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Jeff Riffell |
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Research Associate
Ph.D. 2004, UC Los Angeles
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Neuroecology and Chemosensory Processes
Chemical communication is the oldest sensory system and underlies nearly every critical ecological and evolutionary interaction. My research in the Hildebrand lab examines the neural basis of plant-pollinator interactions using the Manduca sexta-Datura wrightii system. Specifically, my research examines how these floral odors dictate behavioral interactions in the field, and the neural basis of these pollination associations. To meet this task, my work seeks to developed new instrumentation and analytical techniques for identifying the structure and concentrations of critical signal molecules while determining how the olfactory system encodes these signal compounds. Through field and laboratory studies, my research seeks to find the similarities and differences between chemical communication systems and their roles in regulating ecological interactions.
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