Prof. Dr. Michael L Smith
Main Focus
Michael Smith is a social insect biologist interested in the patterns and processes of colony growth, development, and reproduction. Michael completed his PhD in 2017 with Tom Seeley, in the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior at Cornell University. There, he studied honey bee colony puberty, and how workers detect that their colony can “afford” to invest in reproductive infrastructure (drone comb). In the Couzin group at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Michael will use automated tracking to investigate how individual honey bee workers detect and respond to the developmental state of their colony.
Curriculum Vitae
Education
PhD 2017 Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Department of Neurobiology and Behavior
Advisor: Thomas D Seeley
Dissertation Title: Growth, development, and reproductive investments in
honey bee colonies
BA 2010 Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Department of Molecular Biology
Advisor: Mark D Rose
Thesis Title: Mating induced transcription factors Kar4p and Ste12p –
overexpression toxicity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
IB 2006 United World College of the Atlantic, Wales, UK
Research Experience
2018-present Simons Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow, Dept. of Collective Behavior,
Max Planck Institute for Ornithology / University of Konstanz
Advisor: Iain D Couzin
2011-2017 PhD Research, Dept. of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University
Advisor: Thomas D Seeley
2010-2011 Rotary Ambassadorial Research Scholar, Bijen Group at Plant Research
International, Wageningen University and Research
Advisor: Tjeerd Blacquière
2009-2010 Research Assistant, Dept. of Biological Sciences, Wellesley College
Advisor: Heather R Mattila
2008-2010 Undergraduate Research, Dept. of Molecular Biology, Princeton University
Advisors: Mark D Rose, Alison E Gammie
Honors & Awards
2018 Zukunftskolleg Associated Fellow
2018 Heidelberger Akademie der Wissenschaften: How Collectives Decide?
2017 Simons Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow: Life Sciences Research Foundation
2017 Eastern Apicultural Society: Student Award
2016 1st place in Oral Competition: International Congress of Entomology
2015 Ig Nobel Prize in Physiology and Entomology
2014 Best Poster Award: Neurobiology and Behavior 50th Anniversary Symposium
2014 Most Innovative Award: Harry W Greene GCS Competition
2011 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program
2010-2011 Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar
2008 Kathryn W. Davis 100 Projects for Peace
2004-2010 Davis United World College Scholar
2004 Boy Scouts of America: Eagle Scout