Olfactory Research Notes is a new lecture series that presents important research done in olfaction, directly from the people who do it. We are pleased to launch this new series with a four-part lecture series by Dr. Sandeepa Dey.

A neuroscientist who has explored the use of biosensors to quantify the odors of molecules and ingredients for flavor and fragrance industries, Sandeepa draws from her fifteen years of research to introduce attendees to her research into molecular perspectives on the human sense of smell. Starting with how the sense of smell works in humans, Sandeepa will explain how this sensory modality can be quantified in a scientific and laboratory setting, and examine how the quantification of smell can be harnessed to develop flavor, fragrance, food and beverage products. Finally, she will explore the genetic basis for human population differences in smell perception.

LECTURE DATES AND TOPICS

Please be sure to sign up for the date you want to attend. If you want to attend all four lectures, you will have to sign up for all four individually.

Lecture 1: March 21 – 5:30 – 6:30pm PT
Introduction to the Human Sense of Smell
In the first of her lecture series, Dr. Dey will cover the basics of the neuroanatomical organization of the human olfactory system, introduce the olfactory receptors expressed in the human nose, their functions, how they detect odors and transmit smell information to the brain

Lecture 2: April 25, 5:30-6:30pm PT
Designing Olfactory Receptor Research and Quantifying Smell
In her second lecture, Sandeepa will cover how the olfactory receptor functions and odor detecting capabilities can be recapitulated in the laboratories. Key concepts will include adapting molecular biology techniques and laboratory based assays to replicate odor detection in the nose as a scientific workflow, and introduce the quantification of smell. Sandeepa will also introduce how olfactory receptor biology and quantification of smell can be utilized in flavor, fragrance, food and beverage research to reduce product development time, compare smells objectively, and stand as a handy toolkit for product development for scientists and human sensory panels.

Lecture 3: May 23, 5:30-6:30pm PT
Genetic Variations of Olfactory Receptors
In the final lecture , Sandeepa will conclude the series by briefly covering quantification of smell and how it can be used in flavor, fragrance, food and beverage research. She will then explain the differences and variability of olfactory receptor genes in human populations, and how these differences contribute to the important and notable differences in human odor perception.

Each lecture will last 45 minutes with 15 minutes for questions. Each lecture takes place on Zoom, and Zoom information will be sent 24 hours before the talk takes place. The talk will be recorded, and the recording will be available to participants for five days after each class takes place.