Vivek Hari Sridhar

Born in Chennai/India in 1990.

Vivek Hari Sridhar is a postdoctoral researcher at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior in Konstanz/Germany. A qualified biotechnologist who trained at the Manipal Institute of Technology (2008–2012), he first started his career developing anti-fungal agents for shampoos and conditioners in the R&D division of ITC Limited in Bengaluru/India. He subsequently moved to Europe, where he completed a dual MSc in Evolutionary Biology from Uppsala University in Sweden and the University of Groningen/Netherlands (2013-2015).

After finishing his MSc, Sridhar embarked on a PhD (2015–2021) at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, where he continues to work. Over the course of his academic career, he has studied diverse organisms, including several insects, fish, mollusks, birds, and mammals. His research focuses on understanding diverse aspects of animal life, from their movements and decision-making to exploring ideas of cooperation, beauty and culture in animal societies.

In recognition of his diverse work and the deep connections he drew across a range of biological fields, Sridhar was awarded his PhD summa cum laude and was nominated for the Otto-Hahn medal. He is currently one of the leaders of Project MELA, where he uses UAVs to study the mating preferences of antelopes in India.

Vivek Hari Sridhar’s residence is part of »Field Trip« – a new transdisciplinary residency program and cooperation between Akademie Schloss Solitude and the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior in Konstanz.

During his »Field Trip« at Akademie Schloss Solitude, Sridhar is looking forward to using visual media to tell stories about the natural world and field experiences in wildlife sanctuaries in India.