Interdisciplinary Training in
Complex Networks and Systems

Current Projects

When is the whole greater than the sum of its parts? Thomas is interested in using information theory to understand the emergence of higher-order interactions in a variety of complex systems, including neural, cognitive, and social systems. They are also interested in how these higher-order dynamics can complicate using network models for complex systems and how higher-order structures such as hypergraphs and simplicial complexes can enhance our ability to model systems displaying emergent properties. They hope that understanding higher-order information dynamics can help us better understand “computation” in complex systems. For their PhD thesis work, Thomas is working with Dr. Olaf Sporns and Dr. John Beggs on understanding how biological processes in the nervous system can generate higher-order dynamics: by treating in vitro neural cultures with the serotonergic agonist N,N-dipropyltryptamine and recording on-going spiking dynamics, Thomas hopes to uncover how biological interactions at the level of synapses and receptors can influence the computational dynamics of the whole neural system.