PhD Studentship: Living materials in nature: active matter, behaviour and bee nests

Overview

The University of Exeter Department of Psychology offers a PhD studentship focused on living materials in nature, active matter, behaviour, and bee nests. The project investigates how active bumblebee nests maintain efficient thermoregulation by combining empirical and modelling approaches. The research intersects physics, material engineering, and behavioural science to explore biometamaterial structures that manipulate heat and maintain equilibrium, resilience, and efficiency through social information and self-organisation.

Who can apply

Applicants should hold a background in natural sciences, life sciences, physics, or engineering. Candidates need an interest in modelling or experimental approaches, and must be motivated to apply physics-based solutions to biological and environmental problems.

What you get

The studentship provides funding for tuition fees and a stipend of £21,805 per annum for the 2026/7 academic year. The successful candidate joins a collaborative team of supervisors with interdisciplinary expertise and gains access to sophisticated experimental facilities and equipment across the Streatham campus, including the Exeter Bee Lab within the Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour and the Centre for Metamaterial Research and Innovation.

Key dates

The closing date for applications is 2026-12-08.