Kean University recently received a $455,019 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to study a fungus found on aspen trees, which may lead to development of natural, eco-friendly insect repellents.
The three-year project is funded through the foundation’s Plant-Biotic Interactions program.
Principal investigator, Kean University Associate Professor Maria Shumskaya and co-principal investigator, assistant professor Supratik Kar, both of The Dorothy and George Hennings College of Science, Mathematics and Technology (CSMT), will lead a study of Phellinus tremulae, the fungus known as the aspen bracket.
This fungus – either alone or in partnership with the host aspen tree – is avoided by insects in nature and may hold clues to developing safe, sustainable insect-repelling compounds for use in agriculture, forestry and public health.
“This grant exemplifies the high-impact research taking place at Kean,” said George Chang, dean of The Dorothy and George Hennings College of Science, Mathematics and Technology. “Dr. Shumskaya and Dr. Kar’s project pushes the boundaries of discovery in biotechnology while directly involving students in hands-on, real-world science.”
Using advanced techniques in metabolomics and computational modeling, including liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry, the researchers will isolate and analyze these compounds, test their effectiveness and safety, and model how they interact with insecticidal protein targets.
“The continuous search for new insecticides is driven by environmental changes and prolonged use of synthetic insecticides, which has led to resistance in insects,” Shumskaya said. “Natural insecticides can provide an alternative to synthetic insecticides.”
Kar’s role in the project focuses on the use of advanced computational approaches, such as molecular modeling, molecular dynamics, machine learning and artificial intelligence, to predict which compounds from the fungus are most likely to be effective as pesticides.
“By combining these predictive tools with experimental studies performed by my colleague Dr. Shumskaya, we can speed up the discovery process and identify the most promising candidates for real-world use,” he said. “Our computational studies will help prioritize compounds with the best combination of efficacy, safety and stability, so they can move forward more quickly into potential applications.”
Beyond its scientific goals, the project prioritizes student engagement. Kean undergraduate and local high school students will actively contribute to experiments, sample processing and data analysis. The experience will offer early exposure to careers in biology, chemistry, toxicology and computer modeling, while supporting broader efforts to increase participation in STEM fields.
The natural insect repellent market is poised for significant expansion from 2025 to 2035, driven by increasing consumer preference for chemical-free insect repellents, concerns over vector-borne diseases, and growing awareness of eco-friendly pest control solutions. The market is projected to grow to $6.5 billion by 2035 from $3.1 billion in 2025.
Among the factors fueling this growth are the rising demand for DEET-free detergents, the expanding market for organic personal care products, and government regulations confining synthetic chemical fungicides.