About US
“Diaries During Lockdown” is a network of professionally trained mathematical modelers (along with some of their friends and colleagues) who are using the tools of system dynamics and systems thinking to explain many of the complex choices facing individuals, organizations, and governments as we collectively grapple with the COVID19 pandemic. The apparent voice of this story is that of David Andersen, a retired Professor of System Dynamics and Public Policy who lives on New Fadum Farm. This voice is actually the synthesis of a number of different analysts and writers.
Contact us via
diaries.during.lockdown@gmail.com
Our Team
David Andersen
Author
David F. Andersen is a retired professor of public administration and information science at the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, University at Albany--SUNY. He holds an AB in Mathematics and Social Sciences from Dartmouth College and his PhD in Management from the MIT Sloan School of Management.
Ali Mashayekhi
Modeler Expert
Ali N. Mashayekhi is a retired professor of management from Sharif University of Technology at Tehran, Iran where he taught system dynamics and strategic management. He received his BSc in Mechanical Engineering from Sharif University and his PhD in System Dynamics from MIT in Cambridge Massachusetts.
Dan Gordon
Author / Modeler
Now retired, Dan Gordon worked for the New York State Department of Health in the fields of health services research and HIV epidemiology. He holds an SB degree in Life Sciences from MIT and PhD in Public Administration from the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, University at Albany, State University of New York.
Luis Luna-Reyes
Author / Modeler
Luis Felipe Luna-Reyes is a Professor of Public Administration and Policy at the University at Albany and a National Academy of Public Administration Fellow. His research is at the intersection of Public Administration, Information Systems, and Systems Sciences.
Andrada Tomoaia-Cotisel
public policy modeler
Policy Researcher at the RAND Corporation and Professor of Policy Analysis at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. She teaches and mentors Ph.D. students in mixed-methods approaches to system dynamics modeling and systems thinking. She received her Ph.D. in Health Services Research & Policy from LSHTM. She specializes in developing and applying formal methods bringing the strengths of qualitative and quantitative data to improve conceptualization and validation. Her current work explores dynamic complexity in health service delivery, implementation, and outcomes, as well as the influence of context and resulting variation.
Hyunjung Kim
Learning Material Developer
Hyunjung Kim is a professor of management at California State University, Chico. She teaches strategy and management courses using system dynamics. She received her Ph.D. in Public Administration from the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, University at Albany.
Babak Bahaddin
Web Developer / Modeler
Babak Bahaddin works as an associate consultant at isee systems. Babak holds a bachelor's degree in engineering from Sharif University of Technology, and a PhD in Information Science, from University at Albany, State University of New York.
Latest Diaries
Tests, More Tests, Contact Tracing, Quarantines, and Now Vaccines
Deborah and David both get a message from the University informing them that weekly saliva-based tests are necessary for all faculty and staff who may be on campus. Driving to campus to pick up their test kits, they are impressed by the science and resources being used to combat the COVID-19 virus in our area.
Will the Pandemic really be over in 44 days?
Deborah is scheduled for her first vaccine shot in nine days on January 25 and David is next on February 15. If the second shots come 2 weeks later, does that mean that the pandemic will be over for them by March 1, that is, 44 days from when I am writing this note? Surely not! It’s more complicated than that.
Vaccines are here so it must be OK to go skiing again
Several new vaccines are being rolled out and will soon be widely available. David is thinking that it might be OK to start downhill skiing again. Does Ali’s model have anything to say about this decision?
