Adam C.N. Wong

Adam C.N. Wong is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Entomology and Nematology at the University of Florida. His research focuses on host-microbe interactions, particularly how microbiomes influence insect behavior, physiology, and pathology. He employs multi-omics and molecular genetic approaches to study Drosophila species and non-model insects like chironomids and Drosophila suzukii.

Key research themes include: 1) microbiome effects on host foraging and nutrient preference, 2) sex-specific microbiome-behavior interactions, and 3) microbiome roles in pest insect adaptation to new environments. Recent work explores microbiome-based strategies for sustainable pest control, collaborating with USDA-ARS on semiochemical development.

His lab investigates mechanisms like microbiome-mediated metabolic shifts, virulence pathways of gut pathogens, and long-term developmental impacts of early microbiome perturbations. Research outputs span behavioral modulation, symbiosis dynamics, and agricultural applications of microbiome science.

Contact: Steinmetz Hall, Gainesville, FL | adamcnwong@ufl.edu | Lab Website