Adam R. Smith

Adam R. Smith is an Associate Professor of Biology in the Department of Biological Sciences at the Columbian College of Arts & Sciences, George Washington University. His research focuses on the ecology and evolution of cooperative social groups, particularly in social and solitary insects such as bees and ants. He leads a lab investigating topics like facultative sociality, endocrine physiology, neurobiology, and pollination ecology, with fieldwork conducted on Barro Colorado Island in Panama in collaboration with William Wcislo of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI). Smith emphasizes integrating ecological, behavioral, and physiological approaches to understand the transition from solitary to social living in insects. He actively seeks undergraduate and graduate students to join his lab, offering opportunities in tropical biology, social insect behavior, and related fields.

Research Interests: Smith's work explores how environmental factors influence social behavior, including offspring survival, predator defense, and resource distribution effects on foraging. He also examines neurobiological and endocrine mechanisms underlying sociality, aiming to link these processes with developmental and physiological outcomes. Current projects include studies on Megalopta genalis bees in Panama, solitary bees, and bumblebee colonies, both in laboratory and natural settings. Future plans involve expanding research into parasitic bee behaviors and local North American species.

Labs/Teams: His primary lab is based at George Washington University, with ongoing collaboration at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama. Research takes place in field environments on Barro Colorado Island and controlled laboratory settings. Smith fosters interdisciplinary approaches, combining ecological observations with molecular techniques to address questions in insect social evolution.