Bachelor- /Master-Thesis or Research Internship in Evolutionary Biology & Chemical Ecology

22.04.2026, Abschlussarbeiten, Bachelor- und Masterarbeiten

As the most ancient and widespread form of communication, chemical signaling has permeated through all known biological systems, encompassing every level of organization —from single cells to the most complex ecosystems. Insects, in particular, have exploited chemical signaling as their primary mode of communication, integrating it deeply into their physiology to mediate essential processes such as mate choice, social organization, and species recognition.
The overarching aim of my research is to understand how chemical signals in insects are biosynthesized, perceived, and physiologically processed, and how these mechanisms diversify and adapt over evolutionary time. To address these questions, I use an integrative and interdisciplinary approach that combines evolutionary biology, behavioral ecology, animal physiology, functional genetics, comparative genomics, analytical chemistry, and chemical ecology. By bridging these diverse fields, I aspire to uncover how insects physiologically encode biologically relevant information into complex chemical profiles. This question remains a major challenge in the field, as the precise mechanisms by which information is embedded in the multitude of potential signalling molecules are still poorly understood.

Available projects offer students the opportunity to gain hands on experience in:
•experimental design and hypothesis testing,
•behavioral & olfactometer assays,
•chemical extraction and analysis,
•electrophysiological chemosensory assays & analysis
•bioinformatic data analysis and interpretation within an evolutionary framework.

Students are encouraged to develop their own research questions together with me, based on their interests and competencies, and to actively shape their projects. Depending on background and experience, projects may vary in scope and independence and can focus on laboratory experiments, comparative analyses, or integrative approaches combining multiple methodologies.
The level of supervision and project complexity is adapted to the student’s stage of training, providing both Bachelor and Master students with an appropriate balance of guidance and intellectual autonomy.
Motivated Bachelor’s and Master’s students, as well as candidates interested in a research internship, are warmly encouraged to apply.

Kontakt: jan.buellesbach@tum.de

Mehr Information

https://www.lss.ls.tum.de/pii/team/dr-jan-buellesbach/