Find Academic Supervisors

• Chemical Ecology
• Plant Biochemistry
• Insect-Plant Interactions
• +3 more

Jonathan Gershenzon is a Professor and Director at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena, Germany. He leads the Department for Biochemistry and the Project Group Forest Beetles and Friends. His research focuses on chemical interactions between plants, herbivores, and microbes, with a particular emphasis on specialized metabolites like glucosinolates and terpenes. His work explores how plants defend against herbivory, how insects detoxify plant defenses, and the ecological implications of these interactions. He holds a Silver Medal from the International Society of Chemical Ecology (2024) and was elected to EMBO (2024) and the Leopoldina (2021). He has been a Highly Cited Researcher since 2015, with continuous recognition in Plant and Animal Science. His awards include the Charles M. Sweeley Lectureship (2025) and membership in the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2012). Research interests span chemical ecology, plant defense mechanisms, insect detoxification strategies, and microbial interactions. He investigates how plant chemistry influences insect behavior, microbial communities, and ecological networks. Notable projects include studies on the role of fungal endophytes in plant defense and the metabolic responses of conifers to biotic stressors. His lab’s work addresses fundamental questions in plant biology and applied challenges like pest management. Collaborative projects often involve metabolomics, biochemical assays, and ecological field studies.

Jürgen KriegerView profile

Professor

• Insect Chemoreception
• Olfactory Systems
• Molecular Physiology
• +3 more

Prof. Dr. Jürgen Krieger serves as Professor and Chair of the Department of Animal Physiology within the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany. His research laboratory is situated at Hoher Weg 8, Room 8.11, in Halle (Saale), with postal address Tierphysiologie, 06099 Halle (Saale). His research focuses on insect chemoreception mechanisms, specifically investigating molecular physiology of olfactory systems including primary odorant detection processes and signal transduction pathways. He examines neural coding of pheromone signals in insects, contributing to fundamental understanding of chemical communication in invertebrates. This work bridges molecular biology and sensory physiology with applications in behavioral ecology. As department head, Prof. Krieger leads research and teaching initiatives in animal physiology, overseeing laboratory operations and academic programs centered on invertebrate sensory systems within the Institute of Biology/Zoology.

Megha MajoeView profile

Researcher

• Social Behavior in Animals
• Evolutionary Biology
• Behavioral Ecology
• +3 more

Megha Majoe is a Researcher at the Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolutionary Biology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. Her work focuses on understanding social behavior, aging mechanisms, and reproductive trade-offs in social insects like ants, combining molecular and behavioral approaches. She collaborates with Prof. Dr. Susanne Foitzik and Dr. Volker Nehring on projects exploring the interplay between fecundity, longevity, and sociality in ants. Education: BSc Zoology, Ramnarain Ruia College Mumbai (2014–2016) MSc Zoology, University of Melbourne (2016–2017) Doctoral Candidature at JGU Mainz (continuing since 2020), previously at University of Freiburg (2018–2020) Research Interests: She investigates how social living influences fitness and aging in organisms, particularly ants and macaques. Her PhD project examines reversals of fecundity-longevity trade-offs in ants using transcriptomics and experimental manipulations. She bridges molecular analyses with behavioral observations to uncover evolutionary drivers of social behavior. Recent Research Trends: Her publications emphasize queen-worker interactions in ants, effects of queen presence/absence on worker traits, and molecular mechanisms underlying aging. She studies invasive ant species like Tapinoma magnum and Lasius neglectus, focusing on how social organization shapes physiology and behavior. Grants and Labs: Collaborates with the Foitzik Lab at JGU Mainz, contributing to projects like the So-Long consortium. Her work integrates field studies, lab experiments, and genomic tools to address fundamental questions in evolutionary biology and social insect ecology.

• Insect Symbiosis
• Chemical Ecology
• Biosynthesis
• +3 more

Dr. Heiko Vogel is a Project Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology , leading the Department of Insect Symbiosis . His research focuses on understanding symbiotic relationships, chemical defense mechanisms, and evolutionary adaptations in insects. Key areas include insect-microbe interactions, genomic basis of adaptation, and ecological niche specialization. Vogel’s work integrates molecular biology, genomics, and ecological studies to unravel how insects adapt to diverse environments and host plants. His recent publications highlight contributions to understanding defense systems in bombardier beetles, symbiotic communities in herbivorous insects, and the genetic underpinnings of host plant specialization. While no formal awards or student advisees are listed, his research has advanced knowledge in chemical ecology and insect-microbe symbiosis.

• Neuroethology
• Biological Imaging
• Neurobiology
• +3 more

Andreas Hillmair is Deputy Director - Operations and Head of Operations at the Institute of Biological and Medical Imaging (IBMI) at Helmholtz Munich and the Chair of Biological Imaging at Technical University of Munich. He holds a PhD in Neurobiology and Behavior (summa cum laude, University of Wuerzburg) and conducted postdoctoral research on honeybee pheromonal communication at CNRS in France. His expertise spans science management, academic administration, neuroethology, and biological imaging. He has managed interdisciplinary imaging research teams since 2013, overseeing institutional and third-party funding. His research background includes studying colony recognition in ants and honeybee social communication using advanced imaging techniques. Education: PhD in Neurobiology and Behavior, University of Wuerzburg (2007–2010) Studies in Biology (Neurobiology), University of Wuerzburg (graduated 2007) Research Interests: Neuroethological mechanisms of social recognition, olfactory processing in insects, and development of imaging techniques for biological systems. His work bridges fundamental research and applied imaging technology, focusing on how sensory systems enable complex social behaviors in insects. Current efforts emphasize optimizing science management frameworks to accelerate translational imaging research. Key Contributions: Pioneered methodologies for low-volatility odor delivery in insect behavior studies (2010) and revealed parallel processing of social odors in ant antennal lobes (2011). Transitioned into science management to operationalize cutting-edge imaging research, leading to the 2023 Excellence Award in Scientific Management. Awards: 2023: Excellence in Scientific Management Award 2015–2018: Outstanding Performance Recognition (Helmholtz Munich) 2009: Best Poster Award (German Zoological Society) Labs & Teams: Leads the Operations unit at IBMI, coordinating over 15 interdisciplinary research groups and managing €15M+ in annual funding. Collaborates closely with the Chair of Biological Imaging at TU Munich to advance multimodal imaging technologies for clinical and biological applications.

• Biochemistry
• Plant-Aphid Interactions
• Plant-Environment Interactions
• +6 more

Dr. Maximilian Lehenberger serves as a Project Group Leader in the Department for Biochemistry at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena, Germany. His research program focuses on the intricate ecological relationships between ambrosia beetles and their symbiotic microbial communities within forest ecosystems. His research interests span multiple interconnected domains: Biochemistry of plant-insect interactions Plant-Aphid and Plant-Pathogen Interactions Plant-Environment Interactions and Conifer Defense mechanisms Detoxification pathways and Mode of Action studies Forest Beetle ecology and symbiotic relationships Dr. Lehenberger's publication record reveals a consistent research trajectory examining the biochemical, genetic, and ecological dimensions of ambrosia beetle symbiosis. His work bridges microbiology, entomology, and chemical ecology to unravel how these insects cultivate fungal gardens in nutrient-poor substrates while managing complex microbial communities. His notable recognition includes: 2023: Förderpreis der Ingrid Weiss / Horst Wiehe Stiftung for research on symbiotic microbial communities in fungus-farming ambrosia beetles As leader of the 'Forest Beetles and Friends' project group, Dr. Lehenberger directs research investigating the biochemical mechanisms that enable ambrosia beetles to farm fungi in forest environments. His team employs genomic, biochemical, and ecological approaches to understand these specialized symbiotic systems and their implications for forest health and ecosystem dynamics.