Laboratory of Chemical Ecology and Behavior

Through basic science,

we create strategies to solve agricultural problems

Welcome

Welcome to the Dweck lab in the Department of Entomology at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES). Our lab aims to uncover the mechanisms underlying chemosensory adaptations, using the global fruit pest Drosophila suzukii (commonly known as Spotted Wing Drosophila, SWD) as a model. Ultimately, this work will lead to the development of cutting-edge chemical and molecular strategies to enhance the detection and management of this serious pest.

Techniques

To address our Research questions, 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
Bioinformatics
Gene editing (e.g., CRISPR)

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