Chemical Ecology Lab
The Chemical Ecology Lab, home of the Huck Institutes for Life Sciences Chemical Ecology Program, is located on Orchard Road, northeast of main campus. The Chemical Ecology Lab currently houses office and laboratory facilities for three faculty members, several postdocs, graduate students, and staff. Recently, the building was remodeled and a state-of-the-art greenhouse was added to the east side of the building.
Dr. Tom Baker focuses his research on insect pheromones and odor-mediated behavior, neuroethological studies of olfaction, identification and development of insect attractants for IPM systems, and development of olfaction-based biosensors.
Dr. Jim Tumlinson is involved in research as a chemist interested in biological and agricultural systems and has studied chemicals that affect insect behavior. Emphasis is on developing fundamental knowledge and principles that can be applied in environmentally safe pest management programs.
In 2005, Penn State researchers and facilities united as a center of excellence to promote collaborative research and graduate education in chemical and molecular ecology. The Penn State Center for Chemical Ecology (CCE) brings together researchers in complementary disciplines (biology, crop and soil sciences, entomology, horticulture, forestry, plant pathology, biochemistry and molecular biology) to explore the role chemistry plays in predator–prey, parasite–host, herbivore–plant, virus–vector, and intraspecific interactions. The center offers education and training to graduate students and postdoctoral scholars through PSU courses, international short courses, and seminars by chemical ecology experts. Dr. Jim Tumlinson is the Director of the center
