Research in my lab investigates the ecology and evolution of plant-insect interactions, especially chemically mediated interactions between plants and their herbivores and pollinators. While we are interested in all sorts of plants, insects, and study systems, current work in the lab is focused on the nascent field of neurochemical ecology. Plants & fungi do not have nervous systems, yet they produce diverse and potent chemicals that act on the nervous systems of animals, and we are investigating the potential ecological functions of these neuroactive compounds. We use diverse approaches, including fieldwork, behavioral experiments, molecular and bioinformatic techniques, and just a touch of analytical chemistry.

Other interests include:

The chemical ecology of cycads and their Lepidopteran herbivores, especially the neotropical butterfly genus, Eumaeus
Ecology of medicinal plants in Appalachia
Evolution of aposematism in Lepidoptera
Insect trophic ecology.

If you are interested in knowing more about my research and publications, please check out my lab web page    and Google Scholar site.

 

Courses:

• General Entomology (BIOL 3480)
• Functional Genomics & Bioinformatics (BIOL 4667/5667)