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Penn State at the Forefront of Chemical Ecology - October 2005
October 17, 2005
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- After assembling a group of some of the world's most renowned researchers, Penn State is now leading the nation in chemical ecology research with the establishment of a center of excellence and a newly renamed lab.
Formerly the Pesticide Research Lab at Penn State, the Chemical Ecology Lab was renamed to better reflect the innovative ecological and environmental research in insects and plant sciences that is currently being conducted there, says Dr. Jack Schultz, distinguished professor of entomology at Penn State and director of the center.
Chemical ecology is the study of chemical signals that are used by organisms to communicate, defend themselves, and find food and mates. "Chemical ecology is a fast growing and rapidly evolving sub-discipline in environmental sciences," says Dr. Schultz. "While Penn State has been influential in chemical ecology for a long time, this recent investment in people and facilities has brought together a truly outstanding group."
According to Dr. Schultz, researchers from five departments in the College of Agricultural Sciences and the Eberly College of Science have formed a Chemical Ecology Center of Excellence at Penn State to promote the best collaborative research and graduate education projects in chemical and molecular ecology. "We plan to continue recruiting researchers with the goal of becoming an international leader in understanding, application, and policy-development wherever chemistry plays a role in natural and managed ecosystems," Dr. Schultz explains.
In addition, the lab where much of the research is being conducted has been newly renovated to include a state-of-the-art greenhouse for researching plant signals. Designed by Conviron, Inc., it is the company's first greenhouse and, according to Dr. Schultz, a showcase facility. In addition, two of the building's three labs were upgraded with new equipment and expanded to accommodate the research being conducted.
Currently, the lab is host to a variety of research projects. Most prominent, according to Dr. Schultz, it the study of insect saliva and how plants can determine what type of insect is attacking them and organize the subsequent signaling between these plants and insects.
Plant volatiles are also being researched, which includes the signals between plants and insects and other plants. "As a result, researchers are experimenting with using these signals to control pests, developing sensors based on insect antennae to help detect chemical pollutants and chemical warfare agents, and projects to develop plants that are resistant to pests," says Dr. Schultz.
Solidifying Penn State's commitment to the study of chemical ecology, the group was recently awarded a Penn State Huck Institute of the Life Sciences planning grant to help support post doctoral positions, preliminary research and an additional seminar series. The Institute supports collaborative research alliances through a variety of mechanisms that integrate graduate training and research across disciplines. For more information on the Institute, see their Web site at http://www.lsc.psu.edu/.
The group also interacts closely with the Fusarium Research Center and Schatz Center for Tree Molecular Genetics at Penn State. For more information on the center, visit Web sties http://frc.cas.psu.edu/ and http://schatz.cas.psu.edu/.
For more information on the Chemical Ecology Center of excellence, visit their Web site at http://chemicalecology.psu.edu, or contact Dr. Schultz at 814 863-4438 or e-mail ujq@psu.edu.
Established in 1963, Penn State's Department of Entomology has grown into a well-balanced department providing undergraduate education, graduate student training and extension outreach education focusing on both domestic and international issues. Twenty faculty and more than thirty graduate students work on a variety of research topics providing insights into insect ecology, behavior and molecular biology as well as integrated pest management. The department is part of Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. For more information about solving insect problems, descriptions of research and education programs or admission to the graduate program, visit Web site at http://www.ento.psu.edu/ or contact the department at (814) 865-1895.