Shields LabTowson University

Shields Lab / Photos

Photos from the lab and meetings

The lab at work in Towson and lab members presenting at national meetings. Select any photo to see it full size.

In the lab

Rasha O. Alzyoud at the bench, and house crickets in the bottle-entry assay: the crickets move freely on paper bedding in an open arena that holds a bottle on its side, and repellency is scored from how many enter the bottle (see Research). Arena photos by Dr. Shields, October and November 2023.

  • Rasha O. Alzyoud, in blue gloves, pipetting a solution at a lab bench with mesh-capped containers in front of her
    Rasha O. Alzyoud preparing an assay at the bench.
  • Adult house crickets on white paper bedding in a clear plastic arena, seen from above
    In the lab, October and November 2023: house crickets in an arena (1 of 29).
  • Adult house crickets on white paper bedding in a clear plastic arena, seen from above
    In the lab, October and November 2023: house crickets in an arena (2 of 29).
  • Adult house crickets on white paper bedding in a clear plastic arena, seen from above
    In the lab, October and November 2023: house crickets in an arena (3 of 29).
  • Adult house crickets on white paper bedding in a clear plastic arena with a bottle lying on its side, seen from above
    In the lab, October and November 2023: the bottle-entry arena (4 of 29).
  • Adult house crickets on white paper bedding in a clear plastic arena with a bottle lying on its side, seen from above
    In the lab, October and November 2023: the bottle-entry arena (5 of 29).
  • Adult house crickets on white paper bedding in a clear plastic arena with a bottle lying on its side, seen from above
    In the lab, October and November 2023: the bottle-entry arena (6 of 29).
  • Adult house crickets on white paper bedding in a clear plastic arena with a bottle lying on its side, seen from above
    In the lab, October and November 2023: the bottle-entry arena (7 of 29).
  • Adult house crickets on white paper bedding in a clear plastic arena with a bottle lying on its side, seen from above
    In the lab, October and November 2023: the bottle-entry arena (8 of 29).
  • Adult house crickets on white paper bedding in a clear plastic arena with a bottle lying on its side, seen from above
    In the lab, October and November 2023: the bottle-entry arena (9 of 29).
  • Adult house crickets on white paper bedding in a clear plastic arena with a bottle lying on its side, seen from above
    In the lab, October and November 2023: the bottle-entry arena (10 of 29).
  • Adult house crickets on white paper bedding in a clear plastic arena with a bottle lying on its side, seen from above
    In the lab, October and November 2023: the bottle-entry arena (11 of 29).
  • Adult house crickets on white paper bedding in a clear plastic arena with a bottle lying on its side, seen from above
    In the lab, October and November 2023: the bottle-entry arena (12 of 29).
  • Adult house crickets on white paper bedding in a clear plastic arena with a bottle lying on its side, seen from above
    In the lab, October and November 2023: the bottle-entry arena (13 of 29).
  • Adult house crickets on white paper bedding in a clear plastic arena with a bottle lying on its side, seen from above
    In the lab, October and November 2023: the bottle-entry arena (14 of 29).
  • Adult house crickets on white paper bedding in a clear plastic arena with a bottle lying on its side, seen from above
    In the lab, October and November 2023: the bottle-entry arena (15 of 29).
  • Adult house crickets on white paper bedding in a clear plastic arena with a bottle lying on its side, seen from above
    In the lab, October and November 2023: the bottle-entry arena (16 of 29).
  • Adult house crickets on white paper bedding in a clear plastic arena with a bottle lying on its side, seen from above
    In the lab, October and November 2023: the bottle-entry arena (17 of 29).
  • Adult house crickets on white paper bedding in a clear plastic arena with a bottle lying on its side, seen from above
    In the lab, October and November 2023: the bottle-entry arena (18 of 29).
  • Adult house crickets on white paper bedding in a clear plastic arena with a bottle lying on its side, seen from above
    In the lab, October and November 2023: the bottle-entry arena (19 of 29).
  • Adult house crickets on white paper bedding in a clear plastic arena with a bottle lying on its side, seen from above
    In the lab, October and November 2023: the bottle-entry arena (20 of 29).
  • Adult house crickets on white paper bedding in a clear plastic arena with a bottle lying on its side, seen from above
    In the lab, October and November 2023: the bottle-entry arena (21 of 29).
  • Adult house crickets on white paper bedding in a clear plastic arena with a bottle lying on its side, seen from above
    In the lab, October and November 2023: the bottle-entry arena (22 of 29).
  • Adult house crickets on white paper bedding in a clear plastic arena with a bottle lying on its side, seen from above
    In the lab, October and November 2023: the bottle-entry arena (23 of 29).
  • Adult house crickets on white paper bedding in a clear plastic arena with a bottle lying on its side, seen from above
    In the lab, October and November 2023: the bottle-entry arena (24 of 29).
  • Adult house crickets on white paper bedding in a clear plastic arena with a bottle lying on its side, seen from above
    In the lab, October and November 2023: the bottle-entry arena (25 of 29).
  • Adult house crickets on white paper bedding in a clear plastic arena with a bottle lying on its side, seen from above
    In the lab, October and November 2023: the bottle-entry arena (26 of 29).
  • Adult house crickets on white paper bedding in a clear plastic arena with a bottle lying on its side, seen from above
    In the lab, October and November 2023: the bottle-entry arena (27 of 29).
  • Adult house crickets on white paper bedding in a clear plastic arena with a bottle lying on its side, seen from above
    In the lab, October and November 2023: the bottle-entry arena (28 of 29).
  • Adult house crickets on white paper bedding in a clear plastic arena with a bottle lying on its side, seen from above
    In the lab, October and November 2023: the bottle-entry arena (29 of 29).

NCUR 2026

April 15, 2026, Richmond, Virginia. Torben Heinbockel presented the methyl benzoate analog screen as a talk and the house cricket study as a poster at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research.

  • Torben Heinbockel stands with his arms spread under an arched banner reading Welcome to NCUR26 @Richmond, Engaging minds. Empowering students. The left column carries the Zora Neale Hurston quote and CUR.org/NCUR. The right column lists exhibitors and thanks VCU and VisitRichmondVA.com. Attendees stand in the bright atrium behind him.
    NCUR 2026: Under the welcome arch. The column quotes Zora Neale Hurston: “Research is formalized curiosity.”
  • Torben Heinbockel smiles and points to the list where Towson University appears, on a tall column headed Take a selfie, Tag us, Share and Go explore our exhibitors. VCU and VisitRichmondVA.com logos are at the bottom, and the convention center atrium and balconies are behind him.
    NCUR 2026: Towson University on the list of exhibitors.
  • An empty wooden podium with a Greater Richmond Convention Center sign stands in a carpeted room. To its right is a screen, partly out of frame, showing the talk's title slide with the lines Presented By: Torben Heinbockel and Mentor: Dr. Vonnie Shields.
    NCUR 2026: The session room, with the title slide on screen.
  • Torben Heinbockel speaks at the Greater Richmond Convention Center podium and gestures with an open hand toward a screen showing the title slide Sustainable Control of Drosophila suzukii Using Methyl Benzoate Analogs as Repellent Agents. The slide credits Torben Heinbockel, Department of Biological Sciences, Towson University, as presenter and Dr. Vonnie Shields as mentor.
    NCUR 2026: The title slide, with Dr. Vonnie Shields as mentor.
  • Torben Heinbockel, in three-quarter profile, points at a photo of damaged fruit on a slide titled Why Does SWD Pose Risks to Food Security?. The slide also shows a fly and a row of fruit-damage photos linked by arrows.
    NCUR 2026: Why the fly matters: females lay eggs inside ripening fruit.
  • A low-angle, full-length view of Torben Heinbockel speaking beside a screen showing the slide Why Does SWD Pose Risks to Food Security?, with one hand at his chest. The slide shows a fly and photos of damaged fruit.
    NCUR 2026: Talking through the food-security slide.
  • Torben Heinbockel stands to the right of a screen and speaks to the room with both hands open. The slide, Methyl Benzoate and Its Limitations, shows the ring structure of methyl benzoate, the formula C6H5-C(=O)-OCH3, notes that it is an aromatic ester with a sweet, fruity, floral odor, and says it was insufficient as a control strategy alone.
    NCUR 2026: Methyl benzoate, the starting point, and its limits.
  • Torben Heinbockel speaks at the podium with one hand raised in a loose fist. The screen beside him reads Hypothesis: chemical structural analogs of MB will serve as more potent spatial repellents than MB. Under Research Methods it says that three-day-old SWD flies were anesthetized and sorted, 24 female flies were selected and placed in a glass open-ended tube, and test or control compounds were pipetted onto filter paper at the two ends.
    NCUR 2026: The hypothesis, and the two-choice tube used to test it.
  • A close view of Torben Heinbockel speaking at the Greater Richmond Convention Center podium, mouth open mid-word and one hand raised, wearing his conference badge on a yellow lanyard.
    NCUR 2026: Mid-talk at the podium.
  • Torben Heinbockel smiles and rests one hand on a tall white NCUR26 @Richmond banner reading Welcome to the home of student presenters, #NCUR2026, CUR.org/NCUR. He stands on a mezzanine walkway with brick pillars and hanging City of Richmond and county banners behind him.
    NCUR 2026: At the NCUR 2026 welcome banner.

Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024

Torben Heinbockel at the International Forum on Research Excellence (IFoRE), Sigma Xi’s annual meeting, in 2024: at the podium and beside the meeting’s banners.

  • Torben Heinbockel at the lectern, beside an IFoRE sign, in a conference room
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: at the IFoRE podium (1 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel at the lectern, beside an IFoRE sign, in a conference room
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: at the IFoRE podium (2 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel at the lectern, beside an IFoRE sign, in a conference room
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: at the IFoRE podium (3 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel at the lectern, beside an IFoRE sign, in a conference room
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: at the IFoRE podium (4 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel at the lectern, beside an IFoRE sign, in a conference room
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: at the IFoRE podium (5 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel at the lectern, beside an IFoRE sign, in a conference room
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: at the IFoRE podium (6 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel at the lectern, beside an IFoRE sign, in a conference room
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: at the IFoRE podium (7 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the black IFoRE, International Forum on Research Excellence, banner
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the IFoRE banner (8 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the black IFoRE, International Forum on Research Excellence, banner
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the IFoRE banner (9 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the black IFoRE, International Forum on Research Excellence, banner
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the IFoRE banner (10 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the black IFoRE, International Forum on Research Excellence, banner
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the IFoRE banner (11 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the black IFoRE, International Forum on Research Excellence, banner
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the IFoRE banner (12 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the black IFoRE, International Forum on Research Excellence, banner
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the IFoRE banner (13 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the black IFoRE, International Forum on Research Excellence, banner
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the IFoRE banner (14 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the black IFoRE, International Forum on Research Excellence, banner
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the IFoRE banner (15 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the black IFoRE, International Forum on Research Excellence, banner
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the IFoRE banner (16 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the black IFoRE, International Forum on Research Excellence, banner
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the IFoRE banner (17 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the black IFoRE, International Forum on Research Excellence, banner
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the IFoRE banner (18 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the black IFoRE, International Forum on Research Excellence, banner
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the IFoRE banner (19 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the black IFoRE, International Forum on Research Excellence, banner
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the IFoRE banner (20 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the black IFoRE, International Forum on Research Excellence, banner
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the IFoRE banner (21 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the black IFoRE, International Forum on Research Excellence, banner
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the IFoRE banner (22 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the black IFoRE, International Forum on Research Excellence, banner
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the IFoRE banner (23 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the black IFoRE, International Forum on Research Excellence, banner
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the IFoRE banner (24 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the black IFoRE, International Forum on Research Excellence, banner
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the IFoRE banner (25 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the black IFoRE, International Forum on Research Excellence, banner
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the IFoRE banner (26 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the Sigma Xi banner welcoming attendees to IFoRE
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the Sigma Xi welcome banner (27 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the Sigma Xi banner welcoming attendees to IFoRE
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the Sigma Xi welcome banner (28 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the Sigma Xi banner welcoming attendees to IFoRE
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the Sigma Xi welcome banner (29 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the Sigma Xi banner welcoming attendees to IFoRE
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the Sigma Xi welcome banner (30 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the Sigma Xi banner welcoming attendees to IFoRE
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the Sigma Xi welcome banner (31 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the Sigma Xi banner welcoming attendees to IFoRE
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the Sigma Xi welcome banner (32 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the Sigma Xi banner welcoming attendees to IFoRE
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the Sigma Xi welcome banner (33 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the Sigma Xi banner welcoming attendees to IFoRE
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the Sigma Xi welcome banner (34 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the Sigma Xi banner welcoming attendees to IFoRE
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the Sigma Xi welcome banner (35 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the Sigma Xi banner welcoming attendees to IFoRE
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the Sigma Xi welcome banner (36 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the Sigma Xi banner welcoming attendees to IFoRE
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the Sigma Xi welcome banner (37 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the Sigma Xi banner welcoming attendees to IFoRE
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the Sigma Xi welcome banner (38 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the Sigma Xi banner welcoming attendees to IFoRE
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the Sigma Xi welcome banner (39 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the Sigma Xi banner welcoming attendees to IFoRE
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the Sigma Xi welcome banner (40 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the Sigma Xi banner welcoming attendees to IFoRE
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the Sigma Xi welcome banner (41 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the Sigma Xi banner welcoming attendees to IFoRE
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the Sigma Xi welcome banner (42 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the Sigma Xi banner welcoming attendees to IFoRE
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the Sigma Xi welcome banner (43 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the Sigma Xi banner welcoming attendees to IFoRE
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the Sigma Xi welcome banner (44 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the Sigma Xi banner welcoming attendees to IFoRE
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the Sigma Xi welcome banner (45 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the Sigma Xi banner welcoming attendees to IFoRE
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the Sigma Xi welcome banner (46 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the Sigma Xi banner welcoming attendees to IFoRE
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the Sigma Xi welcome banner (47 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the Sigma Xi banner welcoming attendees to IFoRE
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the Sigma Xi welcome banner (48 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the Sigma Xi banner welcoming attendees to IFoRE
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the Sigma Xi welcome banner (49 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the Sigma Xi banner welcoming attendees to IFoRE
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the Sigma Xi welcome banner (50 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the Sigma Xi banner welcoming attendees to IFoRE
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the Sigma Xi welcome banner (51 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the Sigma Xi banner welcoming attendees to IFoRE
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the Sigma Xi welcome banner (52 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the Sigma Xi banner welcoming attendees to IFoRE
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the Sigma Xi welcome banner (53 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the Sigma Xi banner welcoming attendees to IFoRE
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the Sigma Xi welcome banner (54 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the Sigma Xi banner welcoming attendees to IFoRE
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the Sigma Xi welcome banner (55 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the Sigma Xi banner welcoming attendees to IFoRE
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the Sigma Xi welcome banner (56 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel standing beside the Sigma Xi banner welcoming attendees to IFoRE
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: beside the Sigma Xi welcome banner (57 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel beside a colorful Sigma Xi banner signed by attendees
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: at the signed Sigma Xi banner (58 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel beside a colorful Sigma Xi banner signed by attendees
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: at the signed Sigma Xi banner (59 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel beside a colorful Sigma Xi banner signed by attendees
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: at the signed Sigma Xi banner (60 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel beside a colorful Sigma Xi banner signed by attendees
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: at the signed Sigma Xi banner (61 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel beside a colorful Sigma Xi banner signed by attendees
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: at the signed Sigma Xi banner (62 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel beside a colorful Sigma Xi banner signed by attendees
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: at the signed Sigma Xi banner (63 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel beside a colorful Sigma Xi banner signed by attendees
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: at the signed Sigma Xi banner (64 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel beside a colorful Sigma Xi banner signed by attendees
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: at the signed Sigma Xi banner (65 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel beside a colorful Sigma Xi banner signed by attendees
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: at the signed Sigma Xi banner (66 of 68).
  • Torben Heinbockel beside a colorful Sigma Xi banner signed by attendees
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: at the signed Sigma Xi banner (67 of 68).
  • Close view of a colorful Sigma Xi banner covered in attendee signatures
    Sigma Xi IFoRE 2024: the signed Sigma Xi banner (68 of 68).

Neuroscience 2023

Torben Heinbockel at the podium at Neuroscience 2023, the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, DC, and speaking on a panel earlier that November.

  • Torben Heinbockel speaking at a podium, with two panelists seated at a table beside him
    November 2023: speaking from the podium, November 2023 (1 of 12).
  • Torben Heinbockel speaking at a podium, with two panelists seated at a table beside him
    November 2023: speaking from the podium, November 2023 (2 of 12).
  • Torben Heinbockel speaking at a podium, with two panelists seated at a table beside him
    November 2023: speaking from the podium, November 2023 (3 of 12).
  • Torben Heinbockel speaking at a podium, with two panelists seated at a table beside him
    November 2023: speaking from the podium, November 2023 (4 of 12).
  • Torben Heinbockel at a Society for Neuroscience podium, with the Neuroscience 2023 logo on the screen behind him
    November 2023: at the podium at Neuroscience 2023 (5 of 12).
  • Torben Heinbockel at a Society for Neuroscience podium, with the Neuroscience 2023 logo on the screen behind him
    November 2023: at the podium at Neuroscience 2023 (6 of 12).
  • A session room at Neuroscience 2023, with a slide on the screen and a listener in silhouette
    November 2023: the session room at Neuroscience 2023 (7 of 12).
  • Torben Heinbockel at a Society for Neuroscience podium, with the Neuroscience 2023 logo on the screen behind him
    November 2023: at the podium at Neuroscience 2023 (8 of 12).
  • Torben Heinbockel at a Society for Neuroscience podium, with the Neuroscience 2023 logo on the screen behind him
    November 2023: at the podium at Neuroscience 2023 (9 of 12).
  • Torben Heinbockel at a Society for Neuroscience podium, with the Neuroscience 2023 logo on the screen behind him
    November 2023: at the podium at Neuroscience 2023 (10 of 12).
  • Torben Heinbockel at a Society for Neuroscience podium, with the Neuroscience 2023 logo on the screen behind him
    November 2023: at the podium at Neuroscience 2023 (11 of 12).
  • Torben Heinbockel at a Society for Neuroscience podium, with the Neuroscience 2023 logo on the screen behind him
    November 2023: at the podium at Neuroscience 2023 (12 of 12).