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John J Beck

Research Leader

John Beck is a research chemist with a B.Sc. (chemistry) from the University of California, Riverside and a Ph.D. (organic/natural products chemistry) from Colorado State University. Professional memberships include the Entomological Society of America (ESA) Plant-Insect Ecosystems section, the International Society of Chemical Ecology (ISCE), and the American Chemical Society Agrochemical Division (ACS AGRO). Prior to joining the ARS as a career employee in 2006, John was an Associate Professor of Chemistry. While his formal training was in organic chemistry and the isolation, characterization, and bioassay of natural products from terrestrial sources, his research now focuses on plant-, insect-, and microbial-emitted volatiles and their role as semiochemicals. His research has included discovering host plant-based attractants for the California insect pest, navel orangeworm utilizing electrophysiological (electroantennographic) and behavioral responses to select compounds or blends. As part of the USDA-ARS mission and the goals of his laboratory, John maintains collaborative research with other USDA agencies, external industry stakeholders, and academia, including the ARS Fruit and Tree Nut Research Unit it Byron, GA, University of Florida Entomology and Nematology Department, University of California Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology (Vannette laboratory), and the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe). Professional service includes serving as an Associate Editor for Pest Management SciencePhytochemistry, and Environmental Entomology (EE), and member of the Editorial Boards for Journal of Food and Agricultural Chemistry (JAFC) and Phytochemistry Letters (PCL).

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