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/...

Thanks @mitsloan.bsky.social for covering our recent paper on function diversity across complex systems mitsloan.mit.edu/press/new-st...

New study identifies shared mathematical principle linking how cells, companies, and cities diversify | MIT Sloan

New research from MIT Sloan and the Santa Fe Institute shows common patterns in the growth of biological and social systems.

mitsloan.mit.edu

Thanks @sfiscience.bsky.social for an accessible coverage of our paper!

Santa Fe Institute @sfiscience.bsky.social · 6mo ago

A new study by SFI and MIT researchers shows that as systems grow, from cells to governments, the pace of adding new functions steadily slows. Though they vary in how much they invest in novelty, once new functions exist, subsequent growth follows a universal pattern known as sublinear growth.

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/...

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

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...

Application Information | PhD | MIT Sloan

Find information about how to apply to the MIT Sloan PhD Program.

mitsloan.mit.edu

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/...

Excited to share our new paper in NPJ Complexity! We propose a unified, multiscale model of skill acquisition—linking moments to decades. Ideated at the @sfiscience.bsky.social-JSMF conference research jam, and years (many revisions) later, it’s finally out. www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Big thanks to Faye Flam and @bloomberg.com for the thoughtful interview and excellent article on polarization. www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

We Used to Disagree. Now We Don’t Talk to Each Other.

Five years after Covid, America's greatest threat is our divided reality.

bloomberg.com