PhD or Postdoctoral Position in Honey Bee Visual Navigation
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
.
