Research Profile
Philip Donkersley is a transdisciplinary invertebrate biologist at Lancaster University, whose work spans animal behaviour, ecology, microbiomes and conservation policy. Since completing his PhD on pollinator biology in 2014, Philip has pioneered novel tools and methodologies, secured competitive funding, and forged partnerships across academia, government and industry to address global challenges in pollinator health and ecosystem resilience.

Innovative Tools & Commercialisation

• BeeBox Business: I secured design rights for this 3D-printed bumblebee nestbox, which is meticulously optimised to maintain ideal microclimates and support in-nest behavioural monitoring.

• BeeBox was featured in Methods in Ecology & Evolution and now underpins live-stream research initiatives, citizen-science workshops, and an LU-based start-up with a commercial spin-out planned for 2026.

• Advanced Behavioural Analytics: I developed automated video-capture and machine-vision algorithms that record and analyse bee social interactions and environmental responses, dramatically increasing data throughput and precision.

Research Platforms & Outputs

• LU Research Hives (2024): I established this interdisciplinary facility to unite ecology, computer science, engineering, and biomedical science for comprehensive studies of honeybee health under controlled and field conditions.

• Publication Record: I have authored over 30 peer-reviewed papers, including high-impact studies on cumulative social learning in bumblebees, landscape-driven bee nutrition (Oecologia, 2017), and One-Health models for reversing honeybee decline (Veterinary Sciences, 2020).

Policy, Outreach & Mentorship

• Parliamentary Academic Fellowship (2021): I authored a flagship POSTbrief on sustainable land management that informed a House of Lords Special Inquiry, delivered N8 workshops, and catalysed national policy debate.

• BES Policy Report Lead Author (2024): I co-led the British Ecological Society’s report on Regenerative Agriculture, providing evidence-based recommendations to transform UK farming practices for long-term ecosystem resilience.

• Public Engagement: I live-streamed wild bumblebee nest activity via BeeBox, organised “paint-and-take” nestbox workshops, and collaborated on a touring science–art glass sculpture exhibit to engage diverse audiences in pollinator conservation.

• Mentorship & Collaboration: I supervise PhD, MSc, and undergraduate researchers—three of whom have co-authored papers with me—and secured Santander funding to place former students as interns in SMEs, fostering the next generation of interdisciplinary scientists.

Leadership & Service

• Leadership & Service: I serve on the editorial boards of Ecology & Evolution and Frontiers in Bee Science, sit on Lancaster University’s Equality, Diversity & Inclusivity board, and have secured over £150,000 in funding from ESRC, EPSRC, the British Beekeepers Association, and the Waitrose Research Fund to ensure my research delivers tangible benefits for pollinators, people, and policy.