Laboratory: Center of Taste and Food Sciences, Doctoral School in Healt and Environment,
Dijon (FRANCE)
Supervisor: Marco Paoli, CPJ CNRS email: marco.paoli@u-bourgogne.fr
ApplicaLon deadline : 2025-05-22
Impact of alarm pheromone on honey bee olfactory neurophysiology
In vertebrate and invertebrate species, alarm signals can rapidly suppress food-related behaviors,
triggering a fight-or-flight response. Likewise, in honey bees, exposure to alarm pheromone components
shi@s behavior from foraging to aggression and disrupts olfactory appeAAve learning and memory. This
project will invesAgate the influence of isoamyl acetate, the main component of the honey bee alarm
pheromone, on olfactory coding and the neuromodulatory pathway mediaAng its effects on olfactory
cogniAon and neurophysiology. First, the doctoral candidate will confirm that isoamyl acetate affects
olfactory learning (Urlacher et al., 2010). Then, using funcAonal calcium imaging of the honey bee
antennal lobe (the first olfactory processing center), the candidate will evaluate whether the pre-
exposure to isoamyl acetate influences the neural representaAon of neutral or appeAAve odorants.
Finally, the candidate will invesAgate the underlying neuromodulatory pathways using a
pharmacological approach. He/she will perform olfactory condiAoning (with or without isoamyl pre-
exposure) under pharmacological interference (i.e., octopamine, dopamine, and serotonin receptor
agonists and antagonists). This will offer valuable informaAon on the role of monoamines in mediaAng
alarm state-induced changes in olfactory cogniAon and neurophysiology.
PresentaAon of the host insAtuAon
The CSGA (hRp://csga.fr) is a laboratory invesAgaAng various aspects of feeding-related behavior across
animals. I have recently joined the lab with a Chaire de Professeur Junior CNRS. The research team
invesAgates different aspects of the neurophysiology and neurobiology of feeding and odor/taste
percepAon in Drosophila. I will address similar quesAons using the honey bee as a model. We have hives
on campus, and perform behavioral/cogniAve assays (mainly olfactory learning, memory, and
percepAon) coupled with movement tracking, and calcium imaging analysis to invesAgate olfactory
coding and how odor representaAon changes with internal and external factors (e.g., internal state,
pheromones, pesAcides).
Candidate's profile
We are seeking a dedicated and reliable PhD candidate who is eager to contribute to our research
efforts. The ideal candidate should be someone who can work independently, take iniAaAve, and
consistently meet deadlines. A background in coding, or a strong willingness to learn coding, is essenAal
for the role. Experience with dissecAon techniques or knowledge of insects would be a valuable asset,
though not required. What maRers most is a genuine interest in learning and a commitment to the
research process. This posiAon offers an opportunity to develop a wide range of skills and contribute
meaningfully to ongoing projects.