C Athena Aktipis

Cooperation and Conflict Across Systems

My research investigates how cooperation and conflict shape systems from human sharing to cells within multicellular bodies.  I use computational modeling, laboratory experiments and fieldwork to better understand these processes and the general principles that operate across cooperative systems. My work addresses both cooperation on small-scales and the problems inherent in scaling-up cooperation to large interconnected complex systems. My contributions to cooperation theory include the Walk Away model of cooperation (showing that conditional movement favors cooperation) and the Need-based Transfers framework for resource sharing (which can outperform strict account-keeping).I have also worked on the applications of cooperation theory to cancer evolution including the role of resource conflict in the evolution of invasion and metastasis.

Department of Psychology Research Lab:  Cooperation and Conflict Lab