Erica Maul
@ericamaul.bsky.social
4th year PhD candidate in the Smith Bee Lab at Auburn University, studying nest-protective behavior in honey bees.
Feel free to reach out about my grad student experience in the lab! I’ve had a great time and would definitely recommend.
The Smith Bee Lab is HIRING! 🐝🐝🐝
- Postdoc (2-4yrs, flexible start-date)
- 1-2 Graduate Students (to start Fall 2026)
No prior experience with honey bees needed, we encourage people from diverse research areas to apply!
(no jerks, plz)
- Postdoc (2-4yrs, flexible start-date)
- 1-2 Graduate Students (to start Fall 2026)
No prior experience with honey bees needed, we encourage people from diverse research areas to apply!
(no jerks, plz)
September 28, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Feel free to reach out about my grad student experience in the lab! I’ve had a great time and would definitely recommend.
Reposted by Erica Maul
I'm looking for a graduate student (either PhD or master's) to join my lab starting Jan 2026. If you know any students in social behavior and evolution (and termites!), please let them know!
August 12, 2025 at 8:49 PM
I'm looking for a graduate student (either PhD or master's) to join my lab starting Jan 2026. If you know any students in social behavior and evolution (and termites!), please let them know!
Reposted by Erica Maul
TIL in 1992 the National Science Foundation made a grant to support the creation of THE MAGIC SCHOOL BUS (the original one, with Lily Tomlin as Ms Frizzle)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mag...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mag...
STEM ed has been foundational to NSF's mission & mandated functions ever since its founding in 1950.
Ex: Remember the Magic School Bus? NSF funded that.
Bill Nye the Science Guy? Zoom? Reading Rainbow?
NSF was a key funder in all those [with others like the imperiled Corp for Public Broadcasting]
Ex: Remember the Magic School Bus? NSF funded that.
Bill Nye the Science Guy? Zoom? Reading Rainbow?
NSF was a key funder in all those [with others like the imperiled Corp for Public Broadcasting]
PBS - The Magic School Bus Ending Credits and Fundings
YouTube video by RoadRunnerCoyote2015
www.youtube.com
July 18, 2025 at 8:17 PM
TIL in 1992 the National Science Foundation made a grant to support the creation of THE MAGIC SCHOOL BUS (the original one, with Lily Tomlin as Ms Frizzle)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mag...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mag...
Registration is OPEN for STEM professionals (grad students included) at Letters to a Pre-scientist! I have participated in this program for 2 years now and it is such a lovely experience.
For STEM Professionals - Letters to a Pre-Scientist
Pen Pal Program Overview We encourage STEM Professionals of all kinds to get involved with Letters to a Pre-Scientist! STEM professionals send and receive letters throughout a school year from ...
nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com
July 16, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Registration is OPEN for STEM professionals (grad students included) at Letters to a Pre-scientist! I have participated in this program for 2 years now and it is such a lovely experience.
Made it to Baltimore for #ABS2025 !! Come to my talk in the Dietary Decisions section Thursday at 3:00 (spoiler: it’s not about dietary decisions!!), and message or find me if you want to chat about research or my experience in @smithbeelab.bsky.social (recruiting grad students!).
July 8, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Made it to Baltimore for #ABS2025 !! Come to my talk in the Dietary Decisions section Thursday at 3:00 (spoiler: it’s not about dietary decisions!!), and message or find me if you want to chat about research or my experience in @smithbeelab.bsky.social (recruiting grad students!).
PhD wins can feel few and far between, so I’m thankful for this week! Not only did I finish my quals and become a candidate, but I also was awarded a Wellesley College Graduate Fellowship! Had to celebrate in @smithbeelab.bsky.social tradition.
May 3, 2025 at 1:38 AM
PhD wins can feel few and far between, so I’m thankful for this week! Not only did I finish my quals and become a candidate, but I also was awarded a Wellesley College Graduate Fellowship! Had to celebrate in @smithbeelab.bsky.social tradition.
Reposted by Erica Maul
Annual GRFP thread, more relevant than ever (# of awards down 50%).
This thread is for students who didn't win the GRFP today. Who are wondering if they belong in science, or scrolling through posts that start "So excited to announce..." with a little spurt of bitterness they aren’t proud of. 1/9
This thread is for students who didn't win the GRFP today. Who are wondering if they belong in science, or scrolling through posts that start "So excited to announce..." with a little spurt of bitterness they aren’t proud of. 1/9
April 8, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Annual GRFP thread, more relevant than ever (# of awards down 50%).
This thread is for students who didn't win the GRFP today. Who are wondering if they belong in science, or scrolling through posts that start "So excited to announce..." with a little spurt of bitterness they aren’t proud of. 1/9
This thread is for students who didn't win the GRFP today. Who are wondering if they belong in science, or scrolling through posts that start "So excited to announce..." with a little spurt of bitterness they aren’t proud of. 1/9
Reposted by Erica Maul
🎉🎉I am SO excited to share our lab's first data paper published in ProcB @royalsociety.org! This research is part of @jlotusnguyen.bsky.social 's PhD dissertation and explores how social #behavior is organized in honey bees. 🐝 Let me share the story...!
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10....
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10....
Disruption of collective behaviour correlates with reduced interaction efficiency | Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Group-living organisms commonly engage in collective behaviour to respond to an ever-changing environment. As animals face environmental change, establishing the mechanisms of information used to collectively behave is critical. Western honeybees (Apis ...
royalsocietypublishing.org
March 24, 2025 at 6:41 PM
🎉🎉I am SO excited to share our lab's first data paper published in ProcB @royalsociety.org! This research is part of @jlotusnguyen.bsky.social 's PhD dissertation and explores how social #behavior is organized in honey bees. 🐝 Let me share the story...!
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10....
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Erica Maul
The first data paper of my dissertation thesis was recently published in ProcB! Follow my rockstar PI's thread below to learn more! Thanks for your support! 😁
And reach out if you're interested in a postdoc - I'm graduating soon 👀
And reach out if you're interested in a postdoc - I'm graduating soon 👀
🎉🎉I am SO excited to share our lab's first data paper published in ProcB @royalsociety.org! This research is part of @jlotusnguyen.bsky.social 's PhD dissertation and explores how social #behavior is organized in honey bees. 🐝 Let me share the story...!
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10....
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10....
Disruption of collective behaviour correlates with reduced interaction efficiency | Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Group-living organisms commonly engage in collective behaviour to respond to an ever-changing environment. As animals face environmental change, establishing the mechanisms of information used to collectively behave is critical. Western honeybees (Apis ...
royalsocietypublishing.org
March 24, 2025 at 6:54 PM
The first data paper of my dissertation thesis was recently published in ProcB! Follow my rockstar PI's thread below to learn more! Thanks for your support! 😁
And reach out if you're interested in a postdoc - I'm graduating soon 👀
And reach out if you're interested in a postdoc - I'm graduating soon 👀
Reposted by Erica Maul
Collaborating with @rin-krichilsky.bsky.social and Kanako Shimizu, we put together what's basically a top-ten list of ways to help foster trans inclusivity and awareness within our scientific and academic communities and would love if you could help share the guide!
January 16, 2025 at 7:21 AM
Collaborating with @rin-krichilsky.bsky.social and Kanako Shimizu, we put together what's basically a top-ten list of ways to help foster trans inclusivity and awareness within our scientific and academic communities and would love if you could help share the guide!
Reposted by Erica Maul
Take back your attention.
January 21, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Take back your attention.
Reposted by Erica Maul
If you are an undergraduate science major who is interested in pursuing a career in STEM, there is an exciting opportunity to develop your skills while studying the interface between microbes and bees. BeeMORE is a USDA-funded Research and Extension Experience for Undergraduates
January 22, 2025 at 8:03 PM
If you are an undergraduate science major who is interested in pursuing a career in STEM, there is an exciting opportunity to develop your skills while studying the interface between microbes and bees. BeeMORE is a USDA-funded Research and Extension Experience for Undergraduates
Reposted by Erica Maul
"How to be a trans ally in academia today"
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/care...
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/care...
How to be a trans ally in academia today (opinion)
What it means to be an ally has changed, Chelsea Thompto writes.
www.insidehighered.com
January 22, 2025 at 7:45 PM
"How to be a trans ally in academia today"
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/care...
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/care...
Reposted by Erica Maul
I started gathering a list for REUs/Summer research opportunities for undergraduate students in Ecology/Conservation/Evolutionary Biology. Feel share to share with any undergraduate students who may be interested in participating in *PAID* research.
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
REUs/Summer Research 2024 List (Ecology and Evolution)
docs.google.com
October 23, 2024 at 7:36 PM
I started gathering a list for REUs/Summer research opportunities for undergraduate students in Ecology/Conservation/Evolutionary Biology. Feel share to share with any undergraduate students who may be interested in participating in *PAID* research.
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Reposted by Erica Maul
I have a PhD position open to start fall semester 2025!
The position will include investigations of the structure of both phenotypic (behavioral) plasticity and genetic variation in behavior as well as lots of opportunity to develop your own project.
#Evolution #evobio #evolsky #Ecology 🧪
The position will include investigations of the structure of both phenotypic (behavioral) plasticity and genetic variation in behavior as well as lots of opportunity to develop your own project.
#Evolution #evobio #evolsky #Ecology 🧪
January 2, 2025 at 4:37 PM
I have a PhD position open to start fall semester 2025!
The position will include investigations of the structure of both phenotypic (behavioral) plasticity and genetic variation in behavior as well as lots of opportunity to develop your own project.
#Evolution #evobio #evolsky #Ecology 🧪
The position will include investigations of the structure of both phenotypic (behavioral) plasticity and genetic variation in behavior as well as lots of opportunity to develop your own project.
#Evolution #evobio #evolsky #Ecology 🧪
Reposted by Erica Maul
If you are a scientist (including graduate students) or professional science communicator who is at least 18 years old and are using Bluesky for any kind of professional purposes, please consider taking our survey.
Link:
umiami.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
Please help share. 🧪🌎 #SciComm
Link:
umiami.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
Please help share. 🧪🌎 #SciComm
December 30, 2024 at 3:04 PM
If you are a scientist (including graduate students) or professional science communicator who is at least 18 years old and are using Bluesky for any kind of professional purposes, please consider taking our survey.
Link:
umiami.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
Please help share. 🧪🌎 #SciComm
Link:
umiami.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
Please help share. 🧪🌎 #SciComm
Reposted by Erica Maul
Congrats to the whole team: Michael Smith, Claire Bailey, Ben Koger, @ericamaul.bsky.social, Prathibha, Bajaree Chuttong, Roberto Molinari, Ethan Rowe, Maritza Spott
Form, function, and evolutionary origins of architectural symmetry in honey bee nests
Smith et al. show that honey bees stockpile their nests symmetrically on either side
of the double-sided comb, revealing architectural symmetry in the extended phenotype.
This symmetry provides the co...
shorturl.at
November 13, 2024 at 5:43 PM
Congrats to the whole team: Michael Smith, Claire Bailey, Ben Koger, @ericamaul.bsky.social, Prathibha, Bajaree Chuttong, Roberto Molinari, Ethan Rowe, Maritza Spott
Reposted by Erica Maul
Our architectural symmetry paper made the cover of Current Biology! Congrats to @smithbeelab.bsky.social and the team. Check out the form, function, and evolutionary origins of honeybee nest symmetry here: www.cell.com/current-biol...
December 17, 2024 at 6:18 PM
Our architectural symmetry paper made the cover of Current Biology! Congrats to @smithbeelab.bsky.social and the team. Check out the form, function, and evolutionary origins of honeybee nest symmetry here: www.cell.com/current-biol...
I had so much fun today judging the Alabama Science and Engineering Fair for my second year!! And so did lab mate Prathibha 😊 This state is full of young smart cookies and I feel reinvigorated for my own research.
April 13, 2024 at 8:50 PM
I had so much fun today judging the Alabama Science and Engineering Fair for my second year!! And so did lab mate Prathibha 😊 This state is full of young smart cookies and I feel reinvigorated for my own research.