Bogdan State

Bogdan State is a Lecturer (Teaching) at the School of Information Management, Victoria University of Wellington. He specializes in computational social science with a focus on the intersection between computer science and social sciences. His academic journey includes MA and PhD degrees in Sociology and an MS in Computer Science from Stanford University, plus a BA in History and Sociology from Amherst College. After 12 years working as a data scientist in Silicon Valley companies, he returned to academia full-time in 2025.

His research interests center on the complex interaction between computers and social systems. Key areas include using digital trace data to understand social phenomena like migration, examining the geography of social networks, analyzing social ties at micro-sociological levels, developing socio-technical perspectives on recommender systems, and investigating human-AI interaction differences. Recently, he has developed interest in information behavior and risk management in wilderness settings through his involvement in New Zealand's outdoor community.

His publication record demonstrates a consistent focus on digital methods for understanding social phenomena. His work spans computational social science, network analysis, migration studies, and digital demography. His most recent research shows increasing application of advanced computational methods to ecological monitoring and forest canopy analysis, while maintaining his core focus on social network structures and digital communication patterns.

At Victoria University of Wellington, Dr. State teaches in the Master of Professional Business Analytics (MBUA) programme, focusing on courses that build real-world analytical skills and introduce students to data science. His teaching portfolio includes courses such as Data, Analytics & Insights; Business Analysis Project; Digital Innovation and Strategy; and Communication and Critical Thinking in Information Management. He returned to academia full-time in 2025 after his industry experience, bringing practical data science expertise to his teaching.

Dr. State maintains an active presence in computational social science research, with publications appearing in journals like Social Networks, Social Psychology Quarterly, and PLOS ONE, as well as major conference proceedings including WWW and ICWSM. His work bridges theoretical social science with practical computational methods, making significant contributions to understanding how digital technologies shape and reflect social structures.