People
Principal Investigator
Seung-Joon Ahn, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology
448 Dorman Hall l 662-325-7516 l seungjoon.ahn[at]msstate.edu
Education
Ph.D. Biology, International Max Planck Research School/Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany
M.S. Entomology, Seoul National University, Korea
B.S. Agricultural Biology, Seoul National University, Korea
Postdoctoral Research
Oregon State University/USDA-ARS, OR, USA
Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
Teaching
Undergraduate courses
[EPP 4154/6154] General Entomology (Fall semester)
[BCH 3901] Senior Seminar (Spring semester)
Graduate courses
[BCH 8643] Molecular Genetics (Fall semester)
[EPP 8363] Insect Biotechnology (Spring semester)
[BCH/EPP 8673] Host-Microbe Interaction Mechanisms (Spring semester, team teaching)
Since I was fascinated with an incredible diversity of beetles and a structural beauty of insect forms, I have started my career as a scientist to study insects. I earned my Ph.D. from the International Max Planck Research School/Friedrich Schiller University Jena in Germany, where I studied the enzymatic detoxification of plant defense compounds by herbivorous caterpillars using molecular biology and genomics tools. After my Ph.D., I worked as a research entomologist in a South Korean government agency for three years. I then returned to Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Germany for postdoctoral training, where I investigated the glucosinolate detoxification by flea beetles for two years. I moved to Oregon State University as a research scholar in collaboration with USDA-ARS scientists, exploring insect/slug neuropeptides and their GPCR receptors. In 2019, I settled in Mississippi State University as Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology.
Current Lab Members
Ph.D. student
Sena Isbilir
2020 - present
Insecticide resistance
Email: si240[at]msstate.edu
Ph.D. student
Sujin Lee
2022 - present
Molecular mechanisms of host adapation
Email: sl2106[at]msstate.edu
Ph.D. student
Courtney Wynn
2023 - present
2020 - 2022 Master in Biochemistry, MSU
Enzymatic detoxification
Email: cnw226[at]msstate.edu
Undergraduate student
Seth Lee
2022 - present
Summer 2022: MSU Undergraduate Research and Creative Discovery Program
DIS 2023: Insect molecular biology
URSP 2023: Sawfly transcriptome analysis
Former Members
Undergraduate student
Taylor James
2023
DIS: Molecular markers in ants
Undergraduate student
Elijah Smart
2022 - 2023
DIS: Insect biochemistry
Undergraduate student
Trevor Holland
2023
DIS: Insect Molecular Biology
Undergraduate student
Tydranique Jefferson
2022 Summer (from EMCC)
NIH-R25 Summer Research Experiences (SRE)
Undergraduate student
Lynn Wade
2021-2023
DIS: Insect-plant interactions
URSP: Chemical ecology of sawfly
Undergraduate student
Josh Murphy
Spring 2022
DIS: Molecular Cloning Methods
Undergraduate student
Emma Palmer
Spring 2022
DIS: Metabolic Detoxification in Insects
Undergraduate student
Ariadna Santos
2021 - 2022
CALS/MAFES Undergraduate Research Scholars Program
Undergraduate student
Megan McNerny
2020 - 2021
ORED Undergraduate Research Program
Interested in joining the Ahn Lab?
We are looking for motivated and talented graduate students who are interested in our research. Send an e-mail that includes a brief statement about why you are interested in the lab and some basic information about you (CV including GPA, GRE, etc) to seungjoon.ahn[at]msstate.edu.
Current MSU undergraduate students are encouraged to apply for an undergraduate research opportunity by sending an interest statement and CV to seungjoon.ahn[at]msstate.edu.
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