Dr Darron Cullen

Dr Darron Cullen

Lecturer in Biological Sciences

Faculty and Department

  • Faculty of Science and Engineering
  • School of Natural Sciences

Summary

I investigate the sensory and physiological bases of behaviour. I am particularly interested in phenotypic plasticity, which I explore using social and sexual systems in insects, but I am open to supervision or collaboration on any organism we can get into the lab!

I am co-convenor of the Royal Entomological Society's annual Orthoptera meeting. If you would like to come along, or even present your work, then please do get in touch – students and enthusiasts are particularly welcome.

https://www.royensoc.co.uk/membership-and-community/special-interest-groups/orthoptera/

2023- Lecturer in Biological Sciences, University of Hull

2023- Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society

2019-24 Visitor, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, UK

2011-23 Postdoctoral research: University of Cambridge, UK; KU Leuven, Belgium (FWO Fellowship); University of Lincoln, UK

2007-11 PhD Biological Sciences, University of Sydney, Australia

2002-06 BA (Hons) and MSc Biological Sciences, University of Oxford (Wadham College), UK

I am the module convenor for second-year (Level 5) Genetic Analysis (500697) at the University of Hull. I also contribute to first-year Molecular Biology & Genetics, third-year Invertebrate Zoology, and organise the biennial third-year Field Studies trip to Brazil.

I supervise lots of third-year undergraduate projects, with a focus on insect behaviour, physiology and genetics. If you have a project in mind then please do get in touch.

Recent outputs

View more outputs

Journal Article

RNAi of the elastomeric protein resilin reduces jump velocity and resilience to damage in locusts

Rogers, S. M., Cullen, D. A., Labonte, D., Sutton, G. P., Vanden Broeck, J. J., & Burrows, M. (2025). RNAi of the elastomeric protein resilin reduces jump velocity and resilience to damage in locusts. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 122(1), Article e2415625121. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2415625121

Global perspectives and transdisciplinary opportunities for locust and grasshopper pest management and research

Ries, M. W., Adriaansen, C., Aldobai, S., Berry, K., Bal, A. B., Catenaccio, M. C., Cigliano, M. M., Cullen, D. A., Deveson, T., Diongue, A., Foquet, B., Hadrich, J., Hunter, D., Johnson, D. L., Karnatz, J. P., Lange, C. E., Lawton, D., Lazar, M., Latchininsky, A. V., Lecoq, M., …Cease, A. (2024). Global perspectives and transdisciplinary opportunities for locust and grasshopper pest management and research. Journal of Orthoptera Research, 33(2), 169-216. https://doi.org/10.3897/jor.33.112803

Non-invasive characterization of the elastic protein resilin in insects using Raman spectroscopy

Woodrow, C., Cullen, D. A., Montealegre-Z, F., & Gonzalez-Rodriguez, J. (2024). Non-invasive characterization of the elastic protein resilin in insects using Raman spectroscopy. International journal of biological macromolecules, 254(2), Article 127967. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127967

Editorial for Journal of Insect Physiology Special Issue: A century of research into locust phase polyphenism

Cullen, D. A., & Rogers, S. M. (2023). Editorial for Journal of Insect Physiology Special Issue: A century of research into locust phase polyphenism. Journal of Insect Physiology, 144, Article 104473. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinsphys.2022.104473

Ear pinnae in a neotropical katydid (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) function as ultrasound guides for bat detection

Pulver, C. A., Celiker, E., Woodrow, C., Geipel, I., Soulsbury, C. D., Cullen, D. A., Rogers, S. M., Veitch, D., & Montealegre-Z, F. (2022). Ear pinnae in a neotropical katydid (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) function as ultrasound guides for bat detection. eLife, 11, Article e77628. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.77628

Research interests

I investigate the molecular and physiological control of behaviour, mostly in insects but with broad interests in zoology and natural history. Please get in touch if you're interested in fellowship or PhD projects.

Lead investigator

Project

Funder

Grant

Started

Status

Project

Novel pigmentation genes prevent sexual harassment in swarming locusts.

Funder

NERC Natural Environment Research Council

Grant

£16,197.00

Started

1 December 2023

Status

Complete

Postgraduate supervision

Animal (especially insect) behaviour, physiology and genetics.

Membership/Fellowship of professional body

Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society

2023

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