Ahmed El Hady starts as a junior group leader
The cluster advertised a new junior group leader position in The Algorithmic Analysis of Collective Decision-Making. It was aimed at integrative scientists who could bring fundamental theoretical contributions to the study of collective behaviour. After an extensive selection process, the selection committee’s final decision yielded two outstanding candidates with complementary interests: Neurobioligst Ahmed El Hady received own of the positions - the second successful candidate will join the CASCB later this year.
Why did you decide to take up the position of Junior Group Leader at the Cluster of Excellence Collective Behaviour?
Scientifically, the Cluster of Excellence Collective Behaviour is the only place in the world where a large number of researchers are studying collective behaviour in a variety of species and with a variety of approaches, from lab experiments to field studies to computer simulation. Personally, I feel fully integrated in the cluster due to its highly collaborative and supportive nature. I am lucky to be part of this impactful community.
What do you plan to do with your research group?
My working group, called Integrative Biophysics, aims to provide an integrative understanding of a variety of collective phenomena across a variety of levels of biological organizations, specifically social foraging, collective neuronal dynamics, and the emergence of excitability in living systems. My plan is to use a variety of approaches from statistical physics, biophysical modelling, and theory-guided experiments to tackle these foundational questions.