Team
MAURIZIO PORFIRI
Principal Investigator
New York University, Tandon School of Engineering
Institute Professor, Center for Urban Science and Progress, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and Department of Biomedical Engineering
Maurizio is the director of the Center for Urban Science and Progress and an Institute Professor in the Departments of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, and Civil and Urban Engineering at New York University Tandon School of Engineering. He is engaged in research on dynamical systems theory, mechanics of advanced materials, and underwater robotics. He received M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Engineering Mechanics from Virginia Tech, as well as a “Laurea” in Electrical Engineering and a Ph.D. in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics from the University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Italy.
He serves the role of the Principal Investigator of the project, leading the NYU team and coordinating the research efforts of all the teams.
Principal Investigator
New York University, Tandon School of Engineering
Institute Professor, Center for Urban Science and Progress, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and Department of Biomedical Engineering
Maurizio is the director of the Center for Urban Science and Progress and an Institute Professor in the Departments of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, and Civil and Urban Engineering at New York University Tandon School of Engineering. He is engaged in research on dynamical systems theory, mechanics of advanced materials, and underwater robotics. He received M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Engineering Mechanics from Virginia Tech, as well as a “Laurea” in Electrical Engineering and a Ph.D. in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics from the University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Italy.
He serves the role of the Principal Investigator of the project, leading the NYU team and coordinating the research efforts of all the teams.
IGOR BELYKH
Co-Principal Investigator
Georgia State University, College of Arts and Sciences
Professor, Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Igor is a Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics with a joint appointment at Neuroscience Institute at Georgia State University. He applies a broad range of mathematical tools and computational methods to problems in mathematical neuroscience, biology, and engineering. He received a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from the University of Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, and was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL).
He is leading the GSU team in the collection and statistical analysis of Twitter data, towards an understanding of the socio-spatial relationship between gun purchases, spatial Twitter discourse, and the legal restrictiveness in each state. He is also responsible for agent-based modelling and prediction of the dynamics of gun purchases as a function of peer-pressure, crime rates, and mass media.
Co-Principal Investigator
Georgia State University, College of Arts and Sciences
Professor, Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Igor is a Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics with a joint appointment at Neuroscience Institute at Georgia State University. He applies a broad range of mathematical tools and computational methods to problems in mathematical neuroscience, biology, and engineering. He received a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from the University of Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, and was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL).
He is leading the GSU team in the collection and statistical analysis of Twitter data, towards an understanding of the socio-spatial relationship between gun purchases, spatial Twitter discourse, and the legal restrictiveness in each state. He is also responsible for agent-based modelling and prediction of the dynamics of gun purchases as a function of peer-pressure, crime rates, and mass media.
JAMES MACINKO
Co-Principal Investigator
University of California, Los Angeles, Fielding School of Public Health
Professor, Department of Community Health Sciences and Department of Health Policy and Management
James is a Professor in the Departments of Health Policy and Management and Community Health Sciences at the University in California in Los Angeles, Fielding School of Public Health. His research focuses on health services and policy research with an emphasis on the complexities of the design, implementation, impact, and diffusion of public policies. He earned a M.A. in International Affairs from George Washington University, a Ph.D. in Health and Social Policy from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, was a Robert Wood Johnson Health and Society Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania’s Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, and a Fulbright Scholar at the National School of Public Health in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
He is leading the UCLA team, looking at state- or meso-level influences on firearms, including examination of the adoption, diffusion, and impact of state firearm laws.
Co-Principal Investigator
University of California, Los Angeles, Fielding School of Public Health
Professor, Department of Community Health Sciences and Department of Health Policy and Management
James is a Professor in the Departments of Health Policy and Management and Community Health Sciences at the University in California in Los Angeles, Fielding School of Public Health. His research focuses on health services and policy research with an emphasis on the complexities of the design, implementation, impact, and diffusion of public policies. He earned a M.A. in International Affairs from George Washington University, a Ph.D. in Health and Social Policy from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, was a Robert Wood Johnson Health and Society Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania’s Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, and a Fulbright Scholar at the National School of Public Health in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
He is leading the UCLA team, looking at state- or meso-level influences on firearms, including examination of the adoption, diffusion, and impact of state firearm laws.
ODED NOV
Co-Principal Investigator
New York University, Tandon School of Engineering
Professor, Department of Technology Management and Innovation
Oded is a Professor in the Department of Technology Management and Innovation Technology at New York University Tandon School of Engineering. His research focuses on social computing, human-computer interaction, and the future of work in healthcare. He received a B.A. in Economics and Management from Tel Aviv University, Israel, a M.S. in Management Information Systems from London School of Economics, United Kingdom, and a Ph.D. in Management Information Systems from Cambridge University, United Kingdom.
He is studying the relationship between social media and gun ownership behavior, in collaboration with the other researchers in the team.
Co-Principal Investigator
New York University, Tandon School of Engineering
Professor, Department of Technology Management and Innovation
Oded is a Professor in the Department of Technology Management and Innovation Technology at New York University Tandon School of Engineering. His research focuses on social computing, human-computer interaction, and the future of work in healthcare. He received a B.A. in Economics and Management from Tel Aviv University, Israel, a M.S. in Management Information Systems from London School of Economics, United Kingdom, and a Ph.D. in Management Information Systems from Cambridge University, United Kingdom.
He is studying the relationship between social media and gun ownership behavior, in collaboration with the other researchers in the team.
RIFAT SIPAHI
Co-Principal Investigator
Northeastern University, College of Engineering
Professor, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Rifat is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at Northeastern University. His research interests lie in the wide areas of control systems and mechatronics. He received his B.S. from Technical University of Istanbul, Turkey, M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from University of Connecticut, all in Mechanical Engineering, and was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Universite de Technologie de Compiegne, HeuDiaSyC Labs (CNRS), France.
He is leading the NEU team, focusing on explaining the spatio-temporal patterns of firearm acquisition in the US, and how firearm acquisition among various U.S. states is similar or different.
Co-Principal Investigator
Northeastern University, College of Engineering
Professor, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Rifat is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at Northeastern University. His research interests lie in the wide areas of control systems and mechatronics. He received his B.S. from Technical University of Istanbul, Turkey, M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from University of Connecticut, all in Mechanical Engineering, and was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Universite de Technologie de Compiegne, HeuDiaSyC Labs (CNRS), France.
He is leading the NEU team, focusing on explaining the spatio-temporal patterns of firearm acquisition in the US, and how firearm acquisition among various U.S. states is similar or different.
ANNA SAWULSKA
Project Manager
Anna received her Bachelor’s Degree in English Philology from Marie Curie-Sklodowska University and Master’s Degree in the same field. She has been working as the manager of Prof. Maurizio Porfiri’s Dynamical Systems Laboratory for over a year. Anna is passionate about psychology, photography, graphic design, and all digital media.
She serves as the project manager; she developed and is routinely maintaining the webpage of the project.
Project Manager
Anna received her Bachelor’s Degree in English Philology from Marie Curie-Sklodowska University and Master’s Degree in the same field. She has been working as the manager of Prof. Maurizio Porfiri’s Dynamical Systems Laboratory for over a year. Anna is passionate about psychology, photography, graphic design, and all digital media.
She serves as the project manager; she developed and is routinely maintaining the webpage of the project.
RONI BARAK VENTURA
Postdoctoral Fellow
New York University
Roni received B.Sc. degree in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology from the University of Rochester, and M.Sc. degree in Biomedical Engineering from New York University Tandon School of Engineering, and a Ph.D. degree at New York University Tandon School of Engineering, under the guidance of Professor Maurizio Porfiri. She is currently a Science Analyst at the National Science Foundation. Her research interests include rehabilitation, human-computer interaction, and dynamical systems.
She is currently examining the interplay between mass shootings, media output, and firearm policy, aiming to identify firearm policies that are particularly effective in minimizing firearm violence.
Postdoctoral Fellow
New York University
Roni received B.Sc. degree in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology from the University of Rochester, and M.Sc. degree in Biomedical Engineering from New York University Tandon School of Engineering, and a Ph.D. degree at New York University Tandon School of Engineering, under the guidance of Professor Maurizio Porfiri. She is currently a Science Analyst at the National Science Foundation. Her research interests include rehabilitation, human-computer interaction, and dynamical systems.
She is currently examining the interplay between mass shootings, media output, and firearm policy, aiming to identify firearm policies that are particularly effective in minimizing firearm violence.
DMYTRO BUKHANEVYCH
Assistant Research Scientist
New York University
Dmytro received his B.A. degree in Sociology from Kyiv Polytechnic University and an M.A. in Political Science from Binghamton University. His research interests are in democratization and open data.
He is currently working on Twitter data collection and analysis of U.S. Members of Congress relating to mass shootings and gun violence.
Assistant Research Scientist
New York University
Dmytro received his B.A. degree in Sociology from Kyiv Polytechnic University and an M.A. in Political Science from Binghamton University. His research interests are in democratization and open data.
He is currently working on Twitter data collection and analysis of U.S. Members of Congress relating to mass shootings and gun violence.
KEVIN DALEY
Ph.D. Candidate
Georgia State University
Kevin received his B.Sc. degree in Mathematics from Georgia State University. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. degree at Georgia State University, under the guidance of Professor Igor Belykh. His research interests include data-driven models of human brain, reconstruction of functional connectivity from iEEEG data, neuronal models, and machine learning.
He is currently performing the correlation and statistical analysis of the Twitter data and the dynamics of background checks, as well as the construction of data-enabled mathematical models for the propagation and control of misinformation in social networks.
Ph.D. Candidate
Georgia State University
Kevin received his B.Sc. degree in Mathematics from Georgia State University. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. degree at Georgia State University, under the guidance of Professor Igor Belykh. His research interests include data-driven models of human brain, reconstruction of functional connectivity from iEEEG data, neuronal models, and machine learning.
He is currently performing the correlation and statistical analysis of the Twitter data and the dynamics of background checks, as well as the construction of data-enabled mathematical models for the propagation and control of misinformation in social networks.
RISHITA DAS
Postdoctoral Fellow
New York University
Rishita received her B.Tech. and M.Tech. degree in Aerospace Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur degree, and a Ph.D. degree at Texas A&M University. She is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at New York University Tandon School of Engineering, under the guidance of Professor Maurizio Porfiri. Her research interests include complex systems, dynamical systems theory, and experimental and theoretical mechanics.
She is currently working on understanding the behavior of fame-seeking public mass shooters and elucidating how local violence shapes public opinion toward the police in collaboration with Rayan.
Postdoctoral Fellow
New York University
Rishita received her B.Tech. and M.Tech. degree in Aerospace Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur degree, and a Ph.D. degree at Texas A&M University. She is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at New York University Tandon School of Engineering, under the guidance of Professor Maurizio Porfiri. Her research interests include complex systems, dynamical systems theory, and experimental and theoretical mechanics.
She is currently working on understanding the behavior of fame-seeking public mass shooters and elucidating how local violence shapes public opinion toward the police in collaboration with Rayan.
ANDALIB SAMANDARI
Undergraduate Student
Georgia State University
Andalib is in his senior year of studies for a B.Sc. in Mathematics, minoring in Computer Science at Georgia State University, and works as a Research Assistant to Professor Igor Belykh. His research interests include applied mathematics, machine learning, neuroscience and general intelligence.
He is currently working on an agent-based model of gun prevalence in NYC, as well as statistical analysis of crime and gun data.
Undergraduate Student
Georgia State University
Andalib is in his senior year of studies for a B.Sc. in Mathematics, minoring in Computer Science at Georgia State University, and works as a Research Assistant to Professor Igor Belykh. His research interests include applied mathematics, machine learning, neuroscience and general intelligence.
He is currently working on an agent-based model of gun prevalence in NYC, as well as statistical analysis of crime and gun data.
KEVIN SLOTE
Ph.D. Candidate
Georgia State University
Kevin received his B.Sc. degree in Mathematics from Georgia State University, and his M.Sc. degree in Mathematics from the same university. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. degree at Georgia State University, under the guidance of Professor Igor Belykh. His research interests include complex systems and data science.
He is currently conducting data collection, constructing and administering Mechanical Turk surveys, performing sentiment analysis, and developing predictive models of how individual opinions about firearm safety diffuse across social networks and their consequences on human actions.
Ph.D. Candidate
Georgia State University
Kevin received his B.Sc. degree in Mathematics from Georgia State University, and his M.Sc. degree in Mathematics from the same university. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. degree at Georgia State University, under the guidance of Professor Igor Belykh. His research interests include complex systems and data science.
He is currently conducting data collection, constructing and administering Mechanical Turk surveys, performing sentiment analysis, and developing predictive models of how individual opinions about firearm safety diffuse across social networks and their consequences on human actions.
RAYAN SUCCAR
Ph.D. Candidate
New York University
Rayan received his B.Eng. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Lebanese American University. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. degree at New York University Tandon School of Engineering, under the guidance of Professor Maurizio Porfiri. His research interests include complex systems, dynamical systems theory, and network science.
He is currently working on understanding the behavior of fame-seeking public mass shooters and elucidating how local violence shapes public opinion toward the police.
Ph.D. Candidate
New York University
Rayan received his B.Eng. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Lebanese American University. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. degree at New York University Tandon School of Engineering, under the guidance of Professor Maurizio Porfiri. His research interests include complex systems, dynamical systems theory, and network science.
He is currently working on understanding the behavior of fame-seeking public mass shooters and elucidating how local violence shapes public opinion toward the police.
POORNA TALKAD SUKUMAR
Postdoctoral Fellow
New York University
Poorna received her Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Engineering from Visvesvaraya Technological University, India, Master’s degree in Mobile and Ubiquitous Computing from Lancaster University, UK, and Ph.D. degree in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Notre Dame. She is currently a Postdoctoral Associate at New York University Tandon School of Engineering, working under the supervision of Professor Oded Nov. Her research interests include human-computer interaction, information visualization, and computer-supported cooperative work.
She is currently studying biases in media visualizations of mass-shooting data and conducting empirical studies to evaluate debiasing strategies for mitigating these biases.
Postdoctoral Fellow
New York University
Poorna received her Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Engineering from Visvesvaraya Technological University, India, Master’s degree in Mobile and Ubiquitous Computing from Lancaster University, UK, and Ph.D. degree in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Notre Dame. She is currently a Postdoctoral Associate at New York University Tandon School of Engineering, working under the supervision of Professor Oded Nov. Her research interests include human-computer interaction, information visualization, and computer-supported cooperative work.
She is currently studying biases in media visualizations of mass-shooting data and conducting empirical studies to evaluate debiasing strategies for mitigating these biases.
XU WANG
Ph.D. Candidate
Northeastern University
Xu received his B.Sc. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Beihang University, and his M.Sc. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Northeastern University. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. degree at Northeastern University, under the guidance of Professor Rifat Sipahi. His research interests include dynamical systems theory.
He is currently working on the analysis of firearm acquisition across US states, focusing on the synchronization of gun purchases and their relationship with the overall political climate.
Ph.D. Candidate
Northeastern University
Xu received his B.Sc. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Beihang University, and his M.Sc. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Northeastern University. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. degree at Northeastern University, under the guidance of Professor Rifat Sipahi. His research interests include dynamical systems theory.
He is currently working on the analysis of firearm acquisition across US states, focusing on the synchronization of gun purchases and their relationship with the overall political climate.