PhD opportunity: How memory evolves: Integrating Animal Behaviour, Neuroscience and Experimental Evolution in Drosophila Supervisor: Professor Elli Leadbeater (UCL) Co-supervisors: Professor Max Reuter (UCL); Dr Florencia Camus (UCL); Dr Tamara Boto (Bristol University) Associative memory is one of the most fundamental building blocks of the animal mind, but it is far from a singular, uniform process. Our research group is using the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster to explore how associative memory evolves in response to different ecological selection pressures, what constrains its evolution, and how changes to memory affect performance in ecologically realistic tasks. We are looking for a PhD student who is interested in combining experimental evolution, psychology, ecology and neuroscience to understand the relationship between short- and long-term memory phases, and their roles in foraging and oviposition behaviour. The core work will involve creating memory-based selection lines, performing cognitive assays and measuring life-history traits, but in the later stages the project is open to development in various directions according to the successful applicant's interests and experience, which might include transcriptomics, neurogenetics and/or evolutionary ecology. This is an unusual opportunity to understand cognitive evolution by capitalizing on an experimental model with well-understood neuroscience and the potential to evolve in the lab. About us: The project is based at the UCL Bloomsbury Campus in Central London, in the research group of Professor Elli Leadbeater (lead supervisor). The supervisory team also includes expertise in Evolutionary Genetics (Professor Max Reuter) alongside life-history evolution and metabolism (Dr Florencia Camus) and neuroscience of learning and memory (Dr Tamara Boto, University of Bristol). You will be based in the Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, and will be a key contributor to our Drosophila research grouping as well as to our vibrant and diverse wider research community, both of which are host to many early-career researchers working on related themes. About you: A BSc degree is essential, and we welcome applicants from relevant subject backgrounds such as Biological Sciences, Neuroscience, Psychology, Genetics or Animal Behaviour. Experience of working with insects is desirable but not critical, but strong evidence of motivation to study evolution and experience of independent research (e.g. through a BSc or MSc project in a relevant area) is very important. A collegiate research culture is critical for us and we are keen to find applicants who contribute to all aspects of research life, including outreach and departmental culture initiatives. The project will start in September 2026. Due to funder restrictions, one application route is open to UK home students only, with a deadline of 20th January 2025 5pm UK time. However, international applicants can apply via the TREES DLA (https://www.trees-dla.ac.uk/); please note that this route has an earlier deadline of 17th December 2025 5pm UK time. In either case, the first application step is to contact Professor Elli Leadbeater (Ellouise.Leadbeater@ucl.ac.uk) to discuss the position before applying. Eligibility for UK home fee status can be checked here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/students/fees-and-funding/pay-your-fees/fee-schedules/student-fee-status Elli Leadbeater Professor of Ecosystems and Biodiversity Research People and Nature Lab, CBER Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment University College London "Leadbeater, Ellouise" (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca)