Maria Del Rio-Chanona

Maria Del Rio-Chanona is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at University College London (UCL), where she conducts interdisciplinary research at the intersection of network science, machine learning, and economic modeling. She is also a member of the External Faculty at the Complexity Science Hub since January 2025, reflecting her ongoing engagement with complex systems research. Her academic background includes a PhD in Mathematics from the University of Oxford, where she was part of the Institute for New Economic Thinking at the Oxford Martin School, and undergraduate studies in Physics at UNAM, Mexico.

Her research interests center on understanding socioeconomic transformations using computational methods. She specializes in applying Large Language Models (LLMs), Agent-Based Models (ABMs), and network analysis to study the impacts of generative AI, the net-zero transition, and global crises like the COVID-19 pandemic on labor markets, economic resilience, and public discourse. Her work often involves analyzing large-scale digital trace data, including online labor platforms and social media, to uncover behavioral and structural shifts.

The recent publications reveal a consistent focus on labor market dynamics in the face of technological disruption. Her work examines how generative AI reshapes demand for freelance skills, reduces public knowledge sharing on platforms like Stack Overflow, and influences mental health discourse in relation to employment decisions. She also investigates broader economic modeling, including pandemic shock propagation and employment transitions during decarbonization.

Among her scientific recognitions is the Emerging Scientific Award from the Complex Systems Society in 2023. She has collaborated with international policy organizations such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO), underscoring the policy relevance of her research.

Maria Del Rio-Chanona has held prestigious research positions, including as a James S. McDonnell Foundation (JSMF) Postdoctoral Fellow at the Complexity Science Hub and a Visiting Fellow at the Growth Lab, Harvard Kennedy School. These roles have enabled her to lead and contribute to high-impact interdisciplinary projects. While no current advisees are listed, she actively engages with PhD opportunities and interdisciplinary research networks.

She is involved in multiple research initiatives, including the development of HuBERT, an NLP algorithm for extending the Seshat Global History database, and projects studying labor transitions in net-zero scenarios. Her work on the HiST-LLM benchmark for historical knowledge in LLMs highlights her innovative integration of AI with social science.