Dr. Duncan Watts

Biography

Duncan Watts is a University Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, specializing in Computational Social Science. He is the founder and director of the Computational Social Science Lab, where he fosters integrative thinking and a culture of open science. With a significant focus on mass collaboration and empirical research, Duncan’s work has greatly influenced the study of networks and societal patterns. He is renowned for his pioneering application of data analytics in understanding complex networks and has contributed to numerous publications in prestigious journals. An inductee of the National Academy of Sciences, Duncan's research interests include social dynamics, network theory, and algorithmic bias. He embraces the intersection of social science and computer science and advocates for use-inspired basic scientific research that has practical applications. Duncan completed his PhD at Cornell University and has held various notable positions throughout his career, solidifying his reputation in the field.

Research Interests