Thanks @sfiscience.bsky.social for an accessible coverage of our paper!
Through modeling the growth process and empirically estimating key parameters, we find that while systems differ in how they add new functions, once a function is introduced, its growth follows a common sublinear preferential attachment process.
New paper in PNAS: We find Heaps' law, empirical regularity first identified in how diversity of vocabulary scales in books, also describes function diversity in cells and many human organizations (with cities being a notable exception). w/ @sfiscience.bsky.social www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Thanks @mitsloan.bsky.social for covering our recent paper on function diversity across complex systems mitsloan.mit.edu/press/new-st...
Vicky C Yang
PhD applications at MIT Sloan are live! Deadline is Dec 1. If you’re excited about social system modeling research and want to work with me or our other fantastic faculty, we’d love to see your application to the system dynamics group!
mitsloan.mit.edu/programs/phd...
Between 1985--2023, MIT's faculty grew 9%. Administrative staff grew 189%. 📈 Why? In new @pnas.org paper, we use dynamical system model to show administrative bloat can emerge without empire-building--just from well-intentioned problem-solving gone awry
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Vicky C Yang
Vicky C Yang
Are you an early-career researcher or research professional with a broad interest in complexity science?
Applications are open for SFI’s 2026 CSSS program, a three-week, in-residence program offering an intensive introduction to complexity science.
Apply by Feb 4, 2026
santafe.edu/csss
Vicky C Yang
Vicky C Yang
Vicky C Yang
Vicky C Yang
Mastering a skill can take decades, but learning unfolds across timescales from moments to days. A new paper by three former SFI postdocs presents a theoretical model of nested timescales of learning, offering a unified, multi-scale account of skill acquisition. www.santafe.edu/news-center/...
