Monell Chemical Senses Center

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Monell Chemical Senses Center

Monell advances the science of taste & smell to benefit human health & well-being How do we use our chemical senses to communicate? Which genes are responsible?

At Monell, world-class scientists are unlocking some of the most fundamental mysteries of what makes us human. What are the cellular mechanisms of taste and smell that contribute to the difference between lifelong health and chronic disease? How do our chemical senses shape human nutrition? The Center’s integrated research approaches range from basic molecular biology to behavioral neuroscience, from cellular biology to comparative ecology, from analytical chemistry to clinical work with human patients. Monell scientists are at the forefront of discovery, exploring the senses of taste and smell in order to answer pressing questions about health, behavior, and the environment that we could not even foresee a decade ago.

11/08/2025

The Monell Center is thrilled to welcome Dr. Hans Clevers as keynote speaker at our November 12 scientific symposium, part of Monell's Inaugural Celebration of Science.

A trailblazing researcher and pioneer of organoids—3D structures that behave like the organ from which they are derived—his work continues to reshape our understanding of how the body repairs, renews, and defends itself.

Dr. Clevers will join an extraordinary lineup of speakers who will dive into how the once-overlooked tuft cells influence immunity and communication throughout our bodies. These tiny, yet powerful, cells are equipped with specialized taste receptors that help orchestrate immune responses, protect against infections, and maintain tissue health.

The symposium, “Discovering the Unsung Sentinels of the Body: Tuft Cells in Health and Disease,” pays tribute to Monell's Emeritus Director and President Dr. Robert Margolskee, whose visionary leadership and scientific contributions have been a driving force in sensory science at Monell and beyond.

👉 For the full speaker line-up, visit monell.org/celebration-of-science/symposium-speakers/

👉 For the program and talk titles, visit: monell.org/celebration-of-science/symposium-agenda-talk-titles/

11/06/2025

We are stronger together—scientists, partners, and supporters—working to build a future where sensory science enriches health, connection, and quality of life for all.

To our 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐬, 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐬, 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲-𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬: Your generosity ensures that our Celebration of Science on November 12 will not only honor our legacy but also fuel our future.

Thank you for joining us on this journey and supporting the people and ideas driving sensory science forward!

👉 For the full list of sponsors (including Visionary, Discovery, and Innovation Sponsors) and to learn more about the Celebration of Science, visit monell.org/celebration-of-science.

11/04/2025

Ever wondered why some people instantly gag at cilantro, while others can’t get enough?

It’s not always “you’re picky.” There is, in fact, strong evidence for genes that affect how much you like cilantro. A 2012 genetic analysis by Monell scientists determined, after investigating the DNA of 527 twins, that your genes are sometimes the reason you'd rather have your taco with no cilantro.

We also looked beyond the genes. Our researchers study how taste, smell, texture, early exposures, and even culture shape the strong likes and dislikes we have toward food. Because when we understand what drives our senses, we’re in a better place to improve nutrition, health, and well-being.

When someone says “Ugh, I hate cilantro,” there’s real science behind that reaction. With your support, we're working to decode it.

👉 Here is how Monell scientist Joel Mainland spoke to Inverse about the science of liking cilantro: https://www.inverse.com/science/cilantro-soapy-taste-genetics-mystery.

👉 Learn more about how we’re celebrating sensory science and the supporters who make it possible at monell.org/celebration-of-science.

11/03/2025

The future of sensory science is built on bold ideas and the partners who believe in them.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲, 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐬 for their extraordinary support of Monell's Inaugural Celebration of Science. Your commitment means that Monell remains at the forefront of sensory research while exploring new frontiers, from hunger and nutrition to memory and emotion.

At the heart of it all is our mission: to translate the science of the chemical senses into discoveries that make people’s lives better.

We can't wait to celebrate with you!

For the full list of sponsors and to learn more about the Celebration of Science, visit monell.org/celebration-of-science.

10/27/2025

🚨Last call - Get a front-row seat to the ideas and innovations driving the future of sensory science and meet the people making it happen!

We’re just days away from Monell’s Inaugural Celebration of Science and Scientific Symposium, happening November 12. The event brings Monell’s community of scientists and supporters for a day filled with discovery, curiosity, and a little bit of humor.

👉 Visit monell.org/celebration-of-science today to reserve your seat. We can't wait to celebrate with you!

10/27/2025

Mentorship changes lives, and at Monell, it changes the future of sensory science!

On National Mentoring Day, we are excited to announce that the application for the 2026 Monell Science Apprenticeship Program (MSAP) is now open. MSAP is a paid, immersive summer experience that provides talented high school and undergraduate students—particularly those from traditionally underrepresented and under-resourced groups in the sciences—the space, resources, and training to conduct an independent research project. The program will run from June 15, 2026 through July 31, 2026.

👉 Ready to spend your summer doing real science? Visit monell.org/science-apprenticeship-applications/ to apply now! The application deadline is on Friday, January 9, 2026.

👉 Curious about the experience of the MSAP cohort from 2025? Read about their workshops, seminars, and research projects in the impact report available on monell.org/science-apprenticeship-highlights/.

MSAP owes its success to the generous philanthropy of our community. Every gift, of any size, fuels another student’s first step toward a life in science. The Monell Center especially recognizes Dr. James Albrecht, long-time friend and advisor, for his leadership and support of the Monell Science Apprenticeship Program in 2025.

10/16/2025

A postdoctoral position is immediately available at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in the laboratory of Dr. Valentina Parma. Join a vibrant team to explore how psychophysical approaches to smell and taste can advance our understanding of various positive health outcomes. Motivated candidates with a passion for sensory science and a drive to make impactful contributions to the field are encouraged to apply.

Visit monell.org/careers to start your application.

10/07/2025

📣 Kicking off the 2025 Monell Insiders Meeting!

It's a busy and exciting week at Monell Chemical Senses Center—in just under an hour, we welcome our industry partners and collaborators to the 2025 Monell Insiders Meeting, an annual gathering filled to the brim with scientific discussions that push chemosensory science forward. This year, the three-day meeting will featuring some of the latest work coming out of Monell research labs, two panel discussions, and an exclusive first look at emerging science and new research directions.

Thank you to all who will be joining us, and if you are not yet a Monell Insider, visit monell.org/monell-insiders/ to partner with us!

10/03/2025

“You start to talk to people from Monell, and the world becomes a much more complicated and interesting place.” -Marc Abrahams, science humorist and founder of the Ig Nobel Prize.

From the smell of stressed out frogs to babies that enjoy garlic-flavored breastmilk, Marc knows that science can surprise you, challenge you, and that sometimes, it can make you laugh then think. He spent decades showing the world that discovery doesn’t just live in labs or lecture halls; it lives in our curiosity, humor, and willingness to see the unexpected.

That’s what Monell's inaugural 𝘊𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 is all about: bringing together brilliant minds, sparking new ideas, and inviting everyone to experience the joy of smell and taste science.

On November 12, we are thrilled to be joined by Marc as our special guest at the 𝘊𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦. And we can't wait to find out how he blends our science with his humor!

👉 You too can join us to celebrate curiosity in all its forms, with a community that believes science should always be shared, enjoyed, and celebrated. Get your tickets now at monell.org/celebration-of-science.

p.s. Here is the story behind the babies enjoying garlic-flavored breastmilk: monell.org/monell-center-researchers-received-a-2025-ig-nobel-prize-for-their-landmark-flavor-study/

09/19/2025

More from last night - Monell scientists Dr. Julie Mennella and Dr. Gary Beauchamp were awarded the 2025 Ig Nobel Prize in Pediatrics for their pioneering flavor study: Maternal Diet Alters the Sensory Qualities of Human Milk and the Nursling’s Behavior.

Riffing on the august Nobel Prizes, The Ig Nobel Prize is a “tongue-in-cheek” award that celebrates scientific research that amuses at first glance, but provokes deeper reflection, highlighting the unexpected and creative side of science.

The award-winning study found in 1991 that babies nursed longer when a breastfeeding mother included garlic in her diet, defying the widespread belief at the time that a mother's milk should be bland in order for babies not to reject it.

Building on this work, Mennella and Beauchamp went on to discover that eating garlic during pregnancy altered the aroma of amniotic fluid and that a wide variety of flavors transmit into these first foods. What began as an unexpected discovery about garlic laid the scientific groundwork for decades of research uncovering how early-life flavor experiences shape emerging food preferences and influence cultural food practices across generations and around the world.

👉 Read the full story here: monell.org/monell-center-researchers-received-a-2025-ig-nobel-prize-for-their-landmark-flavor-study/

👉 Interested in celebrating smell and taste science with us? Get your tickets now for Monell's inaugural Celebration of Science at monell.org/celebration-of-science.

09/19/2025

At Monell Chemical Senses Center, postdoctoral fellows are central to our culture of innovation, collaboration, outreach and education. It's why we love Postdoctoral Awareness Week!

Here is a snippet of how they are driving forward our understanding of smell, taste, and related senses:

✅ Pioneering new insights into how taste and smell influence nutrition, human health, disease recovery, and quality of life.

✅ Developing experimental methods, refining techniques, and expanding our understanding at the molecular, organismal, and perceptual levels.

✅ Bridging disciplines—biology, chemistry, neuroscience, psychology, environmental science, and food science—to tackle complex sensory questions.

✅ Helping to mentor the next generation of scientists, collaborating across labs, publishing, presenting, and teaching at every public outreach opportunity.

Happy National Postdoctoral Awareness Week to all!

👉 Visit monell.org/training/ to learn more about the training opportunities offered at Monell.

09/18/2025

Big news from Boston! Tonight, Monell scientists Dr. Julie Mennella and Dr. Gary Beauchamp were awarded the 2025 Ig Nobel Prize in Pediatrics, for research that makes you laugh, then think! 🏆

Back in 1991, the two scientists asked this question: 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘢 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳'𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘺'𝘴 𝘯𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘳?

At the time, it was widely believed that human milk should be bland, and folklore warned mothers to avoid garlic while breastfeeding, for fear that babies would reject their milk. Mennella and Beauchamp's research showed that the mothers' milk did, indeed, take on the the garlic’s aroma, but -surprisingly to many- instead of rejecting it, babies actually nursed longer!

What began as a seemingly simple question helped establish an entirely new way of thinking about how early-life experiences with flavor shape our relationship with food and became the basis for decades of research into food preferences across cultures and generations.

👉 Read the full story here: monell.org/monell-center-researchers-received-a-2025-ig-nobel-prize-for-their-landmark-flavor-study

👉 Interested in celebrating smell and taste science with us? Get your tickets now for Monell's inaugural Celebration of Science at monell.org/celebration-of-science.

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