Spring/Summer 2026

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This has been a very busy and exciting time for the Thompson Lab! In January, Morgan Thompson joined the Department of Entomology at UC Riverside as an assistant professor of chemical ecology and behavior of insects. Research in the Thompson Lab focuses on how chemical cues mediate interactions among plants, insect herbivores, and microbes. 

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We are settling into our new lab space and conducting a number of different experiments. In the laboratory, Joy and Thomas are evaluating how plants respond to multi-herbivore attack.

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In the field, we are testing how to best incorporate plant volatiles into sustainable insect pest management in agroecosystems.

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We also participated in a number of department events over the past few months, including the Riverside Insect Fair, the 111th Celebration of the UCR Department of Entomology, and many more. ​

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We had great fun sampling wild squash at a nearby UC Reserve and we plan to check out more field sites soon. Stay tuned!