The Social NLP Lab: Understanding Language, Culture, and Society through Data

Our research lab is dedicated to the study of human language and its socio-cultural aspects through the lens of natural language processing, computational social science, social network analysis, and human-centered data science. We utilize a combination of computational methods and social science theories to analyze human-generated texts and gain a deeper understanding of the dynamics and complexities of human communication. Our research aims to uncover new insights and knowledge about the ways in which language shapes our social interactions and cultural practices.


Current Members

Layla Bouzoubaa

PhD Student

Amui Gayle

MS Student (Data Science)

Rishabh Sharma

MS Student (Data Science)

Medhavi Pandit

Undergraduate

Linh Phuong Nguyen

Undergraduate

Minh Nguyen

Undergraduate

Past Students:

  • Jessie Kou, B.Sc.'22. Statistics, UIUC (2021)

Leveraging Story-telling to Analyze People’s Moral Perception in Images vs. Texts


  • Kevin Redline, M.Sc.’21 Library and Information Science, UIUC (2021)

Leveraging Story-telling to Analyze People’s Moral Perception in Images vs. Texts


  • Junjie (Nick) Yue, M.Sc.’21 Information Management, UIUC (2021)

Leveraging Story-telling to Analyze People’s Moral Perception in Images vs. Texts


  • Farras Rivai, B.Sc.’23 Information Science, UIUC (2020-2021)

Using Computational Models to Extract Long-term Impact from Unstructured Texts


  • Tiffany Lu, B.Sc.’18 Actuarial Science and Economics and M.Sc.'21 Information Management, UIUC (2018-2021)

Evaluating and Extending Moral Foundation Dictionary, and

Temporal Analysis of Women Empowerment


  • Ikenna Akuba, B.Sc.’20 Econometrics, UIUC (2020)

Using Computational Models to Extract Long-term Impact from Unstructured Texts


  • Vaishnavi Myadam, B.Sc.’22 Statistics and Computer Science, UIUC (2020)

Using Computational Models to Extract Long-term Impact from Unstructured Texts


  • Lan Jiang, M.Sc.’20 Information Management, UIUC (2020)

Analyzing Structural Balance in Social Networks


  • Saumil Shah, M.Sc.’19 Information Management, UIUC (2019)

Leveraging Morality to Enhance Stance Prediction


  • Jessica Schmiederer, B.Sc.’18 Actuarial Science and Economics, UIUC (2018)

Evaluating and Extending Moral Foundation Dictionary