CSSS Alumni Fellowship

Willemien Kets

Willemien Kets is a PhD candidate in Economics at Center, Tilburg University, The Netherlands.

She holds a master degree in chemistry from the University of Nijmegen (The Netherlands). During her undergraduate studies, she specialized in statistical physics (University of Nijmegen) and condensed matter physics (Oxford University). After receiving her degree, she worked as an economist at the Dutch Department of Social Affairs and Employment (disability insurance schemes) and at The Netherlands Bureau of Economic Policy Analysis (international economics and environmental economics). In September 2003, she started her dissertation work at Tilburg University.

Her research concerns social networks, game theory, learning and bounded rationality. She tries to combine insights from the social sciences, most notably game theory and social psychology, with insights from statistical physics, in particular random graph theory. Currently, she is working on the question how individuals form beliefs on the social structure they belong to, and how this influences their behavior. Also, she works on information spreading and exchange on random networks, as well as on strategic network formation under uncertainty. More information, including a list of publications and an overview of work in progress can be found at her home page.