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Four students from the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Department of Computer Science have been selected to present their research at the 14th International Conference on Complex Networks and Their Applications this December. The annual conference is one of the premier international gatherings in the field, bringing together researchers who study how systems in nature, technology and society can be represented and understood through networks.

Representing SIUE are fourth-year student Lacey Boltz, graduate student Luke Welsh, and PhD students Alex Towell and Bonan Yang. Their research spans neuroscience, ecology, artificial intelligence and student learning pathways, demonstrating the range of interdisciplinary work emerging from SIUE’s network science community.

“For me, it’s a full-circle moment,” said John Matta, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Computer Science. “Fourteen years ago, I was Dr. Ercal’s student learning about complex networks and attending this very conference. Now I have students of my own carrying that work forward and presenting alongside the field’s top scholars. It’s a testament to the mentorship culture and collaborative spirit that make SIUE such a strong home for network science.”

Boltz’s project examines how physical and behavioral traits in seabirds relate to their conservation status. By modeling species and traits as interconnected nodes in a network, her work seeks to identify patterns that may help explain vulnerability and resilience among bird populations.

“My interest began in Dr. Matta’s Complex Networks course,” said Boltz. “Being accepted at an international conference is incredibly meaningful, especially since my research began as a class project. It’s rewarding to see my work contribute to a global scientific conversation.”

Welsh’s research focuses on communication patterns in the brain. His project uses Python, a programming language, to model how different regions of the brain interact in individuals with and without Parkinson’s disease. The data provides insight into how neurological changes may relate to cognitive function.

“Having our work recognized at that level is both validating the work we did over the summer, as well as rewarding, especially for someone like me.” said Welsh. “I'm just excited to see how my knowledge level compares to people that I believe know a lot more than me in a professional environment. There's a couple of renowned and well-known pioneers in network science that we talked about in our computer science course that I believe will be very insightful to learn from.”

Yang’s research analyzes student progression within STEM curricula using network-based models of course prerequisites and academic pathways. His project builds on prior work by examining 14 years of deidentified SIUE student records to identify critical courses and patterns that influence student success.

“This work aligns perfectly with my long-term interest in graph-based machine learning and knowledge modeling,” said Yang. “Having my work accepted at a top international conference is truly exciting. I hope it can contribute to improving SIUE’s curriculum planning, and I am especially grateful for Dr. Ercal’s continuous guidance and support.”

For Gunes Ercal, PhD, professor in the Department of Computer Science, the moment represents both continuity and growth.

“I am doubly proud of everyone involved,” said Ercal. “John [Matta] himself was my PhD student! But, the spectacular student representing my group's work is my current PhD student, Bonan Yang. Feedback from reviewers and prior conferences indicates that the work is relevant not only to the Complex Networks community but academic departments more generally.”

As the students prepare to share their work with scholars from around the world, they are also preparing to learn from each other, from experts in the field and from the evolving questions that drive network science forward. And in that way, the network expands by connection and researcher, generation by generation.

PHOTO: Professor John Matta, Lacey Boltz, Luke Welsh, Alex Towell, Bonan Yang and Professor Gunes Ercal