Federico Battiston

Federico Battiston is an Associate Professor of Network Science and Director of the PhD Program in Network Science at Central European University (CEU), the first such program in Europe. He holds a PhD in Applied Mathematics from Queen Mary University of London and degrees in statistical physics from Sapienza University of Rome. His research focuses on network science, complex systems, and computational social science, with contributions in leading journals like Nature Physics, Physical Review Letters, and Science Advances. He coordinates the software project Hypergraphx and was Chair of NetSci2023, the largest Network Science conference. He has received awards including the Complex Systems Society's Junior Award (2022) and the European Physical Society's Early Career Prize (2021).

Education:

• PhD in Applied Mathematics, Queen Mary University of London
• MSc in Theoretical Physics, Sapienza University of Rome
• BSc in Physics, Sapienza University of Rome

Research Interests: Battiston explores generalized network structures (e.g., multilayer and higher-order networks), dynamics on networks (epidemics, social/cultural dynamics, synchronization), and their applications in social systems, neuroscience, and ecology. He emphasizes how network topology influences collective behavior and emergent phenomena.

Key Contributions: His work includes hypergraph modeling, collaboration in escape rooms, and the role of higher-order interactions in brain networks. He co-authored the book Higher-order systems and guest-edited a Focus Collection on higher-order networks in Communications Physics.

Awards & Roles:

• Junior Award of the Complex Systems Society (2022)
• Early Career Prize, European Physical Society (2021)
• Elected Member, Complex Systems Society Council
• Editor, Communications Physics

Advising & Grants: Advised PhD students such as Milan Janosov, Luis Natera, and Rebeka Szabo. Two students received CEU Advanced Awards. His projects include Mapping the Higher-Order Dynamics of Neurodegeneration and DYNASNET.

Labs/Teams: Leads the Hypergraphx team and collaborates on interdisciplinary projects in network science, including ecological networks and urban mobility analysis.