INT-27011 INTERNSHIP - DEVELOPING CHEMICAL ATTRACTANTS FOR BUTTERFLY MONITORING: FROM LAB EXPERIMENTS TO FIELD APPLICATIONS

The Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) is a Research and Technology Organization (RTO) active in the fields of materials, environment and IT. By transforming scientific knowledge into technologies, smart data and tools, LIST empowers citizens in their choices, public authorities in their decisions and businesses in their strategies.

Your LIST benefits

• An organization with a passion for impact and strong RDI partnerships in Luxembourg and Europe that works on responsible and independent research projects
• Sustainable by design, empowering our belief that we play an essential role in paving the way to a green society
• Innovative infrastructures and exceptional labs occupying more than 5,000 square metres, including innovations in all that we do
• An environment encouraging curiosity, innovation and entrepreneurship in all areas
• Multicultural and international work environment with more than 60 nationalities represented in our workforce
• Diverse and inclusive work environment empowering our people to fulfil their personal and professional ambitions
• Gender-friendly environment with multiple actions to attract, develop and retain women in science
• 32 days’ paid annual leave, 11 public holidays

Compulsory Internship – 6 months | Fulltime/40h | From February (up to April) to September 2027 | Belvaux

Are you passionate about research? So are we! Come and join us

The Biodiversity Monitoring and Assessment (BIODIV - https://researchportal.list.lu/organisation/detail/biodiv) research group 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. As a national hub at the interface between the scientific community and decision/policy makers in Luxembourg, the BIODIV group is sampling, collecting and analysing data on various types of organisms to assess their changing conservation status and dynamics. The group is also developing and making use of technology-based approaches for data collection and processing, thereby strengthening knowledge and competences on biodiversity monitoring and assessment across the country.

Background and Internship opportunity 

The BIODIV team at LIST focusses its activities on biodiversity monitoring using both traditional approaches and innovative image collection technologies (e.g. underwater camera trap for amphibian survey [https://www.nhbs.com/blog/camphibian-newtcam-project-in-partnership-with-list], non-lethal digital monitoring system for flying insects [https://www.list.lu/en/research/project/dimon/]). 

More recently, we have investigated the potential for monitoring grassland butterfly species using camera traps combined with different treatments of volatile and nutritional chemical attractants. Our preliminary results show that one attractant based on Buddleia davidii performed better at collecting pictures of butterflies, with an influence of nutritional components. Our preliminary study confirms the potential of using chemical attractants for camera-based butterfly monitoring and provides several avenues to enhance the collection of images for both specialist and generalist pollinator insects. 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 in the field. With experts in ecology, technology, and organic chemistry, LIST has the infrastructure to produce and test different attractant solutions both in situ and ex situ, tailored for camera trapping applications.

How will you contribute? 

With this 6-month internship, we are looking for a student to initiate further developments in chemical olfactory attractants for butterfly monitoring within the BIODIV group. The intern will study the antennal responses of butterflies to volatile chemicals using electroantennography (EAG) and support the BIODIV group in processing (using AI assistance tools) videos and images collected from preliminary camera trap experiments in the field.

To broaden their professional experience, the intern will also be invited to participate in other field and laboratory activities of the BIODIV group. The tasks of the intern will be carried out in close collaboration with the team involved in these activities and under the coordination of the internship supervisor. 

Scientific questions and specific objectives will be defined together with the intern at the beginning of the internship. At the end of the internship, the intern will produce a scientific report describing the materials and methods used as well as the results of the analyses and tasks implemented.

The monthly gross internship allowance is 1,400 euros for a full-time equivalent (40 hours per week).

Is your profile described below? Are you our future trainee? Apply now!

Education

• Duration of 6 month
• Expected start: between February and April 2027
• Workload: 40 hours/week

Training:

• Master or Bachelor student with skills related to terrestrial ecology and/or pollination ecology
• You must be enrolled in an educational programme in which the traineeship is a compulsory part of the curriculum. Please note that applications that do not meet this requirement are not eligible.

Experience and skills:

• Field experience with biodiversity data collection in the field
• Skills in butterfly and pollinator identification is a plus
• Interest in lab experiments with butterflies for electroantennography
• Interest in images and videos processing for pollinator identification
• Sense of organization and ability to prioritize multiple tasks
• Ability to work both independently and in a team setting
• Good interpersonal skills, including communication, team spirit and collaboration mindset

Language skills

• Fluency in English or French, both oral and written.