When you use the 'NEW TOPIC' button at the top of the main page, make sure you select the correct category where your post should go from the Drop Down Menu. Otherwise ALL New Topics end up in the TAXONOMY Section.
A stellar opportunity for a PhD student who would like to get involved with an ARC Discovery project with Jewel Beetles has become available. The details of the project are below: Sensory Ecology PhD project (domestic students)Location: La Trobe University, Bundoora
Team: Dr Amanda Franklin (La Trobe University) & Dr Patricia Jusuf (University of Melbourne)
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; www.amanda-franklin.com/
Eligibility: Domestic student with an Honours or Masters thesis scored at 70 or above by La Trobe standards. Details here: www.latrobe.edu.au/courses/doctor-of-philosophy#/overview?location=BU&studentType=dom&year=2026Project: Deep-red vision and infrared sensing in jewel beetlesInsects use tiny sensory systems to detect and rapidly combine information from multiple senses to perform complex behaviours. The underlying processes are poorly understood, particularly for less common senses. This project aims to understand how jewel beetles detect and integrate deep-red light and heat information to drive behaviour. The PhD student will have the option to conduct field and laboratory studies, including electrophysiology, microscopy, and behavioural assays, depending on their interests. They will join an international research team (Prof Kentaro Arikawa, Prof Gregor Belušič) and have the opportunity to complete research visits with these groups. If you're a domestic student meeting the above eligibility criteria, please reach out to Dr Amanda Franklin and Dr Patricia Jusuf (contact emails above).