Institute for Analytical Sociology

17/06/2026

We are excited to announce the public release of Threadle v1.2.0 — an open-source network analysis system developed by IAS researcher Carl Nordlund, built for population-scale social network research.

Threadle is designed for networks that are large, multilayered, and attribute-rich. Key capabilities include native multilayer support, integrated node attributes, and a memory-efficient architecture based on mixed-mode pseudo-projection — storing two-mode layers natively rather than projecting them, representing the equivalent of several trillions of edges at a fraction of the memory cost.
Threadle is already installed on SCB Mona — Statistics Sweden's secure microdata infrastructure — and comes with threadleR, an R frontend developed by Yukun Jiao.
Free and open-source: 👉

Threadle is a high-performance network engine built for large, structurally complex multilayer and multimode datasets — such as full-population administrative registers. Built in C #/.NET, it offers memory-efficient hyperedge storage, constant-time neighbor lookups, and native support for relationa...

05/06/2026

Applications are now open for the online doctoral course Foundations and Frontiers of Analytical Sociology (5 ECTS) at Linköping University, offered by the Institute for Analytical Sociology (IAS). Running from September until the Christmas break, the course is organized around an international lecture series featuring many of the scholars who have shaped analytical sociology and are defining its frontiers:
Delia Baldassarri, Peter Bearman, Elizabeth Bruch, Damon Centola, Diego Gambetta, Peter Hedström, Michael Macy, Gianluca Manzo, Arnout van de Rijt, Duncan Watts, and Petri Ylikoski.
Each lecture is paired with readings and followed by discussion-based seminars where participants critically engage with the material and their own research. The course concludes with an individual written assignment linked to the doctoral student’s research interests.

Read more:
https://forskarstudier.liu.se/en/kurs/7FIEI26/2026V/1624499

Registration:
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/eFsbLUXnfk

Foundations and Frontiers of Analytical Sociology, 5.0 credits Den analytiska sociologins grundvalar och frontlinjer, 5.0 hp 7FIEI26 Course level Third-cycle Education Description The course aims to provide an in-depth and nuanced understanding of analytical sociology as a scientific field. Through....

04/06/2026

The EUSN Conference this August is coming together—and it’s looking fantastic, with an exciting programme taking shape! 🌟
Expect engaging sessions, inspiring discussions, and plenty of opportunities to connect. Don’t miss out—registration is still open. Secure your spot and be part of the conversation!

01/06/2026

This Saturday, six recently graduated PhDs from IAS crossed the Parnassus as part of the university's traditional doctoral promotion ceremony. Congratulations to Miriam Hurtado Bodell, Maël Lecoursonnais, Hendrik Erz, Elis Carlberg Larsson, Laura Fürsich and Anastasia Menshikova!! 🥂🥳🤩

28/05/2026

Lovely days at the IAS Annual Symposium at Villa Fridhem! ☀️
Sun shining, minds buzzing, and conversations flowing—from cutting-edge research to laughs over coffee. All of it wrapped in fantastic food, endless fika, and time spent together over informal activities ☕️🤩🎾

13/05/2026

We are delighted to share that our newly appointed postdoctoral researcher, Elis Carlberg Larsson, has been awarded a prize for his PhD thesis by the Berndt Gustafsson Memorial Foundation. The foundation recognizes research of clear relevance for the Church and the sociology of religion, and carries forward Berndt Gustafsson’s legacy in data-driven sociology of religion.

Elis receives the award with the following motivation:
“for the thesis’ great relevance for the Swedish church and sociology of religion, its international recognition, innovative methodology, and results.”
Congratulations, Elis, on this well-deserved recognition! 🤩🤩

11/05/2026

Exciting news! LiU has launched a new excellence centre at IAS: the Linköping Excellence Centre for Analytical Sociology (LECAS). LECAS will receive strategic funding over the next five years to strengthen and develop bold research, further establishing IAS as an internationally recognized research environment.

The inauguration was held in Norrköping on May 6, bringing together researchers and guests from Sweden and abroad. Peter Hedström, founder of IAS and Director of LECAS, shared: "It feels important to strengthen the theoretical side of the institute and create more space for questions about explanations and mechanisms."

IAS Director Maria Brandén added: "I don't see LECAS as a new activity alongside IAS, but as something integrated into IAS that will benefit the entire environment and allow us to raise our ambitions even further."

The centre will support international collaborations, visiting researchers, workshops, and more. Keep your eyes open for a public lecture series running this fall featuring leading scholars in analytical sociology – including researchers from Columbia, Cornell, Oxford, and NYU – accompanied by an international doctoral course.

https://liu.se/en/news-item/linkoping-university-launches-excellence-center-for-analytical-sociology

Linköping University has launched a new Excellence Centre in Analytical Sociology. The initiative will strengthen theory-driven research, international collaboration and long-term development in one of LiU’s internationally leading research fields.

20/04/2026

We are proud to announce that Professor Peter Hedström, founder and former director of IAS, was appointed an honorary doctor at Aalborg University, Denmark, last week 🤩🥳

15/04/2026

Will you participate in EUSN 2026 in Norrköping this August? Don’t miss out – register before the early bird rate ends April 30!
And be sure to sign up for the conference dinner in Värmekyrkan, set in Norrköping’s iconic Industrial Landscape, where historic brick architecture meets dramatic riverside views in a truly one‑of‑a‑kind setting.
Register for conference and dinner here: https://liu.se/en/event/eusn-2026

30/03/2026

Where parents live influences housing choices and segregation for their adult children. Early decisions about housing and municipal services can affect long-term patterns of segregation. Read the whole interview with IAS Associate professor Benjamin Jarvis here:

Where parents live influences housing choices and segregation for their adult children. This is shown by new research from Linköping University. Early decisions about housing and municipal services can affect long-term patterns of segregation.