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SCP 7685 Bee Behaviour Research Intern

University of Exeter Internships
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Job Summary

 

This is an opportunity to gain experience and work in the research-intensive environment of the Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour. Our ongoing experimental work investigates the behaviour of commercially-reared bumblebees Bombus terrestris, an important experimental model species in behavioural neuroscience and pollination ecology, to understand the impact of climate change and que quality of floral rewards. We are currently developing new methods which will help us to enhance data collection, for example tracking various individuals at once, and to benefit from recently developed computational analysis tools. We are keen to have a member of the university’s student community joining us in this endeavour. The work in this internship includes participating in the planning and running of lab-based behavioural observations with bumblebees, implementation of behavioural tracking using automated algorithms, carrying out statistical analyses and summarizing findings for presentation and discussion. We will provide training and supervision to develop a range of skills, from transferrable, such as project planning and research design, to a range of specialist professional skills. You will work closely with Prof Natalie Hempel de Ibarra, Associate Professor in Neuroethology.

 

This role is part of the Student Campus Partnership (SCP) scheme and is for 140 hours in total to be worked over June and July 2025. This role will involve regular work on Streatham campus, but some partial remote working possible upon agreement. 

 

 

 

Key Dates

 

Closing Date: 07/05/2025

Interview Date: TBC

Start Date: 09/06/2025

End Date: 04/07/2025

 

Pay: £14.12 per hour (includes rolled in holiday pay)

 

 

Purpose of the Role

 

You will be involved in scientific research that investigates the behaviour of bumblebees. The experimental work will include assays to explore how behaviour changes under different climatic and feeding conditions to understand how physiological factors shape decision-making and activity of pollinating insects.  You will participate in planning and running experimental assays, and contribute to the analysis using a range of methods, from video coding to the use of computational algorithms for tracking bees and analysing behaviour. You will work in the Exeter Bee Research lab in the Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour (CRAB) in the Department of Psychology, under the supervision of the academic supervisor and members of their research group

 

 

Duties and Responsibilities 

 

  • Bumblebee feeding
  • Prepare and conduct experiments
  • Curate data
  • Analyse data from video recordings of the observed behaviours
  • Trial and compare analysis and tracking tools
  • Prepare graphs and conduct statistical testing, prepare a final report at the end of the internship
  • Participate in training 
  • Keep the work place tidy and clean
  • Plan time and work independently and report to supervision team.

 

Training and Development - What Skills and Experience will this Opportunity Provide?

 

You will acquire an in-depth understanding of the process of scientific experimentation in the life sciences and interdisciplinary aspects, such as the implementation of computational tools and platforms. You are expected to maintain clear and reliable communication with the academic supervisor and team members as will be agreed. You will have the opportunity to regularly interact with the members of the lab and the Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour (CRAB), including group meetings and journal club discussions.  

 

Overall the internship will help to prepare for further study or work in science and science-related careers. You will gain specific knowledge of the theoretical background and concepts in the study subject to understand the aims and findings of the research they are involved in. Besides broad and transferrable skills, such as professional communication, project management, team work and networking, specialist skills will be developed at different levels, depending on task and individual background. Individual training needs will be discussed and agreed before the start of the internship and thereafter reviewed in weekly supervision meetings. 

 

Activities include a lab and safety induction, training for feeding and handling the bees, use and preparation of lab setups and behavioural arenas. Skills to be trained to an advanced level can include skills in behavioural analysis and automated tracking of behaviour, handling and analysing large data, such as activity measures, spatial occupancy, indicators for decision-making and motivational states. It is also possible to accommodate work that develops a set of basic skills, depending on the intern’s academic background and experience. 

 

 

You will be asked to complete the university’s mandatory online training in: 

  • Prevent Duty - Inclusive, Cohesive and Safe Universities 
  • Equality and Diversity Introduction 
  • Health and Safety Introduction 
  • Information Governance

 

Support Available

 

Supervisor and intern will frequently meet and interact during the internship. Regular weekly supervision meetings will be scheduled. Besides that there will be further frequent points of contact with the supervisor and members of their team, as needed for work and training purposes. You will be given responsibilities to be carried out independently and planning their own time and effort, however support and guidance will be available on a regular as well as ad-hoc basis should any questions or problems arise. You will be kept informed about the work times and availability of supervisor and team members to ensure easy access to assist with any changes or with any unexpected issues. This ensures safe working but also that the highest quality training and development opportunities will be met.

 

 

The Benefits

 

There will be opportunities to share and present your work in a friendly and professional environment and to be included in scientific discussions that relate to the outcomes of your work. The internship is an opportunity to receive mentoring and feedback on your work. Any contribution that you make to on-going research will be appropriately acknowledged. At the end of internship, you can request a reference statement about the training and contribution over the course of the internship, for your records and for job applications, or agree potential references in future applications for work and study. 

 

As an SCP intern you will also have:

 

About You (Person Specification)

 

Degree and Attainment

Studying a STEM/M subject and demonstrate an interest in behaviour, physiology or neuroscience. 

 

Skills

  • Good foundation in quantitative data handling and analysis and strong motivation to develop computational skills further. 
  • Willing to handle and feed bees. 
  • Have or keen to acquire knowledge and skill to carry out behavioural observations. 
  • Good organisational and communication skills. 
  • An awareness of statistical analysis for hypothesis testing.

 

Personal Qualities and Attributes

  • Keen interest in science and insects, and in undertaking experimental work. 
  • Ability to prioritise tasks, flexibility as in being able to adjust plans and if required be available for varying work times when experimental sessions are planned.

 

Knowledge

  • Awareness of scientific process and experimentation and an interest in animal behaviour and cognition, the underlying neural and physiological mechanisms or the natural history and ecology of pollination.

 

Prior Experience 

  • Desirable: Experience with experimental methods or computational analysis tools suitable for the study of behaviour. 

 

 

Student Campus Partnership (SCP) Scheme Requirements

 

  • Applicants must have current student status or proof of an acceptance on a degree at the University of Exeter.
  • Applicants must be a student for the full duration of the internship.
  • The University of Exeter is committed to developing an environment which promotes equality of opportunity, values diversity and inclusivity.  
  • The University of Exeter is a Disability Confident Employer, committed to attracting and recruiting people with disabilities and retaining and supporting staff with disabilities. If an applicant declares a disability and meets all the essential criteria, they will be invited to interview.
  • We are committed to creating an inclusive culture and engage with evidence-based charter frameworks for gender (Athena SWAN and Project Juno for Physics), race equality (Race Equality Charter Mark) and LGBTQ+ inclusion (Stonewall Diversity Champion).
  • We welcome applications from all eligible students and in particular those from underrepresented groups. Selection and recruitment itself will be based entirely on merit alone unless there are multiple applicants demonstrating equal merit. In this clear circumstance, preference would be shown to applicants from under-represented groups. This is in line with lawful positive action measures under sections 158 and 159 of the Equality Act 2010.
  • All applicants are required to provide their employer with proof of their Right to Work in the UK before they start work and follow the Intern Guidance- Proving Right to Work the UK.
  • All interns need to reside in the UK whilst undertaking this role.
  • Undergraduate students can work a maximum of 15 hours per week in term-term or full-time hours in vacation.
  • Full time Postgraduate students can work a maximum of 6 hours per week and no more than 180 hours per year, this includes those working already working as Postgraduate Teaching Assistants (PTA). You may work more hours with written permission from your academic.
  • You can check here for further details on the Scheme eligibility.

 

How to Apply

 

  • Please download and complete the attached 2024-25 Internship Application Form and upload to the job on Handshake. Please make sure you have downloaded the latest copy of the Internship Application Form. 
  • Guidance and useful tips for completing your application are found on the Internship Application Form. 
  • Refer to the job details contained within the advert when writing your personal statement.
  • Use the STAR approach to evidence each requirement in the Person Specification. 
  • You should insert the correct reference code on the application form: SCP 7685
  • Please save your Internship Application Form as ‘your surname - your forename - SCP 7685’ 
  • The University is a Disability Confident employer and as such this policy applies to recruitment through the Internship Schemes. Applicants who identify a disability on the application form will be offered an interview if their application demonstrates they meet the essential criteria. 
  • Please also include details of reasonable adjustments you may need for an interview or to undertake the role. 
  • You should explain why you would like to work for the employing organisation and why you think you would be a suitable candidate for this role. 

 

Further Guidance and Support

 

  • You can refer to the My Career Zone Digital resources on application and interview preparation here.   
  • If you need support with your application, you can book an appointment with a Career Zone Advisor by emailing careers@exeter.ac.uk. 
  • Unless stated, interview expenses will not be paid.
  • It is recommended that you check your online presence on social media to ensure it represents you well, as some employers may undertake online research of their applicants. 
  • If you have any questions, you can email the Internships Team at internships@exeter.ac.uk