Dr. Matjaž Perc is a distinguished theoretical physicist whose pioneering research has fundamentally advanced the scientific understanding of complex systems and human cooperation dynamics. He currently serves as Professor of Physics at the University of Maribor while holding an External Faculty position at the Complexity Science Hub Vienna, Europe's premier research center dedicated to studying complex systems. Following his PhD in physics from the University of Maribor in 2006, Dr. Perc rapidly established himself as a leading international authority in network science and evolutionary dynamics. His unique interdisciplinary approach bridges theoretical physics with practical applications for addressing society's most pressing challenges in inequality, migration, and social resilience.
Dr. Perc's groundbreaking research on evolutionary dynamics in multi-population systems has revolutionized our understanding of cooperation in complex networks. His seminal work on the prisoner's dilemma game within heterogeneous population frameworks revealed counterintuitive spatiotemporal dynamics where defectors in populations with the highest temptation to defect often vanish most rapidly, challenging conventional assumptions about network reciprocity. His highly influential publications, including the 2018 New Journal of Physics paper on evolutionary dynamics in neutral populations, have positioned him among the top 1% of most cited physicists according to 2020 Clarivate Analytics data. This exceptional impact reflects how his theoretical frameworks have transformed approaches across physics, economics, and computational social science.
As a recognized leader in complexity science, Dr. Perc holds membership in both Academia Europaea and the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, underscoring his standing among Europe's scientific elite. His distinguished career has been honored with Slovenia's highest national research award, the 2018 Zois Award, and his 2019 appointment as Fellow of the American Physical Society. Since 2021, he has served as Vice Dean of Natural Sciences at the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, where he continues to shape research agendas while mentoring the next generation of complexity scientists. Dr. Perc remains at the forefront of applying data-driven approaches to understand societal challenges through his ongoing work at the Complexity Science Hub, where he investigates cooperative behavior in diverse populations and develops evidence-based interventions for building more resilient societies.
