David Liben-Nowell

I'm an assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science at Carleton College. My interests are focused on applications of theoretical computer science to problems in a variety of other areas, within and beyond computer science. Currently my research emphasis is on social networks; in the past, I've worked on problems in computational biology, complexity of games, and peer-to-peer systems.

Other interests, just because: Adam Gopnik, coffeeshops, Cornell, Cornell hockey, cricket, crossword puzzles (solving and writing), donuts, Eddie From Ohio, Harry Chapin, Kris Delmhorst, the Magnetic Fields, learning Yiddish, making lists, Quite Interesting, punting (see also someone who's learned a few of my tricks), road biking, Says You!, ultimate.

Teaching:

• 2008–2009: on leave.

• Previous courses.

Research:

• Recent papers:
  • David Liben-Nowell and Jon Kleinberg. Tracing Information Flow on a Global Scale Using Internet Chain-Letter Data. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 105(12):4633–4638, 25 March 2008.

    We are very interested in gathering additional data about the spread of the chain-letter petitions described in this paper. Please visit http://petitions.cs.carleton.edu or http://petitions.cs.cornell.edu to learn more or to help.

  
  
• Complete list of publications.
  
• Current program committees: ADN'08; WWW'09 (social networks and web 2.0 track); WAW'09.
• Past program committees: EC'08; WWW'08.

Advising:

• If you'd like me to write a letter of recommendation for you, please read and follow these instructions.
• If you're an outstanding math/science student interested in the Goldwater or the Churchill, please read the internal Carleton instructions (Churchill, Goldwater) and email for an appointment. (Update: I'm on leave for 2008–2009, so someone else will be available for advising applicants during this year.)

FAQ:

• Q: Hey you! What should I call you?
  A: "David" will do quite nicely, thank you very much. "Dave" is a perfectly fine name, but Dave ain't me. (Thanks to Charles Leiserson for the FAQ idea.)
• Q: Hey you! I'd rather call you Professor/Doctor Liben-Nowell. How is that pronounced?
  A: It's pronounced many different ways, but the correct one rhymes with "ribbon towel."

Contact information:

Department of Computer Science Carleton College One North College St. Northfield, MN 55057

Voice: +1 507 646 4679 Fax: +1 507 646 4312 (For personal email, please use "dlibennowell@" concatenated with "gmail.com".)