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MPI for Biological Intelligence @mpiforbi.bsky.social · 6h

Your PhD journey starts here and now! 🚀 🎓 We are recruiting PhD students in the life sciences for our international and fully funded graduate program IMPRS-BI in the Munich area, Germany. 📆 Apply from: 01 October 2026 ⏰ Deadline: 10 November 2026 ❗ Apply now: imprs-bi.mpg.de/51861/How-to...

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MPI for Biological Intelligence @mpiforbi.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Female ruffs grow faster and fledge earlier, shifting the sex ratio from hatching to fledging: Read the new paper from the Küpper & Kempenaers groups!

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MPI for Biological Intelligence @mpiforbi.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

How do neurons grow during their early stages of development? And how can these processes be reactivated so that damaged neurons can regenerate? Don’t miss Frank Bradke, Professor at the DZNE Bonn @dzne.science, at our next keynote lecture! 📅 September 29 at 11:00 a.m. 📍 Room NQ105, Martinsried

Poster announcing a keynote lecture by Frank Bradke. The poster's background features a stylized, single-color illustration of a neuron with branching axons and circular nodes.

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MPI for Biological Intelligence @mpiforbi.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

On September 16, 1958, the first Max Planck Institute in Seewiesen was officially inaugurated in the presence of Otto Hahn, then President of the @maxplanck.de. Over the following decades, Seewiesen became a famous location for behavioral research. ➡️ www.bi.mpg.de/mpio-history

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Peter Santema @petersantema.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

New #ornithology paper out in @ecography.bsky.social! The tendency of birds to return to the same breeding area in different years varies wildly among species. We show that breeding site fidelity is much lower in #shorebirds nesting in the #Arctic tundra than in those nesting in other habitats. 1/n

Map showing the geographic locations of shorebird populations included in the study, alongside four Arctic-breeding shorebird species with low breeding-site fidelity: Red Phalarope, Long-billed Dowitcher, White-rumped Sandpiper, and Pectoral Sandpiper.

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MPI for Biological Intelligence @mpiforbi.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

A new study shows that shorebirds breeding in the Arctic tundra are far less likely to return to the same breeding sites than those in other habitats. In the high Arctic, return rates can drop to just 10 %. 🔗 Press release: www.bi.mpg.de/news/2026-09... 🎬 Picture by Kaspar Delhey

Shorebird standing on dry grass in a natural habitat

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Max-Planck-Gesellschaft @maxplanck.de · 09/09/2026

We are hiring! Start at a #MaxPlanckInstitute with your own independent Max Planck Research Group. This position is equivalent to a W2 Professorship at a German university, or Associate Professor internationally. 🔗Apply until October 14th! www.mpg.de/career/max-p... #ScienceCareer #MPRG #TenureTrack

Call for independent Max Planck Research Groups

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MPI for Biological Intelligence @mpiforbi.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

In a new study, macaws at @loroparque.bsky.social copied specific features of demonstrated solutions, including the direction of movement & how an object was manipulated. This ability could help behaviors spread through social groups and may provide a building block for shared behavioral traditions.

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Max-Planck-Gesellschaft @maxplanck.de · 01/09/2026

Apply to our #postdoc program! 🤓🧑‍🔬 Applications are now open until October 13th, 2026 - don’t miss your chance to take your research to the next level with expert mentorship, workshops, coaching and more. www.mpg.de/en/max-planc...

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BirdGuides @birdguides.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

A new study has tracked female Eurasian Dotterel throughout an entire summer for the first time, revealing a summer of long-distance travel in search of multiple partners:

f.mtr.cool

Tags reveal 'summer of love' for Eurasian Dotterel

The first study to track female Eurasian Dotterel across an entire breeding season reveals a summer of long-distance travel in search of multiple partners.

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MPI for Biological Intelligence @mpiforbi.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

We congratulate Annika Zähr from our Institute who received the Trainee award this year! She completed her education as lab technician and is being honored for her exceptional achievements in her vocational training. Since 2007, the @maxplanck.de has been honoring outstanding vocational trainees.

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MPI for Biological Intelligence @mpiforbi.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

A warm welcome to our new vocational trainees who are starting their training at @mpiforbi.bsky.social and @mpibiochem.bsky.social! 🎉 We’re excited to have you with us and wish you a great and successful start to your training. There’s lots to discover, learn and experience. 🚀

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Max-Planck-Gesellschaft @maxplanck.de · 03/09/2026

Intriguing new study by @mpiforbi.bsky.social suggests female Eurasian #dotterels are completely redefining breeding season mobility - after laying eggs for 1 male, who stays behind to raise chicks alone, the brightly-coloured females fly up to 1,300 km across Northern Europe to find new partners.

mpg.de

Female Dotterels have multiple mates across northern Europe

The first study to track females of a socially polyandrous bird across a whole breeding season, reveals a summer of long-distance travel

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Peter Santema @petersantema.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

New #ornithology paper out in @royalsocietypublishing.org! We show that female dotterels can move across large distances within a single breeding season in search of mating opportunities, visiting up to five different sites (median: 3) and travelling up to 1000 km between sites (median: 71 km). 1/n

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MPI for Biological Intelligence @mpiforbi.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Surprising journey: Researchers tracked 21 female Eurasian Dotterels via satellite transmitters during breeding season. The results suggest that they may search for additional mating opportunities in large areas. 🔗 Press release: www.bi.mpg.de/news/2026-09... 🎬 Video by Gabriel Low

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Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry @mpibiochem.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

#pictureofthemonth: A view of a neuronal environment showing several neurons and their dendrites and axons forming a densely connective network. 📸E.M. Schentarra, E. Unterauer More: www.nature.com/articles/s41... September – Calendar of @mpiforbi.bsky.social and @mpibiochem.bsky.social

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Federation of European Neuroscience Societies - FENS @fens.org · 28/08/2026

📢 Registration closes 5 September for the #BrainConference on Neural Foundations of Communication! 📍 Crete, Greece 🗓️ 5–8 October 2026 👉 View the programme: buff.ly/KEjjJaY 👉 Read more and register: buff.ly/hy0Kqkm @brainprize.org

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MPI for Biological Intelligence @mpiforbi.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Reptilian soundscapes 🦎💬 You can find out more about the vocalization of geckos in the study by Henrik Brumm and Sue Ann Zollinger. Here is the press release: www.bi.mpg.de/1502636/news...

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MPI for Biological Intelligence @mpiforbi.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

How does sexual selection produce strikingly different phenotypes from the same genetic material? Find out at our next keynote lecture by @judithmank.bsky.social, Professor of Evolutionary Genomics at @zoology.ubc.ca & @ubcbiodiversity.bsky.social. 📅 August 25 at 11:00a.m. 📍 Room NQ105, Martinsried

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MPI for Biological Intelligence @mpiforbi.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

#pictureofthemonth: The eye of a zebrafish larva. The cells inside the eye are important for detecting visual features in the environment and sending such information to the brain. More: www.bi.mpg.de/baier August – Calendar of @mpiforbi.bsky.social and @mpibiochem.bsky.social 📸 Man Yung Ng

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MPI for Biological Intelligence @mpiforbi.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Congrats to Ann Rose Bright @annrosebright.bsky.social and Inbal Shainer @ishainer.bsky.social on winning the Young Scientist Award! Their work shows that neurons born late can speed up maturation, and a neuron’s identity depends on location, not just genes. More: www.bi.mpg.de/news/2026-07...

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MPI for Biological Intelligence @mpiforbi.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Our annual summer party brought everyone together: colleagues, families, and friends. From relaxing with cold drinks to kids enjoying games and crafts – it was all about coming together as a community. A special shoutout to our employee choir and band for the perfect soundtrack to the evening!

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MPI for Biological Intelligence @mpiforbi.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

“I might be nerdy, but I am faster than you!” This week, 45 colleagues from our Institute and @mpibiochem.bsky.social joined the 6 km long b2run Munich at Olympiapark. Fantastic team spirit, great energy and a strong finish! 🧠 🏃‍♂️‍➡️🏃‍♀️‍➡️🏅 📷 Picture by Axel Griesch

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MPI for Biological Intelligence @mpiforbi.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Wir sind immer noch begeistert von der Enthüllung unseres neuen Campus-Entwurfs! Hier die besten Zitate aus unserer Pressekonferenz am Montag. 👉 Vollständige Pressemitteilung und Zitate: www.bi.mpg.de/2026-07-neuer-campus 👉 Informationen zum Besuch der Ausstellung: www.mpg.de/mpg-campus-martinsried

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MPI for Biological Intelligence @mpiforbi.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Auf der heutigen Pressekonferenz wurde der Siegerentwurf des neuen Max-Planck-Campus in Martinsried vorgestellt. Das Konzept setzt auf Vernetzung, Nachhaltigkeit und moderne Forschungsbedingungen – ein Campus für die Wissenschaft von morgen! Pressemitteilung: www.bi.mpg.de/2026-07-neuer-campus

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MPI for Biological Intelligence @mpiforbi.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Wie sieht unser Max-Planck-Campus der Zukunft aus? Die vielfältigen Ideen des Planungswettbewerbs und den Siegerentwurf zeigen wir von Juli – Oktober in einer Ausstellung. 📅 14. Juli 2026: Eröffnung um 10 Uhr 📍 Foyer der Max-Planck-Institute 👉 Infos unter: www.mpg.de/mpg-campus-martinsried

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MPI for Biological Intelligence @mpiforbi.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Uncovering hidden energy strategies in flight: Sex difference in metabolic response of free-flying pigeons. A new study shows that similar movement performance can mask profound physiological differences. Scientific paper: doi.org/10.1098/rsbl... Study by @stefi-casagrande.bsky.social

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Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry @mpibiochem.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

#pictureofthemonth: Plant cells use tiny pores called plasmodesmata to talk to each other. The rendering, shows how everything links together. More: www.biochem.mpg.de/baumeister-p... July – Calendar of @mpiforbi.bsky.social and @mpibiochem.bsky.social 📸 by Monika Krause & Marcel Dickmanns

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MPI for Biological Intelligence @mpiforbi.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Harbor seals are remarkable central place foragers, repeatedly returning to specific coastal sites. 🦭 🧭 Don’t miss our talk on harbor seal orientation and navigation by Prof. Dr. Frederike Hanke, University of Rostock. 📅 July 7 at 11:00 a.m. 📍 Room NQ105, Martinsried Art: @somedonkey.bsky.social

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MPI for Biological Intelligence @mpiforbi.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Check out this new paper by our former group leader, Irina Dudanova, and team, showing that targeted light pulses improve motor function in Huntington's disease. Find more information also here: www.bi.mpg.de/news/2026-07...

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MPI for Biological Intelligence @mpiforbi.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Shhh... do you hear that? The birds are speaking! 🐦💬 Did you know that a bird’s survival in the wild depends entirely on its sophisticated communication? 🎵 Come to @munichsoapbox.bsky.social and discover the secret language of birds with our researcher Lisa-Marie Livancic!

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MPI for Biological Intelligence @mpiforbi.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Curious about understanding sleep homeostasis? Find out more at our next “Emerging Scientist Talk” with Raffaele Sarnataro @rafsarnataro.bsky.social, Postdoc at the Francis Crick Institute @crick.ac.uk. 📅 July 1 at 11:00 a.m. 📍 Room NQ105, Martinsried Art by @somedonkey.bsky.social

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MPI for Biological Intelligence @mpiforbi.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Call them Dr., please! 🎓 We are incredibly proud of our recently graduated PhDs and wish them all the best for their future! 🎉✨ @amirmasoud92.bsky.social / @esha-haldar2025.bsky.social / @alexzemella.bsky.social

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MPI for Biological Intelligence @mpiforbi.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Upcoming Monday, we start into the week with our new “IMPRS Lecture Quartet” with Prof. Dr. Michael Kiebler, Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Enard, Prof. Dr. Angelika Harbauer and Dr. Nadine Gogolla. The event is addressed to (early-career) scientists. 📅 June 22 at 13:00-16:30 p.m. 📍 Room NQ105, Martinsried

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MPI for Biological Intelligence @mpiforbi.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Come and join our next talk in the “Emerging Scientist Series”! Sercan Sayin @sercansayin.bsky.social is a postdoc at @mpi-animalbehav.bsky.social and will speak on rules for robust collective marching in desert locusts. 📅 June 23 at 11:00 a.m. 📍 Room NQ105, Martinsried @animaltracking.bsky.social

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MPI for Biological Intelligence @mpiforbi.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

A day full of science, curiosity, and connection! It was wonderful to see the community come together to share knowledge and push the boundaries of interdisciplinary neuroscience – exactly what the Munich Brain Day is all about. 🧠 ✨ ➡️ munichbrainday.com @mpi-psychiatry.bsky.social @lmu.de @tum.de

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Soapbox Science Munich @munichsoapbox.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Come to #SoapboxScience Munich and discover the secret language of birds with researcher Lisa Marie Livancic! 🤫 📍 Where: Rindermarkt, Munich 📆 When: Saturday, July 11 🔗 Learn more: munichsoapboxscience.com See you there, early birds! 🐦 #WomenInSTEM #SciComm #SoapboxScience

munichsoapboxscience.com

Soapbox Science Munich

we bring science to you

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MPI for Biological Intelligence @mpiforbi.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

In a new study published in @currentbiology.bsky.social, researchers uncover how a dietary shift may have set the stage for one of nature’s most spectacular phenomena: the elaborate courtship displays of manakins. 🔗 Press release: www.bi.mpg.de/news/2026-06...

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Max Planck Information & Technology @maxit.mpg.de · 03/06/2026

Build a smarter feed in 30 seconds ⏱️ At MaxIT, we’ve bundled 80+ Max Planck accounts into one handy link 🔗 Follow our Max Planck Starter Pack on Bluesky for scientific breakthroughs and better scrolling 🧠🚀🔬✨ bsky.app/starter-pack/maxit.mpg.de/…

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MPI for Biological Intelligence @mpiforbi.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

We are happy to welcome Pierre Le Merre @pierrelemerre.bsky.social, University of Lyon, at our Institute next week. Don’t miss his talk on the prefrontal cortex map based on single-neuron activity. 📅 June 9 at 11:00 a.m. 📍 Room NQ105, Martinsried Art by @somedonkey.bsky.social l

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MPI for Biological Intelligence @mpiforbi.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

#pictureofthemonth: Ruffs in their natural environment in Finland. Their complex courtship provides fascinating insights into the dynamic changes of cooperation and competition. More: www.bi.mpg.de/kuepper June – Calendar of @mpiforbi.bsky.social & @mpibiochem.bsky.social 📸 Simon Vandepitte

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Dr. Susanne Hoffmann @susannehoffmann.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

Do you want to know if birds can use hair-like feathers as high-frequency sound receptors during echolocation? Join our team as PhD student or postdoc and find out! ⬇️ www.bi.mpg.de/2809383/job_...

Photo of a bird with large eyes sitting on a rock. The feathers are brown with white spots.

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Dr. Susanne Hoffmann @susannehoffmann.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

We are inviting applications of motivated pre-doctoral researchers to join an exciting, HFSP-funded projct. 🧪🐦 🧠 @mpiforbi.bsky.social @hfspo.bsky.social FindAPhD.com share.google/eCgiK7GdjoQD...

findaphd.com

PhD Programmes, Research Projects & Studentships in the UK & Europe

FindAPhD is a comprehensive guide to PhD studentships and postgraduate research degrees

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Munich Postdoc Network @munichpostdoc.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Dear postdocs in and around Munich! Save the date! Our this years Munich Postdoc Night will take place on Sept. 15th 2026 at the @badw.de in Munich! Amplify your career! Hope to see you all there.

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Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry @mpibiochem.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

#pictureofthemonth: a peptide called "spacer peptide 2" (light blue) binds matrix proteins (red triangles). More: www.biochem.mpg.de/en/briggs-pr... March – Calendar of @mpiforbi.bsky.social and @mpibiochem.bsky.social 📸Illustration by Margot Riggi, James, Stacey, Dominik Hrebik (Briggs Lab)

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MPI for Biological Intelligence @mpiforbi.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

Exciting opportunity 📣 The @tum.de, the TUM Klinikum Rechts der Isar and the @mpiforbi.bsky.social are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher in Small-Animal MRI and Cross-species Neuroimaging (f/m/div). 🧲 🧠 📅 Apply by: May 10, 2026 Please see below for more information:

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Federation of European Neuroscience Societies - FENS @fens.org · 24/04/2026

🎧 Tune in to the season finale of the #FENS - #EJN Journal Club podcast! 🗞️ Curious about vocal communication and #BrainResearch? This episode explores new insights into female zebra finches and their neural systems! 🔬 Listen here 👉 buff.ly/zF5mH0I

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MPI for Biological Intelligence @mpiforbi.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

Yesterday, 25 young minds spent their Girls’ and Boys’ Day with us. In the morning, they became scientists in our MaxLab, running their own experiments. Afterwards, they got a glimpse into exciting technical and scientific careers. 🧠🔧🔬 Thanks to all colleagues who contributed!

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MPI for Biological Intelligence @mpiforbi.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

We are co-organising the 10th European Vision & Cognition (EVC) Meeting! Bringing together leading researchers and emerging talents working at the intersection of vision science, neuroscience, and cognition. 📅 30 June and 03 July 📍 Palazzone di Cortona, Tuscany 👉 Register here: nin.nl/evc-meeting

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MPI for Biological Intelligence @mpiforbi.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

Exciting new research published in @currentbiology.bsky.social by our guest scientist and former group leader @jmrko.bsky.social. The study highlights insights from connectomics research in songbirds. „Tunneling neurons“ open new perspectives on how adult neural circuits may regenerate.

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