Opportunities

Lab Golden Rules

In this lab, collaboration isn’t optional, it’s the air we breathe. Share your ideas, your tricks, and your troubleshooting woes — science is a team sport, not a solo act.
A tidy bench is a happy bench. If you take something out, put it back. If you finish the last of a reagent, restock it or flag it. If something breaks, don’t hide it — report it.
Our insect cultures are not just research subjects, they’re the heartbeat of our work. Their care is everyone’s responsibility, every single day.
Integrity is our currency. Record data honestly, design experiments carefully, and welcome critique with open arms. Rigor beats shortcuts every time.
The field is our second lab, and the same rules apply: respect the site, respect the permits, respect each other. Collect data, not injuries, and leave the place as you found it.
At the end of the day, it all comes down to respect — for your colleagues, for the organisms we study, for the spaces we share, and for the science we’re building together.

So You Want to Do a PhD in Eco‑Evolutionary Chaos?

Welcome to the intersection of ecology, evolution, and microbiomes — where hosts and microbes co‑adapt, stressors rewrite the rules, and diversity is both the puzzle and the prize. We’re a small team, which means you won’t get lost in the crowd (but you also won’t get away with hiding in the corner).

If you’re genuinely curious about how organisms — from insects to their microbial sidekicks — cope with rapid change, you’ll fit right in.

Most importantly, send us an email that sounds like you. We’d much rather get to know the person behind the application than read another “Dear Sir/Madam” template. If you’re just sending a copy‑paste email, well… let’s just say evolution favors originality. If you’re serious about learning and contributing, we’re serious about welcoming you.

Update: Think of us as a logistic curve: the early exponential phase was fun, but we’ve hit the asymptote. Immigration pressure won’t change the math.

Heh! You Still Want to Intern in this Chaos?

Here’s the deal: internships with us aren’t about helping in insect cultures or alphabetising sample tubes. They’re about joining our field teams, pitching in on real projects, and sometimes even taking the lead on a small piece of the work. You’ll get your boots dirty, your notebook messy, and your brain buzzing with the kind of questions that keep ecologists awake at night.

We welcome motivated students from inside and outside NISER, but motivation is the keyword here. If you’re genuinely curious and ready to contribute, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to learn. If you’re just firing off a copy‑paste request, well… evolution tends to select against that strategy.

A quick reality check: What we provide is mentorship, experience, and the chance to be part of research that spans hosts, microbes, and the wild spaces they inhabit. If you’ve got a skill — whether it’s field savvy, coding chops, or an uncanny knack for keeping insects calm — tell us about it.

Apply here.

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