Lauren Sumner-Rooney
@laurensr.bsky.social
Evolutionary biologist (invertebrates, vision, brains), Junior Group Leader @multipleye-lab.bsky.social @MfNBerlin.bsky.social. Gradual learner of 🇩🇪 She/her. Views mine, all mine!
Pinned
Exciting times ahead - I'm beyond delighted to be joining @bristolbiosci.bsky.social in 2026! 🎉🕷️🎉🐌🎉
I'm also looking for a PhD student to join @multipleye-lab.bsky.social in our new home! Come and study the effects of light pollution on the evolution and development of spider eyes with us 🌃🕷️👀 👇
I'm also looking for a PhD student to join @multipleye-lab.bsky.social in our new home! Come and study the effects of light pollution on the evolution and development of spider eyes with us 🌃🕷️👀 👇
What a treat! I got to learn about caterpillar eyes and so much more - and now, so do you! Check out this lovely review from @samjakeengland.bsky.social and pals - thanks for having me along for the ride! 🐛
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
November 10, 2025 at 3:28 PM
What a treat! I got to learn about caterpillar eyes and so much more - and now, so do you! Check out this lovely review from @samjakeengland.bsky.social and pals - thanks for having me along for the ride! 🐛
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reposted by Lauren Sumner-Rooney
Can jumping spiders extract implied object shape from motion? Check out our new preprint to find out. Collab with Massimo De Agrò @neuroethology.org
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
Biological point-light displays scanning by the principal eyes of a jumping spider
The semi-rigid structure of bodies forces animals to move in rhythmic patterns shared by all creatures with skeletons, exoskeletons, or limb connections. This pattern, known as biological motion, is i...
doi.org
June 25, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Can jumping spiders extract implied object shape from motion? Check out our new preprint to find out. Collab with Massimo De Agrò @neuroethology.org
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
Reposted by Lauren Sumner-Rooney
Excited to share that we have just been awarded a NERC Pushing the Frontiers grant to work on between-group cooperation in the Shark Bay dolphins. We will soon advertise a 3 year post-doc to join the team - drop me an email if you might be interested! Pls share widely 🙏🏻
July 31, 2025 at 6:13 AM
Excited to share that we have just been awarded a NERC Pushing the Frontiers grant to work on between-group cooperation in the Shark Bay dolphins. We will soon advertise a 3 year post-doc to join the team - drop me an email if you might be interested! Pls share widely 🙏🏻
I've unlocked a new science badge!! 🎉🛡️🎉
This thoughtful piece by @meganlinnay.bsky.social expands beautifully on a short review I wrote, citing 'the Sumner-Rooney cost-benefit model' of eye loss 🥲 honoured!
For anyone interested in evolution in low light, have a read! 👉 doi.org/10.1111/1365...
This thoughtful piece by @meganlinnay.bsky.social expands beautifully on a short review I wrote, citing 'the Sumner-Rooney cost-benefit model' of eye loss 🥲 honoured!
For anyone interested in evolution in low light, have a read! 👉 doi.org/10.1111/1365...
At the edge of darkness: A framework for the evolution of visual systems in dim light
Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
doi.org
October 30, 2025 at 2:40 PM
I've unlocked a new science badge!! 🎉🛡️🎉
This thoughtful piece by @meganlinnay.bsky.social expands beautifully on a short review I wrote, citing 'the Sumner-Rooney cost-benefit model' of eye loss 🥲 honoured!
For anyone interested in evolution in low light, have a read! 👉 doi.org/10.1111/1365...
This thoughtful piece by @meganlinnay.bsky.social expands beautifully on a short review I wrote, citing 'the Sumner-Rooney cost-benefit model' of eye loss 🥲 honoured!
For anyone interested in evolution in low light, have a read! 👉 doi.org/10.1111/1365...
Reposted by Lauren Sumner-Rooney
New #PhD ad alert!
Interested in wild #bee #cognition and #brains in different #bumblebees? Want to live in #Newcastle and the beautiful north-east of England?
Check out this project with me, @lenariab.bsky.social and Sarah Scott. Contact me for further information.
iapetus.ac.uk/studentships...
Interested in wild #bee #cognition and #brains in different #bumblebees? Want to live in #Newcastle and the beautiful north-east of England?
Check out this project with me, @lenariab.bsky.social and Sarah Scott. Contact me for further information.
iapetus.ac.uk/studentships...
The cognitive ecology of wild bumblebees
iapetus.ac.uk
October 28, 2025 at 11:22 AM
New #PhD ad alert!
Interested in wild #bee #cognition and #brains in different #bumblebees? Want to live in #Newcastle and the beautiful north-east of England?
Check out this project with me, @lenariab.bsky.social and Sarah Scott. Contact me for further information.
iapetus.ac.uk/studentships...
Interested in wild #bee #cognition and #brains in different #bumblebees? Want to live in #Newcastle and the beautiful north-east of England?
Check out this project with me, @lenariab.bsky.social and Sarah Scott. Contact me for further information.
iapetus.ac.uk/studentships...
Reposted by Lauren Sumner-Rooney
Spiders are precision hunters, not just creepy crawlies. 🕷️ This PNAS Science Sessions episode dives into cutting-edge research on spider webs that hear, silk-powered lifts, and REM sleep-like states in jumping spiders. Tune into this Halloween Special: https://ow.ly/W5NO50XhCZ7
October 25, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Spiders are precision hunters, not just creepy crawlies. 🕷️ This PNAS Science Sessions episode dives into cutting-edge research on spider webs that hear, silk-powered lifts, and REM sleep-like states in jumping spiders. Tune into this Halloween Special: https://ow.ly/W5NO50XhCZ7
Reposted by Lauren Sumner-Rooney
Looking for a PhD that combines global food security, climate change and environmental protection? Then read on...
The amazing #JoleahLamb is joining us in 2026 @bristolbiosci.bsky.social. You can join too with this exciting fully-funded PhD opportunity:
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
The amazing #JoleahLamb is joining us in 2026 @bristolbiosci.bsky.social. You can join too with this exciting fully-funded PhD opportunity:
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Funded PhD - Nutritional value and vulnerability of blue foods at University of Bristol on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - Funded PhD - Nutritional value and vulnerability of blue foods at University of Bristol, listed on FindAPhD.com
www.findaphd.com
October 22, 2025 at 7:42 AM
Looking for a PhD that combines global food security, climate change and environmental protection? Then read on...
The amazing #JoleahLamb is joining us in 2026 @bristolbiosci.bsky.social. You can join too with this exciting fully-funded PhD opportunity:
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
The amazing #JoleahLamb is joining us in 2026 @bristolbiosci.bsky.social. You can join too with this exciting fully-funded PhD opportunity:
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Reposted by Lauren Sumner-Rooney
❓ Want to join us?
📢 Fully funded #PhD for UK-domiciled Black heritage candidates
🐵 Biological market monitoring & manipulation in social animals #mongooses #macaques #fieldwork
👥 With me, #LaurenBrent & #PatrickKennedy
🎓 @bristolbiosci.bsky.social
ℹ️ www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
🙏Share widely
📢 Fully funded #PhD for UK-domiciled Black heritage candidates
🐵 Biological market monitoring & manipulation in social animals #mongooses #macaques #fieldwork
👥 With me, #LaurenBrent & #PatrickKennedy
🎓 @bristolbiosci.bsky.social
ℹ️ www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
🙏Share widely
October 16, 2025 at 7:46 AM
❓ Want to join us?
📢 Fully funded #PhD for UK-domiciled Black heritage candidates
🐵 Biological market monitoring & manipulation in social animals #mongooses #macaques #fieldwork
👥 With me, #LaurenBrent & #PatrickKennedy
🎓 @bristolbiosci.bsky.social
ℹ️ www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
🙏Share widely
📢 Fully funded #PhD for UK-domiciled Black heritage candidates
🐵 Biological market monitoring & manipulation in social animals #mongooses #macaques #fieldwork
👥 With me, #LaurenBrent & #PatrickKennedy
🎓 @bristolbiosci.bsky.social
ℹ️ www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
🙏Share widely
Reposted by Lauren Sumner-Rooney
Sweet-looking postdoc with Chris Cooney (who is awesome) on perceptual bias and animal communication signals. FWIW, Sheffield seems to be a genuinely great place to live.
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPB994/r...
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPB994/r...
Research Associate (Biodiversity & Evolution) at University of Sheffield
Apply now for the Research Associate (Biodiversity & Evolution) role on jobs.ac.uk - the leading job board for higher education jobs. View details.
www.jobs.ac.uk
October 20, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Sweet-looking postdoc with Chris Cooney (who is awesome) on perceptual bias and animal communication signals. FWIW, Sheffield seems to be a genuinely great place to live.
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPB994/r...
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPB994/r...
Reposting for the Monday morning scrollers! Funded PhD opportunity with me @multipleye-lab.bsky.social @bristolbiosci.bsky.social - spiders, their eyes, and their babies under long- and short-term light pollution!
Exciting times ahead - I'm beyond delighted to be joining @bristolbiosci.bsky.social in 2026! 🎉🕷️🎉🐌🎉
I'm also looking for a PhD student to join @multipleye-lab.bsky.social in our new home! Come and study the effects of light pollution on the evolution and development of spider eyes with us 🌃🕷️👀 👇
I'm also looking for a PhD student to join @multipleye-lab.bsky.social in our new home! Come and study the effects of light pollution on the evolution and development of spider eyes with us 🌃🕷️👀 👇
October 20, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Reposting for the Monday morning scrollers! Funded PhD opportunity with me @multipleye-lab.bsky.social @bristolbiosci.bsky.social - spiders, their eyes, and their babies under long- and short-term light pollution!
Reposted by Lauren Sumner-Rooney
The next deadline for ECRs, within 5 years of their first faculty position, to apply for JEB's next round of Kickstart Travel Grants and ECR Visiting Fellowships is 28 November, so don't miss the chance to apply for helpful funding
biologists.com/grants/#jeb
biologists.com/grants/#jeb
October 17, 2025 at 10:03 AM
The next deadline for ECRs, within 5 years of their first faculty position, to apply for JEB's next round of Kickstart Travel Grants and ECR Visiting Fellowships is 28 November, so don't miss the chance to apply for helpful funding
biologists.com/grants/#jeb
biologists.com/grants/#jeb
Exciting times ahead - I'm beyond delighted to be joining @bristolbiosci.bsky.social in 2026! 🎉🕷️🎉🐌🎉
I'm also looking for a PhD student to join @multipleye-lab.bsky.social in our new home! Come and study the effects of light pollution on the evolution and development of spider eyes with us 🌃🕷️👀 👇
I'm also looking for a PhD student to join @multipleye-lab.bsky.social in our new home! Come and study the effects of light pollution on the evolution and development of spider eyes with us 🌃🕷️👀 👇
October 17, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Exciting times ahead - I'm beyond delighted to be joining @bristolbiosci.bsky.social in 2026! 🎉🕷️🎉🐌🎉
I'm also looking for a PhD student to join @multipleye-lab.bsky.social in our new home! Come and study the effects of light pollution on the evolution and development of spider eyes with us 🌃🕷️👀 👇
I'm also looking for a PhD student to join @multipleye-lab.bsky.social in our new home! Come and study the effects of light pollution on the evolution and development of spider eyes with us 🌃🕷️👀 👇
Reposted by Lauren Sumner-Rooney
Why is hiking in a zebra onesie a smart move if you want to avoid being devoured by flies? And why are skunks more stripy in predator-rich forests? Find out this, and more, from @bristolbiosci.bsky.social experts @drmartinjhow.bsky.social & Tim Caro on BBC CrowdScience: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
BBC World Service - CrowdScience, Why are some animals black and white?
Why are zebras so stripy? Why do penguins wear tuxedos?
www.bbc.co.uk
October 16, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Why is hiking in a zebra onesie a smart move if you want to avoid being devoured by flies? And why are skunks more stripy in predator-rich forests? Find out this, and more, from @bristolbiosci.bsky.social experts @drmartinjhow.bsky.social & Tim Caro on BBC CrowdScience: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
Reposted by Lauren Sumner-Rooney
I recently saw an amazing Navajo rug at the National Gallery of Art. It looks abstract at first, but it is a detailed representation of the Intel Pentium processor. Called "Replica of a Chip", it was created in 1994 by Marilou Schultz, a Navajo/Diné weaver and math teacher. 1/n
November 25, 2024 at 4:29 PM
I recently saw an amazing Navajo rug at the National Gallery of Art. It looks abstract at first, but it is a detailed representation of the Intel Pentium processor. Called "Replica of a Chip", it was created in 1994 by Marilou Schultz, a Navajo/Diné weaver and math teacher. 1/n
Reposted by Lauren Sumner-Rooney
Join us! We are hiring a new #curator at the #AMNH in #Vertebrate #Zoology careers.amnh.org/postings/4600 #academicjobs #tenuretrack
Assistant Curator, Vertebrate Zoology
The Division of Vertebrate Zoology at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) seeks an Assistant Curator in either the Department of Ornithology, Ichthyology, or Mammalogy to start on or after J...
careers.amnh.org
September 26, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Join us! We are hiring a new #curator at the #AMNH in #Vertebrate #Zoology careers.amnh.org/postings/4600 #academicjobs #tenuretrack
Reposted by Lauren Sumner-Rooney
🕷️ 🚨 Are you at the #DZG in Berlin next week? @dzg2025berlin.bsky.social my PhD @nadjageiger.bsky.social and I are very excited to tell you the latest about our spider sleep 💤 work! Come check out our talks on Friday and ask all your questions! :) 🚨 🕷️
September 6, 2025 at 9:02 AM
🕷️ 🚨 Are you at the #DZG in Berlin next week? @dzg2025berlin.bsky.social my PhD @nadjageiger.bsky.social and I are very excited to tell you the latest about our spider sleep 💤 work! Come check out our talks on Friday and ask all your questions! :) 🚨 🕷️
Reposted by Lauren Sumner-Rooney
🚨 PhD alert! IMPRS brain & behavior in Bonn just opened their calls for applications. Great PhD funding opportunities. Check it out! PS- I just joined their faculty, meaning you could do a rotation in my lab or even a PhD with me on spider sleep 🙃 Apply! 🚨
📢Apply now! Join our IMPRS for Brain&Behavior to pursue a #PhD in #neuroethology. Learn how brain circuits are linked to interesting animal behaviors!
📅 Deadline: October 31, 2025
🔗 imprs-brain-behavior.mpg.de
#neuroscience #Neuroskyence #neurojobs #sciencejobs #PhDsky #PhDOffers #FundedPhD
📅 Deadline: October 31, 2025
🔗 imprs-brain-behavior.mpg.de
#neuroscience #Neuroskyence #neurojobs #sciencejobs #PhDsky #PhDOffers #FundedPhD
September 6, 2025 at 8:48 AM
🚨 PhD alert! IMPRS brain & behavior in Bonn just opened their calls for applications. Great PhD funding opportunities. Check it out! PS- I just joined their faculty, meaning you could do a rotation in my lab or even a PhD with me on spider sleep 🙃 Apply! 🚨
Reposted by Lauren Sumner-Rooney
We CT scanned thousands of vertebrates from US natural history collections and made them freely available. Countless people have used the data for research (>200 pubs) and to learn anatomy/morphology.
www.morphosource.org/projects/000...
www.morphosource.org/projects/000...
January 29, 2025 at 1:01 AM
We CT scanned thousands of vertebrates from US natural history collections and made them freely available. Countless people have used the data for research (>200 pubs) and to learn anatomy/morphology.
www.morphosource.org/projects/000...
www.morphosource.org/projects/000...
Anyone considering taking the next steps of their research career in Germany should take a look at the @dfg.de Emmy Noether programme - fantastic support and an amazing opportunity to establish an independent group, hire a team, and commit 6 years to developing a research programme!
#Prospects PhDs & postdocs of all disciplines note: Would you like to lead an independent junior research group? In our online talk you will get first-hand information about the aims and requirements of the DFG Emmy Noether Programme and more. Link to the meeting will be published here: fcld.ly/enp
July 9, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Anyone considering taking the next steps of their research career in Germany should take a look at the @dfg.de Emmy Noether programme - fantastic support and an amazing opportunity to establish an independent group, hire a team, and commit 6 years to developing a research programme!
Reposted by Lauren Sumner-Rooney
The lab is proud to have contributed to the first chromosome-level sea spider genome! Many thanks to Niko Papadopoulos, Georg Brenneis, and Andi Wanninger, who spearheaded the work! #pycnogonida
bmcbiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
bmcbiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
The genome of a sea spider corroborates a shared Hox cluster motif in arthropods with a reduced posterior tagma - BMC Biology
Background Chelicerate evolution is contentiously debated, with recent studies challenging traditional phylogenetic hypotheses and scenarios of major evolutionary events, like terrestrialization. Sea ...
bmcbiol.biomedcentral.com
July 1, 2025 at 11:49 PM
The lab is proud to have contributed to the first chromosome-level sea spider genome! Many thanks to Niko Papadopoulos, Georg Brenneis, and Andi Wanninger, who spearheaded the work! #pycnogonida
bmcbiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
bmcbiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
Reposted by Lauren Sumner-Rooney
🚨Anyone want a job?🚨
We have two #postdocs up for grabs! 🧪
- cell developmental biology/#evodevo/#neuroevodevo
- bioinformatics and molecular biology
Both working on brain evolution in Heliconiini butterflies
Details below! Please repost 🙏 1/n
We have two #postdocs up for grabs! 🧪
- cell developmental biology/#evodevo/#neuroevodevo
- bioinformatics and molecular biology
Both working on brain evolution in Heliconiini butterflies
Details below! Please repost 🙏 1/n
June 4, 2025 at 9:51 AM
🚨Anyone want a job?🚨
We have two #postdocs up for grabs! 🧪
- cell developmental biology/#evodevo/#neuroevodevo
- bioinformatics and molecular biology
Both working on brain evolution in Heliconiini butterflies
Details below! Please repost 🙏 1/n
We have two #postdocs up for grabs! 🧪
- cell developmental biology/#evodevo/#neuroevodevo
- bioinformatics and molecular biology
Both working on brain evolution in Heliconiini butterflies
Details below! Please repost 🙏 1/n
Reposted by Lauren Sumner-Rooney
Some personal news, to be filed under “things I did not see coming”…. 1/n
🎉We are delighted to announce that Professor Stephen Montgomery @ebablab.bsky.social will be the 3rd Prince Philip Professor of Ecology and Evolution.
We look forward to welcoming him next year!
We look forward to welcoming him next year!
June 18, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Some personal news, to be filed under “things I did not see coming”…. 1/n
Reposted by Lauren Sumner-Rooney
Just in time for the opening of the sparkly new building: lifeandmind.web.ox.ac.uk
Home
lifeandmind.web.ox.ac.uk
June 13, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Just in time for the opening of the sparkly new building: lifeandmind.web.ox.ac.uk
Early-bird registration closes TODAY! Sign up now to join us at #DZG2025 here in beautiful Berlin - registration includes your conference dinner AND icebreaker reception under the dinosaurs here @mfnberlin.bsky.social 😍🦕
Gentle reminder: #DZG2025 in Berlin!
The extended Early Bird registration is ending soon. Nab the reduced rate NOW and join us in Berlin. 🤩
dzg-meeting.de
The extended Early Bird registration is ending soon. Nab the reduced rate NOW and join us in Berlin. 🤩
dzg-meeting.de
June 11, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Early-bird registration closes TODAY! Sign up now to join us at #DZG2025 here in beautiful Berlin - registration includes your conference dinner AND icebreaker reception under the dinosaurs here @mfnberlin.bsky.social 😍🦕
Reposted by Lauren Sumner-Rooney
We are lucky to have Merly Vogt (Helmholtz Diabetes Center, Munich) and @beetzjerome.bsky.social (Uni Wuerzburg) as speakers for the neurobiology section 🤗
Why join #DZG2025 in Berlin? Reason #5: Discover the outstanding invited speakers across our eight subject groups! This conference showcases the incredible diversity of zoological research.
Early Bird ends June 11th.
web: dzg-meeting.de
#share #like
dzg-meeting.de/en/program/i...
Early Bird ends June 11th.
web: dzg-meeting.de
#share #like
dzg-meeting.de/en/program/i...
Invited Subject Group Talks | DZG Meeting
dzg-meeting.de
June 6, 2025 at 8:51 AM
We are lucky to have Merly Vogt (Helmholtz Diabetes Center, Munich) and @beetzjerome.bsky.social (Uni Wuerzburg) as speakers for the neurobiology section 🤗