1. 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.
2. 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.