Judith A.H. Smit
@judithsmit.bsky.social
NOMIS-STRI postdoc | Animal communication in changing environments | Treehoppers & Frogs | #AnimalBehavior #Ecology #Evolution | 🇳🇱 in 🇵🇦 | she/her
Pinned
An insect-eating caterpillar associated with arboreal ants: life cycle, diet, social integration and substrate-borne vibrations - Insectes Sociaux
Herbivory is the predominant feeding strategy in Lepidoptera, whereas carnivory has evolved rarely. The life cycles of carnivorous species, however, remain poorly documented. Here, we confirm that Jud...
link.springer.com
Caterpillars eat plants, right? 🌿
Not always, some are carnivorous! 🥩🐛
Our new paper documents the life history, behavior, and vibrations of Juditha odites. It feeds on treehoppers, then moves into ant nests to consume ant brood! 🐜🐛🦋
link.springer.com/article/10.1... @insectessociaux.bsky.social
Not always, some are carnivorous! 🥩🐛
Our new paper documents the life history, behavior, and vibrations of Juditha odites. It feeds on treehoppers, then moves into ant nests to consume ant brood! 🐜🐛🦋
link.springer.com/article/10.1... @insectessociaux.bsky.social
Notocera treehoppers, aren't they fantastic? 😍
Saw these ones in National Park Altos de Campana in Panamá.
#insects #membracids #treehoppers
Saw these ones in National Park Altos de Campana in Panamá.
#insects #membracids #treehoppers
September 15, 2026 at 1:48 PM
Notocera treehoppers, aren't they fantastic? 😍
Saw these ones in National Park Altos de Campana in Panamá.
#insects #membracids #treehoppers
Saw these ones in National Park Altos de Campana in Panamá.
#insects #membracids #treehoppers
Reposted by Judith A.H. Smit
New paper out 📣✨ We show that not only the availability of high-quality habitat is important for population persistence under climate change: variation in vegetation productivity within and between habitat patches can buffer populations during extreme years.
📽️ youtube.com/shorts/4LmqY...
📽️ youtube.com/shorts/4LmqY...
How do insects survive extreme summers?
YouTube video by REC - Research Centre for Ecological Change
youtube.com
September 14, 2026 at 10:26 AM
New paper out 📣✨ We show that not only the availability of high-quality habitat is important for population persistence under climate change: variation in vegetation productivity within and between habitat patches can buffer populations during extreme years.
📽️ youtube.com/shorts/4LmqY...
📽️ youtube.com/shorts/4LmqY...
Reposted by Judith A.H. Smit
Come and work with us (the Kokkonuts) as a postdoc! Our research within (theory-evo-eco) is broad; let's say it's implicitly defined by the journal club papers we read. Which is why the application process includes a JC-related task, I hope it'll be a fun one for you! www.evoldir.net/brian/evoldi...
www.evoldir.net
August 26, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Come and work with us (the Kokkonuts) as a postdoc! Our research within (theory-evo-eco) is broad; let's say it's implicitly defined by the journal club papers we read. Which is why the application process includes a JC-related task, I hope it'll be a fun one for you! www.evoldir.net/brian/evoldi...
Reposted by Judith A.H. Smit
#SICB Pittsburgh Abstract submission is open for SICB 2027!
www.xcdsystem.com/sicb/abstrac...
Come share your research and learn about the most exciting areas of integrative, comparative, & organismal #biology in Pittsburgh, PA on January 3-7, 2027. The deadline is August 28 at 11:59 PM HST.
www.xcdsystem.com/sicb/abstrac...
Come share your research and learn about the most exciting areas of integrative, comparative, & organismal #biology in Pittsburgh, PA on January 3-7, 2027. The deadline is August 28 at 11:59 PM HST.
August 26, 2026 at 12:54 PM
#SICB Pittsburgh Abstract submission is open for SICB 2027!
www.xcdsystem.com/sicb/abstrac...
Come share your research and learn about the most exciting areas of integrative, comparative, & organismal #biology in Pittsburgh, PA on January 3-7, 2027. The deadline is August 28 at 11:59 PM HST.
www.xcdsystem.com/sicb/abstrac...
Come share your research and learn about the most exciting areas of integrative, comparative, & organismal #biology in Pittsburgh, PA on January 3-7, 2027. The deadline is August 28 at 11:59 PM HST.
Caterpillars eat plants, right? 🌿
Not always, some are carnivorous! 🥩🐛
Our new paper documents the life history, behavior, and vibrations of Juditha odites. It feeds on treehoppers, then moves into ant nests to consume ant brood! 🐜🐛🦋
link.springer.com/article/10.1... @insectessociaux.bsky.social
Not always, some are carnivorous! 🥩🐛
Our new paper documents the life history, behavior, and vibrations of Juditha odites. It feeds on treehoppers, then moves into ant nests to consume ant brood! 🐜🐛🦋
link.springer.com/article/10.1... @insectessociaux.bsky.social
An insect-eating caterpillar associated with arboreal ants: life cycle, diet, social integration and substrate-borne vibrations - Insectes Sociaux
Herbivory is the predominant feeding strategy in Lepidoptera, whereas carnivory has evolved rarely. The life cycles of carnivorous species, however, remain poorly documented. Here, we confirm that Jud...
link.springer.com
August 24, 2026 at 5:37 PM
Caterpillars eat plants, right? 🌿
Not always, some are carnivorous! 🥩🐛
Our new paper documents the life history, behavior, and vibrations of Juditha odites. It feeds on treehoppers, then moves into ant nests to consume ant brood! 🐜🐛🦋
link.springer.com/article/10.1... @insectessociaux.bsky.social
Not always, some are carnivorous! 🥩🐛
Our new paper documents the life history, behavior, and vibrations of Juditha odites. It feeds on treehoppers, then moves into ant nests to consume ant brood! 🐜🐛🦋
link.springer.com/article/10.1... @insectessociaux.bsky.social
Reposted by Judith A.H. Smit
Are you a biologist with experience in and enthusiasm for imaging and -omics techniques? Apply for working in Amsterdam (@vuamsterdam.bsky.social) on the exciting topic of socially transferred materials! 🐌 🐸 🐜🧬🔬
workingat.vu.nl/vacancies/po...
workingat.vu.nl/vacancies/po...
Vacancy — Post doc on socially transferred materials
Are you a biologist with experience in and enthusiasm for imaging and -omics techniques? Apply for working on the exciting topic of socially transferred materials!
workingat.vu.nl
July 10, 2026 at 2:23 PM
Are you a biologist with experience in and enthusiasm for imaging and -omics techniques? Apply for working in Amsterdam (@vuamsterdam.bsky.social) on the exciting topic of socially transferred materials! 🐌 🐸 🐜🧬🔬
workingat.vu.nl/vacancies/po...
workingat.vu.nl/vacancies/po...
Reposted by Judith A.H. Smit
We are hiring a #postdoc to work on our NSF funded project on metabolic rate as a driver of individual variation in treefrog acoustic communication. Please spread the word to potentially interested candidates (or apply if you are one of them): jobs.okstate.edu/jobs/postdoc...
jobs.okstate.edu
August 21, 2026 at 7:38 AM
We are hiring a #postdoc to work on our NSF funded project on metabolic rate as a driver of individual variation in treefrog acoustic communication. Please spread the word to potentially interested candidates (or apply if you are one of them): jobs.okstate.edu/jobs/postdoc...
Reposted by Judith A.H. Smit
I am looking for PhD students and postdocs to join my lab at the University of Pittsburgh in Fall 2027. Anyone excited about urban evolution, hummingbirds, & community engagement, please reach out! And/or find me at #AOS2026 this week!
More info here: www.valentina-alaasam.com
More info here: www.valentina-alaasam.com
August 3, 2026 at 1:53 AM
I am looking for PhD students and postdocs to join my lab at the University of Pittsburgh in Fall 2027. Anyone excited about urban evolution, hummingbirds, & community engagement, please reach out! And/or find me at #AOS2026 this week!
More info here: www.valentina-alaasam.com
More info here: www.valentina-alaasam.com
Soooo excited for #ISBE2026 in Turino!
I’d love to connect to people working on communication (sounds/vibrations), plasticity, sexual selection, social interactions and/or urbanization! Shoot me a message or see you there! 😁
I’d love to connect to people working on communication (sounds/vibrations), plasticity, sexual selection, social interactions and/or urbanization! Shoot me a message or see you there! 😁
July 16, 2026 at 2:09 PM
Soooo excited for #ISBE2026 in Turino!
I’d love to connect to people working on communication (sounds/vibrations), plasticity, sexual selection, social interactions and/or urbanization! Shoot me a message or see you there! 😁
I’d love to connect to people working on communication (sounds/vibrations), plasticity, sexual selection, social interactions and/or urbanization! Shoot me a message or see you there! 😁
Reposted by Judith A.H. Smit
With the conference just a few days away, I thought it would be nice to create an #ISBE2026 attendees Starter Pack to help us connect more easily. If you’re attending and would like to be included, send me a message or reply below!
go.bsky.app/CiXGqQ7
go.bsky.app/CiXGqQ7
July 16, 2026 at 11:07 AM
With the conference just a few days away, I thought it would be nice to create an #ISBE2026 attendees Starter Pack to help us connect more easily. If you’re attending and would like to be included, send me a message or reply below!
go.bsky.app/CiXGqQ7
go.bsky.app/CiXGqQ7
Reposted by Judith A.H. Smit
I compiled a list of 350 #funding opportunities for #postdoctoral research #fellowships:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1J2M_tQgoqV4ivpfEClh9qs9f2KQN2O1G3Jpda2aoHfQ/edit?usp=sharing
I realized I should share this again after mentioning it to some folks at the #efp2026
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1J2M_tQgoqV4ivpfEClh9qs9f2KQN2O1G3Jpda2aoHfQ/edit?usp=sharing
I realized I should share this again after mentioning it to some folks at the #efp2026
July 6, 2026 at 11:02 AM
I compiled a list of 350 #funding opportunities for #postdoctoral research #fellowships:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1J2M_tQgoqV4ivpfEClh9qs9f2KQN2O1G3Jpda2aoHfQ/edit?usp=sharing
I realized I should share this again after mentioning it to some folks at the #efp2026
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1J2M_tQgoqV4ivpfEClh9qs9f2KQN2O1G3Jpda2aoHfQ/edit?usp=sharing
I realized I should share this again after mentioning it to some folks at the #efp2026
Very proud of María Paz Rueda Rodriguez and Omar Morosse!! They gave amazing presentations about our treehopper research at the STRI fellows symposium last week!
July 15, 2026 at 2:10 AM
Very proud of María Paz Rueda Rodriguez and Omar Morosse!! They gave amazing presentations about our treehopper research at the STRI fellows symposium last week!
Reposted by Judith A.H. Smit
Are you an early-career researcher based in the Global South?
Apply by 20 November 2026 for BiO Global South Conference Travel Grants to attend an international biological or biomedical conference. More information at www.biologists.com/grants/bio-g...
Apply by 20 November 2026 for BiO Global South Conference Travel Grants to attend an international biological or biomedical conference. More information at www.biologists.com/grants/bio-g...
July 14, 2026 at 1:01 PM
Are you an early-career researcher based in the Global South?
Apply by 20 November 2026 for BiO Global South Conference Travel Grants to attend an international biological or biomedical conference. More information at www.biologists.com/grants/bio-g...
Apply by 20 November 2026 for BiO Global South Conference Travel Grants to attend an international biological or biomedical conference. More information at www.biologists.com/grants/bio-g...
Reposted by Judith A.H. Smit
Rate animal artworks for science!
Are bowers artwork? 🖼️
Do we (humans) like the same bower designs that the choosy females like?
Please fill in this short survey asking you to "RATE MY BOWER"
No expertise needed. We just want your aesthetic judgment🎨🖌️
exe.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
Takes <10 mins
Do we (humans) like the same bower designs that the choosy females like?
Please fill in this short survey asking you to "RATE MY BOWER"
No expertise needed. We just want your aesthetic judgment🎨🖌️
exe.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
Takes <10 mins
July 7, 2026 at 9:02 AM
Rate animal artworks for science!
Reposted by Judith A.H. Smit
So excited to announce our search for 4 postdocs (funded by the Simons Foundation) who will use genomics to "test how ecological interactions, natural selection, natural enemies, hybridization & environmental gradients shape...tropical tree communities" in Panama: stri.si.edu/story/bci-ev... ...1
stri.si.edu
June 25, 2026 at 10:26 PM
So excited to announce our search for 4 postdocs (funded by the Simons Foundation) who will use genomics to "test how ecological interactions, natural selection, natural enemies, hybridization & environmental gradients shape...tropical tree communities" in Panama: stri.si.edu/story/bci-ev... ...1
Reposted by Judith A.H. Smit
PhD position open 🚨
We are seeking a talented, enthusiastic, and collaborative PhD candidate to investigate how seasonal environmental change influences population vulnerability and to develop new indicators of demographic risk and resilience in wild bird populations.
nioo.knaw.nl/en/vacancies...
We are seeking a talented, enthusiastic, and collaborative PhD candidate to investigate how seasonal environmental change influences population vulnerability and to develop new indicators of demographic risk and resilience in wild bird populations.
nioo.knaw.nl/en/vacancies...
PhD position: Indicators of demographic risk and resilience in wild birds
We are seeking a talented, enthusiastic, and collaborative PhD candidate to investigate how seasonal environmental change influences population vulnerability and to develop new indicators of demograph...
nioo.knaw.nl
June 24, 2026 at 4:32 AM
PhD position open 🚨
We are seeking a talented, enthusiastic, and collaborative PhD candidate to investigate how seasonal environmental change influences population vulnerability and to develop new indicators of demographic risk and resilience in wild bird populations.
nioo.knaw.nl/en/vacancies...
We are seeking a talented, enthusiastic, and collaborative PhD candidate to investigate how seasonal environmental change influences population vulnerability and to develop new indicators of demographic risk and resilience in wild bird populations.
nioo.knaw.nl/en/vacancies...
Reposted by Judith A.H. Smit
~1 billion times the distance from Earth to the Sun.
That is approx the total length of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal hyphae in topsoils. These microscopic fungal networks form one of Earth’s circulatory systems moving carbon and nutrients.
Out now in @science.org : lnkd.in/eKAsVN_Z
That is approx the total length of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal hyphae in topsoils. These microscopic fungal networks form one of Earth’s circulatory systems moving carbon and nutrients.
Out now in @science.org : lnkd.in/eKAsVN_Z
June 12, 2026 at 10:40 AM
~1 billion times the distance from Earth to the Sun.
That is approx the total length of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal hyphae in topsoils. These microscopic fungal networks form one of Earth’s circulatory systems moving carbon and nutrients.
Out now in @science.org : lnkd.in/eKAsVN_Z
That is approx the total length of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal hyphae in topsoils. These microscopic fungal networks form one of Earth’s circulatory systems moving carbon and nutrients.
Out now in @science.org : lnkd.in/eKAsVN_Z
Reposted by Judith A.H. Smit
Leaf-mimicking katydids don’t just use their funky camouflage to survive, they’re using it to find love too! 🥰🍃💘 New paper out now in #ProcB @royalsocietypublishing.org (Photo cred: Christian Ziegler): doi.org/10.1098/rspb... 1/n
June 3, 2026 at 11:39 AM
Leaf-mimicking katydids don’t just use their funky camouflage to survive, they’re using it to find love too! 🥰🍃💘 New paper out now in #ProcB @royalsocietypublishing.org (Photo cred: Christian Ziegler): doi.org/10.1098/rspb... 1/n
Reposted by Judith A.H. Smit
🚨We're hiring again, this time for a research assistant position 🚨
The position is to help with a project looking at learning and social behaviour in birds along an urban gradient
Position at
@ceec-research.bsky.social
📆28th June deadline
More info: shorturl.at/vBxiW
#ringing #fieldwork
The position is to help with a project looking at learning and social behaviour in birds along an urban gradient
Position at
@ceec-research.bsky.social
📆28th June deadline
More info: shorturl.at/vBxiW
#ringing #fieldwork
June 1, 2026 at 7:48 AM
🚨We're hiring again, this time for a research assistant position 🚨
The position is to help with a project looking at learning and social behaviour in birds along an urban gradient
Position at
@ceec-research.bsky.social
📆28th June deadline
More info: shorturl.at/vBxiW
#ringing #fieldwork
The position is to help with a project looking at learning and social behaviour in birds along an urban gradient
Position at
@ceec-research.bsky.social
📆28th June deadline
More info: shorturl.at/vBxiW
#ringing #fieldwork
Reposted by Judith A.H. Smit
Urban animals behave differently than those living in more natural environments -- possibly because urban environments select for certain behavioral types or because they act as environmental "filters". Fantastic co-authors: @neddochtermann.bsky.social @annecharmantier.bsky.social
Across birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles and insects - urban animals are consistently bolder than their rural counterparts, according to a new global meta-analysis.
🌍🧪
🌍🧪
The city mouse really is bolder than the country mouse - British Ecological Society
And so are most animals, according to global study.
f.mtr.cool
May 22, 2026 at 3:24 PM
Urban animals behave differently than those living in more natural environments -- possibly because urban environments select for certain behavioral types or because they act as environmental "filters". Fantastic co-authors: @neddochtermann.bsky.social @annecharmantier.bsky.social
Reposted by Judith A.H. Smit
📢Fully-funded #PhD opportunity with us:
🐦 Quantifying (social) learning and social behaviour in an urbanised world 🐦
Position at @ceec-research.bsky.social
📆29th May deadline
More info: tinyurl.com/yz28s96x
Apply: tinyurl.com/2wpkb64y
#cognition #socialbehaviour #fieldwork #birds
🙏Please Share
🐦 Quantifying (social) learning and social behaviour in an urbanised world 🐦
Position at @ceec-research.bsky.social
📆29th May deadline
More info: tinyurl.com/yz28s96x
Apply: tinyurl.com/2wpkb64y
#cognition #socialbehaviour #fieldwork #birds
🙏Please Share
April 15, 2026 at 6:27 AM
📢Fully-funded #PhD opportunity with us:
🐦 Quantifying (social) learning and social behaviour in an urbanised world 🐦
Position at @ceec-research.bsky.social
📆29th May deadline
More info: tinyurl.com/yz28s96x
Apply: tinyurl.com/2wpkb64y
#cognition #socialbehaviour #fieldwork #birds
🙏Please Share
🐦 Quantifying (social) learning and social behaviour in an urbanised world 🐦
Position at @ceec-research.bsky.social
📆29th May deadline
More info: tinyurl.com/yz28s96x
Apply: tinyurl.com/2wpkb64y
#cognition #socialbehaviour #fieldwork #birds
🙏Please Share
Great opportunity! 🤩
If anyone has questions about this fellowship or about STRI more generally I’d be happy to answer!
If anyone has questions about this fellowship or about STRI more generally I’d be happy to answer!
3-year Independent Post-doc in Animal Behavior based at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama!
Three positions, each including salary & a research budget.
Applications due April, 15th.
DM if you are interesting in developing a project with us!
stri.si.edu/academic-pro...
Three positions, each including salary & a research budget.
Applications due April, 15th.
DM if you are interesting in developing a project with us!
stri.si.edu/academic-pro...
3 Year Postdoctoral Fellowships in Animal Behavior
stri.si.edu
March 30, 2026 at 12:15 PM
Great opportunity! 🤩
If anyone has questions about this fellowship or about STRI more generally I’d be happy to answer!
If anyone has questions about this fellowship or about STRI more generally I’d be happy to answer!
Treehoppers have such interesting shapes... For instance, look at this Cladonota treehopper we saw in Altos De Campana National Park in Panamá! 🤩
#insects #membracids #treehoppers
#insects #membracids #treehoppers
March 29, 2026 at 5:11 PM
Treehoppers have such interesting shapes... For instance, look at this Cladonota treehopper we saw in Altos De Campana National Park in Panamá! 🤩
#insects #membracids #treehoppers
#insects #membracids #treehoppers
Reposted by Judith A.H. Smit
📢Fully-funded #PhD opportunity with us
❓Quantifying animal #movement patterns & behavioural #interactions in a changing world
👥Joint position in @bristolbiosci.bsky.social & #MacquarieUniversity
📆19th April deadline
tinyurl.com/343acaev
#maths #modelling #data #fieldwork #Australia
🙏PLEASE SHARE
❓Quantifying animal #movement patterns & behavioural #interactions in a changing world
👥Joint position in @bristolbiosci.bsky.social & #MacquarieUniversity
📆19th April deadline
tinyurl.com/343acaev
#maths #modelling #data #fieldwork #Australia
🙏PLEASE SHARE
March 27, 2026 at 3:43 PM
📢Fully-funded #PhD opportunity with us
❓Quantifying animal #movement patterns & behavioural #interactions in a changing world
👥Joint position in @bristolbiosci.bsky.social & #MacquarieUniversity
📆19th April deadline
tinyurl.com/343acaev
#maths #modelling #data #fieldwork #Australia
🙏PLEASE SHARE
❓Quantifying animal #movement patterns & behavioural #interactions in a changing world
👥Joint position in @bristolbiosci.bsky.social & #MacquarieUniversity
📆19th April deadline
tinyurl.com/343acaev
#maths #modelling #data #fieldwork #Australia
🙏PLEASE SHARE