PhD studentship in Brain, Brawn, and Bugs: cognitive and physical factors of insect dexterity
Supervisors: Dr Shoko Sugasawa & Dr Vivek Nityananda
Supervisors: Dr Shoko Sugasawa & Dr Vivek Nityananda
Newcastle University, UK
Award Summary: 100% of home tuition fees paid and an annual stipend (living expenses) starting at £20,780 (25/26 rate). International candidates will be required to fund the difference between home fees and international fees.
Award Duration: A three-year PhD
Award Summary: 100% of home tuition fees paid and an annual stipend (living expenses) starting at £20,780 (25/26 rate). International candidates will be required to fund the difference between home fees and international fees.
Award Duration: A three-year PhD
Overview: Having
hands to manipulate objects has enabled humans to develop pivotal
innovations, including tools and shelter. Most other animals lack hands,
and yet many can still skilfully manipulate objects, such as food and
nest materials. Insects, for example, can build structures and handle
food despite having tiny brains and simple appendages.
This interdisciplinary project will examine how insects achieve this dexterity, by studying foraging in praying mantises and bumblebees using behavioural experiments, micro-CT scanning, myogram reading, and advanced motion analysis. Working with scientists at Liverpool, Sussex, and Edinburgh, we will study how dexterous behaviour changes throughout lifetime, providing possible novel models for studying how ageing affects human dexterity.
This project will equip the student with a unique scientific niche of general scientific skills in behavioural research, as well as highly interdisciplinary computational skills, by learning to collect and analyse data from micro-CT scanning, motion tracking, and electromyography.
Application Closing Date: 30th April 2025
Start Date: 15th September 2025
Sponsor: Newcastle University – Faculty of Medical Sciences
Eligibility Criteria:
You must have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2:1 honours degree or international equivalent, in a subject relating to animal behaviour, including behavioural ecology and neuroethology. Further qualification such as MRes is advantageous.
Motivation to learn how to work with insects (e.g. husbandry, behavioural experiments).
Willingness to develop analytical skills (e.g. analysing electrophysiological and scanned image data, statistical analysis of behavioural data).
This interdisciplinary project will examine how insects achieve this dexterity, by studying foraging in praying mantises and bumblebees using behavioural experiments, micro-CT scanning, myogram reading, and advanced motion analysis. Working with scientists at Liverpool, Sussex, and Edinburgh, we will study how dexterous behaviour changes throughout lifetime, providing possible novel models for studying how ageing affects human dexterity.
This project will equip the student with a unique scientific niche of general scientific skills in behavioural research, as well as highly interdisciplinary computational skills, by learning to collect and analyse data from micro-CT scanning, motion tracking, and electromyography.
Application Closing Date: 30th April 2025
Start Date: 15th September 2025
Sponsor: Newcastle University – Faculty of Medical Sciences
Eligibility Criteria:
You must have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2:1 honours degree or international equivalent, in a subject relating to animal behaviour, including behavioural ecology and neuroethology. Further qualification such as MRes is advantageous.
Motivation to learn how to work with insects (e.g. husbandry, behavioural experiments).
Willingness to develop analytical skills (e.g. analysing electrophysiological and scanned image data, statistical analysis of behavioural data).
You must apply through the University’s Apply to Newcastle Portal:
https://www.ncl.ac.uk/postgraduate/fees-funding/search-funding/?code=bi079
For further details, please contact:
Dr Shoko Sugasawa
shoko.sugasawa2@ncl.ac.uk
For further details, please contact:
Dr Shoko Sugasawa
shoko.sugasawa2@ncl.ac.uk