Esra Erdin is a Data Engineer at COSMOS, where she contributes to data pipeline development, analytics workflows, and large-scale data processing. She holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science, where her research focused on privacy and security issues in social networks, decentralized online social networks, anonymous communication systems, and privacy-preserving data sharing mechanisms. She has experience in software engineering, analytics, and computer science education. Her interests include data engineering, distributed systems, and applied analytics.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Dr. Nitin Agarwal, Maulden-Entergy Chair and Donaghey Distinguished Professor of Information Science at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, has received a $5 million research award from the U.S. Department of War to advance socio-computational methods for mitigating cognitive attacks and strengthening community resiliency in digital environments.
Through the project, titled “Developing Socio-computational Methods to Strengthen Community Resiliency to Mitigate Cognitive Attacks,” Prof. Agarwal, founding director of the Collaboratorium for Social Media and Online Behavioral Studies (COSMOS) Research Center at UA Little Rock, and his team will advance their groundbreaking work in understanding and mitigating cognitive threats in the digital age.
The award was championed through support from U.S. Sen. John Boozman, who continues to be a strong advocate for the innovative, cutting-edge research taking place at UA Little Rock and COSMOS.
“I am pleased to support UA Little Rock and its Collaboratorium for Social Media and Online Behavioral Studies. This award recognizes the significance of this program to our national security,” Boozman said. “The important research conducted here will enhance our ability to counter the use of novel social media tactics by foreign extremists and terrorist groups threatening the United States and our allies.”
“We are extremely grateful for the support from UA Little Rock leadership and U.S. Sen. John Boozman for championing this vital research,” Prof. Agarwal said. “This funding helps COSMOS Research Center continue to develop analytical tools and capabilities to strengthen our national defense and security apparatus against cognitive threats.”
The research addresses the growing threat posed by coordinated adversarial influence operations, online extremism, and other forms of cognitive warfare conducted through social media and digital platforms. As online narratives increasingly shape perceptions, behaviors, and societal cohesion, the project seeks to develop science-driven approaches to understand, predict, and mitigate harmful information campaigns before they escalate into real-world consequences.
“Social media has evolved into a contested cognitive battlespace where narratives can be weaponized to manipulate beliefs, sow discord, and influence collective behavior at unprecedented speed,” said Prof. Agarwal. “This project aims to strengthen community resiliency by developing computational methods that help identify harmful narrative dynamics early, understand how they spread across networks, and inform effective intervention strategies.”
The project will advance socio-computational science through six major research thrusts: modeling narratives and networks, modeling toxicity in online communities, understanding mob dynamics, churn analysis, contextual network characterization, and large-scale data collection and dashboarding.
Researchers will develop multimodal approaches to extract and analyze narratives across digital ecosystems, including how narratives evolve through merging, splitting, and mixing over time. The project will also examine the co-influence between narratives and social networks to better understand how online communities amplify coordinated campaigns.
A key component of the effort involves adapting epidemiological modeling techniques to study the spread of toxicity online, similar to modeling varying levels of infection in public health systems. These models will support science-driven decision-making related to intervention strategies and community health in digital spaces.
The research will further investigate the formation and diffusion of online mobs and coordinated collective behavior, enabling simulations that identify favorable and unfavorable conditions for mobilization. Additional efforts will focus on churn analysis to understand participant dynamics in influence campaigns and determine whether campaigns are approaching critical mass.
The project also includes the development of interoperable data collection and analytics frameworks that integrate multiple streams of information into standardized formats for rapid dashboarding and operational analysis. These tools are intended to support policymakers and decision-makers with near-real-time situational awareness and predictive analytics capabilities.
In addition to advancing research, the initiative will support workforce development and training activities in big data analytics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and security applications, helping strengthen the future AI and security workforce in Arkansas and beyond.
The award continues the longstanding partnership between Prof. Agarwal’s COSMOS Research Center and the U.S. Department of War in advancing research at the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI), social computing, and national security, specifically in the cognitive domain.
The COSMOS Research Center at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock conducts interdisciplinary research focused on social computing, AI-enabled socio-cognitive threat mitigation, narrative analytics, online behavioral modeling, and cognitive security.
What role do you play at COSMOS? I am a Graduate Research Assistant at the COSMOS Research Center.
Please share a bit about your professional background and experience. I am a Master’s student in Information Science at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and a Graduate Research Assistant at the COSMOS Research Center. I bring more than seven years of experience in software engineering, with a focus on building software products for the financial technology sector.
My professional background includes contributing to high-scale open banking systems and AI-powered identity verification infrastructure for enterprise businesses. My experience spans software engineering, product management, machine learning research, and cloud engineering.
What attracted you to join the COSMOS Center? What aspects of COSMOS’s vision, mission, and culture stood out to you, and why? I was excited to work with Prof. Nitin Agarwal on artificial intelligence and social computing research because of the strong alignment between my background in software engineering and his pioneering work at COSMOS in social media and narrative analysis.
My experience has centered on solving real-world problems through software systems, and COSMOS provides an opportunity to apply that problem-solving mindset to impactful AI research. Prof. Agarwal’s vision for using computational methods to understand complex online behaviors and digital information ecosystems strongly aligns with my interests in AI engineering and applied research.
How do you anticipate your role at COSMOS helping your growth on both a personal and professional level? Are there any specific skills or experiences you’re looking to gain? Through my role at COSMOS, I hope to further expand my technical and research capacity in AI engineering while contributing to the design, implementation, and study of AI-driven software systems.
Prof. Agarwal is a well-recognized global research leader in AI and social computing, and working with him allows me to stretch toward a global-first research mindset. I look forward to learning how to apply my software engineering and problem-solving skills to artificial intelligence research that addresses societal challenges.From your experience, what tips, insights, or advice would you share with someone starting a new role at COSMOS? My advice would be to keep an open mind and do the work needed to build capacity. COSMOS is a place where learning, research, and real-world problem-solving come together, so being open to new ideas and willing to grow is very important.
If you could share a meal with any historical figure or fictional character, who would it be, and what would you want to talk about and want to learn from them? I would like to share a meal with Nelson Mandela. I would like to ask him how he stayed focused and relentless in the midst of a difficult situation where the personal reward was not immediately visible. I believe there is a lot to learn from his patience, resilience, and commitment to a larger purpose.
In this month’s research spotlight, COSMOS highlights its leadership in redefining digital media as an active force in shaping human behavior through three studies presented at the 14th International Conference on Complex Networks and their Applications (Complex Networks) in New York, USA. These studies examine the complex relationship between digital platforms, their algorithms, and content creators. While these research efforts all utilize large-scale auditing of YouTube content, they differ in their focus: one examines how platform algorithms shape user activity levels by pushing moderate-intensity content, while the others analyze how creators maintain internal consistency and coherence within their own channels.
The first study, “ViMET-R: Auditing Activity-Level Bias in YouTube Shorts Recommendations,” introduces ViMET-R, an advanced AI technique that visually estimates the physical energy expenditure of activities shown in videos using Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET) scores.. By applying this model to 84,816 YouTube Shorts, the research uncovered a consistent pattern where the recommendation algorithm converges toward moderate-intensity content, regardless of the user’s initial viewing behavior. This systematic activity-level bias introduces a new dimension to algorithmic drift, suggesting that platforms may be shaping user behavior in ways that go beyond traditional content personalization.
The second study, “Uncovering Channel -Level Behaviours via Multimodal Characterization in YouTube Content,” presents a combined visual and text-based framework for characterizing YouTube channels by comparing similarity across five key features: titles, descriptions, transcripts, categories, and the video’s color palette. By evaluating 14,000 videos from 136 channels, the researchers identified three distinct editorial patterns: “Mild Visual Consistency, High Textual Variability”, “Category-Stable Channels”, and “Loosely Structured but Topically Focused Channels”. The findings demonstrate a scalable and language-independent method for uncovering stable channel groupings based on both visual and semantic features. This work offers a new lens for auditing channel-level behavior and understanding the patterns that shape long-term content strategies.
The third study, “Characterizing YouTube Channels Through Semantic Consistency Across Content Features,” introduces a content-based framework to analyze how YouTube channels communicate their identity through the consistent use of titles, descriptions, transcripts, and categories. By calculating how closely the text aligns (semantic similarity) across over 157,000 videos from 150 channels, the study identified three distinct editorial patterns: “Diverse-Format Channels”, “Label-Stable, Content-Variable Channels”, and “Structurally Cohesive Channels”. The findings reveal significant differences in how creators manage their messaging and presentation strategies over time.
These studies collectively imply that digital media is no longer just a passive platform but an active force in shaping human behavior and creator identity. These studies provide essential tools for auditing algorithmic fairness and understanding the long-term strategies that influence the information and physical activity levels we are exposed to daily.
COSMOS continues to engage with the growing public health challenge of adverse drug events, particularly drug-drug interactions (DDIs) that arise when multiple medications are taken concurrently. Our recent publication in Scientific Reports, published by Nature Portfolio, introduces a new model, the Protein Sequence-Structure Similarity Network (PS3N), for detecting dangerous drug-drug interactions (DDIs). Traditionally, it has been hard to predict these risky drug combinations because standard clinical trials cannot test every possible mix of medicines, especially over long periods or across diverse groups of people. Existing tools only rely on surface-level data like chemical traits or patient reports to make predictions. This research, however, introduces a deeper perspective by focusing on the underlying biology of how medications work.
Recently published in the journal Scientific Reports by Nature Portfolio, the study introduces the Protein Sequence-Structure Similarity Network (PS3N) to fix this problem. This model is the first to directly integrate both the genetic blueprints (called protein sequences) and the biological structures (called 3D protein structures) of drug targets to predict potential drug risks. By analyzing these fundamental biological building blocks, the model captures subtle molecular mechanisms that traditional methods often overlook.
The impact of this approach is demonstrated through its remarkable accuracy and real-world discovery. In rigorous testing across multiple datasets, key findings reveal that the model achieved up to 98% precision and 95% accuracy and successfully identified 297 entirely new drug interactions that have never been reported in existing clinical literature.
The study further highlighted unseen dangers among these newly discovered risks, identifying that a common acne cream could potentially interact with treatments for serious conditions like heart disease or glaucoma. It also flagged unexpected risks when mixing certain mental health medications with treatments to help people quit smoking. By bringing these hidden biological connections to light, PS3N provides a powerful and reliable way to ensure safe and effective treatment outcomes for patients. Click here to read the full article.
We are proud to share that Prof. Nitin Agarwal, Founding Director of the COSMOS Research Center, Jerry L. Maulden-Entergy Endowed Chair, and Donaghey Distinguished Professor of Information Science at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, has been named the recipient of the 2026 UALR Faculty Excellence Award in Research and Creative Works.
This prestigious recognition highlights Prof. Agarwal’s exceptional research leadership and sustained contributions to social computing, artificial intelligence, cognitive security, and online behavioral analysis. Since joining UA Little Rock in 2009, he has built an internationally recognized interdisciplinary research program examining how information spreads across online networks and how digital influence campaigns shape public perception.
Through COSMOS, Prof. Agarwal has advanced pioneering research on modern information platforms, digital influence operations, social cyber forensics, and AI-enabled approaches for understanding complex online behaviors. His work has supported the development of analytical frameworks and tools for detecting, modeling, and mitigating adversarial influence campaigns, online scams, and emerging cognitive threats.
Over the past five years, Prof. Agarwal has secured more than $60 million in federal funding, including support from the National Science Foundation, DARPA, and the U.S. Department of Defense, with nearly $30 million directly supporting UA Little Rock research initiatives. His collaborations span more than 200 researchers across 130 academic, government, and industry organizations worldwide. His scholarly contributions include 12 books, more than 400 articles in top-tier journals and conferences, and 26 best paper awards.
Reflecting on the honor, Prof. Agarwal stated, “I am deeply honored to receive the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Faculty Excellence Award for Research and Creative Endeavors. I extend my sincere gratitude to the university leadership, the Board of Trustees, the Board of Visitors, and the award sponsors for this meaningful recognition.”
He added, “This recognition is both motivating and reaffirming, strengthening my commitment to advancing meaningful work aligned with our shared mission. I am profoundly grateful to my mentors, as well as the current and former students and staff at COSMOS at UALR, whose dedication and support have been instrumental.”
Prof. Agarwal received this university-level recognition for the third time (i.e., 2015, 2021, 2026). This achievement underscores his continued leadership in advancing impactful interdisciplinary research at the intersection of AI, social computing, and cognitive security.
Adarsh Kumar is a data engineer at COSMOS, where he contributes to data pipeline development and full-stack application development. He recently earned his Master of Science in Information Systems from Northwest Missouri State University. With experience spanning frontend, backend, and cloud technologies, he is passionate about building scalable end-to-end systems that turn raw data into meaningful insights.
I am a graduate research assistant at COSMOS, and I am helping Prof. Nitin Agarwal with projects on narrative analysis and content traps.
Please share a bit about your professional background and experience.
I am originally from Nepal. I completed my bachelor’s degree in Electronics, Communication, and Information Engineering from the Institute of Engineering, Thapathali Campus, Tribhuvan University. After graduation, I worked as a Course Instructor and Visiting Lecturer, teaching subjects such as C programming, Microprocessor Architecture, and Big Data Technologies at different colleges, including my own campus. Currently, I am studying Information Science at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, with a focus on AI, network science, and research in computational social systems.
What attracted you to join COSMOS Research Center? What aspects of COSMOS stood out to you, and why?
While working as a Course Instructor, I felt there was more in me than just delivering core programming concepts and computer knowledge. Slowly, the research interest grew as the technology advanced rapidly with the development of LLMs. I was drawn to Prof. Nitin Agarwal’s research because it combines rigorous network science with real-world social impact, especially in understanding influence, misinformation, and digital ecosystems. His vision at the COSMOS Research Center for building scalable, interdisciplinary, and socially responsible computational methods strongly aligns with my interests in Machine Learning, AI, and LLMs. I’m particularly inspired by the collaborative, research-intensive culture Prof. Agarwal has fostered that encourages innovation and continuous learning.
How do you anticipate your role at COSMOS helping your growth on both a personal and professional level? Are there any specific skills or experiences you’re looking to gain?
As a graduate research assistant under Prof. Agarwal, I look forward to being deeply involved in every stage of the research process, from systematic literature review and experimental design to large-scale data analysis and article writing. My goal is to grow into an independent researcher by strengthening both my technical skills in network science and AI, and my theoretical grounding in computational social science. I also want to improve how I communicate complex findings clearly and responsibly, both in academic publications and broader research discussions.
From your experience, what tips, insights, or advice would you share with someone starting a new role at COSMOS?
From my experience, I would say come in ready to learn and take initiative. COSMOS is a very professional and collaborative environment where everyone is working on real-world research problems, so being proactive and responsible really matters. Prof. Agarwal has high standards and a clear research vision, and hence, there is a lot to learn just by observing how he thinks and works. Also, make the most of the team around you; people here are supportive, knowledgeable, and always willing to help if you are open to learning.
If you could share a meal with any historical figure or fictional character, who would it be, and what would you want to talk about and want to learn from them?
If I could share a meal with someone, I would choose Mahendra Singh Dhoni, a world-renowned and highly accomplished cricketer from India. As someone who enjoys playing cricket, I’ve always admired his calm mindset and decision-making under pressure. I would love to talk to him about how he reads the game, stays composed in high-stakes moments, and makes strategic decisions for the team. I think there’s a lot to learn from that kind of leadership and clarity, especially in research where patience, strategy, and teamwork also matter.
In this month’s research spotlight, COSMOS at UA Little Rock highlights its leadership in socio-computational research through three studies presented at the 37th IEEE International Conference on Tools with Artificial Intelligence (ICTAI 2025), held November 3–5, 2025, in Athens, Greece. These works advance interpretable AI for digital platforms by examining how online systems shape user experience and information exposure. They examine how recommendation systems can confine users to narrow content pathways, introduce a transparent framework for identifying toxic intent in online interactions, and present a tri-modal method for extracting representative keyframes from large-scale video data. Together, they offer new ways to understand how digital content is curated, consumed, and analyzed.
The first study, “Detecting Algorithmic Homophily in Recommendation Graphs via Weighted Topic Distribution,” investigates how YouTube recommendation systems reinforce topical similarity, creating “content traps.” By combining graph-based analysis with weighted topic modeling, it more precisely identifies a network of recommended videos acting as traps. Incorporating content with network structure in trap detection reduces false positives compared with earlier methods, improving system auditability.
The second study, “KEYS: Keyframe Extraction and Yielding Summaries,” tackles a key challenge in large-scale video analysis: selecting a small but representative set of frames for indexing, retrieval, and summarization. Using a tri-modal framework that integrates visual, semantic, and contextual signals, the method enhances the identification of meaningful keyframes and enables more efficient organization of large multimedia collections.
Together, these studies emphasize a shared goal: making AI systems more interpretable while applying diverse methodologies across recommendation analysis, multimedia understanding, and computational ethics. They demonstrate how AI can move beyond prediction toward explanation in various application domains, such as auditing algorithmic bias, organizing vast video data, and clarifying the moral dimensions of toxic/hate speech interactions.
Collectively, this work reflects COSMOS’s mission to design AI systems that are robust, scalable, and responsive to the complexities of digital ecosystems. For science, it advances interpretable machine learning and hybrid approaches that blend statistical and symbolic reasoning; for society, it promotes transparency, reduces bias, and supports more accountable digital platforms.
We are pleased to share our recent publication in the Journal of Data & Policy (by Cambridge University Press, 2025), titled “Examining the Role of Semiotics in Social Media-driven Information Campaigns.” The study explores how social, cultural, and political symbols shape engagement and information diffusion on platforms such as Instagram, using Taiwan’s 2024 election as a case study. Combining large language models with semiotic and diffusion analysis, we show that symbol-rich content consistently drives higher engagement, trust, and faster spread than non-symbolic posts, even when audience size is controlled. Overall, the findings highlight symbolic richness as a key factor in online influence and offer practical guidance for designing more effective, culturally resonant communication strategies to help counter misinformation.
In today’s fast-scrolling digital world, visuals aren’t just decoration; they are driving how people understand and trust information. A new study examining Instagram activity during Taiwan’s 2024 election reveals that social, cultural, and political (SCP) symbols play a powerful role in shaping online engagement and combating misinformation.
Analyzing thousands of posts using advanced AI models, researchers found that content rich in symbolic meaning consistently outperformed others, even when posted by accounts with similar follower counts. While political influencers often had larger audiences, it was culturally grounded symbols that truly resonated, generating the highest levels of engagement, trust, and perceived fairness among users.
Perhaps most striking, symbol-rich posts did not just attract attention; they spread faster and further across networks. The findings suggest that symbolic storytelling can outweigh sheer audience size in terms of influence. By blending AI analysis with cultural insight and diffusion modeling, this research offers a fresh roadmap for communicators if you want your message to stick, spread, and make it meaningful, not just visible.
This study underscores Professor Agarwal’s central insight that in contemporary digital environments, meaning and symbolism often matter more than reach or audience size. The findings demonstrate that social, cultural, and political symbols significantly amplify engagement, trust, and diffusion on social media platforms, suggesting that users respond more strongly to culturally resonant narratives than to sheer popularity. By integrating AI-driven analysis with semiotic and diffusion modeling, the research highlights how symbolic richness can shape perceptions and information spread, offering important implications for designing more effective, credible, and culturally grounded communication strategies in the fight against adversarial information campaigns.
