Project-, Bachelor-, or Master Thesis: Scanning electron microscopy of antennal fine structures

• Technical University of Munich
• Thesis
• At TUM
• Freising
• https://www.lss.ls.tum.de/pii/team/dr-jan-buellesbach/
• 2025-11-04
• Full Time
• German

Link to the offer

---

Full Project Title: Scanning electron microscopy to investigate antennal fine structures in parasitic wasps

Background:
The parasitoid jewel wasp genus Nasonia, encompassing four species, has become one of the best-investigated insect model systems to study pheromone-based sexual communication and species recognition behavior. However, although the signaling part of this communication system has been intensively investigated, the underlying chemoreceptive mechanisms are far less understood. In collaboration with Dr. Michael at the TUM School of Life Sciences Zoology Department, this project will investigate the chemoreceptive fine-structures (“sensilla”) on the insects’ antennae and assess sex- as well as species-specific differentiation in their morphology, distributions and types. This will allow for valuable conclusions on the evolution of chemoreception and how signaling molecules can be differentially perceived and processed according to sex and species in parasitoid wasps.

Methodological approach:
JSM-IT100 InTouchScope scanning electron microscope (magnifications from x5 to x300.000) will be used to analyze the insects’ antennal fine structures.

Research question:
Are differences in the chemoreceptive fine-structures consistently and unambiguously quantifiable between the four Nasonia species and the respective sexes?

Time frame:
This project can be started year-round, start date flexible, project time can be adjusted according to the type of thesis, internship, “Forschungspraktikum” etc.

Requirements:
Self-sufficient, reliable and precise work ethic in the lab. Experience with handling insects and conducting morphometric and/or (electron) microscopic analyses would be beneficial.

• Disciplines

  Agricultural, Forestry & Food Sciences, Natural Sciences & Mathematics

• Kontakt

  Technical University of Munich
  Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2
  85354 Freising, Germany

  Jan Buellesbach
  08161714621
  jan.buellesbach@tum.de
  

Link to the offer