iEES (INRAE) – Versailles-Paris
The Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences (iEES, https://iees-paris.fr/en/), Department of Sensory Ecology (Ecosens, https://iees-paris.fr/departments/sensory-ecology/), located in Versailles (INRAE) and in Paris (Sorbonne University) houses a leader group on insect chemical ecology. The research objective is to elucidate how insects perceive their chemical environment and how they can adapt their behavior to a complex and changing environment through phenotypic plasticity and, at a large time scale, evolutionary changes. In that context, we characterize the chemical landscape and the signals insects are sensitive to, we analyze the mechanisms of reception and neural coding of these cues, the behavioral responses and strategies insects use to track odor plumes. Deciphering the molecular mechanisms of olfaction, we focus on chemosensory receptors, with the aim to develop innovative biocontrol solution against insect pests. The know-how and facilities involve bioinformatics, molecular biology, electrophysiology and setups to study insect olfactory behavior.
LIST (Laboratoire d'Intégration des Systèmes et des Technologies)
It belongs to the Technological Research Division of CEA. The Diamond Sensors Laboratory (LCD) from LIST is very active in the field of CVD diamond growth, with skills and knowledge ranging from material and surface science to sensors and microsystems development, metrology, data analysis, simulation, and systems implementation. It has a long experience in the development of diamond based chemical sensors able to operate in harsh environments for various applications ranging from food analysis, environmental or industrial monitoring, security, etc. The LCD has in-house all the facilities necessary to produce, process and characterize synthetic diamond (8 diamond growth reactors, surface analysis tools such as XPS, AFM, or SEM, electrochemistry equipment, etc.). It has a long experience in the design and fabrication of diamond based chemical sensors, and is equipped with gas and volatile organic compounds sensors characterization tools (gas rig, permeation ovens, electrical test equipment, etc.).
ISM
The Bio-Inspired Systems team at ISM aims to bridge the gap between the scientific understanding of living systems and innovation in engineering. A biomimetic approach is used to study a wide range of topics: insect flapping flight, osteogenesis, joint morphogenesis, soft joints, biological actuators, and perceptual and cognitive processes in animals. Beyond advancing our understanding of nature, the applications of this research make it possible to develop frugal, sustainable, and resilient solutions to current engineering challenges — such as the design of lightweight structures, flexible or articulated connections, multi-scale actuators, new sensors, and autonomous robots — as well as the treatment of sensorimotor disorders through robotic prostheses.
MaIAGE
The MaIAGE (Applied Mathematics and Informatics from Genome to the Environment) research laboratory in Jouy-en-Josas belongs to the MathNum division (Applied Mathematics and Informatics) of INRAE. MaIAGE gathers about 80 (permanent and temporary staff) applied mathematicians, computer scientists, bioinformaticians and biologists to tackle problems coming from biology, agronomy and ecology. MaIAGE develops original methods in mathematics, statistics and computer science which are generic or driven by specific biological problems. Research and engineering activities are also based on strong involvement in the target disciplines: ecology, environment, molecular biology and systems biology. MaIAGE members involved in the project develop research in dynamic mechanistic modeling based on PDEs (particularly concerning model simplification and reduction) or stochastic processes, numerical exploration and inference of complex dynamical models. They have a strong expertise in the modeling of population dynamics at various scales and in statistical analysis of data related to agro-eco-systems
ESIEE – ESYCOM
This public research laboratory has a research expertise in electromagnetism, nanotechnology and multi-physics micro-sensors, and with a focus on health and biomedical applications, energy harvesting and environment for smart cities. The team has worked in the past recent years on original micro bio sensors for health diagnosis or monitoring. It also relies on its up-to-date infrastructure (cleanroom of 650m²) for front-end to back-end technology on various substrates, including flexible films, piezoelectric materials and carbon materials. ESIEE has a recognized expertise in rapid prototyping and production of small and medium-sized batches while allowing a full access to the cleanroom platform to the academic researchers. The involved team has worked for many years with CEA LIST on diamond MEMS design and optimization, with several common patents on the process development, and they have also been involved in European projects dedicated to VOC detection in the past years (FP7 SNIFFER and H2020 CBORD).
EGCE (IRD)
The EGCE Unit (Evolution, Génomes, Comportement et Ecologie) studies evolutionary processes in the genesis and conservation / management of biodiversity, developing analyses at the genomic, behavioral and ecosystems levels. These studies are conducted on model insect species and insects that are beneficial or harmful to humans. The researchers working in the Paris-Saclay campus and in laboratories in the intertropical zones (East Africa including ICIPE and Central Africa) are developing emerging themes: thermal ecology of landscapes, genetics of local adaptation, biological control of pests (use of biological control agents in a context of global changes, kairomonal and pheromonal traps). Paul-André Calatayud has a permanent position as visiting scientist of ICIPE (International Center of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi, Kenya). This allows him to access to this center and the fields where ICIPE is working on for field tests on the detection of S. frugiperda.