Molly King

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I am a sociology PhD student at Stanford. I'm broadly interested in organizations, inequality, complexity, networks, science, knowledge, health, and bioethics.

Broadly, I am interested in information inequality in social systems. I am interested in investigating why people ask the questions they do and the social consequences of asking (or not asking) those questions. I hope to begin to understand the dynamics of information inequality in social networks: Which paths are critical to the flows of information? How can I use natural properties of networks to explain and predict social transmission of key informational resources? Particularly, I hope to investigate organizational membership overlaps as sites where people may learn to ask key questions that get them access to particular resources. I hope to incorporate multiplex networks to model these social overlaps.

Methodologically, I believe that a network approach to viewing the world has much to reveal about social reality. I am interested in applying network analysis not only to the relationships among people, but also to relations among ideas and social structures. For instance, I'm currently working on a little project network analysis on a dataset of departments and programs in universities over the past 30 years, I am developing an empirical measure of intellectual distance between academic fields.

I've also been kicking around the (very vague) idea of creating a genetic-regulation-style model of change and reproduction in social organizations/institutions. Would love to talk with anyone interested in applying genetic algorithms or genetic theory to larger units of analysis.

I received my BA in Biology from Reed College in Portland, Oregon, where I wrote my thesis on genetics and gene regulatory proteins. I then worked for a few years as a research assistant in medical informatics. Our research focused on clinical team structures and information technologies that support higher quality, lower cost health care for patients with chronic conditions. I'm broadly interested in health system reform, questions of distributive justice in health care, and understanding organizational change and technology implementation.

I completed my undergraduate studies in Biology at Reed College in Portland, Oregon. In addition to studying genetics, sociology, and philosophy, I enjoyed being active in the Student Senate, and I also handled radioactive fuel as a senior nuclear reactor operator. I also love philosophical discussions (philosophy of science, anyone?) and good food.

Email: kingmo at stanford dot edu