Internship in developing chemical attractants for butterfly monitoring: from lab experiments to field applications
Location: Belvaux, Luxembourg
Organization: Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) – Biodiversity Monitoring and Assessment (BIODIV) group
Contract Type: Compulsory internship – 6 months | Full-time / 40h | From July 2026
Main Description:
The Biodiversity Monitoring and Assessment (BIODIV) research group at LIST is a multi-talented team of researchers, engineers and technicians innovating the way data is collected in the field to produce time series documenting the spatial and temporal dynamics of living organisms in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems.
The BIODIV team focuses its activities on biodiversity monitoring using both traditional approaches and innovative image collection technologies (e.g. underwater camera trap for amphibian survey, non-lethal digital monitoring system for flying insects). More recently, the group has investigated the potential for monitoring grassland butterfly species using camera traps combined with different treatments of volatile and nutritional chemical attractants. Preliminary results show that one attractant based on Buddleia davidii performed better at collecting pictures of butterflies. As the body of knowledge in pollination ecology is increasing, there is a need for further lab testing and experiments for moving towards a field implementation of olfaction-based attractive camera trapping for butterflies.
With this 6-month internship, LIST is looking for a student to initiate further developments in chemical olfactory attractants for butterfly monitoring. The intern will:
- Study the antennal responses of butterflies to volatile chemicals using electroantennography (EAG)
- Support the BIODIV group in processing (using AI assistance tools) videos and images collected from preliminary camera trap experiments in the field
- Participate in other field and laboratory activities of the BIODIV group
- Produce a scientific report describing materials, methods, and results at the end of the internship
Scientific questions and specific objectives will be defined together with the intern at the beginning of the internship.
Requirements:
- Master or Bachelor student with skills related to terrestrial ecology and/or pollination ecology
- Field experience with biodiversity data collection
- Skills in butterfly and pollinator identification (a plus)
- Interest in lab experiments with butterflies for electroantennography
- Interest in image and video processing for pollinator identification
- Ability to work both independently and in a team setting
- Good interpersonal and communication skills
- Fluency in English or French (oral and written)
Benefits/Conditions:
- Multicultural and international work environment with more than 50 nationalities represented
- Innovative infrastructures and exceptional labs occupying more than 5,000 square meters
- Environment encouraging curiosity, innovation and entrepreneurship
- Diverse and inclusive work environment; gender-friendly environment
- 32 days' paid annual leave, 11 public holidays
- Equal opportunity employer
How to Apply:
Submit your application (motivation letter oriented towards the position and detailing your experience) through the official portal:
👉 https://app.skeeled.com/offer/c/69bbe04ba947b6c347498626?language=en&show_description=true
Applications will be continuously reviewed until the position is filled.
