Babak Heydari visited IIASA

Abstract

Design and policy decisions for many socio-technical systems involve determining the connectivity structure that maximizes the utility of individual agents or that of the system as a whole. To do this, we need to develop theoretical and computational frameworks for deciding about connectivity structure in Heterogeneous Complex Networked Systems (HCNS). The talk will give an overview of our research efforts on three tracks, related to this topic: The first track is Establishing methods to determine efficient and stable structures for HCNS using analytical solutions based on strategic network formation methods, for low heterogeneity systems, as well as Agent-Based Modeling and Simulation, for arbitrary levels of heterogeneity. The other track is determining common structural characteristics of these networks as a function of systems heterogeneity, with a special emphasis on network modularity, demonstrated by our research as the key system-level parameter that varies with overall heterogeneity.  Finally, we will look at the structural parameters that affect the overall behavior system through collective norms, by focusing on emergence of cooperation, coordination and trust as a function of network structure.

Babak Heydari is a faculty at the School of Systems and Enterprises, at Stevens Institute of Technology and director of Complex Evolving Networked Systems Lab. He holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering from University of California at Berkeley with a minor in management and economics and has three years of industry experience in Silicon Valley. Dr. Heydari has a diverse set of research interests and academic backgrounds and does interdisciplinary research at the intersection of engineering, economics and systems sciences. His current research, is on developing model-driven approach in analysis, design and governance of complex Networked systems. His research interests are network resource sharing formation and diffusion of collective behavior, modularity, emergence and evolution of collective behavior and the co-evolution of structure and behavior in complex networks. His research has been funded by NSF, DARPA, INCOSE, SERC and a number of private corporations. Prof. Heydari is the recipient of NSF CAREER Award in 2016.