Positions
Farmed Insect Welfare & Insect Neurobiology
Grad Positions
Posted Sep 27
The Barrett Lab (Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis) is recruiting up to two graduate students for Fall 2024 (at least one PhD student, and one PhD or MS). IUPUI offers both MSc and PhD programs in Biology; please see program requirements here if you are interested in joining the lab. Applications for the PhD program are due Jan 1, with a final deadline of March 1. Applications for the MS are due April 1.
Farmed insect welfare: The lab is looking for students with prior experience in farmed insects (especially mealworms or black soldier flies), insect stress or nutritional physiology, or farmed animal welfare, broadly. However, a lack of prior experience in any or all of these areas should not discourage a genuinely interested student from applying – I am most eager to work with motivated scholars excited to engage in research and service that can positively impact highly neglected farmed animal lives.Students are encouraged to read these two lab publications (Barrett et al. 2022; Barrett et al. 2023) prior to contacting me to discuss their research interests. These publications outline what I consider to be the most pressing future research in farmed insect welfare.
Insect neuroscience: The lab is looking for students with prior experience in insect neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, or that have a broad background in entomological identification in the Northeastern and Central United States. However, a lack of prior experience in any or all of these areas should not discourage a genuinely interested student from applying – I am most eager to work with motivated scholars excited to engage in research that will explore how insect brains are shaped by the cognitive demands of their environment or behavior and/or allometric constraints.
Students are encouraged to read these two lab publications (Barrett et al. 2021; Barrett et al. 2022) and this work by Godfrey et al. 2021, prior to contacting me to discuss their research interests.
Applying:
For advice on how to write a strong email introduction to a possible graduate research mentor, please click here. I am especially interested in supporting students in the process of developing their own independent research interests, within the scope of my program; therefore, while students should consider my ongoing body of work when emailing me, they should feel free to propose projects of highest interest to them. Students are also encouraged to apply for scholarships, e.g. through NSF.
Further details about my lab, these opportunities, and my contact information can be found here:
http://meghan-barrett.com/opportunities
