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THE
INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR THE STUDY OF

SOCIAL INSECTS

Student and postdoctoral opportunities 

PhD, Masters, and Postdoc Positions

We are trialling this page as a new area for PIs to advertise student and postdoctoral positions in social insect biology.

 

To advertise a PhD, Masters, or postdoc opportunity, enter details of the position in the submission box below, complete with contact information, institution, start dates, and how to apply.

 

IUSSI
Sep 13

Relayed from the North American IUSSI Section:


Honey bee circadian biology, University of Kentucky


Dr. Michael Tackenberg (Biology) and Dr. Clare Rittschof (Entomology) are recruiting a PhD student for a collaborative project involving honey bee circadian biology and behavioral neuroscience at the University of Kentucky. The candidate will matriculate through the Department of Biology and participate in a recently funded project investigating how the honey bee nervous system integrates combinations of day length and temperature cues to regulate visual sensitivity and activity patterns in changing environments. A competitive candidate will have some background in molecular biology, neuroscience, and/or animal behavior, as well as strong quantitative skills and interests. Participation in field work activities will be required, but no experience working with insects and/or honey bees is necessary to be selected for this position.


Dr. Tackenberg is a circadian neuroscientist whose research examines how genetic, molecular, and environmental factors impact circadian rhythms in a variety of study systems. Dr. Rittschof’s research incorporates perspectives from behavioral ecology, neuroscience, physiology, and genomics to study how environmental conditions and social interactions influence behaviors and life history characteristics in honey bees.


Please contact Dr. Clare Rittschof (clare.rittschof@uky.edu) and Dr. Michael Tackenberg (michael.tackenberg@uky.edu) to discuss your interests and fit and visit the UK Biology Graduate Program page for more information about graduate studies and how to apply.

IUSSI
Sep 13

Relayed from the North American IUSSI Section:


PhD position(s) in paper wasp social processing


The Jernigan lab at Wake Forest University (WFU) is recruiting PhD students for Fall 2026. The Jernigan lab studies the neurobiology, behavior, and development of social processing in Polistes fuscatus paper wasps. These wasps can recognize and discriminate individual social partners via color patterning present on their faces. Graduate student projects will be flexible depending upon the desires of the student and are open to any aspect of animal behavior or neuroscience. Currently funded projects focus on the impact of experience and development on behavior and the neural circuits processing social stimuli.


WFU is located in beautiful Winston-Salem, NC, USA. Winston-Salem is an affordable city with a moderate climate, easy access to nature, arts, and the amenities of a metropolitan city. Graduate students receive guaranteed full stipend support (5 years including summer funding and healthcare). The Biology Department and graduate program cover the full range of biology with 8 faculty (4 recent hires) specializing in the fields of neuroscience and behavior with plans for this number to expand in coming years. The deadline for graduate student applications is December 15th, 2025 and you can find more information about the program here: https://biology.wfu.edu/graduate/.


If interested in applying, please email Chris Jernigan (chris.jernigan@wfu.edu) with (1) a short introduction including your research interests and motivation for joining the lab and (2) your CV. Please share this ad If you have a trainee who may be interested.

Sofia Bouchebti
Aug 04

PhD and Postdoc Positions – Cockroach Social Evolution


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The Roach Lab at Ben-Gurion University (Israel) is recruiting one PhD student and two postdoctoral researchers to study how nutrition and temperature shape the evolution of sociality in cockroaches.


See the attached PDF for full details.


For any additional information, do not hesitate to contact Sofia Bouchebti at sofia.bouchebti@gmail.com.





PatrickKennedy
Jul 02

For Early-Career African Researchers - a field course run by the British Ecological Society:


Ecology masterclass: Designing projects in the field


15-26 October, The Mpala Research Centre, Kenya


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"Set in the heart of the Kenyan savannah, this exciting 10-day course provides practical training on how to design projects in the field and is a valuable foundation for building a career in ecology and conservation."


Teaching Level: MSc




Applications close on Friday, 15 August 2025.


https://tropical-biology.org/ecology-masterclass-2025/?dm_i=7RJK,13L2G,3XV6DO,2VZVV,1

Secretary-General Prof. Mark Brown (Royal Holloway, University of London)

President Prof. Judith Korb (University of Freiburg)

Editor-in-Chief, Insectes Sociaux Prof. Madeleine Beekman (University of Sydney)

Ideas or feedback?

For ideas or suggestions about the new IUSSI website, or to update information about your IUSSI section, please get in touch.

The IUSSI is a 501(c)(3) scientific society committed to advancing the study of social insects through rigorous, evidence-based research. We remain nonpartisan, do not endorse political candidates or agendas, and uphold scientific integrity. The IUSSI was registered as a charity (not-for-profit organization) with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, constituted in the state of Ohio, in August 2012. The registration letter can be viewed or downloaded as a PDF document on the 'About Us' page.

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