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Ahmed El Hady

@zamakany.bsky.social
352 followers 10 following 221 posts

Group leader at Center for advanced Study of Collective Behavior CEO and co-founder of Ecodylic Science Behavior, Biophysics, Quantification, Analytics

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Ahmed El Hady @zamakany.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
If you have time this weekend, give our newest preprint a read The preprint delves into the ways agents can socially interact and share beliefs to accumulate sufficient evidence about the environment and how we can identify these mechanisms in foraging experiments. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
biorxiv.org
Socio-cognitive models in a patch foraging setting: a case study for model selection and parameter identifiability methods
The mechanisms by which organisms extract relevant information from complex sensory signals and use it for decision-making constitute a fundamental issue in biological and cognitive sciences. In socia...
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Ahmed El Hady @zamakany.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
New preprint Lisa Blum Moyse and myself delved into model selection and identifiability methods of social evidence accumulation models providing practical guidelines on how to design your next favorite collective foraging experiments, check it out: arxiv.org/abs/2609.36231 @cbehav.bsky.social
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Ahmed El Hady @zamakany.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
This edition was a success and we are currently preparing for the 2027 edition . Stay tuned
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Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour @cbehav.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Welcome to the Swarm, Matheus! We are looking forward to you. 💐
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Ahmed El Hady @zamakany.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Welcome! PhD student Matheus Stefanini Mariano (bachelor/ masters in physics at Universidade de São Paulo). He is planning to investigate how behavioral patterns and objectives underlying them can be inferred from tracking data using ML/AI methods. More info: matheus-stefanini-mariano.github.io.
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Ahmed El Hady @zamakany.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Last week I spent it with excellent students at @hhmijanelia.bsky.social Learnt about multitude of open research problems in theoretical biophysics from genomic regulation to protein folding to mechanisms of morphogenesis and much more . Bright future ahead.
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Ahmed El Hady @zamakany.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Shanah Tovah
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Ahmed El Hady @zamakany.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Excited to be at @hhmijanelia.bsky.social next week for Theoretical Biophysics workshop co-organized with @allysonsgro.bsky.social. We have an amazing line up of early career scientists working on exciting problems from gene expression to animal behavior. Details: www.janelia.org/you-janelia/...
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Ahmed El Hady @zamakany.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Met a cute deer today in Aspen during my morning walk
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Ahmed El Hady @zamakany.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Look what I saw in Aspen today . A bear foraging 😄🐻
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Ahmed El Hady @zamakany.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
So happy to be back in Aspen at the Center for Physics . Excited to be part of the Workshop on collective function of active living matter.
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Ahmed El Hady @zamakany.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
If you are planning to go to Social Simulation Conference 2026 in Durham UK please check out the following poster by Lisa Blume Moyse. We began recently developing modeling frameworks explaining emergence of collective narratives on Twitter / X.
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Ahmed El Hady @zamakany.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
For this year Konstanz School of Collective Behavior, the students designed a shirt :D @cbehav.bsky.social
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Ahmed El Hady @zamakany.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
The best part of the Konstanz School of Collective Behavior is the student project presentations . This year: 14 students, 14 projects @cbehav.bsky.social
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Ahmed El Hady @zamakany.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Check our new preprint here: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
biorxiv.org
Resource depletion accelerates rate learning but not composition learning in patch foraging
Foraging is a universal animal behavior that has increasingly attracted the interest of both experimentalists and theorists. Most prior models assume an animal knows the distribution of resources in i...
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Ahmed El Hady @zamakany.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
This is one of the topics I am increasingly interested in , which is finding scenarios where one can do apple to apple comparison between model based and model free agents learning their foraging environment. Check out our new preprint here: arxiv.org/abs/2607.29476
arxiv.org
Resource depletion accelerates rate learning but not composition learning in patch foraging
Foraging is a universal animal behavior that has increasingly attracted the interest of both experimentalists and theorists. Most prior models assume an animal knows the distribution of resources in i...
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Ahmed El Hady @zamakany.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Definitely :D
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Ahmed El Hady @zamakany.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
New Study! @cbehav.bsky.social @mpi-animalbehav.bsky.social Often foraging models assume that the forager knows the environment and proceed to predict decision strategies but how does the foraging learn the structure of the environment ? A new preprint delves into this question
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Dr. Allyson Sgro @allysonsgro.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Always an amazing time at the collective behavior summer school in Konstanz!
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Ahmed El Hady @zamakany.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
The yearly tradition begins again . Welcoming all our amazing students to the Konstanz School of Collective Behavior 2026 . So happy it is happening again . All details here : www.exc.uni-konstanz.de/kscb/ @cbehav.bsky.social @uni-konstanz.de
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Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour @cbehav.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
Congrats, Akhila, Klara, Ahmed and Katrin! Top work, great paper 👏💪🥳
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Ahmed El Hady @zamakany.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
So happy that our study on patch foraging in Drosophila larvae is out in @elife.bsky.social Check it out here: elifesciences.org/reviewed-pre...
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Ahmed El Hady @zamakany.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
Doing some physics with a view . Working on a paper in a good fresh mood overlooking this bright ocean ☺️❤️ also thumbs up @overleaf.com the best 🙌🏾 @kitp-ucsb.bsky.social
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Ahmed El Hady @zamakany.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
Think deeply about the dimensions of your foraging experiments and how to make your experiments a window into more integrative understanding of foraging. Love foraging :D More here: www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...
annualreviews.org
Neurobiology of Foraging: An Integrative Approach
Foraging, defined as the search for food to sustain one's energetic needs, is a fundamental behavior performed by almost all animals to survive in their environment. Foraging involves a variety o...
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Ahmed El Hady @zamakany.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
Think deeply about the dimensions of your foraging experiments and how to make your experiments a window into more integrative understanding of foraging. Love foraging :D More here: www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...
annualreviews.org
Neurobiology of Foraging: An Integrative Approach
Foraging, defined as the search for food to sustain one's energetic needs, is a fundamental behavior performed by almost all animals to survive in their environment. Foraging involves a variety o...
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Ahmed El Hady @zamakany.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
In my review on Integrative approach to foraging, we propose six axes on which experiments can be plotted, hoping to inspire experimenters to push further along one or more of these axes. Think about your experiments and plot it on those axes :D More here: www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...
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Ahmed El Hady @zamakany.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Check this exciting new foraging paper. Very excited that we are currently collaborating with @davidrobbe.bsky.social group to model behavioral mechanisms underlying foraging startegies in the The Tower Foraging Park.
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David Robbe @davidrobbe.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Excited to share our new paper: "The Tower Foraging Park: A paradigm for studying cognitive and motor processes underlying behavioral flexibility in freely moving mice,". Out now in @cp-iscience.bsky.social 🧵1/9 www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
cell.com
The Tower Foraging Park: A paradigm for studying cognitive and motor processes underlying behavioral flexibility in freely moving mice
Biological sciences; Behavioral neuroscience; Laboratory animal science
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Ahmed El Hady @zamakany.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
If you have some free time, watch this great lecture at the @kitp-ucsb.bsky.social by Ilya Nemenman on learning without learning , using random networks with constraints to reproduce many of the basic results reported in many neuro experiments. Link here: online.kitp.ucsb.edu/online/brain...
online.kitp.ucsb.edu
Ilya Nemenman, Emory, Learning Without Learning: or To Be (surprised) or Not To Be
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Ahmed El Hady @zamakany.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
If you have not read my Annual Review of Neuroscience with Emily Dennis on establishing an integrative approach to Neurobiology of Foraging, make sure to read it . The pdf can be accessed here: shorturl.at/O0uXs
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Ahmed El Hady @zamakany.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Is learning useful as a metaphor ? An exciting Friday discussion during the Brainless learning program at the @kitp-ucsb.bsky.social
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Ahmed El Hady @zamakany.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
Another program happening in parallel " New trends in non-equilibrium dynamics " with really great lectures on theory of active matter , diffusion processes and many other topics. check the talks here: online.kitp.ucsb.edu/online/compl...
online.kitp.ucsb.edu
KITP Program: New Trends in Non-equilibrium Dynamics
Speakers: Please contact us about file upload for your slides.
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Ahmed El Hady @zamakany.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
So happy to be to the Kavli Institute of Theoretical Physics for a program on learning in non neural systems @kitp-ucsb.bsky.social if you are around Hit me up
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Ahmed El Hady @zamakany.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
So happy to be back at the @kitp-ucsb.bsky.social for an amazing program on „Biological learning without a Brain „ I highly recommend that you watch the online talks that should be updated everyday from now on: online.kitp.ucsb.edu/online/brain...
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Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics @kitp-ucsb.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Watch the latest #KITP Blackboard Lunch talk, Thermal Avalanches: Growing Dynamical Lengthscales in Glassy Landscapes by Alberto Rosso (CNRS)
youtu.be
Thermal Avalanches: Growing Dynamical Lengthscales in Glassy Landscapes | Alberto Rosso (CNRS)
The purpose of these Blackboard Talk lunches is for the science of one program to be explained to the other KITP program participants. These talks lead to cross program communications that work…
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Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour @cbehav.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
That sounds exciting! Have a great talk – and have fun, Ahmed and Jacob!
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Ahmed El Hady @zamakany.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
If you happen to be around NYU on May 4th , come see Jacob Davidson and myself speaking about our latest work developing algorithms for social behavior analytics. All details are on the poster below, reach out if you are around.
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Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour @cbehav.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
Congrats, Ahmed, on your new article! The scientific world needs good review articles. 👍💪
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Monika Scholz @monikakscholz.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
👀 looking forward to reading it!
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Ahmed El Hady @zamakany.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
After three years of working on this review with my collaborator Emily Dennis (Janelia Farm), it is finally in press. The review provides an overview and our personal reflections on what constitutes an integrative approach to neurobiology of foraging. Enjoy www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...
annualreviews.org
Neurobiology of Foraging: An Integrative Approach
Foraging, defined as the search for food to sustain one's energetic needs, is a fundamental behavior performed by almost all animals to survive in their environment. Foraging involves a variety o...
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Ahmed El Hady @zamakany.bsky.social · 18/04/2026
Mind-bending and intriguing lecture series by Mikhail Gromov on developing a mathematical intuition of living systems ( watch all four lectures for a full overview) www.youtube.com/watch?v=8h2S...
youtube.com
Mikhail Gromov - 1/4 Generation, Transformation, Transmission, Memorization, Storage and (...)
YouTube video by Institut des Hautes Etudes Scientifiques (IHES)
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Janelia Conferences @janeliaconf.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
🚨 Deadline approaching (Apr 16)! Don’t miss your chance to join our student-led #TheoreticalBiophysics workshop. Meals, accommodation + reasonable travel covered for accepted participants. Apply ➡️ janelia.news/THB26 @allysonsgro.bsky.social @zamakany.bsky.social
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Ahmed El Hady @zamakany.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
Chag Pesach Sameach
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Ahmed El Hady @zamakany.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
After three years , this joint review with my dear friend Emily Jane Dennis is finally in press. The review provides a glimpse on what constitutes an integrative approach to neurobiology of foraging. Out in the next issue of Annual Reviews of Neuroscience. www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...
annualreviews.org
Neurobiology of Foraging: An Integrative Approach
Foraging, defined as the search for food to sustain one's energetic needs, is a fundamental behavior performed by almost all animals to survive in their environment. Foraging involves a variety o...
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Akhila Mudunuri @akhila1498.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
Excited to share our work exploring how fly larvae flexibly adjust their foraging decisions based on resource quality and valence, shaped by prior experience 🪰🥳! Check it out: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
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Katrin Vogt @katrinvogt.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
Check out our new preprint and learn about the smart foraging behavior of fly larvae! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
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Ahmed El Hady @zamakany.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
Along with @katrinvogt.bsky.social , @akhila1498.bsky.social and Klára Tučková we combine long timescale (3 hr) behavioral tracking of Drosophila larvae in patchy environments with varying statistics, along with quantitative analysis and computational modeling, to dissect foraging strategies. 1/n
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Ahmed El Hady @zamakany.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
Are Mate Choice and Patch Foraging similar ?! 🧐 We investigated this in a new study, check it out : www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
biorxiv.org
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Ahmed El Hady @zamakany.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
Daniel Bernstein from @princeton.edu and myself asked whether Mate choice can be formalized as foraging problem. We developed an optimal foraging-inspired model of mate choice. We got interesting mate choice strategies across our parameter spaces. The preprint here www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
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Ahmed El Hady @zamakany.bsky.social · 29/03/2026
Deadline is approaching (April 16th). Send in your applications . All details here: www.janelia.org/you-janelia/... Apply for this workshop at @hhmijanelia.bsky.social intended as a "by the students, for the students" meeting. @janeliaconf.bsky.social
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