Service
Mass Spectrometry Services
The Mass Spectrometry and Metabolomics Facility at CECE, supported through the Central Instrumentation Facility (CIF) at UAS–GKVK Bengaluru, provides state-of-the-art analytical support for researchers studying chemical communication in plants, insects, and associated microorganisms. Equipped with advanced LC-MS and GC-MS platforms, the facility specializes in the sensitive detection, quantification, and structural elucidation of both volatile and non-volatile small molecules central to ecological interactions. Our team offers comprehensive support, from method development, experimental planning, and sample preparation to data processing and interpretation, enabling both targeted chemical analyses and untargeted metabolomic profiling. In addition to research services, we provide hands-on training, workshops, and graduate-level instruction in mass spectrometry and small-molecule analysis, strengthening the capacity of the chemical ecology community and empowering researchers to explore complex chemical landscapes with precision and confidence.
Microscopic Imaging Services
The Microscopic Imaging Facility at CECE, supported through the Central Instrumentation Facility (CIF) at UAS–GKVK Bengaluru, offers comprehensive imaging capabilities essential for exploring the structural and functional dynamics of plants, insects, and microbial systems. The facility houses a versatile suite of instruments, including advanced SEM, stereo and compound microscopes, fluorescence and confocal microscopy systems, and high-resolution imaging platforms suitable for both live and fixed samples. These capabilities enable detailed visualization of tissues, cellular structures, and microbe–host interactions that underpin chemical ecological processes. In addition to image acquisition, the facility provides expert assistance in image processing, 3D reconstruction, quantitative image analysis, and data interpretation using tools such as ImageJ imaging software. When highly specialized imaging requirements arise, CECE leverages GKVK’s broader institutional network to access external high-end platforms, ensuring that researchers have seamless access to the imaging power needed to address complex biological questions. Through its integrated support, the Microscopic Imaging Facility plays a critical role in advancing high-resolution ecological research across CECE’s scientific programs.
Statistics & Data Analysis Services
The Statistics and Data Analysis Unit at CECE provides dedicated guidance for researchers who need support in designing robust experiments and interpreting complex ecological datasets. Whether you are formulating a new biological question, refining an experimental design, or encountering challenges during data analysis, the statistical support team is available to help ensure scientific rigor and clarity. The unit works extensively with R or GraphPad and offers assistance ranging from collaborative data analysis to personalized support that empowers researchers to conduct their own statistical workflows. CECE’s statisticians help address a wide spectrum of analytical needs, including comparisons of treatment groups, regression-based modelling, generalized and mixed-effects models, multivariate approaches, survival analysis, and other methods commonly required in chemical ecology research. In addition, the centre conducts annual training courses and workshops in statistics and R, helping build analytical capacity for students and researchers across CECE. Through this integrated support, the Statistics Unit strengthens the centre’s commitment to high-quality, reproducible science.
Electrophysiology Services
The Electrophysiology Facility at CECE provides advanced capabilities for studying how insects perceive and respond to chemical cues through sophisticated techniques such as Electroantennography (EAG) and Gas Chromatography–Electroantennographic Detection (GC-EAD). These tools allow researchers to directly measure the sensitivity of insect olfactory receptors to natural and synthetic odorants, enabling the identification of bioactive compounds involved in host location, predator avoidance, mating, and other ecologically relevant behaviours. The facility supports the entire workflow, from stimulus preparation and experimental setup to signal acquisition, data processing, and interpretation, ensuring high-quality, reproducible electrophysiological recordings. By integrating chemical analyses with insect sensory responses, our electrophysiology platform serves as a crucial bridge between behavioral ecology, chemical analysis, and neuroethological studies. CECE also provides hands-on training for students and researchers, building expertise in these foundational methods that underpin semiochemical discovery and chemical-ecological research.
Behaviour Bioassay Service
The Behaviour Bioassay Unit at CECE provides a dedicated platform for investigating how insects and other organisms respond to chemical, visual, and ecological cues under controlled experimental conditions. Equipped with a range of behavioral arenas including olfactometers, wind tunnels, Y-mazes, locomotion tracking systems, and choice chambers, the facility enables researchers to quantify attraction, repellence, oviposition preference, foraging decisions, predator–prey interactions, and other ecologically relevant behaviours. The unit supports every stage of behavioral experimentation, from assay design and stimulus preparation to video recording, tracking, and quantitative analysis of behavioral patterns. By integrating behavioral insights with chemical, physiological, and neurobiological data, the Behaviour Bioassay Unit plays a central role in deciphering the mechanisms that link chemical signals to ecological outcomes. CECE also offers training and methodological support for students and early-career researchers, ensuring that behaviour-based investigations are conducted with precision, repeatability, and scientific rigor.
Training & Capacity Building
CECE is deeply committed to training the next generation of chemical ecologists by providing hands-on exposure to foundational and advanced methods in the field. Through structured workshops, short courses, and laboratory-based training programs, students, researchers, and professionals gain practical experience in techniques such as chemical extraction, GC–MS analysis, electrophysiology, behavioral assays, microbial culturing, and experimental design. Our training initiatives emphasize not only technical proficiency but also critical thinking, scientific rigor, and interdisciplinary collaboration. By creating an environment where emerging scientists can learn directly from experienced researchers and utilize state-of-the-art facilities, CECE plays a pivotal role in building national capacity in chemical ecology and empowering participants to contribute meaningfully to ecological research and sustainable innovation.