Social Science Modeling & Complexity for Ph.D. Students

Program Overview

The Graduate Workshop brings together a group of advanced Ph.D. students and a small faculty for an intensive two-week study of computational social science modeling and complexity. Participants will learn how to apply tools and approaches from complex systems and computation to questions in the social sciences, while advancing their independent research and working collaboratively with fellow participants. The Graduate Workshop convenes in-person and consists of seminars, independent research, formal and informal discussions, and a hackathon-style challenge.

photo credit: Doug Merriam

Dates & Times

May 24 - June 5, 2026

The Graduate Workshop is a full-time (all-day) commitment. All participants are expected to attend the entire program in person and be in-residence full time.

Registration Fee

Registration fee: $2,800. The registration fee for the program covers course-associated costs, materials, and accommodations plus lunch each weekday. Students are responsible for the cost of travel and all other meals during the program.

Participants generally secure funding to attend from multiple sources, including their home institution and third-party funding sources. There is a limited amount of scholarship support available. Once accepted, participants may apply for a partial registration fee waiver from SFI based on need. Every applicant for financial assistance will need to demonstrate that they made substantial efforts to obtain funding elsewhere.

Goals

Collaborate on an intensive, hackathon-style problem as a member of a team composed of fellow program participants.
Advance independent Ph.D. research with guidance from program faculty and insight from peers.
Connect with social scientists interested in computation and complexity and identify future collaborators and colleagues.
Explore a breadth of current topics in computational social science and complexity research.

Audience

Photo Credit: Doug Merriam - 2025 Graduate Workshop cohort with returning alumni and program directors

The Graduate Workshop is aimed at Ph.D. students who ideally have completed a minimum of two years of Ph.D. study (or equivalent research experience) and are actively pursuing thesis research in computational social science. Participation in the workshop is limited to 10 students. Early career researchers including postdocs and new faculty will be considered.

Applicants from any country are welcome. Accepted applicants who are not US citizens or permanent residents will receive assistance with visa sponsorship as appropriate to their individual circumstances.

The Graduate Workshop team is committed to offering programs in which all participants feel valued and supported in their learning journey. We believe that open discourse and the respectful sharing of broad perspectives is essential to meaningful scientific progress, and we welcome you to join us.

Graduate Workshop in Computational Social Science