Biography

Dr. Ran Xu is an applied statistician and Assistant Professor in the Department of Allied Health Sciences. His methodological research interests include (1) general quantitative methods such as causal inference methods, econometrics, and applied machine learning; (2) systems science approaches such as social network analysis, agent-based modeling and system dynamics modeling. He has developed new statistical and simulation models for longitudinal analysis, contagion effects in social networks, and implementation science within the organizational context. Coming from an interdisciplinary background, he also has a broad substantive health-related research interest in health policy and intervention, social media research, health-science workforce development and the science of health-science research. His works have appeared in high-impact peer-review journals such as Molecular Ecology, Bioscience, Organizational Research Methods and Social Networks. He mentors students and teaches quantitative methods courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.