Lauren Brent
@ljnbrent.bsky.social
Social evolution, social aging & the benefits of social network ties. Professor @crab-exeter.bsky.social, Dept. of Psych, Uni. of Exeter. Big team science collaborations: #MacaqueNet #CBRU. Editor: Animal Behaviour. She/her. http://linktr.ee/laurenbrent
Pinned
Lauren Brent
@ljnbrent.bsky.social
· Oct 16
Quality, quantity, and the adaptive function of social relationships
Affiliative social relationships have clear links to fitness in many species, yet
exactly why that is the case remains elusive. We unify theory from socioecology and
network science to set forth testa...
tinyurl.com
For what seems like forever, I've wanted to know what benefits we get from our friends - or in other words, why these relationships evolved.
tinyurl.com/55dnkeh7
tinyurl.com/55dnkeh7
Reposted by Lauren Brent
🌟Fully funded #PhD🌟
Social monitoring and manipulation of cooperative exchanges.
#NERC funding
With @ljnbrent.bsky.social, #PatrickKennedy & me.
Based in @bristolbiosci.bsky.social
#LongtermData #Fieldwork
#Mongooses #Macaques
Deadline: 8th Jan 2026
Please share!
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Social monitoring and manipulation of cooperative exchanges.
#NERC funding
With @ljnbrent.bsky.social, #PatrickKennedy & me.
Based in @bristolbiosci.bsky.social
#LongtermData #Fieldwork
#Mongooses #Macaques
Deadline: 8th Jan 2026
Please share!
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Funded PhD NERC GW4+ DLTP - Social monitoring and manipulation of cooperative exchanges at University of Bristol on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - Funded PhD NERC GW4+ DLTP - Social monitoring and manipulation of cooperative exchanges at University of Bristol, listed on FindAPhD.com
www.findaphd.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:00 PM
🌟Fully funded #PhD🌟
Social monitoring and manipulation of cooperative exchanges.
#NERC funding
With @ljnbrent.bsky.social, #PatrickKennedy & me.
Based in @bristolbiosci.bsky.social
#LongtermData #Fieldwork
#Mongooses #Macaques
Deadline: 8th Jan 2026
Please share!
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Social monitoring and manipulation of cooperative exchanges.
#NERC funding
With @ljnbrent.bsky.social, #PatrickKennedy & me.
Based in @bristolbiosci.bsky.social
#LongtermData #Fieldwork
#Mongooses #Macaques
Deadline: 8th Jan 2026
Please share!
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Apply now for a NERC-funded PhD position with @andyradford.bsky.social & Patrick Kennedy at @bristolbiosci.bsky.social (with me as friendly 2nd supervisor down the road in @crab-exeter.bsky.social). Network cognition, cooperation, competition...what's not to like?
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Funded PhD NERC GW4+ DLTP - Social monitoring and manipulation of cooperative exchanges at University of Bristol on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - Funded PhD NERC GW4+ DLTP - Social monitoring and manipulation of cooperative exchanges at University of Bristol, listed on FindAPhD.com
www.findaphd.com
November 17, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Apply now for a NERC-funded PhD position with @andyradford.bsky.social & Patrick Kennedy at @bristolbiosci.bsky.social (with me as friendly 2nd supervisor down the road in @crab-exeter.bsky.social). Network cognition, cooperation, competition...what's not to like?
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Reposted by Lauren Brent
Decision-making in slime moulds! Competitively funded PhD project in the UK (lead supervisor Andy Higginson in @crab-exeter.bsky.social, with co-supervisors in Bristol, Exeter and Macquarie, including me!), open to students worldwide. Deadline 3rd December 2025 www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
The influence of variability and information on decision-making at University of Exeter on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - The influence of variability and information on decision-making at University of Exeter, listed on FindAPhD.com
www.findaphd.com
November 12, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Decision-making in slime moulds! Competitively funded PhD project in the UK (lead supervisor Andy Higginson in @crab-exeter.bsky.social, with co-supervisors in Bristol, Exeter and Macquarie, including me!), open to students worldwide. Deadline 3rd December 2025 www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Reposted by Lauren Brent
Behavioral data can be very detailed but are usually aggregated and normalized in ways that smother the dynamics. Ben wrote a continuous-time Markov model to improve on this, and also wrote simulations for exploring and validating pipelines. All the code is here: github.com/BenKawam/ASN...
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 12:05 PM
Behavioral data can be very detailed but are usually aggregated and normalized in ways that smother the dynamics. Ben wrote a continuous-time Markov model to improve on this, and also wrote simulations for exploring and validating pipelines. All the code is here: github.com/BenKawam/ASN...
Reposted by Lauren Brent
Looking for a #PhD?
Interested in #SocialBehaviour #BiologicalMarkets #Fieldwork?
Want to be based in #Bristol?
Check out this project with me, @ljnbrent.bsky.social & #PatrickKennedy:
tinyurl.com/aja54nr6
For UK-domiciled Black-heritage applicants
Get in touch for more information
Please #share
Interested in #SocialBehaviour #BiologicalMarkets #Fieldwork?
Want to be based in #Bristol?
Check out this project with me, @ljnbrent.bsky.social & #PatrickKennedy:
tinyurl.com/aja54nr6
For UK-domiciled Black-heritage applicants
Get in touch for more information
Please #share
Funded PhD open to UK-domiciled, home fee applicants of Black African, Black Caribbean or other Black or mixed Black heritage - Biological market monitoring and manipulation in social animals at Unive...
PhD Project - Funded PhD open to UK-domiciled, home fee applicants of Black African, Black Caribbean or other Black or mixed Black heritage - Biological market monitoring and manipulation in social an...
www.findaphd.com
October 24, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Looking for a #PhD?
Interested in #SocialBehaviour #BiologicalMarkets #Fieldwork?
Want to be based in #Bristol?
Check out this project with me, @ljnbrent.bsky.social & #PatrickKennedy:
tinyurl.com/aja54nr6
For UK-domiciled Black-heritage applicants
Get in touch for more information
Please #share
Interested in #SocialBehaviour #BiologicalMarkets #Fieldwork?
Want to be based in #Bristol?
Check out this project with me, @ljnbrent.bsky.social & #PatrickKennedy:
tinyurl.com/aja54nr6
For UK-domiciled Black-heritage applicants
Get in touch for more information
Please #share
the IUCN have passed the Longevity Conservation motion put forward to them by @kellerfish.bsky.social and @pili-scotland.bsky.social and based on the paper we wrote on the value of older individuals in animal societies.
www.cdu.edu.au/news/global-...
www.cdu.edu.au/news/global-...
Global body adopts policy to protect Earth’s old, wise and large animals | Charles Darwin University
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has recognised Charles Darwin University-led research into the Earth’s oldest animals with the adoption of the ‘Longevity Conservation’ global...
www.cdu.edu.au
October 24, 2025 at 8:28 AM
the IUCN have passed the Longevity Conservation motion put forward to them by @kellerfish.bsky.social and @pili-scotland.bsky.social and based on the paper we wrote on the value of older individuals in animal societies.
www.cdu.edu.au/news/global-...
www.cdu.edu.au/news/global-...
Reposted by Lauren Brent
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...
For what seems like forever, I've wanted to know what benefits we get from our friends - or in other words, why these relationships evolved.
tinyurl.com/55dnkeh7
tinyurl.com/55dnkeh7
Quality, quantity, and the adaptive function of social relationships
Affiliative social relationships have clear links to fitness in many species, yet
exactly why that is the case remains elusive. We unify theory from socioecology and
network science to set forth testa...
tinyurl.com
October 16, 2025 at 8:43 AM
For what seems like forever, I've wanted to know what benefits we get from our friends - or in other words, why these relationships evolved.
tinyurl.com/55dnkeh7
tinyurl.com/55dnkeh7
Reposted by Lauren Brent
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 Lauren Brent
@biodiversityguy.bsky.social @euanritchie.bsky.social @ljnbrent.bsky.social @pili-scotland.bsky.social @chrisjolly.bsky.social @charlesdarwinuni.bsky.social @rarlinghausfish.bsky.social @shoalorg.bsky.social @sharkscience.bsky.social @amfisheriessoc.bsky.social @fishconserve.bsky.social
If you are a voting member of the IUCN - please consider supporting our motion (113) for Longevity Conservation at the Congress this week
@iucnshark.bsky.social @aciucn.bsky.social @iucn-bctf.bsky.social @sscmarine.bsky.social
iucncongress2025.org/assembly/mot...
@iucnshark.bsky.social @aciucn.bsky.social @iucn-bctf.bsky.social @sscmarine.bsky.social
iucncongress2025.org/assembly/mot...
MOTION 113
iucncongress2025.org
October 12, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Reposted by Lauren Brent
If you are a voting member of the IUCN - please consider supporting our motion (113) for Longevity Conservation at the Congress this week
@iucnshark.bsky.social @aciucn.bsky.social @iucn-bctf.bsky.social @sscmarine.bsky.social
iucncongress2025.org/assembly/mot...
@iucnshark.bsky.social @aciucn.bsky.social @iucn-bctf.bsky.social @sscmarine.bsky.social
iucncongress2025.org/assembly/mot...
MOTION 113
iucncongress2025.org
October 12, 2025 at 1:59 PM
If you are a voting member of the IUCN - please consider supporting our motion (113) for Longevity Conservation at the Congress this week
@iucnshark.bsky.social @aciucn.bsky.social @iucn-bctf.bsky.social @sscmarine.bsky.social
iucncongress2025.org/assembly/mot...
@iucnshark.bsky.social @aciucn.bsky.social @iucn-bctf.bsky.social @sscmarine.bsky.social
iucncongress2025.org/assembly/mot...
Postdoc job alert! We are hiring a NYU-based postdoc to work on our project on the social and environmental determinants of aging. The 3 year post will be based in James Higham's lab and will focus on endocrine, immune, and inflammatory aspects of aging. Please share! apply.interfolio.com/173938
Apply - Interfolio
{{$ctrl.$state.data.pageTitle}} - Apply - Interfolio
apply.interfolio.com
September 22, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Postdoc job alert! We are hiring a NYU-based postdoc to work on our project on the social and environmental determinants of aging. The 3 year post will be based in James Higham's lab and will focus on endocrine, immune, and inflammatory aspects of aging. Please share! apply.interfolio.com/173938
Reposted by Lauren Brent
Are you studying animal sociality? Confused about the "non-independence" of social network data: what on earth are they? are they threatening your results? should you attempt to get rid of them?
A thread summarising a part of our new paper (ecoevorxiv.org/repository/v...).
A thread summarising a part of our new paper (ecoevorxiv.org/repository/v...).
Five misunderstandings in animal social network analysis
ecoevorxiv.org
September 4, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Are you studying animal sociality? Confused about the "non-independence" of social network data: what on earth are they? are they threatening your results? should you attempt to get rid of them?
A thread summarising a part of our new paper (ecoevorxiv.org/repository/v...).
A thread summarising a part of our new paper (ecoevorxiv.org/repository/v...).
Survey alert! If you're a social behavioural ecologist, please fill in our survey aimed at gauging interest in, barriers and solutions to, comparative social behaviour research. Thanks! forms.gle/KZJDMtLCJhvY...
August 31, 2025 at 3:18 AM
Survey alert! If you're a social behavioural ecologist, please fill in our survey aimed at gauging interest in, barriers and solutions to, comparative social behaviour research. Thanks! forms.gle/KZJDMtLCJhvY...
Reposted by Lauren Brent
😎😎 symposium and discussion on comparative studies in animal behaviour, organized by @delphinedemoor.bsky.social, @ljnbrent.bsky.social & Anindya Sinha at @behaviour2025.bsky.social ! Was a pleasure to be part of a 👌 speaker lineup, & present my work on interspecific variation in 🐵 social behaviour!
Thank you to everyone who joined our symposium on comparative research in animal behaviour at @behaviour2025.bsky.social! It was great to see such interest & the discussions happening right after the symposium! Looking forward to continue the discussion! 🐅🦍🐍🐋🦘🦚🦏🐫
@asab.org
@asab.org
August 30, 2025 at 11:22 AM
😎😎 symposium and discussion on comparative studies in animal behaviour, organized by @delphinedemoor.bsky.social, @ljnbrent.bsky.social & Anindya Sinha at @behaviour2025.bsky.social ! Was a pleasure to be part of a 👌 speaker lineup, & present my work on interspecific variation in 🐵 social behaviour!
Animal Behaviour from Exeter and Bristol, plus some of our alumni, went to @behaviour2025.bsky.social in Kolkata and had mountains of rice. @crab-exeter.bsky.social @bristolbiosci.bsky.social @uniexecec.bsky.social
August 27, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Animal Behaviour from Exeter and Bristol, plus some of our alumni, went to @behaviour2025.bsky.social in Kolkata and had mountains of rice. @crab-exeter.bsky.social @bristolbiosci.bsky.social @uniexecec.bsky.social
Looking forward to another gathering of MacaqueNet! In India no less, home of the best ever macaque: the rhesu....haha just kidding, the lion-tailed, obviously.
Hope to see lots of you there!
Hope to see lots of you there!
🎉 Just days to go until our MacaqueNet Workshop in Kolkata!
🗓️ Sun 24 Aug | 13:00–16:00 IST
✨ Open to all (online & in-person)
📋 Members-only Board Meeting (16:00–17:00)
🍽️ Optional Dinner
View the schedule & signup now via our website: macaquenet.github.io/symposia/
#MacaqueNet #Behaviour2025
🗓️ Sun 24 Aug | 13:00–16:00 IST
✨ Open to all (online & in-person)
📋 Members-only Board Meeting (16:00–17:00)
🍽️ Optional Dinner
View the schedule & signup now via our website: macaquenet.github.io/symposia/
#MacaqueNet #Behaviour2025
August 19, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Looking forward to another gathering of MacaqueNet! In India no less, home of the best ever macaque: the rhesu....haha just kidding, the lion-tailed, obviously.
Hope to see lots of you there!
Hope to see lots of you there!
Going to @behaviour2025.bsky.social in Kolkata? Join us for Weaving the MacaqueNet 3.0, our third workshop for this big team science & community initiative behaviourindia2025.in/workshops.html. Members + non-members welcome! Get your very own sticker and be as happy as @macaelaskelton.bsky.social!
August 7, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Going to @behaviour2025.bsky.social in Kolkata? Join us for Weaving the MacaqueNet 3.0, our third workshop for this big team science & community initiative behaviourindia2025.in/workshops.html. Members + non-members welcome! Get your very own sticker and be as happy as @macaelaskelton.bsky.social!
I learned a lot working on this new paper with this group of network scientists, sociologists, anthropologists and behavioural ecologists. We're hoping it helps anyone who feels (understandably!) lost in the animal social networks weeds.
🐒🕸️ 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 6, 2025 at 2:39 PM
I learned a lot working on this new paper with this group of network scientists, sociologists, anthropologists and behavioural ecologists. We're hoping it helps anyone who feels (understandably!) lost in the animal social networks weeds.
the journal Animal Behaviour, which is run by @asab.org, is looking to hire a new Managing Editor. Please share advert with folks with a Life Sciences degree (ideally postgrad) who might be interested www.asab.org/opportunities
Opportunities — ASAB
www.asab.org
July 4, 2025 at 12:44 PM
the journal Animal Behaviour, which is run by @asab.org, is looking to hire a new Managing Editor. Please share advert with folks with a Life Sciences degree (ideally postgrad) who might be interested www.asab.org/opportunities
Reposted by Lauren Brent
Postdoc job alert! I'm hiring a 3-yr postdoc to work on our Social Modifiers of Primate Lifespans grant. Job info and how to apply below. Deadline June 1. Pls share! jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecr...
Powered by MHR
jobs.exeter.ac.uk
May 2, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Postdoc job alert! I'm hiring a 3-yr postdoc to work on our Social Modifiers of Primate Lifespans grant. Job info and how to apply below. Deadline June 1. Pls share! jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecr...
Less than 2 weeks left to apply for this! Come join us in @crab-exeter.bsky.social and as part of team MacaqueNet, to do some comparative social network and life-history research 🤩
Postdoc job alert! I'm hiring a 3-yr postdoc to work on our Social Modifiers of Primate Lifespans grant. Job info and how to apply below. Deadline June 1. Pls share! jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecr...
Powered by MHR
jobs.exeter.ac.uk
May 20, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Less than 2 weeks left to apply for this! Come join us in @crab-exeter.bsky.social and as part of team MacaqueNet, to do some comparative social network and life-history research 🤩
I'm guessing this is probably very well worth the read! onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
Ecology needs a causal overhaul
Ecology has yet to embrace causal inference, yet most questions in ecology are causal. Despite the common use of terms that imply causation, such as “shapes”, “drives”, or “impacts”, many studies shy...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
May 15, 2025 at 12:54 PM
I'm guessing this is probably very well worth the read! onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
How good is it to get work with this lovely group of people in @crab-exeter.bsky.social every day? Answer: really really good!
May 13, 2025 at 1:50 PM
How good is it to get work with this lovely group of people in @crab-exeter.bsky.social every day? Answer: really really good!
Reposted by Lauren Brent
#VoxPrimato #postdoc
offre de postdoc "Social Modifiers of Primate Lifespans" pour 3 ans à l'Université d'Exeter au Royaume-Uni avec Lauren Brent et collègues du Centre de Recherche pour le Comportement Animal
date limite 01/06/2025
👇
offre de postdoc "Social Modifiers of Primate Lifespans" pour 3 ans à l'Université d'Exeter au Royaume-Uni avec Lauren Brent et collègues du Centre de Recherche pour le Comportement Animal
date limite 01/06/2025
👇
Postdoc job alert! I'm hiring a 3-yr postdoc to work on our Social Modifiers of Primate Lifespans grant. Job info and how to apply below. Deadline June 1. Pls share! jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecr...
Powered by MHR
jobs.exeter.ac.uk
May 6, 2025 at 9:48 AM
#VoxPrimato #postdoc
offre de postdoc "Social Modifiers of Primate Lifespans" pour 3 ans à l'Université d'Exeter au Royaume-Uni avec Lauren Brent et collègues du Centre de Recherche pour le Comportement Animal
date limite 01/06/2025
👇
offre de postdoc "Social Modifiers of Primate Lifespans" pour 3 ans à l'Université d'Exeter au Royaume-Uni avec Lauren Brent et collègues du Centre de Recherche pour le Comportement Animal
date limite 01/06/2025
👇