My research program is focussed on understanding the link between the visual world of animals and how the brain uses sensory information to guide behaviour in different environments. To do this, I take a comparative approach that uses a combination of behavioural experiments and anatomical analyses using X-ray micro computed-tomography using bumblebees and dung beetles as primary model systems.

I currently lead research projects that include investigations into the effect of temperature on the sensing, cognition and behaviour of pollinating insects (with a focus on bumblebees and hoverflies), analyses of eye traits and visual system evolution in insects (with a focus on bumblebees and butterflies) and studies into the cues that insects use to navigate.

Latest articles investigating the effects of temperature on bumblebee behaviour:

Gérard M, Magitteri A, Sisquella C, Gardelin E, Tesse J, Baird E 2025 Elevated temperatures shape cognitive performance and foraging preferences in free-flying bumblebees Roy Soc Open Sci 12: 251306 doi: 10.1098/rsos.251306

Woodrow C, Sepúlveda-Rodríguez G, Rajan S, Mitschke M, Baird E* & Vallejo-Marin M* 2025 Increasing temperatures affect thoracic muscle performance in Arctic bumblebees Nat Commun doi: 1038/s41467-025-65671-6

Gérard M, Gardelin E, Lehmann P, Roberts KT, Sepúlveda-Rodriguez G, Sisquella C, Baird E 2024 Experimental elevated temperature affects bumblebee foraging and flight speed Proc R Soc B doi: 10.1098/rspb.2024.1598

Gérard M, Vanderplanck M, Restrepo CE, Baird E* 2023 Sensory perception and behaviour of pollinators under climate change Nature Climate Change 13:596-98 doi: 10.1038/s41558-023-01720-6

Selected articles on insect navigation:

Araújo P, Belušič G, Ilič M, Foster JJ, Pfeiffer K, Baird E 2024 Polarized light detection in bumblebees varies with light intensity and is mediated by both the ocelli and compound eyes Biol Lett doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2024.0299

Yilmaz A, Gagnon Y, Byrne M, Baird E*, Dacke M* 2022 Cold-induced anesthesia impairs path integration memory in dung beetles Current Biology doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.10.067

Selected articles showing the micro-CT based method we have developed for visualising the visual world of insects and its use in understanding insect communities:

Bartholemée O, Tichit P, Åström J, Smith G, Åström A, Sydenham MAK, Baird E 2025 Light sensitive bumblebee species are associated with forest habitat and forest dominated landscapes Ecology and Evolution accepted October 8 2025 doi: 10.1002/ece3.72351

Bartholemée O, Wen Jie V, Caplat P, Smith G, Baird E 2025 Warm or bright – temperature and light microhabitat use in insect pollinators Ecol Entomol doi: 1111/een.13452

Tichit P, Kendall L, Olsson P, Taylor G, Rau C, Caplat P, Smith G, Baird E 2024 The interplay between visual traits and forest in bumblebee communities across Sweden Ecology and Evolution doi: 10.1002/ece3.70635

Bartholemée O, Dwyer C, Tichit P, Caplat P*, Baird E*, Smith H* 2023 Shining a light on species coexistence: visual traits drive bumblebee communities Proc Roy Soc B doi: 10.1098/rspb.2022.2548

Taylor G, Hall S, Gren J, Baird E 2020 Exploring the visual world of fossilized and modern fungus gnat eyes (Diptera: Keroplatidae) with X-ray microtomography J Roy Soc Int  17 doi:10.1098/rrsif.2019.07502.    

Taylor G, Tichit P, Schmidt M, Bodey A, Rau C, Baird E 2019 Bumblebee visual allometry results in locally improved resolution and globally improved sensitivity eLife 8:e40613

Wilby D, Aarts T, Tichit P, Bodey A, Rau C, Taylor G*, Baird E 2019 Using micro-CT techniques to explore the role of sex and hair in the functional morphology of bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) ocelli Vis Res 158:100-108

Opinion piece on how conservation biology can benefit from sensory ecology 

Dominoni DM, Halfwerk W, Baird E, Buxton R, Fernandez-Jurcic E, Fristrup K, McKenna M, Mennitt D, Perkin E, Seymoure BM, Stoner DC, Tennessen J, Toth CA, Tyrell LP, Wilson A, Francis CD, Carter NH, Barber J 2020 What conservation biology can benefit from sensory ecology Nat Ecol Evol doi: 10.1038/s41559-020-1135-4

There are always opportunities for different types of projects in my lab, from Bachelor and Masters to PhD and postdoctoral levels. If you are interested, please contact me.