The Science of Networks in Communities (SONIC)

Kellogg Insight has just published a deep dive into groundbreaking research by Noshir Contractor and Leslie DeChurch on how to keep teams functioning effectively during long-duration space missions. For nearly a decade, the researchers have worked with NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration, analyzing data from Earth-based Mars mission simulations in Houston and Moscow. Their models…

Dr. Noshir Contractor, a former president of ICA, is a pioneer in network science, computational social science, and web science. He explores how knowledge networks form and perform across contexts. We’re honoured to have him at the MU–ICA Conference 2025 as an inaugural speaker to unpack the social architecture of the digital infrastructures permeating our world. 📅 MU–ICA Conference on Human & D…

We’re proud to share that Professor Noshir Contractor, Director of the SONIC Research Lab at Northwestern University, delivered a keynote at the 2025 ICA Regional Conference. Conference Theme: Diversity and Globalization of Communication Studies in the Age of Artificial Intelligence Keynote Speech: 🗓 October 21 | 🕑 2:00–2:20 PM |📍 University of Science and Technology of China “Generative AI in Re…

We’re excited to share a new publication co-authored by SONIC’s Director CSCW2025Noshir Contractor, alongside Diego Gomez-Zara, Dr. Liz Gerber, Darren Gergle, Kapil Garg, Ph.D. , and Michael Massimi. Instead of asking “Where should we work?”, this paper argues we should be asking “How can we work more effectively when we’re distributed?” Based on a theoretically grounded survey of 1,526 U.S.-base…

Last week, SONIC Lab had the pleasure of welcoming back Anup S a proud SONIC alum (2010-2017) and Founder of Pyrack Technologies! Anup delivered an inspiring presentation about leveraging artificial intelligence to drive innovation and efficiency through bespoke solutions showcasing how AI continues to shape industries in creative and meaningful ways. It was an honor to have him share his journey…

SONIC Lab started the school year on a high note at the IEMS Welcome Back celebration! We’re proud to share that our very own Megan Chan received the IEMS Teaching Assistant Award for her outstanding contributions during the 2024–2025 academic year. Congratulations, Megan — we’re so lucky to have you on the SONIC team, and we can’t wait to see all that you accomplish this year!

At the NU-Q RAWABET Conference “Shaping the AI-Empowered Future of Knowledge, Scholarship, and Creativity” (September 1–2, 2025), Professor Noshir Contractor delivered a presentation titled “AI-Augmented Scholarly System.” In it, he examined how AI is re-shaping scientific research through two paradigm shifts: altering the very objects of research, such as “algorithmically infused societies,” and…

We’re excited to share the publication of “Leading the crew to Mars: Evidence from NASA HERA analog crews” in Acta Astronautica! This study explores how leadership unfolds in analog space missions, insights that can help prepare for the next bold human endeavor: a mission to Mars. The findings highlight how leadership in extreme environments is dynamic—often shared, sometimes hierarchical, and oc…

Congratulations to the Network Canvas Team — winners of the 2025 William D. Richards, Jr. Software Award! This award honors lifetime achievement in creating publicly available social network analysis software that transforms how we study and understand networks. The Network Canvas Team developed a free, open-source tool for social network data collection, making groundbreaking research more acces…

We are proud to share that Megan Chan presented research at the Academy of Management (AoM) 2025 Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark! Presentation Title: Closing the Loop: Multicommunicating in Multiteam Systems Authors: Chan, M., Carter, D., DeChurch, L., & Contractor, N. Date: July 25–29, 2025 This research explores how multicommunication — managing multiple conversations across teams simultaneou…

Congratulations to Dr. Neelam Modi on her commencement from Northwestern University ! Neelam recently and successfully defended her Ph.D., marking the culmination of years of hard work and dedication. Next, Neelam will be joining Columbia Business School as a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Management Division and the Tamer Institute for Social Enterprise and Climate Change. … Read the rest

Congratulations to Professor Noshir Contractor of Northwestern University on receiving the ICA B. Aubrey Fisher Mentorship Award at the 75th Annual ICA Conference! This prestigious award honors outstanding scholars who serve as exceptional mentors and role models in the field of communication. … Read the rest

On June 9, SONIC Lab and Noshir Contractor were thrilled to welcome back Professor Julia Neidhardt of Technische Universität Wien (TU Wien), who gave a compelling lecture titled “Human-Centered Recommender Systems: Bridging User Modeling and Digital Humanism.” This event was a special homecoming for Prof. … Read the rest

New research by Brian Uzzi, Noshir Contractor, Satyam Mukherjee, and Yun Huang uncovers how recruiting individuals from rival teams can provide a strategic advantage. Analyzing eight seasons of Indian Premier League cricket data, the study found that teams with greater familiarity with opponents were 1.6x more likely to win—highlighting the power of insider knowledge and team dynamics over indivi…

Congratulations to Faith Do , an undergraduate researcher with the SONIC Lab, for winning 2nd place in the Social and Behavioral Sciences category at Northwestern’s Undergraduate Research Expo! 👏 Guided by SONIC PhD student Liangdongsheng (Simon) Liu , Faith’s project— “A Network Analysis of AI Intervention in Human Teams” —examined how AI influences human collaboration through network analysis. …

We are proud to share that Dr. Neelam Modi has successfully defended her dissertation titled “Essays on Network Approaches to Understanding Social Influence.” 🎓 Her committee was chaired by Noshir Contractor and included Dashun Wang and Leslie DeChurch (Northwestern), Johan Koskinen (Stockholm University), and Alina Lungeanu (Northeastern University). … Read the rest

We’re proud to announce that Glenna Wang , a dedicated member of the SONIC Research Group, has been awarded the Burton and Karol Lefkowitz Prize (Division II) during the 2025 Honors Convocation hosted by the Northwestern University School of Communication. This prestigious award celebrates students who exemplify leadership through civic engagement, community service, and efforts to drive social c…

Northwestern’s MS in Communication program proudly presents the Renaissance Leadership Retreat and Certificate , a five-day immersive experience in the heart of Tuscany. This year’s program blends transformative leadership workshops with unforgettable cultural excursions, from vineyard tours and culinary delights to breathtaking landscapes. … Read the rest

Noshir Contractor will be delivering an inaugural address at the ICA India Chapter’s 1st Anniversary Celebration Symposium on April 22, 2025. The event, hosted by the University Department of Extension & Communication at SNDT Women’s University (Juhu Campus, Mumbai), will also feature inaugural remarks from Prof. … Read the rest

The SONIC Lab at Northwestern University is excited to announce the publication of our latest paper: “Modeling the ‘who’ and ‘how’ of social influence in the adoption of health practices” , now out in Social Networks! Co-authored by Neelam Modi , Johan Koskinen, Leslie DeChurch , and Noshir Contractor Using rich social network and behavioral data from two Kenyan communities, this study finds that…