The Center for Chemical Ecology Graduate Student Organization (CCE-GSO) is a community of graduate students, postdocs, and faculty dedicated to advancing research and fostering connections in the field of chemical ecology. CCE-GSO creates opportunities for professional development, research exchange, and social engagement within the vibrant CCE community.
Our activities include:
Welcome Back Research Showcase: A half-day symposium each fall, where students present their research through posters or short talks. The event features faculty presentations and interactive workshops, providing a platform for new ideas and a welcoming introduction for first-year students ahead of fall conferences.
Monthly Networking Meetings: Regular gatherings to share research proposals, updates, and skill-building workshops in an informal setting. These meetings encourage collaboration and foster interdisciplinary conversations across the CCE community.
Social Events: CCE-GSO hosts fun, informal gatherings like summer trivia nights and an end-of-semester Arboretum tour and group photo. These events help strengthen our community and celebrate the achievements of our members.
CCE-GSO is committed to building an inclusive and supportive environment, providing meaningful connections and growth opportunities for all members of the Center for Chemical Ecology.
Student Ambassadors
Anju is a Ph.D student in Entomology at Pennsylvania State University, working in Jared Ali’s lab, where she studies the chemical ecology of plant-insect interactions. Her research investigates how soil legacy influences plant defense mechanisms and mediates multitrophic interactions among plants, herbivores, and their natural enemies. By understanding how chemical signaling—both above and below ground—shapes these ecological relationships, she aims to contribute to the development of sustainable pest management strategies. As an Ambassador for the Center for Chemical Ecology Graduate Student Organization (CCE-GSO) at Penn State, she actively advocates for the importance of chemical ecology and support student engagement within the global research community.
Robert is a Ph.D candidate advised by John Tooker and Tanya Renner studying the molecular interaction of gall insects and their hosts. His research examines how the pheromone of the goldenrod gall fly (Eurosta solidaginis) primes tall goldenrod (Solidago altissima) chemical defenses against future attack. He uses transcriptomic, metabolomic, and morphological means to characterize these fascinating interactions at the genomic and whole-plant scale.