Arun Dayanandan is a thesis-based Masters student in the Aquatic Chemical and Behavioural Ecology lab of Concordia University’s Department of Biology under the supervision of Dr. Grant E. Brown. Supported by the Quebec Centre for Biodiversity Science, Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute, and the Fonds de recherche du Quebec – Nature et Technologies (FRQNT), his research experience spans animal behaviour, neuroscience, and plant biology both in the lab and in the field. He is currently studying how elevated predation risk affects mate selection and offspring behaviour in Trinidadian guppies while continuing his research collaborations in forest ecology in India. He is also an avid science communicator, having received fellowships and awards from Concordia International, the International Wildlife Film Festival, Concordia’s School of Graduate Studies, and the Loyola College for Diversity and Sustainability, and has delivered over 30 academic presentations and workshops in ten different countries to hundreds of fellow scientists. Arun’s personal website (http://arundayanandan.com) contains links to his many videos, podcast episodes, and articles.

(high-resolution headshot photo, additional photographs can be found here)

Awards and Honours

  • Concordia School of Graduate Studies Science Captured Award, 2020
  • QCBS Excellence Award, 2019
  • Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute Research Student Fellowship, 2019
  • Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute International Internship Award, 2019
  • FRQNT International Internship Award, 2019
  • IWFF Filmmaker Lab Fellowship, 2017
  • Concordia Graduate Student Association Conference Funding Subsidy, 2017
  • QCBS Intensive Course Award, 2017
  • FRQNT Master’s Scholarship, 2017
  • Graduate Scholarship in Natural Sciences and Engineering, 2017
  • Concordia Faculty of Arts and Science Graduate Fellowship, 2017
  • LCDS Top Graduate Student Presentation, 2017
  • Faculty of Arts and Science Dean’s List, 2016
  • Concordia International Study Abroad Video Contest Winner, 2016
  • Concordia University Undergraduate Student Research Award, 2016
  • MEESR Student Mobility Exchange Bursary, 2015

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