Principal Investigator (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7017-5020). I earned my B.Sc. and M.Sc. at Cairo University,  Ph.D. at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, and conducted postdoctoral studies in the laboratory of Dr. John Carlson at Yale University.  I was born in Giza, Egypt,  and have lived in  Sweden, Germany, and the United States.  I am also a proud husband and father of two boys. 

I am also a postdoctoral researcher in my lab.  Yes, I’m still working hands-on in my lab alongside students and postdocs, and it is the best part of my day.

Qi obtained his bachelor's degree from the College of Agriculture in Shanxi province, China. He then joined the Institute of Plant Protection in Beijing city, China, where he studied the interaction between Drosophila suzukii and Drosophila melanogaster and its effect on grape sour rot. For his Ph.D., he conducted research under the supervision of Prof. Kristof De Schutter and Dr. Clauvis N.T. Taning at Ghent University, exploring insect viruses as delivery carriers for small insecticidal molecules against spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii. Qi joined our laboratory in March 2024 to develop genetic tools in D. suzukii and investigate how D. suzukii acquired a radically different egg-laying preference from closely related species, including the model organism D. melanogaster. 

 Raghav is a high school student at North Haven High School. He joined our lab in the summer of 2024. Next year, Raghav will be a freshment college student at the University of Connecticut. 

 Devon is a high school student at Academy of Our Lady of Mercy, Lauralton Hall.  She joined us in the summer of 2026. 

 Rylee is a high school student at Hamden Hall Country Day School.  She joined us in the summer of 2026. 

 Priyam is a high school student at North Haven High School.  He joined us in the summer of 2026. 

 Abdul is a high school student at Engineering & Science University Magnet School.  He joined us in the summer of 2026. 

The most cooperative animal ever on earth.

 Luke,  from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, is a postbac. Luke joined the laboratory in June 2024 to study the chemical ecology of spotted lanternflies. 

Soleil joined our lab as UConn's NRCA Conservation Ambassador (https://nrca.uconn.edu/cap/). Solely will test our  spotted lanternfly lures in both  the lab and the field.

Welcome Soleil!!!!!!!!!! 

 Kazi is a Master student at the University of  Bridgeport. Kazi joined the laboratory in February 2024 to investigate species-specific behaviors in D. suzukii and its relatives. 

 Skylar is an undergraduate student at Albertus Magnus College. Co-mentored with Dr. Andrea Gloria-Soria, Skylar is interested in comparing the behavior of Culex pipiens and Culex quinquefasciatus, two closely related mosquito species with significant ecological and public health importance. 

Michael from Ghana is a Seasonal Research Assistant and  a Master student at the University of  Bridgeport. 

Ananda, an undergraduate student at Hampton University,  joined the lab as a summer intern in the SCSU Plant Health Fellows program.