Peter Dodds is director of the Vermont Complex Systems Center at UVM (VCSC) and co-director of the Computational Story Lab. His research and teaching focuses on system-level, big data problems in many areas including language and stories, sociotechnical systems, Earth sciences, biology and ecology. His areas of expertise include complex systems and networks, contagion, sociotechnical phenomena, happiness and stories. His major initial funding was an NSF CAREER award to study sociotechnical phenomena (2009–2015). His work has been supported by the McDonnell Foundation, the Office of Naval Research, NASA, the MITRE Corporation, Computer Associates and Mass Mutual. His publications have appeared in many realms including sociology, psychology, language, biology, ecology, and Earth systems, and his work has received global press coverage (New York Times, Outside Magazine, National Geographic, Scientific American, Washington Post, Boston Globe, and many others).