Dr. Chao Chen
Assistant Research Scientist, Insect Physiology
Dr. Chao Chen is a research scientist in Dr. Dan Hahn’s lab. The goal of his research program is to understand physiological and genetic mechanisms in response to novel and stress environment and using his knowledge of insect physiology to improve biologically based, environmentally friendly methods of pest management.
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Research
Molecular Physiology: A central task of an insect is to survive from the stressful world. Diapause is a state of developmental arrest that helps insects to survive environmental stresses, such as cold winters. My research aims to uncover adaptive physiological and genetic change in pathways of energy metabolism, endocrine regulation and stress tolerance during diapause.
Pest Management: I am interested in using my knowledge about the physiological and genetic mechanisms of stress hardiness and seasonal biology to improve biologically based, environmentally friendly methods of pest management. I have been working on three major projects in this regard: 1) improving the performance of sterile males of mosquito Aedes aegypti in the sterile insect technique, 2) improving non-pesticidal post-harvest phytosanitary treatments for commodities, 3) understanding overwintering biology of important agricultural pests, such as cotton bollworm and corn borer, which can be used to predict species distribution under climate change and design new pest control strategies.
Contact
3001 Steinmetz Hall
Building 970 Natural Area Dr.
Gainesville, FL 32611
(352) 273-3949
chaochen88@ufl.edu
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Education
- Ph.D., Crop Protection, Jiangxi Agricultural University
- B.S., Plant Protection, Jiangxi Agricultural University
- Publications