Dr. Bryan Daniels By: JT, Nick, Adam, Steven

Background Info. He grew up near Dayton, Ohio, and attended Ohio Wesleyan University, where he majored in Physics and minored in Computer Science and Math. Attended graduate school at Cornell University where he graduated in the summer of He is currently working as a postdoctoral fellow at the Santa Fe Institute of New Mexico

Current Work Postdoctoral fellow at the Santa Fe Institute in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Studying conflict dynamics using data from a group of monkeys trying to understand how and why fights are developed and how they are resolved. Also involved in studying complex biochemical models and the super coiling of DNA. Enjoys creating computer models to study complex physical processes.

Dialogue with Physicist Q: What does a general work-day for you consist of? A: Writing computer programs, working out math problems with pen and paper, getting new ideas by talking with other scientists. Once they feel they have an interesting result, he writes it up in a paper and submits it to be reviewed.

Dialogue with Physicist Q: What types of computer programs and math problems do you work with? A: The computer programs consist of simulations and comparing and analyzing data. The math often includes statistics based on data he has recorded through observing monkey fights.

Dialogue with Physicist Q: Have you made any conclusions as to why the monkeys fight as much as they do? A: He is not sure why they fight, but he has discovered that they have a complicated social structure that affects the way the fight plays out. He has found that there are a few individuals with more social power in the group that often break up the fights between the monkeys.

Dialogue with Physicist Q: If someone were to pursue a degree in engineering, how much physics or science in general is involved in that field? A: There is a lot of involvement of physics in engineering, but it depends on the type of engineering you are interested in. In electrical engineering, engineers have to know about electricity and energy and the inner workings of circuit components.

Leadership Roles Dialogue with physicist: Nick, Adam, JT, Steven PowerPoint information: JT Overall PowerPoint: Nick, Adam PowerPoint Presentation: Nick, Adam, JT, Steven