MasterNanosciences, nanotechnologies

The mechanisms by which fish schools self-organize, focusing on the relative contributions of visual and hydrodynamic interactions. Fish are known to coordinate their movements through a combination of visual cues and hydrodynamic signals detected by their sensitive lateral line systems. To explore this dynamics, the study will involve placing fish in a controlled flow environment where their interactions can be manipulated and observed under different conditions. By introducing corridors with transparent walls, the natural hydrodynamic interactions will be disrupted, allowing to isolate and examine the role of visual cues in schooling behavior.

The experimental setup will involve two scenarios: one with the transparent walls, where only visual interactions are possible, and another without the walls, where both visual and hydrodynamic interactions can occur. By comparing the schooling behavior in these two conditions, the project aims to determine whether vision or hydrodynamics plays a more dominant role in the self-organization of fish schools. This comparative analysis will provide insights into the fundamental processes underlying collective behavior in aquatic organisms, potentially informing broader applications in robotics, swarm intelligence, and environmental management.

To help us with this research, we are looking for an intern with strong experimental skills and a keen interest in animal behavior, physics and biomechanics. The ideal candidate should have experience in setting up and conducting controlled experiments, as well as proficiency in data collection and analysis. Familiarity with aquatic systems, fish behavior, or fluid dynamics would be advantageous. The intern will be actively involved in designing the experimental setups, maintaining the flow conditions, and analyzing the behavioral data to draw meaningful conclusions about the interplay between visual and hydrodynamic interactions in fish schooling. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research in a collaborative and multidisciplinary environment.