Undergraduate and post-graduate students are encouraged to apply for short-term projects and internships. However, keeping the pandemic in mind, the dog lab will be hosting it virtually.
Write to abhadra@iiserkol.ac.in , with a short essay (<800 words) outlining why you want to join the lab and your CV attached. Please apply only if you are willing to undertake field-work, which is tiresome and are comfortable with street dogs, which is mandatory.
Individuals who are scared or uncomfortable with dogs are 'strongly discouraged' to apply.
The Dog Lab welcomes applications under the NPDF scheme of SERB. If you are a PhD (or have submitted your thesis), with an interest in behaviour/ecology/cognition and like dogs, consider joining us!
Check this link for details of the application process - https://www.serbonline.in/SERB/npdf?HomePage=New
Street dogs and other scavenging animals (stray cats for example) are known to depend on humans for their sustenance. Now that the entire world is under a lock-down, eateries are closed (hence no waste/fresh garbage dumps) and there are not many humans on the road (hence absence of kind feeders), we are curious about the strategies these scavengers will take up.
Individuals of all age-groups, residing anywhere in the world are encouraged to participate.
The rules are simple:
Do not step outside your houses, but be on the look out from your balconies, porches and gardens and see if you notice street dogs or any other stray scavenging animals engaging in peculiar behaviours. Some examples are - rummaging through old garbage dumps, trying to sneak into houses, hunting small animals and fowl, chewing on in-edibles (paper, cloth, plastic) etc.
Video-record the behaviour. The video should be at least 10 minutes long. (It may be shorter if the dog runs away or stops displaying the behaviour). Speak out the date, time and location after you begin recording, so that these details get integrated into the video.
Upload the video on YouTube. Use #bonkerscavengers in the description, along with specifying the date, time and location. This is mandatory! Additionally you can describe the behaviour in your own words in the video description. Get in touch with us for assistance or ask someone who can help you with an YouTube upload.
If you share the video on any other social media platforms, remember to use #bonkerscavengers . Alternatively, you can send it to the Dog Lab Facebook page : https://www.facebook.com/iiserkDogLab/
We will get in touch with you if we need further information.
Also, please be nice to these animals and feed them later by throwing edibles towards them from your balconies (you can record and upload that too!). They might face starvation during these lock-down days and unlike us, they cannot stock-up edibles!
You can now be a part of the Dog Lab's research proceedings, even without applying for an internship or project. Individuals of all age-groups, residing anywhere in the world can get involved. Minors (age<18 years old) will need to send a letter of 'permission granted' from their parents or school principals. School students are strongly encouraged to apply.
Write to abhadra@iiserkol.ac.in expressing your interest to be associated with the project. You will then be provided with the necessary information.