Research

My research area is Cooperative Game Theory and its applications in networks. Game theory delves into the dynamics of conflict and cooperation among rational and intelligent decision-makers, employing mathematical principles to dissect complex human interactions. The seminal work of John von Neumann and Oskar Morgenstern, ``The Theory of Games and Economic Behavior," laid the foundation for game theory approximately seventy years ago. Since then, the field has thrived, akin to economics, with contributions from luminaries of the twentieth century, resulting in fifteen Nobel Memorial Prizes in Economic Sciences being awarded from 1994 to 2020.

Game theory describes interactive decision situations through two primary approaches: non-cooperative and cooperative. The non-cooperative approach focuses on individual agents pursuing their objectives, while the cooperative approach considers the collective actions of player groups, known as coalitions. Cooperative game theory, for instance, involves Transferable Utility (TU) games, characterized by players' sets and characteristic functions representing the value generated when coalitions interact. 

In cooperative game theory, determining fair benefit allocations among players within coalitions is a central challenge. Various solution concepts have been proposed based on different fairness notions. However, the Shapley value, introduced by Shapley in 1953, garnered considerable attention.

In recent decades, considerable attention has been devoted to exploring various aspects of cooperative game theory. Despite this progress, numerous significant and applicable domains remain largely unexplored. Notably, we can consider the research addressing cooperative games involving multilateral interactions among players or those incorporating intermediary activities explicitly. Additionally, the application of cooperative game theory to tackle network-related issues has only recently gained traction as a promising avenue for investigation. In my research endeavours, I have sought to fill some of these gaps by delving into specialized cooperative situations that conventional cooperative game frameworks overlook. For instance, I pioneered the examination of cooperative games that account for players' multilateral interactions. 

Moreover, I investigated the role of intermediaries in cooperative games, endeavouring to devise fair allocation rules that incorporate their influence on cooperative behaviour. Furthermore, I discussed solutions for this class of games. Another aspect of my research involved bi-cooperative network games, where I uncovered compelling insights into scenarios where distinct groups within a network support, oppose or remain neutral on an issue.

In a collaborative effort published in "Diagnostics," I collaborated with a multidisciplinary team, including experts from bioinformatics and computer science, to apply the value theory of cooperative games in analyzing genetic data. Our study involved developing a microarray network game by constructing gene co-expression networks. Co-expression networks serve as invaluable tools in molecular biology, elucidating the intricate interactions among genes, proteins, and other molecules within cellular environments under specific biological conditions.

Additionally, I studied probabilistic network games, where networks are formed stochastically independently based on given link formation probabilities. I considered the assumption of independent link formation in network situations.

Publications