I am a computational sociologist and a PhD candidate in the dual-title Sociology and Social Data Analytics (STEM) PhD program at The Pennsylvania State University, where I work with Daniel Dellaposta and David Baker.
I use qualitative, quantitative, and computational methods (e.g., agent-based modeling, epidemiological methods, spatial econometrics, machine learning, natural language processing and network analysis, among other techniques) to understand collective behavior (ongoing projects). I usually aim for applying cutting edge methods combined with social theoretical rigor in analyzing unique cases (beyond the US) and original, ‘big’ datasets.
My work has appeared in Nature Scientific Data, Canadian Public Policy, Frontiers in Political Science, Journal of Political Institutions and Political Economy, and Review of Development Economics, and has been featured in U.S.News, Haaretz, The Conversation, EurekAlert!, Cosmos Magazine, Phys.org, and other media outlets.
I am an alumnus of Istanbul Şehir University (RIP), where I studied Political Science, Sociology, and Psychology. I have also spent an exchange semester at the University of Bamberg, Germany. I have an MA in Political Science from the State University of New York at Binghamton (where I received a Dissertation Year Award and taught two original courses).
My MA thesis on the diffusion of lynchings in India has received (1) Huber-Form MA Thesis Award from the Pennsylvania State University, and (2) Robert F. Dentler Student Practitioner Award and (3) Elise Boulding Student Paper Award from the American Sociological Association’s Public Sociology and Sociological Practice, and Peace, War and Social Conflict sections, respectively (other awards and honors).
My dissertation project deals with the dynamics of creativity and innovation (i.e., interaction among the producers, consumers, and evaluators) in cultural markets (i.e., ideas, music, movies, novels, video games, etc.) using original, massive datasets (network ties, text, rankings etc.). Specifically, I deal with questions concerning status dynamics, knowledge spillover, and symbolic boundaries in creative industries. My dissertation committee includes Daniel Dellaposta (Chair), Diane Felmlee, Charles Seguin, and Stephen Humphrey.
I am also a consultant on two public-funded projects in the Arabian Gulf, co-founder of a niche consulting firm, and a start-up distilling specialized Small (≠ Large) Language Models.
You can email me at [email protected] or reach me on Twitter.
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