Expertise: Biology of vector mosquitoes and invasive insect pests, with a particular focus on sensory physiology and the genetic basis of behavior; genetic manipulation of insects

The overarching focus of the Laursen Lab is to understand how organisms detect sensory cues in their environment and use them to adjust physiology and drive behavior. The lab takes a comparative physiological approach combining cutting-edge genetic methods with behavioral and physiological recordings to investigate the cellular and molecular sensory adaptations organisms use to control their specialized behaviors. For the disease vectors and agricultural pests that serve as the main focus of our research, a deeper understanding of their sensory physiology can lead to new strategies for controlling the spread of disease and the destruction of crops and infrastructure, as well as predict their movement to new areas. Recent interests in the lab include the mechanisms underlying mosquito host-seeking, blood-feeding, and oviposition (egg-laying) behaviors, as well as the development of new transgenic tools for mosquitoes.