@Lydia_research

As you explore, our lab mostly studies community ecology, using manipulative field experiments to study plant-herbivore interactions. My thesis work expands this into the field of chemical ecology, exploring how the defensive chemistry of plants may mediate insectivorous birds as an important component of plant-herbivore interactions. I employ GC-MS in order to analyze the volatile profile of plants, exploring whether birds use the volatile organic compounds of the plant as foraging cues. The chemical processing and analyses is where I am looking for an undergraduate researcher to join, but if desired there is opportunity to explore chemical ecology in the field! If the application of chemistry into the field of ecology is exciting to you, please reach out!! I would love to chat about your interests and background and talk about how you could gain research experience through this project!