Riffell Lab
Neuroecology and Sensory Biology
Opportunities & training in the Riffell Lab
The Riffell lab is always recruiting Graduate Students, Postdoctorates, Technicians, and Undergraduate Students.
Positions are available in the Riffell laboratory at the Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle WA, USA. Our laboratory is committed to having an inclusive and accepting environment. Mentoring and open communication are essential aspects of the laboratory. Full details on the latest positions can be found here. The Riffell lab recruits graduate students through the Neuroscience, Molecular and Cellular Biology, and Department of Biology PhD programs.
Lab News
Why Are Mosquitoes Attracted to Me? The Science Behind Becoming a Mosquito Magnet
Media report
If you’ve ever wondered, why are mosquitoes attracted to me more than other people, you’re not imagining it. Some individuals truly are mosquito magnets, and science has uncovered fascinating reasons why.
Scientists in Washington State Sniff out Better Ways to Repel Mosquitoes
Media report
Mosquito populations are rising in the Northwest, as is the threat of diseases they carry. In response, scientists have gained new insight into how mosquitoes detect a common chemical in order to create more effective repellents
Confused Moths, Distracted Crabs, and Celibate Birds: How Pollution Is Screwing With Animals’ Senses
Media report
In a study published in Science last month, researchers show that the nitrate radical NO3, an air pollutant linked to car exhaust and wildfires, can chemically alter the smell of flowers, making it harder for moths to locate their nectar.
City Smells Confound Flower-Seeking Moths
Media report
The scientists sampled flower scents and other odors with a sensitive mass spectrometer, and then used a wind tunnel to determine how different combinations of smells affected a moth’s ability to find flowers. They found that the moths did far better in rural environments than in urban and suburban ones.
Link to New York Times articleScientists discover how the mosquito brain integrates diverse sensory cues to locate a host to bite
Media report
For female mosquitoes, finding their next meal is all about smelling and seeing.
Link to UW News articleSwatting May Teach Mosquitoes to Avoid Your Scent
Media report
Disease-carrying mosquitoes can learn to associate near-death experiences with scent and will stay away after an attempted swat.
Link to National Geographic article