He currently holds the Eugene Higgins Professor of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at Yale University.
The Carlson lab studies insect chemosensation using the model organism Drosophila.
[2] Significant contributions to the field include discovery of the olfactory receptor genes in insects using the Drosophila genome, called the Odorant Receptor (Or)[3] gene family, followed by the discovery of the insect taste receptor genes, called the Gustatory Receptor (Gr) [4] gene family, a system to deorphanize insect odorant receptors referred to as the "empty neuron" system,[5] using which a study identified ligands for most of the Drosophila Olfactory Receptor (Or) repertoire[6] and a similar study that characterized the Or repertoire of the Anopheles gambiae mosquito.
[7] Carlson lab research has also been featured in Scientific American.
[12] Carlson was awarded the 2011 Genetics Society of America Medal.