Research Group
We study the interplay of dynamics and structure in social and biological systems through the development and analysis of mathematical models. We approach these problems using techniques from dynamical systems, network theory, differential equations, and stochastic processes.
Interested in doing research with me? Read more here.
Current members
Robert Bowden
HMC '25
Opinion dynamics on hypergraphs using sheaf-based techniques
Julianna Schalkwyk
HMC '23
Quantile Deffuant–Weisbuch model of opinion dynamics
Andy Liu
HMC '23
Heterogenous topic interdependencies in models of opinion dynamics
Hector Tierno
HMC '23
Quantile Deffuant–Weisbuch model of opinion dynamics
Emme McMullen
HMC '23
Network models of gender homophily in professional hierarchies
Dr. Heather Zinn Brooks
Principal Investigator
Kerria Pang-Naylor
HMC '25
Generating opinion distributions from data using binary classification models
Collaborators
Paul Bressloff (University of Utah, Mathematics)
Sam Carroll (Luminous Computing, Software Engineer)
Phil Chodrow (Middlebury College, Computer Science)
Lisette de Pillis (Harvey Mudd, Mathematics)
Nina Fefferman (University of Tennessee, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and Mathematics)
Michelle Feng (Caltech, Computing and Mathematical Sciences)
Jamie Haddock (Harvey Mudd, Mathematics)
Abigail Hickok (UCLA, Mathematics)
Maryann Hohn (US Federal Government Analyst)
Sarah Iams (Harvard, Applied Mathematics)
Ruby Kim (University of Michigan, Mathematics)
Yacoub Kureh (UCLA, Mathematics)
Sean Lawley (University of Utah, Mathematics)
Harlin Lee (UCLA, Mathematics)
Lucy Oremland (Skidmore, Mathematics)
Mason Porter (UCLA, Mathematics)
Candice Price (Smith College, Mathematics)
Ami Radunskaya (Pomona College, Mathematics)
Juan Restrepo (CU Boulder, Applied Mathematics)
Joseph Tien (Ohio State, Mathematics)
Alexandria Volkening (Purdue, Mathematics)
Nakeya Williams (US Merchant Marine Academy, Mathematics)
Shelby Wilson (Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Senior Data Scientist)
Lihong Zhao (UC Merced, Applied Mathematics)
Alumni
Ian de Marcellus (HMC '23): Numerical simulations of mean-field Hegselmann–Krause models
Jasper Bown (HMC '24): Strategies for inferring bounded-confidence model parameters
Solomon Valore-Caplan (HMC ’22): Smoothed bounded-confidence opinion dynamics on the complete graph
Phousawanh Peaungvongpakdy (HMC ’22): An adaptive Hegselmann–Krause model of opinion dynamics
Christina Catlett (Scripps ’22): Multilayer network models of pluralistic ignorance
Georgia Pope (HMC ’21): Stability analysis of a mathematical model of hormonal contraception
Siqiao Mu (Caltech): Epidemic dynamics on networks (co-mentors Mason Porter and Franca Hoffmann)
Sujai Hiremath (Caltech): Opinion dynamics and media influence on networks (co-mentor Mason Porter and Franca Hoffmann)
Gabrielle Lorenzi (UCLA): Modeling gender bias and homophily in professional networks (co-mentor Mason Porter)
Alex Pan (Caltech): Opinion formation on networks (co-mentors Mason Porter and Franca Hoffmann)
Zehan Chao (UCLA), Zheyuan Cui (UCLA), Avery Edson (UCLA), Yihuan Huang (UCLA), Cesar Guajardo (SMC), Xingjia Wang (UCLA), Zhanyuan Yin (UCLA): Evaluating effectiveness of the Gang Reduction and Youth Development program with dynamic mode decomposition
Marie Tuft (University of Utah): Quantitative analysis of virus trafficking in a biological cell (co-mentor Sean Lawley)
Oliver Richardson (University of Utah): Modeling learning on neural networks (co-mentor Sean Lawley)
Braden Schaer and Anand Singh (University of Utah): Modeling diffusion of neurotransmitters. (co-mentor Sean Lawley)