George Cantwell
@gcant.bsky.social
Neural network interested in statistics, physics, and computing. Mostly network science. Asst prof @ Cambridge
Reposted by George Cantwell
Can't get over the fact that in the ML literature the act of *sampling* from an inferred model is now called “inference.”
We really are in the worst timeline.
We really are in the worst timeline.
December 8, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Can't get over the fact that in the ML literature the act of *sampling* from an inferred model is now called “inference.”
We really are in the worst timeline.
We really are in the worst timeline.
Reposted by George Cantwell
We are looking for a PhD student to work with us on network science methods for biomedicine. The student can be enrolled in any graduate program. #NetworkMedicine #ComplexSystems.
Now hiring: Research Fellow
Focus: Network models in biomedicine. Redundancy and canalization.
📍 Oeiras, Portugal
🗓 Start date: 02/2026
🔗 cbr.fm.ucp.pt/en/bolsa-inv...
Focus: Network models in biomedicine. Redundancy and canalization.
📍 Oeiras, Portugal
🗓 Start date: 02/2026
🔗 cbr.fm.ucp.pt/en/bolsa-inv...
December 7, 2025 at 9:39 PM
We are looking for a PhD student to work with us on network science methods for biomedicine. The student can be enrolled in any graduate program. #NetworkMedicine #ComplexSystems.
Reposted by George Cantwell
I wrote a blog post about the often stated but never explained assumption that communities in graphs should always be connected.
This is inconsistent with statistical significance and null models that underlie the most widely employed methods.
skewed.de/lab/posts/co...
This is inconsistent with statistical significance and null models that underlie the most widely employed methods.
skewed.de/lab/posts/co...
The perplexing “connected cluster axiom” – Inverse Complexity Lab
Research group on inverse problems in complex systems and network science.
skewed.de
December 4, 2025 at 9:10 PM
I wrote a blog post about the often stated but never explained assumption that communities in graphs should always be connected.
This is inconsistent with statistical significance and null models that underlie the most widely employed methods.
skewed.de/lab/posts/co...
This is inconsistent with statistical significance and null models that underlie the most widely employed methods.
skewed.de/lab/posts/co...
A principled graph embedding that also appears to work well in practice: arxiv.org/abs/2512.02694
Embedding networks with the random walk first return time distribution
We propose the first return time distribution (FRTD) of a random walk as an interpretable and mathematically grounded node embedding. The FRTD assigns a probability mass function to each node, allowin...
arxiv.org
December 4, 2025 at 10:01 AM
A principled graph embedding that also appears to work well in practice: arxiv.org/abs/2512.02694
Reposted by George Cantwell
Our review on multilayer network science is out on the arXiv. Thanks to all collaborators of the AccelNet MultiNet project, great working with you all 🙏 @alexvespi.bsky.social @ymoreno.bsky.social @lordgrilo.bsky.social @anduviera.bsky.social @baronca.bsky.social
arxiv.org/abs/2511.23371
arxiv.org/abs/2511.23371
Multilayer network science: theory, methods, and applications
Multilayer network science has emerged as a central framework for analysing interconnected and interdependent complex systems. Its relevance has grown substantially with the increasing availability of...
arxiv.org
December 1, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Our review on multilayer network science is out on the arXiv. Thanks to all collaborators of the AccelNet MultiNet project, great working with you all 🙏 @alexvespi.bsky.social @ymoreno.bsky.social @lordgrilo.bsky.social @anduviera.bsky.social @baronca.bsky.social
arxiv.org/abs/2511.23371
arxiv.org/abs/2511.23371
Reposted by George Cantwell
Very good post. I very much agree with the overall position.
How can we reform science? I have some ideas. But I am not sure you’ll like them, because they don’t promise much. elevanth.org/blog/2025/07...
Which Kind of Science Reform
What hope is there for science reform, if we can't agree on what to reform? Right now, principles are more important than practices.
elevanth.org
November 8, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Very good post. I very much agree with the overall position.
Reposted by George Cantwell
Excited to introduce Vibes from Meta. Eat your slop, piggies!
September 30, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Excited to introduce Vibes from Meta. Eat your slop, piggies!
Reposted by George Cantwell
Message passing for epidemiological interventions on networks with loops
https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.21596
https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.21596
September 29, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Message passing for epidemiological interventions on networks with loops
https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.21596
https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.21596
Reposted by George Cantwell
Our fall seminar series begins this Thursday, Oct. 2 (4pm UTC+1/11am EDT) with a talk by Elena Candellone. She’ll be speaking about “Mapping extreme users through negative ties in online social interactions”, followed by a discussion on “the joy of planning scientific events”.
September 29, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Our fall seminar series begins this Thursday, Oct. 2 (4pm UTC+1/11am EDT) with a talk by Elena Candellone. She’ll be speaking about “Mapping extreme users through negative ties in online social interactions”, followed by a discussion on “the joy of planning scientific events”.
Reposted by George Cantwell
arXiv alert! 📄🚨
Robustness of small networks
arxiv.org/abs/2509.23670
Great to dust off one of my favorite topics and get to collaborate with the legendary
@aliceschwarze.bsky.social and Peter Mucha
Robustness of small networks
arxiv.org/abs/2509.23670
Great to dust off one of my favorite topics and get to collaborate with the legendary
@aliceschwarze.bsky.social and Peter Mucha
Robustness of 'small' networks
Modeling how networks change under structural perturbations can yield foundational insights into network robustness, which is critical in many real-world applications. The largest connected component ...
arxiv.org
September 30, 2025 at 5:58 AM
arXiv alert! 📄🚨
Robustness of small networks
arxiv.org/abs/2509.23670
Great to dust off one of my favorite topics and get to collaborate with the legendary
@aliceschwarze.bsky.social and Peter Mucha
Robustness of small networks
arxiv.org/abs/2509.23670
Great to dust off one of my favorite topics and get to collaborate with the legendary
@aliceschwarze.bsky.social and Peter Mucha
Reposted by George Cantwell
#SpreadtheWord
We are looking for #PhD candidates passionate about using large-scale data analysis, quantitative models, and complexity science to study the complex interactions within #epidemiology, #OneHealth, and #publichealthsystems.
More info: csh.ac.at/education/gr...
We are looking for #PhD candidates passionate about using large-scale data analysis, quantitative models, and complexity science to study the complex interactions within #epidemiology, #OneHealth, and #publichealthsystems.
More info: csh.ac.at/education/gr...
Graduate Program * Complexity Science Hub
Courses are offered both by CSH and by our partner universities, one of which will serve as the degree-granting entity. Students will be guided to the
csh.ac.at
September 26, 2025 at 7:12 AM
#SpreadtheWord
We are looking for #PhD candidates passionate about using large-scale data analysis, quantitative models, and complexity science to study the complex interactions within #epidemiology, #OneHealth, and #publichealthsystems.
More info: csh.ac.at/education/gr...
We are looking for #PhD candidates passionate about using large-scale data analysis, quantitative models, and complexity science to study the complex interactions within #epidemiology, #OneHealth, and #publichealthsystems.
More info: csh.ac.at/education/gr...
The Probabilistic Systems, Information, and Inference group at the University of Cambridge is seeking applicants for funded PhD positions.
Anyone who wants to study networks/complex systems/statistical physics/inference can email me at gtc31@cam.ac.uk
Anyone who wants to study networks/complex systems/statistical physics/inference can email me at gtc31@cam.ac.uk
September 18, 2025 at 3:33 PM
The Probabilistic Systems, Information, and Inference group at the University of Cambridge is seeking applicants for funded PhD positions.
Anyone who wants to study networks/complex systems/statistical physics/inference can email me at gtc31@cam.ac.uk
Anyone who wants to study networks/complex systems/statistical physics/inference can email me at gtc31@cam.ac.uk
We found a nice way to accurately solve the SIS model. Rather than expanding in space with ever larger moment closures (pairs, triples, ...), we expand in time. No more difficult than pair-approximations yet much more accurate.
arxiv.org/abs/2509.11706
arxiv.org/abs/2509.11706
The threshold and quasi-stationary distribution for the SIS model on networks
We study the Susceptible-Infectious-Susceptible (SIS) model on arbitrary networks. The well-established pair approximation treats neighboring pairs of nodes exactly while making a mean field approxima...
arxiv.org
September 16, 2025 at 11:37 AM
We found a nice way to accurately solve the SIS model. Rather than expanding in space with ever larger moment closures (pairs, triples, ...), we expand in time. No more difficult than pair-approximations yet much more accurate.
arxiv.org/abs/2509.11706
arxiv.org/abs/2509.11706
Reposted by George Cantwell
Strong emergence
‘Booty’ and ‘butt’ are synonyms.
‘Call’ and ‘dial’ are synonyms.
But, a ‘booty call’ and a ‘butt dial’ are VERY different things.
‘Call’ and ‘dial’ are synonyms.
But, a ‘booty call’ and a ‘butt dial’ are VERY different things.
September 12, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Strong emergence
Reposted by George Cantwell
Postdoc job! I expect to have an opening at Johns Hopkins for a postdoctoral researcher working somewhere in the broad realms of physics, philosophy, and complexity. Apply at Academic Jobs Online:
academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30496
academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30496
Johns Hopkins University, Physics and Astronomy
Job #AJO30496, Postdoctoral Fellow in Foundations of Physics, Complexity, and Emergence, Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, US
academicjobsonline.org
September 5, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Postdoc job! I expect to have an opening at Johns Hopkins for a postdoctoral researcher working somewhere in the broad realms of physics, philosophy, and complexity. Apply at Academic Jobs Online:
academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30496
academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30496
Reposted by George Cantwell
Not sure how many scientists here have tried Claude Code or similar command line coding assistants. I had a complicated family property tax problem that was best solved by a brute force Monte Carlo simulation approach, so I spent a few days coding up and analyzing a model with Claude Code.
August 12, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Not sure how many scientists here have tried Claude Code or similar command line coding assistants. I had a complicated family property tax problem that was best solved by a brute force Monte Carlo simulation approach, so I spent a few days coding up and analyzing a model with Claude Code.
Reposted by George Cantwell
Applications are open for SFI's 2026 Complexity Postdoctoral Fellowships
If you’ve recently earned a Ph.D. in any scientific field and want to pursue independent, transdisciplinary research, consider applying.
Deadline: October 1, 2025
Apply here: santafe.edu/sfifellowship
If you’ve recently earned a Ph.D. in any scientific field and want to pursue independent, transdisciplinary research, consider applying.
Deadline: October 1, 2025
Apply here: santafe.edu/sfifellowship
July 28, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Applications are open for SFI's 2026 Complexity Postdoctoral Fellowships
If you’ve recently earned a Ph.D. in any scientific field and want to pursue independent, transdisciplinary research, consider applying.
Deadline: October 1, 2025
Apply here: santafe.edu/sfifellowship
If you’ve recently earned a Ph.D. in any scientific field and want to pursue independent, transdisciplinary research, consider applying.
Deadline: October 1, 2025
Apply here: santafe.edu/sfifellowship
beautiful location for statphys
July 15, 2025 at 2:15 PM
beautiful location for statphys
Reposted by George Cantwell
My talk from
@bioctrl.bsky.social
about the physical origin of agency is uploaded here:
youtube.com/watch?v=YY21...
TLDR: noise equals control. Nature is constantly sampling control trajectories via noise
@bioctrl.bsky.social
about the physical origin of agency is uploaded here:
youtube.com/watch?v=YY21...
TLDR: noise equals control. Nature is constantly sampling control trajectories via noise
Eric De Giuli: Noise equals endogenous control
YouTube video by Biocontrol Seminars
youtube.com
July 9, 2025 at 7:27 PM
My talk from
@bioctrl.bsky.social
about the physical origin of agency is uploaded here:
youtube.com/watch?v=YY21...
TLDR: noise equals control. Nature is constantly sampling control trajectories via noise
@bioctrl.bsky.social
about the physical origin of agency is uploaded here:
youtube.com/watch?v=YY21...
TLDR: noise equals control. Nature is constantly sampling control trajectories via noise
New group name! We are now the "probabilistic systems, information and inference" aka Ψ²
July 8, 2025 at 12:53 PM
New group name! We are now the "probabilistic systems, information and inference" aka Ψ²
The Kac formula says the average return time for a random walker is a wonderfully simple combination of global and local structure: 2m/k_i. Inspired by this result we characterize the full distribution in a similar manner. doi.org/10.1103/Phys...
Approximation for return time distributions of random walks on sparse networks
We propose an approximation for the first return time distribution of random walks on undirected networks. We combine a message-passing solution with a mean-field approximation to account for the shor...
doi.org
June 12, 2025 at 2:07 PM
The Kac formula says the average return time for a random walker is a wonderfully simple combination of global and local structure: 2m/k_i. Inspired by this result we characterize the full distribution in a similar manner. doi.org/10.1103/Phys...
Reposted by George Cantwell
Approximation for return time distributions of random walks on sparse networks link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/...
Approximation for return time distributions of random walks on sparse networks
We propose an approximation for the first return time distribution of random walks on undirected networks. We combine a message-passing solution with a mean-field approximation to account for the shor...
link.aps.org
June 12, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Approximation for return time distributions of random walks on sparse networks link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/...
Reposted by George Cantwell
June 2, 2025 at 4:56 AM
Reposted by George Cantwell
A reader of Free Agents sent me this lovely poem by Jared Anderson... 😊
May 19, 2025 at 9:08 AM
A reader of Free Agents sent me this lovely poem by Jared Anderson... 😊
Reposted by George Cantwell
Funded PhD position available in my group: international applications welcome!
Looking for a student interested in complex systems, dynamics and applications to complex neural systems to join our group in the School of Physics at Sydney University.
Details here: www.sydney.edu.au/scholarships...
Looking for a student interested in complex systems, dynamics and applications to complex neural systems to join our group in the School of Physics at Sydney University.
Details here: www.sydney.edu.au/scholarships...
ARC Postgraduate Research Scholarship
A $40,109 per annum stipend scholarship for research students within the Faculty of Science.
www.sydney.edu.au
May 9, 2025 at 5:30 AM
Funded PhD position available in my group: international applications welcome!
Looking for a student interested in complex systems, dynamics and applications to complex neural systems to join our group in the School of Physics at Sydney University.
Details here: www.sydney.edu.au/scholarships...
Looking for a student interested in complex systems, dynamics and applications to complex neural systems to join our group in the School of Physics at Sydney University.
Details here: www.sydney.edu.au/scholarships...