Research interests

I am interested in chemical ecology, more precisely on plant defense mechanisms and their consequences on aboveground plant-animal interactions.

The aim of my research is to see how plants can recognize herbivores and how the specific defense mechanisms are triggered. Indeed plants can recognize HAMPs (Herbivory Associated Mollecular Paterns), also called elicitors, through specific receptors. The receptor-elicitor interaction will inform the plant of the herbivore attack and will eventually lead to the production of induced VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) and therefore activate the plant’s indirect defenses. For a better understanding of these interactions, I am working in the lab and in the field conditions on different tritrophic systems comprising plant models such as Vigna, Phaseolus, Tobacco, herbivorous insects such as caterpillar from the Spodoptera genus and their natural enemies, parasitoid wasps. The ultimate goal of this research is to find new applications for a more sustainable agriculture.  

Main Topics

• Chemical Ecology
• Plant-Insect interactions
• VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds)
• HAMPs (Herbivory Associated Molecular Patterns)
• Bio-Control

Education

08.2018  MSc in Biology (Chemical Ecology and Sustainable Agriculture), University of Neuchâtel (UniNE)

06.2015  BSc in Biology, University of Neuchâtel (UniNE)