Current Group Members
Research Specialists
Dr. J. Steven McElfresh
PhD Entomology, University of California, Riverside
Research Interests:
Dr. Yunfan Zou
PhD Organic Chemistry, Duke University
M.S. Organic Chemistry, Tsinghua University, China
B.S. Chemistry, Tsinghua University, China
Research Interests:
Postdoctoral Researchers
Graduate Students
Dr. Jan E. Bello
PhD Organic Chemistry, University of California-Riverside
M.S. Chemistry, San Jose State University
B.S. Chemistry, Pepperdine University
Research Interests:
I am an organic chemist interested in the isolation and synthesis of bioactive natural products that are utilized as agents of chemical communication in organisms (semiochemicals). As a chemist, I'm interested in the development of new syntheses for known semiochemicals, as well as identification of new semiochemicals biosynthesized by Arthopods and microbes. Currently I am researching the effects of stereochemistry on the bioactivity of methyl-branched hydrocarbons that are utilized by most insect species as contact pheromones.
R. Max Collignon
PhD Candidate, Entomology
M.S. Chemical Ecology, SUNY-ESF
B.S. Conservation Biology, SUNY-ESF
Research Interests:
I am a research scientist interested in how chemicals mediate interactions between organisms and organisms and their environments. As well - from a conservation biology standpoint - I am interested in how these infochemicals can be used for monitoring of rare and endangered species and control of invasive and pest species. My experience is predominantly with insect chemical ecology, but I am interested in how all organisms utilize chemical communication channels, and hope to have the opportunity to research other taxa in the future.
Jacqueline Serrano
PhD Student, Entomology
B.S. Biology, UC Riverside
Research Interests:
My research interests are in the chemical ecology of invasive
species and pest insects.
Brian Hanley
PhD Student, Organic Chemistry
B.S. Chemical Sciences, Xavier University
Research Interests:
Lab Associates
Ian P. Swift
Supervising Biologist, Irvine Ranch Water District
Irvine, CA
Research Interests:
Cerambycid chemical ecology
Lab Alumni
Postdoctoral Researchers
Prof. Lawrence M. Hanks
Current Position: Professor of Entomology
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champagne
Urbana, Illinois
Prof. Ann Ray
Current Position: Assistant Professor of Biology
Xavier University
Cincinnati, Ohio
Dr. Jardel A. Moreira
Current Position: Synthetic Organic Chemist
EMS Pharmaceuticals
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Dr. Yunfan Zou
Current Position: Research Specialist
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, California
Dr. Flor Soriano
Current Position: Regulatory Affairs Manager
Signa S.A. Pharmaceuticals
Toluca, Mexico
Dr. Satya Chinta
Current Position: Research Specialist
University of Florida, Gainesville
Gainesville, Florida
Dr. Darcy Reed
Current Position: Research Specialist
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, California
Prof. Alec Gerry
Current Position: Associate Professor of Entomology
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA
Prof. Xin Chen
Current Position: Professor of Medicinal Chemistry
School of Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences
Changzou University
Changzou, China
Prof. Yong-Jun Du
Current Position: Professor of Entomology
Institute of Life and Health Sciences
Wenzhou Medical College
Wenzhou, China
Prof. Qiao Wang
Current Position: Professor of Entomology
Massey University
University of New Zealand
Palmerston North, New Zealand
Prof. Rama Pichika
Current Position: Assistant Professor of Radiology
University of California, San Diego
San Diego, California
Dr. Jenn-Sheng Hwang
Current Position: Research Scientist
Applied Toxicology Group
Taiwan Agricultural Chemicals Research Institute
Taichung, Taiwan
Dr. Juli Gould
Current Position: Research Scientist
USDA-APHIS
Otis, Massachusetts
Dr. Heather McBrien
Current Position: Research Scientist
Pest Management Regulatory Agency
Health Canada
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Graduate Students
Dr. Rebecca Waterworth (Ph.D. 2010)
Current Position: Postdoctoral Scholar
University of California, Riverside
Advisors: Richard Redak, Jocelyn Millar
Dr. Steve McElfresh (Ph.D. 1999)
Current Position: Research Specialist
University of California, Riverside
Riverside,CA
Dr. Hsaio-Yung Ho (Ph.D. 2000)
Current Position: Associate Research Fellow
Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology
Taipei, Taiwan
Dr. Jun Isoe (M.S. 1994)
Current Position: Research Scientist
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Dr. Deane Zahn (M.S. 2006)
Current Position: Field Scientist
Dow AgroSciences
Lincoln, Nebraska
Glen Bagwell (M.S. 2005)
Carmen Romero (Post Bacc. 2009)
Current Position: Physical Science Technician
USDA Salinity Laboratories
Riverside, CA
Linda Bybee (M.S. 2003)
Visiting Scientists
Dr. Andrew Hayes
Current Position: Senior Scientist
Department of Agriculture, Fishes, and Forrestry
Queensland, Australia
Prof. Yong Hong Xiao
Current Position: Associate Professor of Biology
Jinggangshan University
Jiangxi, China
Prof. Bruno Figadere
Current Position: Professor of Chemistry
University of Paris, Sud
Paris, France
Prof. Leopoldo Cruz-Lopez
Current Position: Professor of Entomology
El Colegio del Fontera Sur, Apdo
Tapachula, Mexico
Prof. Andrej Cokl
Current Position: Professor of Entomology
National Institute of Biology
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Prof. Stefano Colazza
Current Position: Professor of Chemical Ecology
University of Palermo
Palermo, Italy
Prof. Francisco Marques
Current Position: Professor of Organic Chemistry
Federal University of Parana
Parana, Brazil
Dr. Meta Virant-Doberlet
Current Position: Research Specialist
Cardiff University
Cardiff, United Kingdom
Advisor: Prof. William Symondson
Dr. Maria-Carolina B. Moraes
Current Position: Research Scientist
Embrapa, Genetics and Biotechnology
Brasilia, Brazil
Dr. Alenka Zunik
Current Position: Postdoctoral Researcher
National Institute of Biology
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Advisor: Prof. Andrej Cokl
Dr. Levi Gottlieb
Current Position: Scientist
Rafael M4 Defense Systems
Haifa, Israel
Visiting Graduate Students
Dr. Carla Favaro
Current Position: Postdoctoral Researcher
Federal University of Parana, Brazil
Advisor: Paulo Zarbin
Rafael Gago
Current Position: PhD Candidate,
Institute of Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia
Barcelona, Spain
Advisor: Angel Guerrero
Ian Wright
Current Position: PhD Candidate, EEOB
University of Texas, Austin
Dr. Robert Mitchell
Current Position: NIH Postdoctoral Fellow
University of Arizona
Center for Insect Studies
Dr. Elixabeth Graham
Current Position: Research Scientist
USDA
Fairbanks, Alaska
Dr. Alessandro Fucarino
Current Position: Viticulturist
Cantina Funaro
Palermo, Italy
Daniela Lo Giudice
Current Position: Ph.D Candidate
Universita degli Studi di Palermo
Palermo, Italy
Dr. Paolo Lo Bue
Current Position: Research Scientist
Universita degli Studi di Palermo
Palermo, Italy
Roxana L. Minuz
Current Position: Ph.D Candidate
Universita Politecnica delle Marche
Ancona, Italy
My previous research experience has been in the field of carbohydrate synthesis for the detection of E. Coli and protein ConA. My research interests are now more in the field of semiochemicals of different insects. Eusociality has always been an interest of mine in entomology and would like to better understand the chemical ecology of eusociality among insects.
As a Staff Research Associate in Jocelyn Millar's laboratory my areas of expertise include insect rearing, behavior (especially pheromone mediated reproductive behavior), making collections of natural products for chemical identification, coupled gas chromatography-electroantennography, and lab and field bioassay of synthetic pheromones. To do these things I rely heavily on years of experience, starting in the early 1970s, field collecting, collecting, observing and rearing insects. Although I am involved in many of the projects in our laboratory, my areas of special interest include the sex pheromones of the Saturniidae and Sphingidae, especially in regards to their use in monitoring populations and the systematic information that pheromone chemistry may provide.
My research focuses on syntheses of newly discovered insect pheromones, both to confirm their identifications and to provide sufficient material for field tests.
Visiting Scientists
Prof. Longwa Zhang
Associate Professor of Entomology, Anhui Agricultural University
Ph.D. Forest Entomology
Research Interests:
