# David Lazer

> American professor of political science and computer science

**Wikidata**: [Q16731316](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16731316)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Lazer)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/david-lazer

## Summary

David Lazer is a computer scientist, researcher, and political scientist who earned his education at the University of Michigan and Wesleyan University [1][2]. He has been employed at Northeastern University since 2009 [1]. His research spans political communication, computational social science, network science, and organizational behavior studies [3]. He has received the Heinz I. Eulau Award [4].

## Summary
David Lazer is an American professor of political science and computer science who specializes in computational social science and network science. He holds positions at Northeastern University where he conducts research in political communication and organizational behavior studies. He received the prestigious Heinz I. Eulau Award in 2011 for his contributions to political science.

## Biography
- Nationality: United States
- Education: 
  - Bachelor of Arts in economics from Wesleyan University (ended 1988)
  - Doctor of Philosophy in political science from University of Michigan (ended 1966)
- Known for: Computational social science and network science research
- Employer(s): Northeastern University (started 2009), Wesleyan University
- Field(s): Political communication, computational social science, network science, organizational behavior studies

## Contributions
David Lazer has made significant contributions to the intersection of political science and computer science through his work in computational social science. His research focuses on political communication, network science, and organizational behavior studies, bridging traditional political science methodologies with computational approaches. As a professor at Northeastern University since 2009, he has advanced the field of computational social science by applying computer science techniques to understand political phenomena and social networks. His work has been recognized with the Heinz I. Eulau Award in 2011, highlighting his innovative approach to studying political processes through computational methods. Lazer has also mentored doctoral students, including Turkish computer scientist Ata Uslu, contributing to the next generation of researchers in this interdisciplinary field. His research has helped establish computational methods as essential tools for understanding complex political and social systems.

## FAQs
### Q: What fields does David Lazer specialize in?
A: David Lazer specializes in computational social science, network science, political communication, and organizational behavior studies. He combines political science with computer science methodologies.

### Q: Where does David Lazer work?
A: David Lazer is employed at Northeastern University, where he has been since 2009. He has also been affiliated with Wesleyan University.

### Q: What award has David Lazer received?
A: David Lazer received the Heinz I. Eulau Award in 2011, which recognizes outstanding contributions to political science scholarship.

## Why They Matter
David Lazer represents a crucial bridge between traditional political science and modern computational methods, helping to establish computational social science as a legitimate and powerful field of study. His work has demonstrated how computer science techniques can enhance our understanding of political communication, social networks, and organizational behavior, fundamentally changing how researchers approach complex political and social phenomena. By applying computational approaches to political science questions, he has opened new avenues for analyzing large-scale social data and understanding patterns that were previously invisible to traditional research methods. His influence extends beyond his own research through his mentorship of students like Ata Uslu, ensuring that the next generation of scholars continues to develop these interdisciplinary approaches. The recognition he received through the Heinz I. Eulau Award in 2011 validates the importance of his contributions to advancing political science methodology and demonstrates the growing acceptance of computational approaches within the discipline.

## Notable For
• Receiving the Heinz I. Eulau Award in 2011 for outstanding political science scholarship
• Pioneering work in computational social science combining political science and computer science
• Faculty position at Northeastern University since 2009 advancing interdisciplinary research
• Mentoring doctoral students in computational approaches to social science
• Specialization in network science applied to political communication and organizational behavior

## Body
### Academic Career
David Lazer has established himself as a prominent figure in both political science and computer science. He began his academic journey at Wesleyan University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in economics, completing his undergraduate studies in 1988. He then pursued advanced studies at the University of Michigan, where he earned his Doctor of Philosophy in political science, completing his doctoral program in 1966.

### Current Position
Since 2009, Lazer has been affiliated with Northeastern University, where he has developed his expertise in computational social science. His dual appointment reflects his interdisciplinary approach, combining political science with computer science methodologies to address complex social and political questions.

### Research Focus
Lazer's work spans multiple interconnected fields including political communication, computational social science, network science, and organizational behavior studies. His research applies computational methods to understand political processes and social phenomena, representing a cutting-edge approach to traditional political science questions.

### Recognition and Awards
The Heinz I. Eulau Award, which Lazer received in 2011, represents one of the highest honors in political science scholarship. This award recognizes outstanding contributions to the field and validates the importance of his interdisciplinary approach combining computational methods with political science research.

### Mentorship and Influence
Lazer has served as a mentor to doctoral students, including Turkish computer scientist Ata Uslu, demonstrating his commitment to developing the next generation of scholars in computational social science. This mentorship role extends his influence beyond his own research to shape future academic work in the field.

### Digital Presence
Lazer maintains an active scholarly presence online, with a verified Twitter account (@davidlazer) that has grown from approximately 11,411 followers in early 2021 to over 12,699 followers by early 2023, indicating his engagement with broader academic and public discourse.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Person",
  "name": "David Lazer",
  "jobTitle": "Professor of Political Science and Computer Science",
  "worksFor": {"@type": "Organization", "name": "Northeastern University"},
  "nationality": {"@type": "Country", "name": "United States"},
  "alumniOf": [
    {"@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "University of Michigan"},
    {"@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "Wesleyan University"}
  ],
  "knowsAbout": ["Political Science", "Computer Science", "Computational Social Science", "Network Science", "Political Communication"],
  "sameAs": ["https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7264827", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Lazer"],
  "description": "American professor of political science and computer science specializing in computational social science and network science"
}

## References

1. [Source](https://lazerlab.net/file/90330/download?token=PRHWUdHGdq83DCDY34_19-2RGCpinOne0Di_xA35FP8)
2. [Source](https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=gMndACUAAAAJ)
3. [Source](https://cssh.northeastern.edu/faculty/david-lazer/)
4. [Source](https://www.apsanet.org/PROGRAMS/APSA-Awards/Heinz-I-Eulau-Award)
5. [Source](https://www.lazerlab.net/people)
6. Virtual International Authority File
7. CiNii Research
8. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File