The People Behind
Complex Discoveries
Our diverse, international community of scholars, researchers, and students represents the collaborative spirit essential to understanding complexity. From renowned faculty to promising graduate students, each member contributes unique perspectives to our collective pursuit of knowledge.
Our Community Philosophy
“The complexity of our research demands the diversity of our minds. We bring together brilliant individuals from different disciplines, cultures, and backgrounds, united by curiosity and the belief that the most profound insights emerge from collaborative thinking.”
— Dr. Elena Kozlova, Director
Faculty Members
Our distinguished faculty bring expertise from diverse fields, united by their commitment to understanding complexity across scales and disciplines.
Director & Professor of Complexity Science
Complexity ScienceEducation
PhD Physics, ETH Zurich, 2008
MS Theoretical Physics, Moscow State University, 2004
Research Areas
Current Research
Universal scaling laws in biological and social networks
Key Achievements
- MacArthur Fellow 2022
- Sloan Research Fellow
Professor & Director of Network Dynamics Lab
Network DynamicsEducation
PhD Applied Mathematics, MIT, 2010
MS Mathematics, American University of Beirut, 2006
Research Areas
Current Research
Cascade failures and resilience in complex infrastructure networks
Key Achievements
- NSF CAREER Award
- IEEE Fellow
Associate Professor
Emergent SystemsEducation
PhD Computer Science, Stanford, 2012
MS Computer Science, University of São Paulo, 2008
Research Areas
Current Research
Emergence of collective intelligence in social and biological systems
Key Achievements
- Sloan Research Fellow
- 28+ papers in PNAS
Professor & Director of Mathematical Modeling Center
Applied MathematicsEducation
PhD Mathematics, Princeton, 2009
MS Applied Mathematics, Cambridge, 2005
Research Areas
Current Research
Mathematical foundations of phase transitions in social opinion dynamics
Key Achievements
- AMS Fellow
- 38+ papers in top venues
Associate Professor
Computational ComplexityEducation
PhD Computer Science, Tsinghua University, 2013
MS Mathematics, Beijing University, 2009
Research Areas
Current Research
Quantum machine learning approaches to complex system analysis
Key Achievements
- Rising Star Award
- 24+ papers in ML conferences
Professor
Systems BiologyEducation
PhD Biophysics, Max Planck Institute, 2007
MS Biology, University of Munich, 2003
Research Areas
Current Research
Complex regulatory networks in cellular systems
Key Achievements
- ERC Starting Grant
- 31+ papers in Cell/Nature
Join Our Faculty
We're always seeking exceptional researchers who share our passion for understanding complexity. Explore current opportunities to join our world-class team.
Researchers & Students
Our vibrant research community includes postdoctoral fellows, research scientists, and graduate students who drive innovation and discovery in complexity science.
Early-career researchers conducting independent research projects
Dr. Sarah Chen
Quantum networks and entanglement dynamics
PhD Physics, Caltech
Supervisor: Dr. Elena Kozlova
Dr. Michael Thompson
Social network evolution and opinion dynamics
PhD Sociology, Oxford
Supervisor: Prof. Ahmed Hassan
Dr. Yuki Tanaka
Biological pattern formation and morphogenesis
PhD Biology, Tokyo University
Supervisor: Prof. Anna Müller
Dr. Luis Rodriguez
Swarm robotics and collective intelligence
PhD Computer Science, MIT
Supervisor: Dr. Maria Santos
Senior researchers leading specialized research programs
Dr. Jennifer Park
Computational methods for complex system analysis
PhD Applied Mathematics, Stanford
Machine Learning & NetworksDr. Roberto Silva
Financial market complexity and systemic risk
PhD Economics, London School of Economics
EconophysicsDr. Fatima Al-Zahra
Climate networks and extreme weather patterns
PhD Atmospheric Physics, UCAR
Climate DynamicsDr. David Kim
Brain networks and cognitive complexity
PhD Neuroscience, Harvard
Computational NeuroscienceGraduate students pursuing doctoral research in complexity science
Recent Publications by Our Researchers
Emergence of Hierarchical Structures in Social Networks
Chen, S., Kozlova, E., et al.
Cascading Failures in Interdependent Infrastructure Networks
Thompson, M., Hassan, A., Rodriguez, L.
Self-Organization in Biological Pattern Formation
Tanaka, Y., Müller, A., Kim, D.
Alumni Success Stories
Our graduates have gone on to faculty positions at leading universities, research roles at top tech companies, and founded startups applying complexity science to real-world problems.
Visiting Scholars Program
We welcome researchers from around the world to join our intellectual community, fostering international collaboration and cross-pollination of ideas in complexity science.
Current Visiting Scholars
University of Tokyo, Japan
Research Focus:
Quantum complexity theory and its applications to biological systems
Collaboration:
Working with Dr. Elena Kozlova on quantum network dynamics
Background:
Leading expert in quantum information theory
45+ papers in quantum complexity
École Normale Supérieure, France
Research Focus:
Mathematical foundations of collective decision-making
Collaboration:
Joint project with Prof. James Williams on opinion dynamics
Background:
Specialist in mathematical sociology and game theory
32+ papers in mathematical sociology
Max Planck Institute, Germany
Research Focus:
Self-organization principles in living and artificial systems
Collaboration:
Research partnership with Dr. Maria Santos on emergent behavior
Background:
Pioneer in self-organization theory
67+ papers in complex systems
Indian Institute of Science, India
Research Focus:
Network resilience in social and technological systems
Collaboration:
Collaborative work with Prof. Ahmed Hassan on infrastructure networks
Background:
Expert in network science and resilience engineering
28+ papers in network theory
Visiting Scholar Programs
For established researchers seeking extended collaboration opportunities
Benefits:
- Office space and laboratory access
- Research funding support
- Collaborative project opportunities
Eligibility:
Senior faculty with established research programs
Applications:
Rolling admissions
For mid-career researchers looking to expand their research horizons
Benefits:
- Workspace and computing resources
- Seminar presentation opportunities
- Access to all institute facilities
Eligibility:
Postdocs and assistant professors
Applications:
Twice yearly (March & September)
For researchers seeking intensive collaboration on specific projects
Benefits:
- Temporary workspace
- Library and computing access
- Networking opportunities
Eligibility:
All career stages welcome
Applications:
Continuous throughout the year
Alumni Success Stories
Prof. Liu Wei
Tsinghua University, China
2022-2023Outcome:
Established joint research program in quantum networks
Impact:
3 Nature papers, $2M joint funding secured
Dr. Emma Thompson
Cambridge University, UK
2021-2022Outcome:
Launched collaboration on social network dynamics
Impact:
5 co-authored papers, ongoing research partnership
Prof. Carlos Mendez
Universidad de Barcelona, Spain
2020-2021Outcome:
Developed new mathematical frameworks for complex systems
Impact:
Book publication, international conference series
Join Our Global Community
Experience the collaborative spirit of IAC and contribute to groundbreaking research in complexity science. Applications are welcomed year-round from researchers at all career stages.