Michael Smith

Michael Smith is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Auburn University, where he leads the Smith Bee Lab. His research focuses on honey bee colonies as superorganisms, investigating how they develop, organize, and respond to biotic and abiotic changes at both individual and colony levels.

The lab employs diverse methodologies, ranging from simple experimental tools to advanced computer vision and automated tracking systems. Dr. Smith welcomes researchers from biology, computer science, engineering, physics, and chemistry, fostering an interdisciplinary and collaborative environment.

His research interests include honey bee biology, collective behavior, social insect organization, and environmental response mechanisms. By integrating experimental and technological approaches, his work contributes to understanding complex biological systems.

Dr. Smith is actively recruiting postdoctoral researchers, graduate students (M.Sc. and Ph.D.), and undergraduate researchers. He emphasizes teamwork, curiosity, and dedication, and does not require prior experience with honey bees for lab membership.

• Email: mls0154@auburn.edu

Prospective Ph.D. students are encouraged to apply for the NSF-GRFP fellowship, with Auburn providing recipients a personal research grant of approximately $12,000 per year for three years. Graduate applications are due in February, with interviews in January and a typical August start date. Undergraduate researchers can apply for summer opportunities through the Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program.

The Smith Bee Lab promotes inclusivity and collaboration, explicitly stating a no-jerks policy to maintain a positive and productive research environment. Dr. Smith collaborates informally with Dr. Geoffrey Williams of the AU Bee Lab for agriculturally focused bee research.