Innovation E413
82 University Pl
Burlington, VT 05405
United States
- Ph.D. in Physics, 2011–2014, Université Laval in Québec City
- M.Sc. in Physics, 2009–2011, Université Laval in Québec City
- B.Sc. in Physics, 2006–2009, Université Laval in Québec City
- Department of Computer Science
- Vermont Complex Systems Institute
- Translational Global Infectious Disease Research Center
Areas of expertise
Complex systems, Network science, Disease modeling, Nonlinear dynamics, Contagions
BIO
Prof. Laurent Hébert-Dufresne is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Vermont, where he is also affiliated with the Vermont Complex Systems Institute and serves as a Core Director of the Translational Global Infectious Disease Research Center. He is also an affiliate of the Département de Physique at his alma mater, Université Laval in Québec, an External Professor at Complexity Science Hub in Vienna, and an External Professor at the Santa Fe Institute. Laurent joined the University of Vermont in 2018. Prior to that, he completed his B.Sc. (2009), M.Sc. (2011), and Ph.D. (2014) in Physics at Université Laval in his hometown of Québec City. He then held a James S. McDonnell Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship in Complex Systems at the Santa Fe Institute (2014–2016), followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at the Institute for Disease Modeling (2017).
Laurent's research explores and strengthens the foundations of mathematical and computational models of contagion. His work often focuses on the interplay between structure and dynamics in complex systems, such as the co-evolution of institutions with emerging societal challenges like pandemics and climate change. Spanning topics from network science to cultural evolution, his research develops new modeling techniques and frameworks for understanding how ideas, beliefs, behaviors, and diseases spread.
For his efforts, Laurent was awarded the 2026 Young Scientist Award for Socio- and Econophysics, presented by the German Physical Society, and the 2026 Erdős-Rényi Prize from the Network Science Society for his “foundational contributions to the theory of contagion on complex networks…”
Websites
Research Website
The Joint Lab
Courses
- CS/CSYS 6020: Modeling Complex Systems I
- CS/CSYS 6021: Modeling Complex Systems II
Publications
Laurent Hébert-Dufresne's Google Scholar Profile
Awards and Achievements
- NetSci Society — Erdős-Rényi Prize (2026)
- German Physical Society (DPG) — Young Scientist Award for Socio- and Econophysics (2026)
- University of Vermont CEMS Excellence in Research Award (2026)
- American Physical Society — Outstanding Referee (2021)
- International Society for Artificial Life — Award for Exceptional Service (2021)
Bio
Prof. Laurent Hébert-Dufresne is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Vermont, where he is also affiliated with the Vermont Complex Systems Institute and serves as a Core Director of the Translational Global Infectious Disease Research Center. He is also an affiliate of the Département de Physique at his alma mater, Université Laval in Québec, an External Professor at Complexity Science Hub in Vienna, and an External Professor at the Santa Fe Institute. Laurent joined the University of Vermont in 2018. Prior to that, he completed his B.Sc. (2009), M.Sc. (2011), and Ph.D. (2014) in Physics at Université Laval in his hometown of Québec City. He then held a James S. McDonnell Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship in Complex Systems at the Santa Fe Institute (2014–2016), followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at the Institute for Disease Modeling (2017).
Laurent's research explores and strengthens the foundations of mathematical and computational models of contagion. His work often focuses on the interplay between structure and dynamics in complex systems, such as the co-evolution of institutions with emerging societal challenges like pandemics and climate change. Spanning topics from network science to cultural evolution, his research develops new modeling techniques and frameworks for understanding how ideas, beliefs, behaviors, and diseases spread.
For his efforts, Laurent was awarded the 2026 Young Scientist Award for Socio- and Econophysics, presented by the German Physical Society, and the 2026 Erdős-Rényi Prize from the Network Science Society for his “foundational contributions to the theory of contagion on complex networks…”
Websites
Courses
- CS/CSYS 6020: Modeling Complex Systems I
- CS/CSYS 6021: Modeling Complex Systems II
Publications
Awards and Achievements
- NetSci Society — Erdős-Rényi Prize (2026)
- German Physical Society (DPG) — Young Scientist Award for Socio- and Econophysics (2026)
- University of Vermont CEMS Excellence in Research Award (2026)
- American Physical Society — Outstanding Referee (2021)
- International Society for Artificial Life — Award for Exceptional Service (2021)