impacts on the biosphere. We work at the rich biological interface between insects and plants, an important source of terrestrial biodiversity and complex ecological interactions. This richness is manifested in the chemistry of defense and resistance, of mutualism and deception, and in the physiology of signal detection and processing, of sensory integration and its impact on behavior. We work on a variety of projects, most of which involve discovery-based science. Our research allows students to gain skills in chemical and morphometric analysis, data management and statistical analysis, thermo- and osmotic regulation, experimental design and video tracking of behavior. Our lab is a great place to learn how to do science. However, it is not the right place for students with narrowly premedical interests or those looking for a "stepping stone" by which to enter a neurobiology lab.