Nicholas Alexander Christakis

His work has focused on the structure and function of human social networks, and on the sociology, psychology, biology, and mathematics underlying network formation and operation. This work has produced important findings regarding the deep evolutionary origins of friendship in our species. He has also used observational and experimental approaches to document the social contagion of diverse phenomena, from obesity to happiness to vaccination to cooperation. His group has deployed these insights in large-scale field trials online and around the world in order to develop interventions that enhance the cooperation, coordination, health, and welfare of diverse populations.