Dr David Shuker
My research interests focus on insect behavioural ecology, especially the evolution of insect reproductive behaviour. We use whole-organism and genetic approaches to explore how insect behaviour evolves, testing ecological and evolutionary theory in the process. Until recently I was also the Secretary for the Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.
Brief CV
2015-2015 Visiting Research Fellow, University of Western Australia, Australia.
2013-date Senior Lecturer, University of St Andrews, U.K.
2012-2013 Lecturer, University of St Andrews, U.K.
2009-2011 NERC Advanced Research Fellow & Lecturer, University of St Andrews, U.K.
2007-2009 NERC Advanced Research Fellow, University of Edinburgh, U.K.
2004-2006 NERC Post-doc, University of Edinburgh, U.K.
2001-2004 BBSRC Post-doc, University of Edinburgh, U.K.
2000-2001 NERC Post-doc, University of Leeds, U.K.
1999-2000 Research Assistant, University of Manchester, U.K.
1998-1999 Teaching Fellow, University of Nottingham, U.K.
1994-1998 PhD. University of Nottingham, U.K.
1991-1994 BSc. (Hons) Pure and Applied Ecology, University of Sheffield, U.K.
1990-1991 The Natural History Museum, London.
For a thinly disguised pen-portrait of me, Dan Brown borrowed me for a character in one of his novels – please go HERE to read it.
Current Lab Members
Madingley Abbs NERC IAPETUS2 PhD student (2021-date)
Eleanor Gourevitch University of St Andrews PhD student (2019-date)
Previous Lab Members (Links to current webpages for those still in academic research)
Andrew Spires ASAB Research Assistant (2022)
Mélissa Armand MSc(Res) student (2018-2019)
Céile Swinton-Boyle MSc(Res) student (2018-2019)
Joe Hamm MSc(Res) student (2018-2019)
Cédric Aumont (2017-18) Visiting Masters student, Agrocampus Ouest, France
Ginny Greenway NERC PhD Student (2013-2017)
Georgina Glaser (primary supervisor Dr Sue Healy) BBSRC PhD Student (2013-2017)
Becky Boulton NERC PhD student (2012-2016)
Nicki Cook NERC Post-doctoral Research Associate (2013-2016)
Jade Green Research technican NERC (2013-2016)
Liam Dougherty NERC PhD student (2011-2015)
Emily Burdfield-Steel NERC PhD student (2010-2014)
Rebekah Watt NERC PhD student (2008-2012)
Anna Auld (nee Moynihan); NERC PhD student 2007-2011)
Gethin Evans NERC PhD student (2007-2011)
Laura Ross PhD student (2006-2010)
Bart Pannebakker NERC Post-doctoral Research Associate (2005-2008)
Dr Max Burton NERC PhD student (2003-2007)
Dr Ed Sykes BBSRC PhD student (2003-2007)
Senior Honours, External Placement, and Taught Masters students* and summer students/interns
2022-23 Joanna Kennedy*, Elinor Baker*, Jonah Brenner*.
2021-22 Eilidh Garden*, Bee Cobain*, Angelos Pechlivanis*, Tatiana Dickins*, Leila Cooper.
2020-21 Maddy Abbs*, Bekki Gorgon*, Mia Richmond*, Julie MacDonald*, Melissa Wright*, Dani Black*, Anna Dorling*, Andrew Spires*, Leila Cooper, Heidi Bough, Liliana Potter.
2019-20 Andrew Smith*, Katie Delahooke*, Lea Fourchault (supported by University of St Andrews URAS scholarship), Madingley Abbs (supported by an ASAB Undergraduate Project Scholarship), Leila Cooper
2018-19 Sophie Zawadzki*, Amy Knight*, Clea Russell*, Hannah Wilson*, Georgia Kay*, Dani Black (again! Laidlaw Scholarship Programme and BBSRC Research Experience Placement), Ksenia Potapova
2017-18 Jasmin Martin*, Ryan Teague*, Mia Corliss, Dani Black (Laidlaw Scholarship Programme)
2016-17 Jane Gordon*, Emma Laurent*
2014-15 Mhari Miller*, Alex Fryer*, Vicki Balfour (ASAB Undergraduate Project Scholarship), Sophie van Meyel (University of Poitiers), Connor Dunleavy (supported by the Nuffield Foundation Research Placement Scheme).
2013-14 Sam Auty*#, Sophie Gill & Charlotte Blackburn (both supported by the Nuffield Foundation Research Placement Scheme), Vicki Balfour
# Sam was awarded a Certificate of Commendation by the Zoological Society of London as part of the Charles Darwin Award & Marsh Prize for the best undergraduate thesis across the UK.
2012-13 Hannah Learney*
2011-12 Laura Collins, Laura Couldrey*, Raluca Herascu (IBANS Scholarship), Kathryn Scott*, Lynsey Ann Smith
2010-11 Anna Bird*, Michael Dimmock*, MIlly McGlone (ASAB Undergraduate Project Scholarship)
2009-10 Niall Currie*, Chris Doughty*, Jessica Haghkerdar, Jack McLachlan
2008-09 Toby Nowlan*, Jennifer Park
2008 and before: previous illustrious under-grad alumni supervised in part or in full by Dave include Ali Duncan, Penelope Whitehorn, Jess Phillimore, Alice Laughton, Gav Ballantyne, Lucy Browning, and Felicity Muth.