Education
Undergraduate Research
Faculty in the ICSD often involve undergraduates in their research on topics related to the ICSD. Through these projects students learn about different styles of research from humanities, to social science, to computer science and engineering. Interested students should contact individual faculty in the ICSD to discuss potential projects. Students should also explore undergraduate research opportunities through CMU's Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholar Development and the Dietrich College Undergraduate Research program.
Courses
Grand Challenge Seminar: From Pandemics to Politics: Modeling Complex Social SystemsInstructors: John Miller and Kevin Zollman
Most of the major issues confronting humanity---such as injustice, discrimination, climate change, financial collapse, ecosystem survival, and disease epidemics---are the result of complex social systems. Such systems have multiple interacting parts that create a whole that is radically different from its constituent parts. Unfortunately, traditional scientific methods that focus on reducing systems to their parts and then analyzing each part provide little insight into complex systems. This seminar explores the behavior of complex social systems including issues such as discrimination and injustice. We will explore how to model and understand social issues using various tools such as computation. As part of this class, students will develop their own models of social processes.
Works in Progress Series
Undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral scholars are invited to participate in a regular working group focused on discussing ideas and works in progress. These sessions are reserved for students and postdoctoral fellows to provide a low-stakes environment where they can test new ideas and explore potential collaborations. Students from across the university regularly participate, engaging in discussions on a wide range of topics covered by the ICSD.
Want to participate? Please contact the organizer: Kara Kedrick.
Graduate Student Fellowships
ICSD Graduate Fellowships are designed to support graduate students in developing interdisciplinary research projects. Eligible students must pursue a project that involves collaboration with an ICSD faculty member outside their home department. The student must either be working directly with a Core member or be normally supervised by one.
Projects may address any topic broadly covered by the ICSD. Awards are granted for two years at $3,000 per year, which may be used for summer support, relief from other duties, or research expenses. Students are responsible for coordinating the use of these funds with their primary advisor, host department, and the ICSD.
Interested students should submit a one-page description of their research project via email to the ICSD Director. Faculty may also nominate students. Applications received by February 1 each year will receive full consideration.