My name is Ning Zhang, and I am very happy to join Richard Benton’s lab as a visiting scholar. I come from China, where I am pursuing my PhD at Nanjing Agricultural University in Jiangsu Province. My research there focuses on post-mating behaviors in the agricultural pest brown planthopper and the model insect *Drosophila melanogaster*, as well as the molecular mechanisms underlying these behaviors.

Now, supported by the China Scholarship Council, I have come to Richard Benton’s lab to study the molecular mechanisms of insect toxin sensitivity and resistance.

I am fascinated by all aspects of insect behavior and believe that insects possess many ingenious molecular and metabolic systems that help them adapt to environmental changes. If you are interested in any insect-related behaviors, I would be very happy to discuss them with you.

Outside of work, I enjoy physical activity. My favorite forms of exercise are yoga and jazz dance, as they can be done indoors and are not overly exhausting.

I look forward to meeting you all.