About me
Vincent Traag
Since 2015 I am a senior researcher at the Centre for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS) of Leiden University in the Netherlands. I am coordinating our Focal Area of Engagement & Inclusion and am leading the flagship project on science in societal contention. At Leiden University, I am the chair of the Ethics Review Committee Social Sciences. Since 2025 I serve as a board member of the International Society for Scientometrics and Informetrics. Finally, I am an Academic Editor at PLOS ONE.
Research Interest
My main interests are mathematical models in the social sciences with a focus on (social) networks, including topics such as complex networks, social influence (as in opinion dynamics and the like), and conflict. In particular, I am interested in how science and society interact on contentious issues. These are research topics where hopefully math can meet the social sciences.
- Science in societal contention Studying science itself helps us understand and improve the science system. I have a particular interest in the role of science in societal contention, especially in public debates and policy making, touching on problems of misinformation, trust in science, and polarisation.
- Network science Networks play a central role in understanding phenomena in science studies and the social sciences more broadly. In the interaction between the various constituent parts emerges new phenomena, which cannot be understood by studying those parts individually. This ranges from understanding structure in networks, such as group formation, to dynamics of information spread.
Education
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PhD in Applied Mathematics
Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, 2013
Thesis: "Algorithms and dynamical models for communities and reputation in social networks". During my PhD I studied methods for detecting communities in complex networks, resulting in a Python software package.
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MSc in Sociology
University of Amsterdam, 2008
Cum laude. Thesis: "Popularity Distributions with Social Influence". Coming from a computer science background, I took up mathematics during my studies in sociology.
Contact
| v.a.traag@cwts.leidenuniv.nl | |
| +31 (0)71 527 3943 | |
| @vtraag@social.cwts.nl | |
| @vtraag.bsky.social | |
| linkedin.com/in/vtraag |
If you want to see me in real life, here's my office at CWTS:
Visiting address
Office B5.31, CWTSWillem Einthoven Building
Kolffpad 1
2333 BN Leiden, the Netherlands
Postal address
CWTSLeiden University
P.O. Box 905
2300 AX Leiden, the Netherlands