Laboratory of Chemical Ecology 

Welcome

Welcome to the Dweck lab in the Department of Entomology at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES). 

Our lab is dedicated to developing cutting-edge chemical and molecular strategies aimed at mitigating the detrimental effects caused by harmful insects.

At the core of our research endeavors lie a set of focused objectives:

• Exploring Ecologically Relevant Chemical Cues: We strive to unravel chemical signals used by insects for vital functions such as sexual communication, host location, and their ability to evade natural enemies and harmful microbes. 

• Investigating Neurons and Receptors: Our lab studies the sensory neurons and receptors responsible for detecting these chemical cues to understand how insects perceive and respond to their environmental chemicals.

• Analyzing Behavioral Outputs:  We investigate the behavioral outputs elicited by these cues and their profound impact on insect survival and reproduction. 

This knowledge forms the foundation for the development of targeted strategies to disrupt or manipulate insect behavior for beneficial outcomes.

Techniques

We employ a multidisciplinary approach, including:

•  chemical analysis (e.g. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS))

•  electrophysiology (e.g., Single Sensillum Recording  (SSR))

•   behavioral analysis

•  genetics

•  molecular biology

• gene editing (e.g., CRISPR)

•  bioinformatics