The Barrett lab is opening in January 2024 at IUPUI (Indiana University Purdue University, Indianapolis—Indiana, USA) with the goal of researching farmed insect welfare and insect neurobiology. Results of our research will be used to inform best practices for improving the lives of trillions of farmed insects. So far as I am aware, we will be the first lab with significant research effort dedicated to the welfare of these highly neglected animals. As such, I am recruiting postdoctoral scholar(s) with experience in animal welfare, and PhD/MS students with interests in farmed insect welfare and insect neurobiology.
I encourage all potential applicants for the farmed insect welfare positions to read at least one of these two publications before contacting me, which contain information about the most urgent future research directions in farmed black soldier fly and mealworm welfare:
I’m looking for postdoctoral scholars with a background in farmed animal welfare, looking to extend their skills into new taxonomic groups.
Experience with insects is not required—I have plenty of that. See the advert below for details and feel free to contact me at meghbarr@iu.edu.
I’m also looking for PhD/MS students to start in Fall 2024.
For the farmed insect welfare position, students with prior experience in farmed insects (especially mealworms or black soldier flies), insect stress or nutritional physiology, or farmed animal welfare, broadly are especially encouraged to apply. 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.
For the insect neurobiology position, 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, especially when considering neuron numbers. Students are encouraged to read any of these lab publications (Barrett et al. 2021; Barrett et al. 2022) and this work by Godfrey et al. 2021, prior to contacting me (meghbarr@iu.edu) to discuss their research interests.
If either of these descriptions fit you, I encourage you to read about the IUPUI Biology Graduate Program Admission Requirements and Benefits—and contact me if you are interested. Feel free to attend our department’s recruitment events as well (link to register can be found here):
I never worked directly with Meghan when we were colleagues, but my interactions with her were v positive and give me the impression that she would be a great supervisor to work with—infectiously passionate about her research, an excellent communicator, and kind + supportive.
Wow this is a great year for the field of insect welfare research. I want to add in a couple resources/opportunities that I know about:
Jonathan Birch at LSE (whose work was highly influential in the UK government including decapods and cephalopods in the Sentience Act of 2022) is co-leading a project with Lars Chittka at Queen Mary University of London. They have openings for 2 post-docs to study key evidence gaps in the science of insect sentience. Deadline to apply is Oct 11! (tomorrow)
Also, I just discovered this great substack on invertebrate welfare. We also have a channel for invertebrate welfare on the IAA slack.
I never worked directly with Meghan when we were colleagues, but my interactions with her were v positive and give me the impression that she would be a great supervisor to work with—infectiously passionate about her research, an excellent communicator, and kind + supportive.
Wow this is a great year for the field of insect welfare research. I want to add in a couple resources/opportunities that I know about:
Jonathan Birch at LSE (whose work was highly influential in the UK government including decapods and cephalopods in the Sentience Act of 2022) is co-leading a project with Lars Chittka at Queen Mary University of London. They have openings for 2 post-docs to study key evidence gaps in the science of insect sentience. Deadline to apply is Oct 11! (tomorrow)
Also, I just discovered this great substack on invertebrate welfare. We also have a channel for invertebrate welfare on the IAA slack.
small correction that Jonathan Birch is at LSE, not QMUL. Lars Chittka, the co-lead of the project, is at QUML
Corrected, thank you!
Wow, what an exciting opportunity and academic lab! Congratulations and best of luck with your work.