Robert Faris

Robert Faris is a Professor of Sociology at the University of California, Davis, specializing in social network analysis applied to adolescent health risk behaviors. He investigates bullying, dating violence, substance use, and delinquency within school social hierarchies, revealing how aggression is strategically used to attain social status.

• Education: PhD and MA in Sociology (UNC Chapel Hill), BA in Jackson School of International Studies (University of Washington)

His research focuses on social networks, status dynamics, and structural racism, with recent NIH-funded work examining long-term health impacts of adolescent discrimination. Key projects include the Contexts study tracking 8,000 adolescents over 4 years, and Emmy-winning collaborations with Anderson Cooper 360 on bullying and social media.

Recent publications analyze instrumental cruelty, network stability, and toxic ties in adolescent behavior. Awards include the ASA James F. Short Award, Roger V. Gould Prize, and over $3.8M in grants from NIH and NSF.