Simon A. Levin

Simon A. Levin is the James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Princeton University and Director of the Center for BioComplexity. He has been at Princeton since 1992 and is a leading figure in theoretical ecology, mathematical biology, and the study of complex systems.

His educational background includes a B.A. from Johns Hopkins University and a Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Maryland. Levin has held numerous prestigious leadership positions including past President of the Ecological Society of America and the Society for Mathematical Biology, past Chair of the Board of the Beijer Institute of Ecological Economics, past Chair of the Council of IIASA, and past Co-Chair of the Science Board of the Santa Fe Institute.

Levin's research focuses on understanding the dynamics of biological diversity at all levels, from molecular diversity of diseases to global ecological and cultural systems. His work explores how diversity is important for humans and socioeconomic mechanisms for sustaining diversity. He combines mathematical modeling with empirical investigations to study biodiversity, biocomplexity, infectious diseases, and the interactions between ecological and socioeconomic systems. A central theme in his work is developing rules for scaling from microscopic to macroscopic levels, from individuals to collectives, and from small to large scales.

His research has significant implications for the management of natural resources and has built important interfaces between theoretical investigations and practical applications. Levin's work on pattern and scale, spatial ecology, and the intersection of ecology and economics has been particularly influential, especially in areas concerning public goods, common pool resources, and the global commons. Recent publications demonstrate his continued leadership in modeling epidemic dynamics coupled with human behavior and understanding ecological community assembly.

• A.H. Heineken Prize for Environmental Sciences
• Kyoto Prize in Basic Sciences
• Margalef Prize
• Sigma Xi's 2025 Gold Key Award

As Director of the Center for BioComplexity at Princeton, Levin leads research on complex systems in ecology and biology. His lab investigates how individual behaviors and collective phenomena interact across scales, with applications to environmental challenges and sustainability. His work has profound implications for understanding how to address global environmental challenges through better understanding of the tension between individual and collective interests, as reflected in his statement: 'We need to take multicellularity to yet a higher level and find the collective Kokoro that is the only hope for the preservation of the planet.'