Pranav Minasandra
@pminasandra.bsky.social
Nature and structure of animal behaviour | Postdoc and PhD @mpi-animalbehav.bsky.social | MSc and BS @iiscbangalore | English | ಕನ್ನಡ | हिन्दी | اردو | Dalit lives matter.
pminasandra.github.io
pminasandra.github.io
Pinned
🚨 Out this week in @pnas.org 🚨
The flagship paper from my PhD @mpi-animalbehav.bsky.social @livingingroups.bsky.social - We show surprising statistical similarities in animal behaviour across states, individuals, and even species.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
(🧵 1/10)
The flagship paper from my PhD @mpi-animalbehav.bsky.social @livingingroups.bsky.social - We show surprising statistical similarities in animal behaviour across states, individuals, and even species.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
(🧵 1/10)
Reposted by Pranav Minasandra
Our group is looking for two MSc students to conduct a one-year research project on meerkat navigation and vocal activity at the University of Zurich and the Kalahari Research Center. Please share around!
November 17, 2025 at 7:21 AM
Our group is looking for two MSc students to conduct a one-year research project on meerkat navigation and vocal activity at the University of Zurich and the Kalahari Research Center. Please share around!
Reposted by Pranav Minasandra
New paper!
We propose a framework to empirically study animal social relationships by modelling social network (SN) data as time-series—that is, without the need to aggregate them over time.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
We propose a framework to empirically study animal social relationships by modelling social network (SN) data as time-series—that is, without the need to aggregate them over time.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
November 12, 2025 at 11:56 AM
New paper!
We propose a framework to empirically study animal social relationships by modelling social network (SN) data as time-series—that is, without the need to aggregate them over time.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
We propose a framework to empirically study animal social relationships by modelling social network (SN) data as time-series—that is, without the need to aggregate them over time.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Periodic reminder to check out my new webcomic, Remarkable Doodles!
Title: If Isaac Newton has seen further
Permalink: pminasandra.github.io/remarkable/?...
Title: If Isaac Newton has seen further
Permalink: pminasandra.github.io/remarkable/?...
November 12, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Periodic reminder to check out my new webcomic, Remarkable Doodles!
Title: If Isaac Newton has seen further
Permalink: pminasandra.github.io/remarkable/?...
Title: If Isaac Newton has seen further
Permalink: pminasandra.github.io/remarkable/?...
Reposted by Pranav Minasandra
I have some brilliant news to share! I recently received a DFG-funded Emmy Noether 6-year grant to establish my own group in Germany. I will soon be looking for a PhD student and a research assistant to join the team and investigate how the balance of power is maintained in animal societies.
November 5, 2025 at 4:34 PM
I have some brilliant news to share! I recently received a DFG-funded Emmy Noether 6-year grant to establish my own group in Germany. I will soon be looking for a PhD student and a research assistant to join the team and investigate how the balance of power is maintained in animal societies.
Reposted by Pranav Minasandra
🚨STOP SCROLLING, IT’S AN EMERGENCY BROADCAST📣 This message will self-destruct in 10…9…8…7…⏰ …now that I have your attention:
🧪Our new paper on Alerting Components in animal vocalization is out in AnimBehav🎉
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
#AnimalBehaviour #Bioacoustics #Communication
🧪Our new paper on Alerting Components in animal vocalization is out in AnimBehav🎉
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
#AnimalBehaviour #Bioacoustics #Communication
November 3, 2025 at 10:59 AM
🚨STOP SCROLLING, IT’S AN EMERGENCY BROADCAST📣 This message will self-destruct in 10…9…8…7…⏰ …now that I have your attention:
🧪Our new paper on Alerting Components in animal vocalization is out in AnimBehav🎉
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
#AnimalBehaviour #Bioacoustics #Communication
🧪Our new paper on Alerting Components in animal vocalization is out in AnimBehav🎉
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
#AnimalBehaviour #Bioacoustics #Communication
Reposted by Pranav Minasandra
Ever since I made a video about Fourier Transforms, one of the most requested topics on the channel has been its close cousin, the Laplace Transform.
I've been having a lot of fun animating a mini-series about this topic, and the main part is now out.
youtu.be/j0wJBEZdwLs
I've been having a lot of fun animating a mini-series about this topic, and the main part is now out.
youtu.be/j0wJBEZdwLs
But what is a Laplace Transform?
YouTube video by 3Blue1Brown
youtu.be
October 12, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Ever since I made a video about Fourier Transforms, one of the most requested topics on the channel has been its close cousin, the Laplace Transform.
I've been having a lot of fun animating a mini-series about this topic, and the main part is now out.
youtu.be/j0wJBEZdwLs
I've been having a lot of fun animating a mini-series about this topic, and the main part is now out.
youtu.be/j0wJBEZdwLs
I have a new webcomic! pminasandra.github.io/remarkable/?...
Although I use Bluesky mainly for science, I think some of you might enjoy some of these more nerdy comics. Some examples uploaded below. Check out the link for more!
Although I use Bluesky mainly for science, I think some of you might enjoy some of these more nerdy comics. Some examples uploaded below. Check out the link for more!
October 11, 2025 at 9:47 AM
I have a new webcomic! pminasandra.github.io/remarkable/?...
Although I use Bluesky mainly for science, I think some of you might enjoy some of these more nerdy comics. Some examples uploaded below. Check out the link for more!
Although I use Bluesky mainly for science, I think some of you might enjoy some of these more nerdy comics. Some examples uploaded below. Check out the link for more!
Reposted by Pranav Minasandra
🦅PhD position 🦅 in my new group at @fbm-unil.bsky.social in Switzerland, studying how the social and resource landscapes shape the learning process for soaring flight. Deadline: Oct 30. Pls repost! career5.successfactors.eu/career?caree...
October 6, 2025 at 5:56 AM
🦅PhD position 🦅 in my new group at @fbm-unil.bsky.social in Switzerland, studying how the social and resource landscapes shape the learning process for soaring flight. Deadline: Oct 30. Pls repost! career5.successfactors.eu/career?caree...
Reposted by Pranav Minasandra
I’m sorry. My Bluesky profile is meant to be mostly about science. But I have to speak up: my country is not okay. We are being ignored, both internationally and by our own authorities. The violence is real, and the world must see this. #Madagascar #GenZ
October 3, 2025 at 8:18 AM
I’m sorry. My Bluesky profile is meant to be mostly about science. But I have to speak up: my country is not okay. We are being ignored, both internationally and by our own authorities. The violence is real, and the world must see this. #Madagascar #GenZ
Reposted by Pranav Minasandra
⭐PhD position available!⭐
Come join us @imprs-qbee.bsky.social to study communication and collective behavior in animal groups! We're looking for someone excited to use computational approaches to tackle biological questions, using our full-group tracking datasets
imprs-qbee.mpg.de/121465/analy...
Come join us @imprs-qbee.bsky.social to study communication and collective behavior in animal groups! We're looking for someone excited to use computational approaches to tackle biological questions, using our full-group tracking datasets
imprs-qbee.mpg.de/121465/analy...
Analysis of communication and collective behavior in animal groups
imprs-qbee.mpg.de
October 3, 2025 at 7:40 AM
⭐PhD position available!⭐
Come join us @imprs-qbee.bsky.social to study communication and collective behavior in animal groups! We're looking for someone excited to use computational approaches to tackle biological questions, using our full-group tracking datasets
imprs-qbee.mpg.de/121465/analy...
Come join us @imprs-qbee.bsky.social to study communication and collective behavior in animal groups! We're looking for someone excited to use computational approaches to tackle biological questions, using our full-group tracking datasets
imprs-qbee.mpg.de/121465/analy...
🧠 What does collective movement look like in cognitively advanced animals?
I have a new pre-print out for a super short solo-author paper I just submitted! I explore how the ability to forecast others' behaviours affects your own decision-making. Check it out: doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.14.670290
I have a new pre-print out for a super short solo-author paper I just submitted! I explore how the ability to forecast others' behaviours affects your own decision-making. Check it out: doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.14.670290
August 19, 2025 at 2:12 PM
🧠 What does collective movement look like in cognitively advanced animals?
I have a new pre-print out for a super short solo-author paper I just submitted! I explore how the ability to forecast others' behaviours affects your own decision-making. Check it out: doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.14.670290
I have a new pre-print out for a super short solo-author paper I just submitted! I explore how the ability to forecast others' behaviours affects your own decision-making. Check it out: doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.14.670290
This article neatly summarises my Google Scholar fears. If there was a workable scientific-society-run or community-driven alternative, I would switch SO FAST
Since search is dead, how soon do you think Google Scholar is headed for the Google Graveyard? I'm betting it's soon, and academia is NOT prepared
Google Scholar Is Doomed
Academia built entire careers on a free Google service with zero guarantees. What could go wrong?
hannahshelley.neocities.org
August 13, 2025 at 3:31 PM
This article neatly summarises my Google Scholar fears. If there was a workable scientific-society-run or community-driven alternative, I would switch SO FAST
Unser Studie zu Verhaltenssequenzen wurde auf YT Channel MitWissen vorgestellt: youtu.be/5fT-lwwfmZE
MitWissen (auf Deutsch) wird von meiner Kollegin @cinig.bsky.social betrieben.
Schaut euch das Video an und abonniert gerne ihren Channel!
MitWissen (auf Deutsch) wird von meiner Kollegin @cinig.bsky.social betrieben.
Schaut euch das Video an und abonniert gerne ihren Channel!
Welche Gemeinsamkeit haben Hyänen, Erdmännchen und Nasenbären?
YouTube video by MitWissen
youtu.be
July 30, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Unser Studie zu Verhaltenssequenzen wurde auf YT Channel MitWissen vorgestellt: youtu.be/5fT-lwwfmZE
MitWissen (auf Deutsch) wird von meiner Kollegin @cinig.bsky.social betrieben.
Schaut euch das Video an und abonniert gerne ihren Channel!
MitWissen (auf Deutsch) wird von meiner Kollegin @cinig.bsky.social betrieben.
Schaut euch das Video an und abonniert gerne ihren Channel!
Reposted by Pranav Minasandra
Another good reason to read this paper by @pminasandra.bsky.social👇
It just won the "Best Paper Award" from @uni-konstanz.de Bio Dept 👏 Congrats to Pranav + team @livingingroups.bsky.social @meg-crofoot.bsky.social @arispeshkin.bsky.social @animal-sounds.bsky.social
▶️ www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
It just won the "Best Paper Award" from @uni-konstanz.de Bio Dept 👏 Congrats to Pranav + team @livingingroups.bsky.social @meg-crofoot.bsky.social @arispeshkin.bsky.social @animal-sounds.bsky.social
▶️ www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
July 21, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Another good reason to read this paper by @pminasandra.bsky.social👇
It just won the "Best Paper Award" from @uni-konstanz.de Bio Dept 👏 Congrats to Pranav + team @livingingroups.bsky.social @meg-crofoot.bsky.social @arispeshkin.bsky.social @animal-sounds.bsky.social
▶️ www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
It just won the "Best Paper Award" from @uni-konstanz.de Bio Dept 👏 Congrats to Pranav + team @livingingroups.bsky.social @meg-crofoot.bsky.social @arispeshkin.bsky.social @animal-sounds.bsky.social
▶️ www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by Pranav Minasandra
Hey friends in bioacoustics & acoustic communication:
I am (finally) sharing this post on the new version of @vocalpy.bsky.social I released after teaching a bootcamp with @tessarhinehart.bsky.social at the @nmac2024.bsky.social last year
blog.vocalpy.org/posts/2025-0...
#prattle 💬
#bioacoustics
I am (finally) sharing this post on the new version of @vocalpy.bsky.social I released after teaching a bootcamp with @tessarhinehart.bsky.social at the @nmac2024.bsky.social last year
blog.vocalpy.org/posts/2025-0...
#prattle 💬
#bioacoustics
VocalPy 0.10.0 released! – VocalPy blog
What’s new in VocalPy version 0.10.0
blog.vocalpy.org
July 18, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Hey friends in bioacoustics & acoustic communication:
I am (finally) sharing this post on the new version of @vocalpy.bsky.social I released after teaching a bootcamp with @tessarhinehart.bsky.social at the @nmac2024.bsky.social last year
blog.vocalpy.org/posts/2025-0...
#prattle 💬
#bioacoustics
I am (finally) sharing this post on the new version of @vocalpy.bsky.social I released after teaching a bootcamp with @tessarhinehart.bsky.social at the @nmac2024.bsky.social last year
blog.vocalpy.org/posts/2025-0...
#prattle 💬
#bioacoustics
Reposted by Pranav Minasandra
🚨 New paper alert! 🚨
Excited to share our new review in @royalsocietypublishing.org Proceedings B! 🎉
We synthesize research on social factors influencing animal migration and offer guidelines for future research. Check it out here: doi.org/10.1098/rspb...
#OpenAccess #Migration #MovementEcology
Excited to share our new review in @royalsocietypublishing.org Proceedings B! 🎉
We synthesize research on social factors influencing animal migration and offer guidelines for future research. Check it out here: doi.org/10.1098/rspb...
#OpenAccess #Migration #MovementEcology
The study of social animal migrations: a synthesis of the past and guidelines for future research | Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Seasonal migration is a common behaviour seen in many species worldwide. There is
evidence that social factors influence various migration decisions, but compared to
the well-studied field of social f...
doi.org
June 18, 2025 at 5:23 AM
🚨 New paper alert! 🚨
Excited to share our new review in @royalsocietypublishing.org Proceedings B! 🎉
We synthesize research on social factors influencing animal migration and offer guidelines for future research. Check it out here: doi.org/10.1098/rspb...
#OpenAccess #Migration #MovementEcology
Excited to share our new review in @royalsocietypublishing.org Proceedings B! 🎉
We synthesize research on social factors influencing animal migration and offer guidelines for future research. Check it out here: doi.org/10.1098/rspb...
#OpenAccess #Migration #MovementEcology
Reposted by Pranav Minasandra
Humans have many unusual traditions. But did you know animals’ strange behaviors can become culture too? Out now in Current Biology (doi.org/10.1016/j.cu...) we show the rise and spread of a surprising tradition: interspecies infant abduction. Interactive timeline (www.ab.mpg.de/671374) 🧵 (1/12)
May 19, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Humans have many unusual traditions. But did you know animals’ strange behaviors can become culture too? Out now in Current Biology (doi.org/10.1016/j.cu...) we show the rise and spread of a surprising tradition: interspecies infant abduction. Interactive timeline (www.ab.mpg.de/671374) 🧵 (1/12)
Reposted by Pranav Minasandra
Hot off the press 📣: one of the most surprising and unsettling findings of my PhD. A novel social tradition emerged in the tool-using white-faced capuchins of Jicarón island… abducting and carrying the infants of another species. Thread with gifs, videos, and all the bizarre details 👇
Humans have many unusual traditions. But did you know animals’ strange behaviors can become culture too? Out now in Current Biology (doi.org/10.1016/j.cu...) we show the rise and spread of a surprising tradition: interspecies infant abduction. Interactive timeline (www.ab.mpg.de/671374) 🧵 (1/12)
May 19, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Hot off the press 📣: one of the most surprising and unsettling findings of my PhD. A novel social tradition emerged in the tool-using white-faced capuchins of Jicarón island… abducting and carrying the infants of another species. Thread with gifs, videos, and all the bizarre details 👇
Reposted by Pranav Minasandra
Cross-species teamwork from @livingingroups.bsky.social reveals unexpected similarities in three social mammals 🤔
By lead author @pminasandra.bsky.social with Emily Grout, Katrina Brock, Meg Crofoot, Vlad Demartsev, Amlan Nayak, Eli
Strauss, Ari Strandburg-Peshkin🧵1/2
www.ab.mpg.de/679000/news_...
By lead author @pminasandra.bsky.social with Emily Grout, Katrina Brock, Meg Crofoot, Vlad Demartsev, Amlan Nayak, Eli
Strauss, Ari Strandburg-Peshkin🧵1/2
www.ab.mpg.de/679000/news_...
Very different mammals follow the same rules of behavior
Research hints at an underlying architecture that orders the movements of animals
www.ab.mpg.de
May 19, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Cross-species teamwork from @livingingroups.bsky.social reveals unexpected similarities in three social mammals 🤔
By lead author @pminasandra.bsky.social with Emily Grout, Katrina Brock, Meg Crofoot, Vlad Demartsev, Amlan Nayak, Eli
Strauss, Ari Strandburg-Peshkin🧵1/2
www.ab.mpg.de/679000/news_...
By lead author @pminasandra.bsky.social with Emily Grout, Katrina Brock, Meg Crofoot, Vlad Demartsev, Amlan Nayak, Eli
Strauss, Ari Strandburg-Peshkin🧵1/2
www.ab.mpg.de/679000/news_...
🚨 Out this week in @pnas.org 🚨
The flagship paper from my PhD @mpi-animalbehav.bsky.social @livingingroups.bsky.social - We show surprising statistical similarities in animal behaviour across states, individuals, and even species.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
(🧵 1/10)
The flagship paper from my PhD @mpi-animalbehav.bsky.social @livingingroups.bsky.social - We show surprising statistical similarities in animal behaviour across states, individuals, and even species.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
(🧵 1/10)
May 16, 2025 at 11:40 AM
🚨 Out this week in @pnas.org 🚨
The flagship paper from my PhD @mpi-animalbehav.bsky.social @livingingroups.bsky.social - We show surprising statistical similarities in animal behaviour across states, individuals, and even species.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
(🧵 1/10)
The flagship paper from my PhD @mpi-animalbehav.bsky.social @livingingroups.bsky.social - We show surprising statistical similarities in animal behaviour across states, individuals, and even species.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
(🧵 1/10)
Reposted by Pranav Minasandra
🐋 Moms float different 🐋
In our new @jexpbiol.bsky.social paper, we explore buoyancy control in humpback whales. Mothers seem to actively manage it; calves don't.
#MarMam
journals.biologists.com/jeb/article-...
In our new @jexpbiol.bsky.social paper, we explore buoyancy control in humpback whales. Mothers seem to actively manage it; calves don't.
#MarMam
journals.biologists.com/jeb/article-...
Behavioral data suggest adaptive buoyancy control during shallow dives in humpback whales
Highlighted Article: Behavioral data from multi-sensor tags on humpback whale mothers and calves suggest that adults actively adjust their buoyancy during shallow dives. One potential mechanism underl...
journals.biologists.com
April 25, 2025 at 8:13 PM
🐋 Moms float different 🐋
In our new @jexpbiol.bsky.social paper, we explore buoyancy control in humpback whales. Mothers seem to actively manage it; calves don't.
#MarMam
journals.biologists.com/jeb/article-...
In our new @jexpbiol.bsky.social paper, we explore buoyancy control in humpback whales. Mothers seem to actively manage it; calves don't.
#MarMam
journals.biologists.com/jeb/article-...
This story is my pet peeve of the week. Strongly recommend Beth Shapiro's "How to clone a mammoth" for a convincing set of arguments for why it's impossible to clone mammoths or resurrect other extinct species, at least as conventionally understood.
👇🏽 this!
NO, they did not "resurrect" the dire wolf (Aenocyon dirus).
They have only edited 14 genes of the gray wolf to resemble it. Apparently, all the changes are focused on its appearance (color, size and shape of the ears)
It is pure propaganda.
(blog) www.newscientist.com/article/2475...
They have only edited 14 genes of the gray wolf to resemble it. Apparently, all the changes are focused on its appearance (color, size and shape of the ears)
It is pure propaganda.
(blog) www.newscientist.com/article/2475...
April 8, 2025 at 8:28 AM
This story is my pet peeve of the week. Strongly recommend Beth Shapiro's "How to clone a mammoth" for a convincing set of arguments for why it's impossible to clone mammoths or resurrect other extinct species, at least as conventionally understood.
Reposted by Pranav Minasandra
🚨 Shrew paper alert! 🚨
Our latest study found that brain size changes stayed on track, but behavior? 🤔 Not so much❗
Captivity makes shrews hyperactive and less motivated to learn, hinting at chronic stress.
🐾 Curious? Full paper here: doi.org/10.1098/rsos...
#Shrews
@mpi-animalbehav.bsky.social
Our latest study found that brain size changes stayed on track, but behavior? 🤔 Not so much❗
Captivity makes shrews hyperactive and less motivated to learn, hinting at chronic stress.
🐾 Curious? Full paper here: doi.org/10.1098/rsos...
#Shrews
@mpi-animalbehav.bsky.social
March 6, 2025 at 10:08 AM
🚨 Shrew paper alert! 🚨
Our latest study found that brain size changes stayed on track, but behavior? 🤔 Not so much❗
Captivity makes shrews hyperactive and less motivated to learn, hinting at chronic stress.
🐾 Curious? Full paper here: doi.org/10.1098/rsos...
#Shrews
@mpi-animalbehav.bsky.social
Our latest study found that brain size changes stayed on track, but behavior? 🤔 Not so much❗
Captivity makes shrews hyperactive and less motivated to learn, hinting at chronic stress.
🐾 Curious? Full paper here: doi.org/10.1098/rsos...
#Shrews
@mpi-animalbehav.bsky.social
Reposted by Pranav Minasandra
I didn’t think word could suck more. Migrate to LaTeX. It takes a few days to learn. It can integrate with Zotero via its native BibTeX. You won’t be giving money to Silicon Valley oligarchs. It creates great looking documents, and they have a bird in their logo.
February 26, 2025 at 2:31 AM
I didn’t think word could suck more. Migrate to LaTeX. It takes a few days to learn. It can integrate with Zotero via its native BibTeX. You won’t be giving money to Silicon Valley oligarchs. It creates great looking documents, and they have a bird in their logo.
Reposted by Pranav Minasandra
High living costs paired with stagnant stipends are being blamed for a drop in PhD enrolments in several countries
https://go.nature.com/4hYeLyJ
https://go.nature.com/4hYeLyJ
Are PhDs losing their lustre? Why fewer students are enrolling in doctoral degrees
High living costs paired with stagnant stipends are being blamed for a drop in PhD enrolments in several countries.
go.nature.com
February 15, 2025 at 11:58 AM
High living costs paired with stagnant stipends are being blamed for a drop in PhD enrolments in several countries
https://go.nature.com/4hYeLyJ
https://go.nature.com/4hYeLyJ