October 12, 2023
In the Department of Informatics and Networked Systems (DINS), a new cohort of researchers are quietly making novel contributions to the field of human-centered information systems, earning them recognition from both prestigious academic bodies and mainstream journalistic outlets.
Lingfei Wu and Morgan R. Frank, assistant professors, have garnered recognition as emerging voices in the field of computational social science. They have participated in influential academic events hosted by leading institutions such as the Santa Fe Institute, the National Bureau of Economic Research, the Brookings Institution, and numerous others. In doing so, they are cultivating global networks of collaboration and inspiring innovation among their peers.
Lingfei Wu: Exploring Team Innovation at the Foundations of Sciences
How do science and technology advance through effective teamwork? Wu’s research is propelled by this question.
His research harnesses the power of big data analysis, complex networks, and natural language processing techniques to delve into the mechanisms of effective team communication and collaboration that propel scientific breakthroughs. His work has found a home in esteemed journals such as Nature and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and drawn considerable media attention, earning mentions in publications like The New York Times, The Atlantic, Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and more.
Wu's research not only advances knowledge about team dynamics in science but also holds substantial practical implications for science policymakers, research funding managers, and team leaders across academia and industry. Wu has also served as a consultant for organizations such as Novo Nordisk Fonden and the John Templeton Foundation.
Earlier this year, Wu received the esteemed National Science Foundation CAREER Award for his research initiative titled, "How Does Core Scientific Knowledge Advance? Understanding Team Innovation at the Foundations of Sciences." This project, which commenced earlier this spring, is backed by a substantial $565,087 grant and is dedicated to unraveling the intricate roles that research teams fulfill in advancing the foundations of science. More details about the project can be found on Wu's GitHub.
Morgan R. Frank: Navigating the Future of Work in the Age of AI
Frank's research explores the consequences of AI, the future of work, and the socio-economic effects of technological advancements. His work not only sheds light on the nuanced impacts of AI and technology on society but also provides valuable insights for policymakers and industry leaders and navigate them through today’s complex, ever-evolving economic systems. His work has been featured in prestigious journals, including the Proceedings of the National Academy of the Sciences, Nature Machine Intelligence, Science Advance, and has been covered by Fortune, The Conversation, and MIT News.
Frank has received a $194,000 grant from the Heinz Foundation. This award is funding a project studying barriers to achieving a greener economy. Recent US policy aims to transition struggling fossil fuel workers into the new employment opportunities of a nascent green industry. However, these workers are most likely to benefit from these opportunities if retraining requirements are minimal, they are co-located with new jobs, and these opportunities overcome social barriers, including worker identity.
Frank’s research project will address each of these critical dimensions through novel skills and employment data in combination with survey experiments to assess policy alignment with public sentiment. For more details, please visit https://sites.pitt.edu/~mrfrank/.
Discover the Vibrant World of DINS
The Department of Information Science is honored to have Wu and Frank as esteemed members of its faculty. Their contributions to academic events on a global scale exemplify the department's unwavering dedication to pioneering research in computational social science. As emerging leaders in this dynamic field, they stand to exert their influence on the next generation of information scientists and continue to make substantial contributions to the continuously evolving realm of computational social science. For inquiries about educational and research opportunities within DINS, please reach out to Kelly Shaffer at kis9@pitt.edu.