Nataša Dragović

About Me

Before joining St. Thomas, I was a Norbert Wiener Assistant Professor at Tufts University. I completed my PhD in Mathematics at the University of Texas at Austin, where I worked with Prof. François Baccelli, and my undergraduate studies in Mathematics at MIT, where I was advised by Prof. Gigliola Staffilani.

Beyond research, I am interested in international scientific collaboration, mathematics education, and how people learn and work across cultures. Since January 2023, I have served as General Secretary of the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA), where I work with organizers, educators, and scientific communities from around the world.

I welcome new research collaborations, interdisciplinary projects, invited talks, and selected scientific consulting or advisory projects.

Research

My research combines theoretical probability with applied mathematical modeling. I am interested in how local interactions, randomness, and network structure produce large-scale behavior, and in developing mathematical tools for understanding these systems.

Probability and Stochastic Systems

My theoretical work draws on probability, stochastic geometry, interacting particle systems, and dynamical systems. I study spatial stochastic models in which agents or points interact according to local rules, with questions involving random networks, clustering, fragmentation, and long-term collective behavior.

One example is the Poisson Follower Model, a stochastic geometric model in which agents interact with nearby points and evolve over time. Although the underlying rules are simple, the model produces rich geometric structures and raises questions involving random spatial networks, connectivity, and evolving interaction systems.

Opinion Dynamics and Social Systems

I also develop mathematical models of opinion formation and collective behavior. These projects use dynamical systems, probability, computation, and data to investigate how individual interactions can lead to consensus, polarization, clustering, or other population-level patterns.

One application of this work studied COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, incorporating geographic structure, social influence, and large-scale “mega-influencers” such as media or prominent public figures.

Mathematics of Elections

A growing part of my research focuses on elections and political behavior. I develop dynamical models in which political candidates adjust their positions in response to voters and study how these dynamics depend on turnout, voter behavior, and the voting system being used. I am particularly interested in situations where small changes in assumptions or parameters can lead to unexpectedly different outcomes.

In Spring 2026, I co-organized the Banff workshop The Mathematics of Elections, Fairness and Representation , bringing together researchers working on mathematical approaches to elections, representation, and collective decision-making.

Selected Projects

• Stochastic geometry and spatial interaction models: random networks, leader-follower dynamics, and collective behavior
• COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and opinion dynamics: geographic structure, social influence, and “mega-influencers” (paper)
• Continuous opinion dynamics and particle methods: connections between discrete agent-based models and continuum descriptions (paper)
• Candidate and voter dynamics: mathematical models of candidate positioning, voter behavior, and elections (interactive app, paper)

Teaching

I enjoy teaching mathematics at a wide range of levels and helping students see mathematics not only as a collection of techniques, but as a way of thinking about uncertainty, patterns, and real-world problems.

University of St. Thomas:

Calculus I–II, Probability, Complex Analysis, Honors Seminar on Unpacking Your Study Abroad Experience (2023–2026)

Tufts University:

Complex Analysis, Undergraduate Probability, Data Science, Calculus III (2020–2023)

My teaching also reflects my broader interest in learning across disciplines and cultures. In my Honors seminar Unpacking Your Study Abroad Experience, students examine their experiences abroad through questions about culture, assumptions, identity, communication, and what it means to learn from living in another country.

I also give outreach talks and lectures on probability, inequalities, graphs, mathematical modeling, and applications of mathematics. I welcome invitations to speak with students, educators, and broader audiences.

I am deeply committed to science outreach, international education, and creating opportunities for students to connect through mathematics and science.

Since January 2023, I have served as General Secretary of the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA). The IOAA brings together students, educators, and scientists from countries around the world, and my work involves collaborating with organizers and scientific communities across different educational systems and cultural contexts.

I previously served as President of the USA Astronomy and Astrophysics Organization (2019–2021) and have spent several years coaching students who represented the United States at the IOAA.

These experiences have contributed to my broader interest in how scientific communities operate across countries and cultures, and in creating environments where students and researchers from different backgrounds can learn from one another.

In the News

Here are some News articles about my research and outreach activities.

• MAA Focus on Applying to Graduate School Part 1
• SIAM News feature 2 about research
• SIAM News feature 1 about research
• Free Press Journal
• St. Thomas Newsroom
• MIT Technology Review

Collaborate

I enjoy working on problems that cross traditional disciplinary boundaries and am always interested in learning about new applications of mathematics.

I welcome research collaborations with mathematicians and researchers in other fields, particularly on problems involving probability, stochastic systems, mathematical modeling, networks, collective behavior, opinion dynamics, elections, and quantitative decision-making.

I am also available for selected scientific consulting and advisory projects, with greatest availability during the summer months. I am particularly interested in projects where mathematical modeling can help formulate a problem, test assumptions, explore scenarios, develop simulations, or better understand the mechanisms underlying a complex system.

I also welcome invitations for research visits, interdisciplinary workshops, public talks, and international scientific or educational collaborations.

If you have an interesting problem or project that might benefit from a mathematical perspective, feel free to get in touch.