Rutgers Today highlights SWD research in the Sun lab
“Rutgers scientists have identified natural repellents against an invasive blueberry pest, a scientific breakthrough that was accidentally discovered when fruit flies invaded their laboratory.”
News
February 2027
Dr. Sun serves as Co-Chair of the Immunity and the Microbiome session for the 68th Annual Drosophila Research Conference.
November 2026
Dr. Sun presents on “Leveraging Fungal Metabolites for Sustainable Biocontrol of Spotted-Wing Drosophila” at the 74th Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America.
October 2026
Kelsie Bouyer joins the lab for her rotation as a graduate trainee in the Microbial Biology Ph.D. Program.
Dr. Sun presents on “The influence of microbial symbiosis on insect host behavior” for the Fall 2026 Seminar Series hosted by The College of New Jersey (TCNJ)’s Biology Department.
Dr. Sun presents on “Pichia occidentalis volatiles elicit divergent behavioral responses in Drosophila suzukii and Drosophila melanogaster” at Fly Club.
Dr. Sun presents on “Insect microbiome research in the EcoPreserve” for the Rutgers EcoPreserve’s 50th Anniversary Mini-Conference.
September 2026
The Office of Research features the Sun lab’s NIH MIRA!
Gabe and Patrick present the Sun lab’s research goals at the Fly Club Retreat.
Gabe presents the Sun lab’s research goals at the Molecular Biosciences Orientation.
Patrick Ashbrook joins the lab as a graduate trainee in the Microbial Biology M.S. Program.
Rutgers Today highlights 5-year NIH MIRA issued to the Sun lab
“Bugs are formidable foes, spreading disease and destroying billions of dollars in crops annually. Conventional controls, such as insecticides, are losing their effectiveness amid growing resistance and environmental concerns. Novel controls are needed – and a Rutgers-New Brunswick researcher has been awarded $2.1 million in federal funding to find them.”
August 2026
The Sun lab receives a 5-year MIRA (R35GM165839) from NIH NIGMS! Exciting times ahead!
July 2026
Dr. Sun joins the Board of Editors for the American Society for Microbiology’s Microbiology Spectrum Journal.
Sun lab featured by the EcoPreserve for mosquito microbiome research on campus
“Sun’s lab is trapping mosquitoes in the Rutgers Ecological Preserve to study the microbiome of mosquito sensory organs, such as the antennae and mouthparts. Through this work, they aim to gain insights into the effects that microbes exert on insect behavior via direct interaction with the chemosensory system. By shedding light on how microbial activity modulates host responses to tastes, smells, and other sensory cues, they hope to exploit said modulations to create more nuanced methods of pest control.”
June 2026
Gabriel Palmieri joins the lab as a graduate trainee in the Microbial Biology M.S. Program.
Jun Zhang joins the lab as an undergraduate trainee in the Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Undergraduate Research program.
Aryan Patel joins the lab as an undergraduate trainee in the Biotechnology Undergraduate Research program.
Kathryn Wulf joins the lab as a laboratory researcher!
May 2026
Dr. Sun is elected Secretary of the Theobald Smith Society.
Mia Cacao transitions into an undergraduate trainee in the Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Senior Honors Thesis program.
April 2026
Tia Hart defends her George H Cook thesis and receives honors!
Deep Patel, Shreya Gokul, and Tia Hart present posters at the 22nd Annual Aresty Undergraduate Research Symposium.
March 2026
Dr. Sun is appointed Guest Editor of Special Issue: Adaptation and Evolutionary Dynamics in Insect Gut Microbial Communities for Biology.
Hunter Ernstberger successfully defends his non-thesis Master’s research for the Microbial Biology graduate program!
Dr. Sun presents on “The microbiome as a driver of insect physiology, behavior, and control strategies” at the 113th NJMCA Annual Meeting.
Mia Cacao, Shreya Gokul, and Tia Hart present posters at the 67th Annual Drosophila Research Conference! Kudos — all trainees received multiple travel grants to support their attendance!
November 2025
Shreya Gokul presents her work at the Theobald Smith Society Symposium held at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University!
September 2025
Dr. Sun presents “Microbiome Tuning of Insect Olfaction” for the Fall 2025 seminar series at the Department of Entomology at Rutgers University.
Tia Hart successfully presents her George H Cook thesis proposal to committee members and a public audience!
May 2025
Deep Patel joins the lab as an undergraduate trainee in the Aresty Research Scholar program.
Hunter Ernstberger transitions into a graduate trainee in the Microbial Biology 4+1 B.S. & M.S. Program.
Tia Hart transitions into an undergraduate trainee in the George H. Cook Honors Thesis program.
March 2025
Dr. Sun featured by SEBS and NJAES for commitment to student excellence
“She views education as ‘a lifelong journey—not just about absorbing facts but about learning how to think, ask the right questions, and solve problems’ and sees her role as creating a space where students feel empowered to explore, challenge ideas, and push their own limits. Students who take Sun’s class this fall can look forward to ‘well-defined learning goals and genuine compassion’ so they feel both supported and pushed to grow.”
February 2025
Joselyn Lee joins the lab as a Science for Undergraduates a Program for Excellence in Research (SUPER) mentee.
January 2025
Dr. Sun transitions from Presidential Postdoctoral Research Fellow to Assistant Professor within the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology at Rutgers SEBS!
Hunter Ernstberger joins the lab as an undergraduate trainee in the Research in Microbiology program.
Mia Cacao and Shreya Gokul join the lab as undergraduate trainees in the Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Undergraduate Research program.
October 2024
Dr. Sun presents “Dynamics of insect-microbiome interaction influence vectorial capacity” for the Fall 2024 Fermentation Seminar series at the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology at Rutgers University.
Sun lab featured by Chancellor’s office for dedication to undergraduate research
“Dr. Sun says the Aresty program changed the course of her studies, career, and life. She wrote her first (successful!) grant proposal as a freshman. Throughout her undergraduate career at #RutgersNB she participated in research that spanned so many branches of science—from learning about insects and their parasites, to what she calls “hardcore chemistry,” to studies on dementia. And she developed long-lasting relationships with faculty mentors including Distinguished Professor G. Charles Dismukes.”
Dr. Sun presents a keynote at the Sustainable Development Forum in Beijing Oct 24-25, 2024
“Max Häggblom, Jennifer Sun, Chloe Costea and Lauren Hall were invited speakers at the Sustainable Development Forum in Beijing Oct 24-25, 2024. The forum, focusing on environmental health and human well-being, was organized by the Chinese Academy of Sciences Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences and Institute of Urban Environment. The forum was attended by international scientists, educators, and entrepreneurs in sessions featuring thematic forums, roundtable discussions and exchange activities. The forum encouraged advocacy for the establishment of a sustainable development model where environmental protection and human health synergistically reinforce each other.”
September 2024
Nicholas Johnson and Sammi Russo join the lab as undergraduate trainees in the Research in Microbiology program.
May 2024
Tia Hart presents a well-attended poster at the Aresty Research Symposium!
Safiyah Salama, Muqaddasa Tariq, and Hazem Al Darwish successfully defend their theses and receive honors!
February 2024
Dr. Sun is elected President of the Theobald Smith Society.
September 2023
Tia Hart joins the lab as an undergraduate trainee in the Aresty Research Scholar program.
Safiyah Salama and Muqaddasa Tariq transition into undergraduate trainees in the George H. Cook Honors Thesis program.
May 2023
Dr. Sun is elected Vice President of the Theobald Smith Society.
Hazem Al Darwish joins the lab as an undergraduate trainee in the George H. Cook Honors Thesis program.
January 2023
Safiyah Salama and Muqaddasa Tariq join the lab as undergraduate trainees in the Research in Microbiology program.
December 2022
Dr. Sun joins the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology at Rutgers SEBS as a Presidential Postdoctoral Research Scholar!