Welcome to the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology

Welcome to the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology

We investigate how organisms interact with chemical signals.
We do research in the lab to better understand interactions at a molecular level.

We do research in the lab to better understand interactions at a molecular level.

We do research in the glasshouse and in the field to better understand interactions and signals in their natural environment.

We do research in the glasshouse and in the field to better understand interactions and signals in their natural environment.

Photo: Anna Schroll
Training and international collaborations are key features of our work.

Training and international collaborations are key features of our work.

We believe diversity and inclusion leads to the best science.

We believe diversity and inclusion leads to the best science.

We celebrate our 25th anniversary together with our neighboring institute.

We celebrate our 25th anniversary together with our neighboring institute.

Follow the QR-code to listen to short podcasts about our current research.

Research News

Air pollution impairs successful mating of flies
High levels of ozone destroy the chemical mating signal of the insects and may thus contribute to global insect decline

Symbiotic fungi transform terpenes from spruce resin into attractants for bark beetles
When metabolizing spruce bark, the insect’s fungal partners release volatile compounds that bark beetles recognize through specialized olfactory sensory neurons

The dark cost of being toxic

The dark cost of being toxic

January 18, 2023
Sequestration of plant toxins by monarch butterflies leads to reduced warning signal conspicuousness

Current News and Announcements

Publications

Fischer, M. L.; Yepes Vivas, S. A.; Wielsch, N.; Kirsch, R.; Vilcinskas, A.; Vogel, H.: You are what you eat—ecological niche and microhabitat influence venom activity and composition in aquatic bugs. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 290, 1995 (2023)
Anton, S.; Sachse, S.; Huber, R.: Editorial: Insights in invertebrate physiology 2021. Frontiers in Physiology 14, 1157932 (2023)
Fabian, B.; Sachse, S.: Experience-dependent plasticity in the olfactory system of Drosophila melanogaster and other insects. Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience 17, 1130091 (2023)

News

After the IMPRS symposium on March 21-22, 2023, Francesca Protti Sanchez, Ana Baños, Venkatesh Pal Mahadevan, Nomthi Kanyile, Marina Quadrado, and Ramya Ganesan and received the presentation awards for the best talks and posters.
The Jena chemist is awarded the most prestigious German research prize for her fundamental discoveries on plant natural product biosynthesis.
Over 250 scientists from all over the world will present and discuss their latest research results in smell and taste research.

Events and Seminars

Jürgen Krieger

Targeting the role of “Sensory Neuron Membrane Proteins” in moth and locust olfaction
Mar 30, 2023 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM (Local Time Germany)
Hybrid lecture (online via zoom & MPI-CE, A1.009 + A1.011)

Erik Frank

to be announced
Apr 13, 2023 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM (Local Time Germany)
Hybrid lecture (online via zoom & MPI-CE, A1.009 + A1.011)

Monica Pupo

to be announced
Apr 20, 2023 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM (Local Time Germany)
Hybrid lecture (online via zoom & MPI-CE, A1.009 + A1.011)

Forsche-Schüler-Tag 2023

Apr 27, 2023 09:00 AM - 02:00 PM (Local Time Germany)
Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology

Patrizia d'Ettorre

to be announced
Jun 8, 2023 11:30 AM (Local Time Germany)
Hybrid lecture (online via zoom & MPI-CE, A1.009 + A1.011)
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