Vonnie Shields

Vonnie Shields is Professor of Biological Sciences at Towson University, researching chemosensory systems in insects. Her work investigates taste and olfactory mechanisms that influence feeding behavior, with applications for biocontrol of pest species.

Research expertise includes:

• Electrophysiological analysis of sensory organs
• Insect-plant chemical interactions
• Gustatory response to phytochemicals
• Visual orientation in larvae

Laboratory employs behavioral assays, electron microscopy, and neurophysiological recording to study sensory processing. Recent publications analyze how insects detect plant compounds and process sensory information.