Networks, Computation, and Social Dynamics Lab

From molecular interactions to globe-spanning systems of interpersonal relationships, the Networks, Computation, and Social Dynamics Lab works on a wide range of problems related to social and biophysical networks, statistical and computational methodology, technology, and simulation modeling at multiple scales.  An interdisciplinary group, lab members are drawn from a diverse range of fields including sociology, statistics, computer science, electrical engineering, and chemistry, with active collaborations with researchers in fields including criminology, molecular and organismal biology, communication, and public health.  Current and past research projects have involved topics such as online communication in disasters; social influence and substance use in adolescents; models for protein aggregation and the behavior of intrinsically disordered proteins; the spatial structure of interpersonal networks; enzyme discovery from carnivorous plants; social perception and informant accuracy; uncovering social activity patterns from mobile device data; the molecular adaptations of extremophilic organisms; and improvisation in emergency response.  Key themes in the lab’s work include the cross-application of concepts and methods from different disciplines to gain new insights into the behavior of complex systems, and leveraging advances in computing and information technology to enable innovations in data collection, modeling, and analysis.
The lab focuses on the development and application of formal (i.e., mathematical, computational, and statistical) techniques to the study of social, biophysical, and technical systems, with a particular emphasis on relational structures and dynamics.  Lab members are engaged in research that employs these methods to advance both basic applied research, and in work that uses these approaches to inform policy and technology development.

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  Population Distribution Can Greatly Impact COVID-19 Spread, UCI-led Study FindsOctober 2, 2020
  Contagion disparities can affect perception of risk, demand for healthcare services.
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  NSF Funding for COVID-19 ResearchMarch 24, 2020
  Networks, Computation and Social Dynamics Lab, will study risk communication during COVID-19 pandemic.