Dr. Sinan Aral
Field of Expertise: Digital Economy | Social Media Analytics | Network Science
Dr. Sinan Aral is the David Austin Professor of Management at the MIT Sloan School of Management, where he also serves as a Professor of IT, Marketing, and Data Science. He directs the MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy (IDE) and leads the MIT Social Analytics Lab. Beyond academia, Dr. Aral is a founding partner at Manifest Capital and Milemark Capital, venture capital firms focusing on digital innovation. His work bridges the gap between cutting-edge research and practical applications in the digital realm.
Current Research or Discovery
Dr. Aral’s recent research endeavors include:
- Investigating the spread of misinformation on social media platforms.
- Analyzing the impact of social networks on consumer behavior and decision-making.
- Developing strategies to harness social media for positive societal outcomes.
- Exploring the implications of digital technologies on business and public policy.
His 2018 study, “The Spread of True and False News Online,” published in Science, highlighted how false news spreads more rapidly than true news on social platforms, emphasizing the challenges of misinformation in the digital age.
Affiliation
- David Austin Professor of Management, MIT Sloan School of Management
- Director, MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy
- Professor, Institute for Data, Systems, and Society, MIT
- Founding Partner, Manifest Capital and Milemark Capital
Contributions to Research
Dr. Aral has significantly contributed to understanding how digital technologies influence human behavior and society. His interdisciplinary approach combines empirical research with theoretical insights to address challenges in the digital economy. His work has informed strategies for businesses and policymakers to navigate the complexities of the digital age effectively.
Awards
- Microsoft Faculty Fellowship
- PopTech Science Fellowship
- NSF CAREER Award
- Fulbright Scholarship
- Jamieson Award for Teaching Excellence, MIT Sloan.
- Thinkers50 Digital Thinking Award (2021)
- Herbert Simon Award, Rajk László College, Hungary (2018)
- Named among the “World’s Top 40 Business School Professors Under 40” (2014)
Contact
Email: sinan@mit.edu
Website: www.sinanaral.io
