معرفی
Dr. Michael L Smith is a social insect biologist affiliated with the Department of Collective Behavior at the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology and University of Konstanz. He also leads the Smith Bee Lab at Auburn University, where he investigates honey bee colony growth, development, and reproductive investments. His work combines experimental biology with computer vision and automated tracking to study collective decision-making in social insects.
- PhD in Neurobiology and Behavior from Cornell University (2017)
- BA in Molecular Biology from Princeton University (2010)
Research focuses on how honey bee colonies organize developmental transitions and respond to environmental changes. Smith's work spans individual behavior to colony-level dynamics. He has received significant honors including the Simons Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship, Ig Nobel Prize, and NSF Graduate Research Fellowship.
Scientific awards include
- Zukunftskolleg Associated Fellow (2018)
- Simons Foundation Fellow (2017)
- NSF Graduate Research Fellow (2011)
- Ig Nobel Prize (2015)
Dr. Smith actively recruits graduate and undergraduate researchers through Auburn University and collaborates across disciplines. His lab emphasizes teamwork and welcomes diverse expertise in biological sciences, computer science, and engineering.
