Martin Dessart

I am a neuroethologist passionate about animal cognition, with a particular focus on insects. Despite their tiny brains, these creatures exhibit remarkable behavioural adaptations relying on their complex sensory systems to perceive, process, and respond to diverse cues from their environment.

My academic journey began with an engineering degree from ICAM Toulouse, followed by a Master's degree from the University of Strasbourg. I then pursued a PhD at the University of Tours, under the guidance of Prof. Claudio Lazzari and Dr. Fernando Guerrieri at the Insect Biology Research Institute.

My PhD work focused on the cognitive abilities of mosquito larvae, exploring how environmental pollutants impact their learning and memory and how these creatures can serve as biological indicators of freshwater ecosystem health.

Now as a postdoc associate in Virginia Tech's Vinauger Lab, I am studying mosquito behaviour and cognition, and the underlying mechanisms that makes these insects so highly effective at bothering us!