David Sivakoff

David Sivakoff is an Associate Professor at The Ohio State University with a joint appointment in the Department of Statistics and the Department of Mathematics. His research focuses on probability theory, particularly stochastic processes on graphs, including interacting particle systems, cellular automata, and bootstrap percolation models. He explores applications in epidemiology, sociology, and statistical mechanics, with recent work on nucleation phenomena, phase transitions, and network dynamics.

Education: PhD in Applied Mathematics from the University of California, Davis (2010).

Research Interests: His work examines systems like cyclic cellular automata, threshold growth models, and diffusion-limited annihilating systems. He investigates how local rules lead to global patterns, with notable studies on phase transitions in heterogeneous networks and the impact of obstacles on percolation processes. His interdisciplinary collaborations include analyzing information spread in social networks and elite influence on public opinion.

Recent Publications: Key contributions include studies on competing growth models (2024), advantageous mutant spread dynamics (2024), and particle density in annihilating systems (2023). NSF and Simons Foundation funding supports his research.

Teaching: Courses include Probability Theory, Mathematical Statistics, and Real Analysis. Recent classes: Stat 6201 and Math 6251 in Autumn 2024.

Advising: Supervised 11 graduate students across Statistics and Mathematics, including ongoing advisees in both departments. Notable graduates include Hanbaek Lyu (2018) and Nikolas Henderson (2024).

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams on projects like empirical studies of information sources and network change-point detection. Active in conferences like SoCG and IJCAI.