Andrew Straw

The Straw Lab in the Faculty of Biology at the University of Freiburg, Germany, is recruiting for a PhD or postdoctoral position on honey bee visual navigation . The lab studies visual navigation in insects with a strong emphasis on computational neuroethology , and also develops technical tools such as virtual reality and insect tracking systems. This opening is genuinely open across two profiles: Profile 1 is a PhD project focused on reinforcement learning and computational modeling of honey bee navigation; Profile 2 is a postdoctoral project focused on the neurophysiology of honey bee visual navigation, including in vivo two-photon imaging in behaving bees. The successful candidate will work in a multidisciplinary and multicultural environment with experimental neurophysiology, behavioral experiments, computational modeling, environmental reconstruction, and computerized systems development. Research themes and keywords: honey bee visual navigation, insect neuroscience, computational neuroethology, reinforcement learning, machine learning, computer vision, 3D reconstruction, neurophysiology, two-photon microscopy, calcium imaging, electrophysiology, animal navigation. Eligibility highlights: PhD applicants should have a master's degree in Computer Science, Informatics, Physics, Computational Neuroscience, or a related field, plus experience in machine learning/reinforcement learning and modeling. Postdoctoral applicants should have a doctoral degree in Neuroscience or a related field, plus experience analyzing neural imaging or electrophysiological data and experience in at least one of in vivo imaging, two-photon microscopy, calcium imaging, neurobiology, electrophysiology, or insect neuroscience. For both profiles, strong analytical skills, independence, teamwork, scientific communication, and English proficiency are required. Funding and conditions: The position is full-time for three years, with salary according to TV-L E13 , standard German public service benefits, paid annual leave, and an occupational pension. The post also includes access to two-photon microscopy, insect virtual reality systems, computing resources, mentoring, and structured training/career-development programs. German language skills are not required. Application deadline: 2026-09-30 . Applicants should submit a cover letter, CV with publications, transcripts, degree certificates, and contact details for 2–3 referees. Applications must be submitted through the online portal and cite reference number 00005148 .