Nataša Dragović
Assistant Professor, University of St. Thomas · St. Paul, Minnesota
About Me
I am an Assistant Professor at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. Before that, I was a Norbert Wiener Assistant Professor at Tufts University. I completed my PhD at the University of Texas at Austin, where my advisor was Prof. François Baccelli.
My research interests are in probability, stochastic systems, and their interactions with applied mathematics. I am particularly interested in opinion dynamics and mathematical models of elections.
I also completed my undergraduate studies at MIT, advised by Gigliola Staffilani.
Since January 2023, I serve as the General Secretary of the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics.
Research
My research focuses on the evolution of opinions over time, using tools from probability, stochastic geometry, and dynamical systems.
In Spring 2026, I co-organized a Banff workshop on The Mathematics of Elections, Fairness and Representation .
Selected Projects
- Stochastic geometry models of opinion dynamics (PhD work)
- COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy model with social influence and “mega-influencers” (link)
- Differential-integral equation models of opinion dynamics and particle methods (link)
- Election modeling and candidate positioning dynamics (interactive app, paper)
Teaching
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)
I also give occasional lectures on inequalities, graphs, and applied mathematics. If you'd like me to present a math outreach talk at your institution, reach out to me.
Educational Outreach
I am deeply committed to science outreach and student engagement.
Since 2023, I serve as the General Secretary of the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA), supporting international participation and coordination. If your country is interested in participating, reach out.
I previously served as President of the USA Astronomy and Astrophysics Organization (2019–2021) and have coached multiple for several years students that represented the US at the IOAA.
In the News
Here are some News articles about my research and outreach activities.
Contact
Email: natasa dot dragovic at stthomas dot edu
Download CV (PDF)