I am happy to discuss ideas with potential students or collaborators, with regard to current research projects or with new ideas.
We currently focus on social insect models (both real and digital), though projects on other systems are welcome. Our current research involves:
- Evolutionary ecology of different behavioural strategies in ants and bees
- Phylogeography and evolution of behavioural strategies in ants
- Comparative social behaviour in facultatively social bees
- The use of agent-based models to explore the evolution and ecology of behavioural strategies in social organisms
- Analysis of stable isotopes to elucidate behavioural responses to different environments
- Complex-systems biology using social organisms as model systems
- Ecological interaction networks
- Island invasion biology
For students and post-docs:
The Japan Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) has several programs for graduate students to undertake higher degrees in Japan. See HERE.
The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) also has a post-doctoral program (1 or 2 years) for foreign nationals to come to Japan (see HERE)
Tokyo Metropolitan University (TMU) has its own programs (through the Tokyo Human Resources Fund for City Diplomacy) to fund international graduate students for short-term visits (PDF) and, for exceptional students, programs to support them during masters (PDF) or PhD studies (PDF).
For collaborators:
JSPS and TMU have bilateral research and exchange programs for students and staff.
JSPS bilateral program (seminars and research: see HERE)
JSPS invitational program (see HERE)
TMU teaching staff exchange program (PDF)