We are recruiting two PhD students for Fall 2027. One position focuses on field and experimental research on termite collective nest building; the other focuses on comparative data analysis and termite social evolution. View both positions.
Termite x Behavior x Evolution
Mizumoto Lab is interested in the evolution of termite collective behavior. What are the rules for behavioral coordination? How did they originate in the history of life? We answer these questions by integrating field work, behavioral observations, computational tracking, and phylogenetic comparative analysis. See our Publications and Research for details.
Termites
We intentionally restricted our research (mainly) to termites for inspiration. Do you have a research question? We can answer it with termites!
Computational behavioral analysis
Videos of insect behaviors have much information. We especially try to understand how termites coordinate their actions for collective behavior.
Phylogeny and Evolution
There are > 3,000 species of termites in the world, showing a great diversity of collective behavior. Comparison among them allows us to infer the history of evolution. We also love cool fossils.
Found termites in Alabama?
We identify submitted termite samples and use verified records to improve the Alabama Termite Map.
Latest news
Our new paper documents four decades of Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus) expansion in Alabama.
The Mizumoto Lab participated in the 20th International Congress of the IUSSI in Freiburg, Germany, with two termite research talks and an organized symposium.
The Mizumoto Lab received an NSF award to study the mechanisms and evolution of collective nest construction in termites.