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The Florida Chemical Senses Institute is pleased to welcome Dr. Debra Ann Fadool as its newest Associate Director. A leader in chemosensory research and a dedicated mentor, Dr. Fadool brings decades of expertise to this role, along with a passion for fostering collaboration across institutions. Dr. Fadool’s academic journey began at the University of Florida, […]

Kayli R. Sieber, a Ph.D. student in FCSI member Dr. Hua Yan’s lab in the Department of Biology, is unraveling the complexities of chemosensory development in social insects. Her research focuses on how the chemosensory systems of ants develop and differ from those of non-social insects. Social Hymenoptera, such as ants, possess hundreds more odorant […]

Dr. Dan Hahn, a researcher at the Florida Chemical Senses Institute (FCSI), and Professor of Entomology & Nematology in the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Florida has always been captivated by diversity in the natural world. Although he began his journey studying lobsters, his fascination shifted toward insects, which he […]

Natalie Johnson’s time at the Florida Chemical Senses Institute (FCSI), formerly the Center for Smell and Taste (CST), played a key role in shaping her career and research interests. As a former Ph.D. student and researcher, Natalie worked on projects that combined her passion for sensory biology with her curiosity about addiction and reward processing. […]

We’re thrilled to share that the Florida Chemical Senses Institute, was recently quoted in The New York Times Magazine! This remarkable recognition highlights the institute’s dedication to advancing the field of chemosensory science and showcases the impactful contributions of our researchers. Interim Director, Dr. Dan Wesson, was quoted discussing how chemicals can provoke sensations that […]

Nick Wendrick, a second-year Ph.D. food science student and trainee at the Florida Chemical Senses Institute (FCSI), is pushing the boundaries of traditional winemaking with his research on carbonated blueberry wine. His work focuses on the sensory and chemical changes that occur when carbonation is introduced to the wine, examining how packaging materials, genetically modified […]

Congratulations to FCSI Student member, Sarah Sniffen, for being awarded a fellowship from the National Institutes on Deafness and Other Communications Disorders. The fellowship is for three years and is titled, “Basolateral amygdala support of odor valence learning.” In her fellowship, Sarah will investigate the brain circuitry which allows for emotions to be assigned to […]

   Dr. Jennifer Mulligan, co-director of the Smell Disorders Program at the Florida Chemical Senses Institute (FCSI) at the University of Florida, has been at the forefront of olfactory research, particularly in understanding the immune system’s role in smell loss. Since taking over the program in April, Dr. Mulligan has continued her innovative work in […]

   The first session of the professional development series, hosted by the Florida Chemical Senses Institute and led by Director Dan Wesson, focused on “Effective Presentations for Graduate Students.” Participants candidly discussed their greatest presentation fears, such as handling unexpected questions, stuttering, forgetting key points, technical malfunctions, and voice issues. They worked together to offer […]