Huilian Sophie Qiu

Junior Group Leader, Network Research Group, University of Göttingen

Incoming Assistant Professor, HKUST (Guangzhou), Fall 2026

I develop computational methods to understand how language and social structures shape scientific innovation. My research combines natural language processing, computational social science, network science, and software engineering to study scientific communication, funding, collaboration, and technological innovation. My work has appeared in PNAS, JAMA Network Open, and ICSE, where I received an ACM SIGSOFT Distinguished Paper Award.

Google Scholar | GitHub | Ph.D. Thesis

AI for Science and Innovation

Developing computational and AI-based methods to understand and support scientific discovery, evaluation, and innovation.

Scientific Communication

Studying how language influences scientific funding, peer review, and the adoption of innovative ideas.

Open-Source Communities

Examining collaboration, participation, communication, social capital, and community health in open-source software ecosystems.

Computational Social Science

Applying natural language processing, network analysis, machine learning, and statistical methods to large-scale behavioral data.

I welcome applications from students interested in using computational methods to study science, innovation, online communities, and human-centered AI.

Research Areas

• Natural language processing and large language models for science and innovation
• Computational social science and large-scale behavioral data analysis
• Open-source software communities and developer participation

What I Expect

• Intellectual curiosity, independence, persistence, and a willingness to learn
• Strong English proficiency
• The ability to conduct independent research without relying on AI tools

Applicants may come from computer science, data science, information systems, computational social science, management science, communication, or related fields. Experience with natural language processing, machine learning, statistical modeling, or network analysis is helpful but not required for every project.

Before Contacting Me

Please read several of my recent papers and explain how your research interests connect with my work. Generic emails that do not describe a specific research connection are unlikely to receive a response.

Please include:

• A concise description of your research interests
• An explanation of why you would like to work with me
• Your curriculum vitae

Admission decisions are made through the university's formal application process. An email exchange does not constitute an offer of admission.

Before joining the University of Göttingen, I was a Research Assistant Professor and previously a postdoctoral fellow at the Northwestern Institute on Complex Systems at Northwestern University, where I worked with Prof. Brian Uzzi.

I received my Ph.D. in Societal Computing from Carnegie Mellon University, advised by Prof. Bogdan Vasilescu. I earned a master's degree in Computer Science from Princeton University and bachelor's degrees in Computer Science and East Asian Studies from Brown University.