Berkay Arslan
@asimpleprimate.bsky.social
Visiting Scholar at the Global Research Centre for Diverse Intelligences, MSc in Comparative Psychology 🐒 @uniofstandrews.bsky.social |Wiser: berkayarslan
Pinned
Berkay Arslan
@asimpleprimate.bsky.social
· Feb 18
I'm so excited to share that I have been awarded my first grant from @ufaw.bsky.social to study behavioural welfare of red-ruffed lemurs! 🥳🐒 I will be joining @ilyena.bsky.social and Animal-Computer Interaction Group at Glasgow Interactive Systems @uofglasgow.bsky.social as a Research Assistant!
Reposted by Berkay Arslan
Come join the Moral Minds Lab as a grad student at MSU! Brand-new lab equipped for child & adult testing, with motivated undergrads in a happy department. 🤩
Learn more: www.moralmindslab.com/join-our-tea...
(P.S. @tedmond.bsky.social is also taking a student!) @msupsychology.bsky.social
Learn more: www.moralmindslab.com/join-our-tea...
(P.S. @tedmond.bsky.social is also taking a student!) @msupsychology.bsky.social
September 25, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Come join the Moral Minds Lab as a grad student at MSU! Brand-new lab equipped for child & adult testing, with motivated undergrads in a happy department. 🤩
Learn more: www.moralmindslab.com/join-our-tea...
(P.S. @tedmond.bsky.social is also taking a student!) @msupsychology.bsky.social
Learn more: www.moralmindslab.com/join-our-tea...
(P.S. @tedmond.bsky.social is also taking a student!) @msupsychology.bsky.social
Reposted by Berkay Arslan
MSc by Res opportunity - developing behavioural indicators to inform killer whale conservation with
@exeter.ac.uk @whaleresearch.bsky.social @seadocsociety.bsky.social
People from underrepresented groups in marine science encouraged to apply.
Deadline 19Dec
www.exeter.ac.uk/study/fundin...
@exeter.ac.uk @whaleresearch.bsky.social @seadocsociety.bsky.social
People from underrepresented groups in marine science encouraged to apply.
Deadline 19Dec
www.exeter.ac.uk/study/fundin...
October 22, 2025 at 10:44 AM
MSc by Res opportunity - developing behavioural indicators to inform killer whale conservation with
@exeter.ac.uk @whaleresearch.bsky.social @seadocsociety.bsky.social
People from underrepresented groups in marine science encouraged to apply.
Deadline 19Dec
www.exeter.ac.uk/study/fundin...
@exeter.ac.uk @whaleresearch.bsky.social @seadocsociety.bsky.social
People from underrepresented groups in marine science encouraged to apply.
Deadline 19Dec
www.exeter.ac.uk/study/fundin...
Reposted by Berkay Arslan
New paper out on the important role of social learning in breastfeeding! academic.oup.com/emph/article...
Social learning is critical to breastfeeding success: evidence from rural Namibian pastoralists
AbstractBackground and objectives. Lactation is one of the defining features of mammals, yet many humans struggle with breastfeeding. One reason for this i
academic.oup.com
October 21, 2025 at 5:21 PM
New paper out on the important role of social learning in breastfeeding! academic.oup.com/emph/article...
Reposted by Berkay Arslan
We’re looking for a motivated & curious researcher to join our team as a PhD candidate! You’ll work with Prof. Bridget Waller, Dr. Annika Bremhorst, & me at the Dog Cognition Centre, UoP.
Are you fascinated by the dog–human bond & dog-human communication? 🐶
Interested? Get in touch with me.
Are you fascinated by the dog–human bond & dog-human communication? 🐶
Interested? Get in touch with me.
Shaped by domestication: Did the evolution of facial muscle anatomy and ear morphology in dogs reflect adaptations to humans’ unconscious preferences?
eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com
October 21, 2025 at 6:16 PM
We’re looking for a motivated & curious researcher to join our team as a PhD candidate! You’ll work with Prof. Bridget Waller, Dr. Annika Bremhorst, & me at the Dog Cognition Centre, UoP.
Are you fascinated by the dog–human bond & dog-human communication? 🐶
Interested? Get in touch with me.
Are you fascinated by the dog–human bond & dog-human communication? 🐶
Interested? Get in touch with me.
Reposted by Berkay Arslan
Fully-funded 4-year #PhD in Cultural Evolution! Join my @erc.europa.eu project exploring how compression & compositionality drive cultural innovation: hmc-lab.com/ERCPhDCultur...
Apply by Nov 12!
Maybe of interest to folks from #COSMOS2025 or @eslr.bsky.social? Please feel free to share! 🙏
Apply by Nov 12!
Maybe of interest to folks from #COSMOS2025 or @eslr.bsky.social? Please feel free to share! 🙏
ERC funded PhD position on Cultural Evolution
ERC funded PhD position on Cultural Evolution
posted on October 16, 2025
We are currently seeking a highly motivated individual for a ful...
hmc-lab.com
October 20, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Fully-funded 4-year #PhD in Cultural Evolution! Join my @erc.europa.eu project exploring how compression & compositionality drive cultural innovation: hmc-lab.com/ERCPhDCultur...
Apply by Nov 12!
Maybe of interest to folks from #COSMOS2025 or @eslr.bsky.social? Please feel free to share! 🙏
Apply by Nov 12!
Maybe of interest to folks from #COSMOS2025 or @eslr.bsky.social? Please feel free to share! 🙏
Reposted by Berkay Arslan
Social relationships are powerful predictors of fitness across social animals. But *why*?
In our new @cp-trendsecolevo.bsky.social paper, we outline testable predictions for why relationship quality and quantity adaptively vary across socio-ecological contexts.
tinyurl.com/55dnkeh7
In our new @cp-trendsecolevo.bsky.social paper, we outline testable predictions for why relationship quality and quantity adaptively vary across socio-ecological contexts.
tinyurl.com/55dnkeh7
October 16, 2025 at 7:07 AM
Social relationships are powerful predictors of fitness across social animals. But *why*?
In our new @cp-trendsecolevo.bsky.social paper, we outline testable predictions for why relationship quality and quantity adaptively vary across socio-ecological contexts.
tinyurl.com/55dnkeh7
In our new @cp-trendsecolevo.bsky.social paper, we outline testable predictions for why relationship quality and quantity adaptively vary across socio-ecological contexts.
tinyurl.com/55dnkeh7
Reposted by Berkay Arslan
So excited that our first major empirical @themanybirds.bsky.social paper is now out in @plosbiology.org!
Leading this big team science project, with our excellent core leadership team, is a labour of love for me, delighted to see our hard work over the past 4 years has reached this milestone!
Leading this big team science project, with our excellent core leadership team, is a labour of love for me, delighted to see our hard work over the past 4 years has reached this milestone!
🐦 Exciting news! Our new paper is out in PLOS Biology:
“A large-scale study across the avian clade identifies ecological drivers of neophobia.”
Led by the #ManyBirds Project - 129 researchers, 82 institutions, 24 countries 🌍
🔗 journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
@themanybirds.bsky.social
“A large-scale study across the avian clade identifies ecological drivers of neophobia.”
Led by the #ManyBirds Project - 129 researchers, 82 institutions, 24 countries 🌍
🔗 journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
@themanybirds.bsky.social
A large-scale study across the avian clade identifies ecological drivers of neophobia
Neophobia (the aversive response to novelty) varies considerably across species and individuals, and can impact adaptability and survival. This study assesses neophobia in 1400 subjects from 136 bird ...
journals.plos.org
October 14, 2025 at 7:40 PM
So excited that our first major empirical @themanybirds.bsky.social paper is now out in @plosbiology.org!
Leading this big team science project, with our excellent core leadership team, is a labour of love for me, delighted to see our hard work over the past 4 years has reached this milestone!
Leading this big team science project, with our excellent core leadership team, is a labour of love for me, delighted to see our hard work over the past 4 years has reached this milestone!
Reposted by Berkay Arslan
Fear of novelty varies across species & individuals, impacting adaptability & survival. @themanybirds.bsky.social @drrmiller.bsky.social &co assess #neophobia in 1400 subjects from 136 #bird species, identifying phylogenetic influences & broad ecological drivers @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/4haLEsN
October 15, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Fear of novelty varies across species & individuals, impacting adaptability & survival. @themanybirds.bsky.social @drrmiller.bsky.social &co assess #neophobia in 1400 subjects from 136 #bird species, identifying phylogenetic influences & broad ecological drivers @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/4haLEsN
Reposted by Berkay Arslan
**PhD POSITIONS** I am recruiting 1-2 PhD students to work on sociality and cognition in Monk Parakeets, starting Fall 2026. Full ad is here: hobsonresearch.com/index.php/20... (please help spread the word!)
September 23, 2025 at 6:58 PM
**PhD POSITIONS** I am recruiting 1-2 PhD students to work on sociality and cognition in Monk Parakeets, starting Fall 2026. Full ad is here: hobsonresearch.com/index.php/20... (please help spread the word!)
Reposted by Berkay Arslan
Please share!🙏
🚨 PhD Oportunity in Avian Behavioural Ecology in Spain
The BirdBond Project (MNCN & IREC) studies how pair bonds form, change & affect reproduction/survival in the spotless starling 🐦
🚨 PhD Oportunity in Avian Behavioural Ecology in Spain
The BirdBond Project (MNCN & IREC) studies how pair bonds form, change & affect reproduction/survival in the spotless starling 🐦
September 19, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Please share!🙏
🚨 PhD Oportunity in Avian Behavioural Ecology in Spain
The BirdBond Project (MNCN & IREC) studies how pair bonds form, change & affect reproduction/survival in the spotless starling 🐦
🚨 PhD Oportunity in Avian Behavioural Ecology in Spain
The BirdBond Project (MNCN & IREC) studies how pair bonds form, change & affect reproduction/survival in the spotless starling 🐦
Reposted by Berkay Arslan
Reposted by Berkay Arslan
Looking forward to discussing open methods in comparative cognition, including the challenge of 'species fair' task design as part of the ManyManys webinar series 🤩
🐒🦜🐜🐕👶🦎🐐🐟
📅 September 12, 11:00 a.m. (ET) on Zoom
🔗Registration: airtable.com/app0bcw8jYPv...
#openscience #bigteamscience
🐒🦜🐜🐕👶🦎🐐🐟
📅 September 12, 11:00 a.m. (ET) on Zoom
🔗Registration: airtable.com/app0bcw8jYPv...
#openscience #bigteamscience
September 4, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Looking forward to discussing open methods in comparative cognition, including the challenge of 'species fair' task design as part of the ManyManys webinar series 🤩
🐒🦜🐜🐕👶🦎🐐🐟
📅 September 12, 11:00 a.m. (ET) on Zoom
🔗Registration: airtable.com/app0bcw8jYPv...
#openscience #bigteamscience
🐒🦜🐜🐕👶🦎🐐🐟
📅 September 12, 11:00 a.m. (ET) on Zoom
🔗Registration: airtable.com/app0bcw8jYPv...
#openscience #bigteamscience
Reposted by Berkay Arslan
🐒🕸️ New preprint! Confused about how to model animal social networks?
ASNA can be confusing—but also full of opportunity. We break down 5 common misunderstandings in animal social network analysis and share solutions from behavioural ecology, anthro, stats, & network science. Hope it helps!
A 🧵
ASNA can be confusing—but also full of opportunity. We break down 5 common misunderstandings in animal social network analysis and share solutions from behavioural ecology, anthro, stats, & network science. Hope it helps!
A 🧵
Five misunderstandings in animal social network analysis
ecoevorxiv.org
August 4, 2025 at 4:21 PM
🐒🕸️ New preprint! Confused about how to model animal social networks?
ASNA can be confusing—but also full of opportunity. We break down 5 common misunderstandings in animal social network analysis and share solutions from behavioural ecology, anthro, stats, & network science. Hope it helps!
A 🧵
ASNA can be confusing—but also full of opportunity. We break down 5 common misunderstandings in animal social network analysis and share solutions from behavioural ecology, anthro, stats, & network science. Hope it helps!
A 🧵
Reposted by Berkay Arslan
🎊 New paper out! In this @cp-trendscognsci.bsky.social Forum, we (with @lucasmolleman.bsky.social and @bjornlindstrom.bsky.social) summarize how reward learning can lead to adaptive social learning. We also explore the broader consequences for cultural evolution:
www.cell.com/trends/cogni... 🚄
www.cell.com/trends/cogni... 🚄
July 28, 2025 at 8:24 AM
🎊 New paper out! In this @cp-trendscognsci.bsky.social Forum, we (with @lucasmolleman.bsky.social and @bjornlindstrom.bsky.social) summarize how reward learning can lead to adaptive social learning. We also explore the broader consequences for cultural evolution:
www.cell.com/trends/cogni... 🚄
www.cell.com/trends/cogni... 🚄
Reposted by Berkay Arslan
Congrats Elisa and Sofia on the first (of many) papers that derived from their @einsteinberlin.bsky.social price-winning project (paper available here: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...)
July 19, 2025 at 5:49 AM
Congrats Elisa and Sofia on the first (of many) papers that derived from their @einsteinberlin.bsky.social price-winning project (paper available here: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...)
Reposted by Berkay Arslan
Social anxiety in macaques
Tibetan macaques show self-directed behaviors before facing difficult social situations. For example, when females plan to approach higher-ranking females, or when low-ranking males are plan to approach receptive females.
(paper) onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Tibetan macaques show self-directed behaviors before facing difficult social situations. For example, when females plan to approach higher-ranking females, or when low-ranking males are plan to approach receptive females.
(paper) onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
June 29, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Social anxiety in macaques
Tibetan macaques show self-directed behaviors before facing difficult social situations. For example, when females plan to approach higher-ranking females, or when low-ranking males are plan to approach receptive females.
(paper) onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Tibetan macaques show self-directed behaviors before facing difficult social situations. For example, when females plan to approach higher-ranking females, or when low-ranking males are plan to approach receptive females.
(paper) onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Reposted by Berkay Arslan
🎊Fully funded PhD position on cooperative sustainability🌳
Are you curious about
🧒 developmental,
🌍 cross-cultural
🦧 species comparative
research on cooperative sustainability?
All info here or dm me with questions!
career2.successfactors.eu/sfcareer/job...
Please share! 🙏
Are you curious about
🧒 developmental,
🌍 cross-cultural
🦧 species comparative
research on cooperative sustainability?
All info here or dm me with questions!
career2.successfactors.eu/sfcareer/job...
Please share! 🙏
Career Opportunities: PhD position Cooperative Sustainability (14208)
career2.successfactors.eu
June 5, 2025 at 9:27 AM
🎊Fully funded PhD position on cooperative sustainability🌳
Are you curious about
🧒 developmental,
🌍 cross-cultural
🦧 species comparative
research on cooperative sustainability?
All info here or dm me with questions!
career2.successfactors.eu/sfcareer/job...
Please share! 🙏
Are you curious about
🧒 developmental,
🌍 cross-cultural
🦧 species comparative
research on cooperative sustainability?
All info here or dm me with questions!
career2.successfactors.eu/sfcareer/job...
Please share! 🙏
Reposted by Berkay Arslan
Why do we see sex-biases in tool use in some primate groups but not in others? Read my 2nd PhD chapter, #openaccess in American Journal of Primatology
(doi.org/10.1002/ajp....) for an exploration of this question in an unique island system where white-faced capuchins use stone tools. A 🧵 (1/8)
(doi.org/10.1002/ajp....) for an exploration of this question in an unique island system where white-faced capuchins use stone tools. A 🧵 (1/8)
January 30, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Why do we see sex-biases in tool use in some primate groups but not in others? Read my 2nd PhD chapter, #openaccess in American Journal of Primatology
(doi.org/10.1002/ajp....) for an exploration of this question in an unique island system where white-faced capuchins use stone tools. A 🧵 (1/8)
(doi.org/10.1002/ajp....) for an exploration of this question in an unique island system where white-faced capuchins use stone tools. A 🧵 (1/8)
Reposted by Berkay Arslan
📢 The MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship call is now open!
Join our international expert team to explore minds across species.
We study:
🐒 Primates
🐕 Dogs
🐘 Elephants
🐴 Donkeys and horses
🔗 contact one of us to discuss your application: marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/actions/post...
#MSCA
Join our international expert team to explore minds across species.
We study:
🐒 Primates
🐕 Dogs
🐘 Elephants
🐴 Donkeys and horses
🔗 contact one of us to discuss your application: marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/actions/post...
#MSCA
Postdoctoral Fellowships call: 6 steps to prepare your application
These tips and tricks will help you find the best host organisation and prepare a successful proposal.
marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu
May 13, 2025 at 12:41 PM
📢 The MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship call is now open!
Join our international expert team to explore minds across species.
We study:
🐒 Primates
🐕 Dogs
🐘 Elephants
🐴 Donkeys and horses
🔗 contact one of us to discuss your application: marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/actions/post...
#MSCA
Join our international expert team to explore minds across species.
We study:
🐒 Primates
🐕 Dogs
🐘 Elephants
🐴 Donkeys and horses
🔗 contact one of us to discuss your application: marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/actions/post...
#MSCA
Reposted by Berkay Arslan
TLDR: new paper headed up by @vestaeleuteri.bsky.social
& with an awesome team, incl @andrearavignani.bsky.social , showing chimps have rhythm in their drumming & differences b/w east & west drum rhythms!
www.cell.com/current-biol...
But didn’t we know this already you ask? Well… 🧵1/16
& with an awesome team, incl @andrearavignani.bsky.social , showing chimps have rhythm in their drumming & differences b/w east & west drum rhythms!
www.cell.com/current-biol...
But didn’t we know this already you ask? Well… 🧵1/16
Chimpanzee drumming shows rhythmicity and subspecies variation
Chimpanzees drum on the buttress roots of trees for communication. Eleuteri et al.
investigate the presence of key elements of musical rhythm and of regional variation
in chimpanzee buttress drumming....
www.cell.com
May 9, 2025 at 8:47 PM
TLDR: new paper headed up by @vestaeleuteri.bsky.social
& with an awesome team, incl @andrearavignani.bsky.social , showing chimps have rhythm in their drumming & differences b/w east & west drum rhythms!
www.cell.com/current-biol...
But didn’t we know this already you ask? Well… 🧵1/16
& with an awesome team, incl @andrearavignani.bsky.social , showing chimps have rhythm in their drumming & differences b/w east & west drum rhythms!
www.cell.com/current-biol...
But didn’t we know this already you ask? Well… 🧵1/16
Reposted by Berkay Arslan
My interview for *The Philosopher's Zone* podcast on Feminism and Primatology is out now!
I managed to scrounge up the courage to listen and I'm quite proud 🙃
You can listen to the ep via the ABC website or in the usual podcast places
#hps #sts #histsci #PhilSci #feminism #primatology
I managed to scrounge up the courage to listen and I'm quite proud 🙃
You can listen to the ep via the ABC website or in the usual podcast places
#hps #sts #histsci #PhilSci #feminism #primatology
May 9, 2025 at 2:27 AM
Reposted by Berkay Arslan
Wanted to share a handy little resource with you all (especially those in dev psych) — my lab & I made a "journal submission cheat sheet" that summarizes article types, word limits, & other requirements for the journals we typically submit to. Link below 👇🏼
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
May 7, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Wanted to share a handy little resource with you all (especially those in dev psych) — my lab & I made a "journal submission cheat sheet" that summarizes article types, word limits, & other requirements for the journals we typically submit to. Link below 👇🏼
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Reposted by Berkay Arslan
🚨 New paper alert 🚨
Collaboration between @yorkpsychology.bsky.social and @durhamdcerc.bsky.social / @durhampsych.bsky.social
A longitudinal, cross cultual, study on infant development of concern & comforting:
journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
@zannaclay.bsky.social
Collaboration between @yorkpsychology.bsky.social and @durhamdcerc.bsky.social / @durhampsych.bsky.social
A longitudinal, cross cultual, study on infant development of concern & comforting:
journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
@zannaclay.bsky.social
Early empathy development: Concern and comforting in 9- and 18-month-old infants from Uganda and the UK
Empathy, the capacity to share and understand others’ emotional states, is important for navigating our social lives, yet its development in infancy remains poorly understood. Moreover, most research ...
journals.plos.org
May 7, 2025 at 8:18 AM
🚨 New paper alert 🚨
Collaboration between @yorkpsychology.bsky.social and @durhamdcerc.bsky.social / @durhampsych.bsky.social
A longitudinal, cross cultual, study on infant development of concern & comforting:
journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
@zannaclay.bsky.social
Collaboration between @yorkpsychology.bsky.social and @durhamdcerc.bsky.social / @durhampsych.bsky.social
A longitudinal, cross cultual, study on infant development of concern & comforting:
journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
@zannaclay.bsky.social
Reposted by Berkay Arslan
The flexibility of social learning and its conservation implications in mammals & beyond.
New paper, led by Josh Arbon with fab collaborators Neil Jordan & @neeltjeboogert.bsky.social.
doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2024.0136
@uniexecec.bsky.social @bristolbiosci.bsky.social @royalsocietypublishing.org
New paper, led by Josh Arbon with fab collaborators Neil Jordan & @neeltjeboogert.bsky.social.
doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2024.0136
@uniexecec.bsky.social @bristolbiosci.bsky.social @royalsocietypublishing.org
The flexibility of social learning and its conservation implications in mammals and beyond | Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Conservation strategies seek to ensure that populations persist and are resilient to environmental change. As learning from others can shape the development of skills that help animals survive, reproduce and respond to changing conditions, understanding ...
doi.org
May 2, 2025 at 7:41 AM
The flexibility of social learning and its conservation implications in mammals & beyond.
New paper, led by Josh Arbon with fab collaborators Neil Jordan & @neeltjeboogert.bsky.social.
doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2024.0136
@uniexecec.bsky.social @bristolbiosci.bsky.social @royalsocietypublishing.org
New paper, led by Josh Arbon with fab collaborators Neil Jordan & @neeltjeboogert.bsky.social.
doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2024.0136
@uniexecec.bsky.social @bristolbiosci.bsky.social @royalsocietypublishing.org
Reposted by Berkay Arslan
Please share our recent posts about the floods in Congo with your friends and followers. The more people who see what’s happening, the more support we can rally.
#Emergency #SaveBonobos #FloodRelief
#Emergency #SaveBonobos #FloodRelief
Urgent help needed! 🚨
We've experienced severe flooding at Lola ya Bonobo sanctuary. Our team in the Congo urgently needs your help. Will you please send a special gift to help provide food, clean drinking water, and emergency supplies? savebonobos.org/FloodRelief
#FloodRelief #SaveBonobos #Urgent
We've experienced severe flooding at Lola ya Bonobo sanctuary. Our team in the Congo urgently needs your help. Will you please send a special gift to help provide food, clean drinking water, and emergency supplies? savebonobos.org/FloodRelief
#FloodRelief #SaveBonobos #Urgent
April 24, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Please share our recent posts about the floods in Congo with your friends and followers. The more people who see what’s happening, the more support we can rally.
#Emergency #SaveBonobos #FloodRelief
#Emergency #SaveBonobos #FloodRelief