Maxime Derex
@maximederex.bsky.social
CNRS Researcher at IAST and Toulouse School of Economics
Working on cumulative culture, social learning, innovation
Working on cumulative culture, social learning, innovation
Pinned
Maxime Derex
@maximederex.bsky.social
· Jan 29
New paper in #ProcB with @alexmesoudi.com, @jfbonnefon.bsky.social, @rmcelreath.bsky.social and Rob Boyd.
We investigate how social learning shapes the way we explore and show that it can even preserve useless theories! 🧵👇
We investigate how social learning shapes the way we explore and show that it can even preserve useless theories! 🧵👇
Reposted by Maxime Derex
Come and do a PhD at Exeter with me and Chico Camargo (Computer Science) on human-genAI coevolution
"Leveraging Natural Language Processing for Data-Driven Agent-Based Modelling of Online Cultural Dynamics"
www.exeter.ac.uk/v8media/recr...
More details here:
www.exeter.ac.uk/study/fundin...
"Leveraging Natural Language Processing for Data-Driven Agent-Based Modelling of Online Cultural Dynamics"
www.exeter.ac.uk/v8media/recr...
More details here:
www.exeter.ac.uk/study/fundin...
www.exeter.ac.uk
November 14, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Come and do a PhD at Exeter with me and Chico Camargo (Computer Science) on human-genAI coevolution
"Leveraging Natural Language Processing for Data-Driven Agent-Based Modelling of Online Cultural Dynamics"
www.exeter.ac.uk/v8media/recr...
More details here:
www.exeter.ac.uk/study/fundin...
"Leveraging Natural Language Processing for Data-Driven Agent-Based Modelling of Online Cultural Dynamics"
www.exeter.ac.uk/v8media/recr...
More details here:
www.exeter.ac.uk/study/fundin...
Reposted by Maxime Derex
Postdoc position in individual-level incentives, social
learning, and payoff-biased imitation shape group-level accuracy in complex prediction and decision-making tasks in Konstanz
files.newsletter2go.com/l3slzozn/s_i...
learning, and payoff-biased imitation shape group-level accuracy in complex prediction and decision-making tasks in Konstanz
files.newsletter2go.com/l3slzozn/s_i...
files.newsletter2go.com
November 17, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Postdoc position in individual-level incentives, social
learning, and payoff-biased imitation shape group-level accuracy in complex prediction and decision-making tasks in Konstanz
files.newsletter2go.com/l3slzozn/s_i...
learning, and payoff-biased imitation shape group-level accuracy in complex prediction and decision-making tasks in Konstanz
files.newsletter2go.com/l3slzozn/s_i...
🚨Only 2 days left to apply
📢 Apply to our (2-year) research fellowships at @iast.fr
Join a multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary, and indisciplinary group of scholars in Toulouse, walkable/cyclable pink city of chocolatines in the South of France.
Deadline: November 15, 2025.
www.iast.fr/research-fel...
Join a multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary, and indisciplinary group of scholars in Toulouse, walkable/cyclable pink city of chocolatines in the South of France.
Deadline: November 15, 2025.
www.iast.fr/research-fel...
Research Fellowships
Each year, IAST invites applications for post-doctoral Research Fellowships, which offer candidates an opportunity to devote themselves full-time to their research at the start of their careers. Fello...
www.iast.fr
November 13, 2025 at 3:04 PM
🚨Only 2 days left to apply
Reposted by Maxime Derex
Just 1 week to apply! 4 year @erc.europa.eu funded PhD position working in an interdisciplinary team to study #culturalEvolution as a process of reuse, recombination, and creative re-engineering of past solutions. Details 👉 hmc-lab.com/ERCPhDCultur... 🙏Please share!
November 5, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Just 1 week to apply! 4 year @erc.europa.eu funded PhD position working in an interdisciplinary team to study #culturalEvolution as a process of reuse, recombination, and creative re-engineering of past solutions. Details 👉 hmc-lab.com/ERCPhDCultur... 🙏Please share!
Reposted by Maxime Derex
I’ll be considering graduate school applications for Fall 2026 – positions are fully funded, typically for 5 years. Deadline to apply to the Cognition program is December 1. Come do science with me in beautiful Amherst, Massachusetts! www.umass.edu/natural-scie...
PhD in Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience : College of Natural Sciences : UMass Amherst
Engage in research centered on fundamental theoretical questions about cognitive function using multiple experimental methods and data analysis.
www.umass.edu
October 27, 2025 at 2:36 PM
I’ll be considering graduate school applications for Fall 2026 – positions are fully funded, typically for 5 years. Deadline to apply to the Cognition program is December 1. Come do science with me in beautiful Amherst, Massachusetts! www.umass.edu/natural-scie...
Reposted by Maxime Derex
📢 Apply to our (2-year) research fellowships at @iast.fr
Join a multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary, and indisciplinary group of scholars in Toulouse, walkable/cyclable pink city of chocolatines in the South of France.
Deadline: November 15, 2025.
www.iast.fr/research-fel...
Join a multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary, and indisciplinary group of scholars in Toulouse, walkable/cyclable pink city of chocolatines in the South of France.
Deadline: November 15, 2025.
www.iast.fr/research-fel...
Research Fellowships
Each year, IAST invites applications for post-doctoral Research Fellowships, which offer candidates an opportunity to devote themselves full-time to their research at the start of their careers. Fello...
www.iast.fr
September 22, 2025 at 7:44 AM
📢 Apply to our (2-year) research fellowships at @iast.fr
Join a multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary, and indisciplinary group of scholars in Toulouse, walkable/cyclable pink city of chocolatines in the South of France.
Deadline: November 15, 2025.
www.iast.fr/research-fel...
Join a multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary, and indisciplinary group of scholars in Toulouse, walkable/cyclable pink city of chocolatines in the South of France.
Deadline: November 15, 2025.
www.iast.fr/research-fel...
Reposted by Maxime Derex
Fully-funded 4-year #PhD in Cultural Evolution! Join my @erc.europa.eu project exploring how compression & compositionality drive cultural innovation: hmc-lab.com/ERCPhDCultur...
Apply by Nov 12!
Maybe of interest to folks from #COSMOS2025 or @eslr.bsky.social? Please feel free to share! 🙏
Apply by Nov 12!
Maybe of interest to folks from #COSMOS2025 or @eslr.bsky.social? Please feel free to share! 🙏
ERC funded PhD position on Cultural Evolution
ERC funded PhD position on Cultural Evolution
posted on October 16, 2025
We are currently seeking a highly motivated individual for a ful...
hmc-lab.com
October 20, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Fully-funded 4-year #PhD in Cultural Evolution! Join my @erc.europa.eu project exploring how compression & compositionality drive cultural innovation: hmc-lab.com/ERCPhDCultur...
Apply by Nov 12!
Maybe of interest to folks from #COSMOS2025 or @eslr.bsky.social? Please feel free to share! 🙏
Apply by Nov 12!
Maybe of interest to folks from #COSMOS2025 or @eslr.bsky.social? Please feel free to share! 🙏
Reposted by Maxime Derex
How do humans keep inventing tools and technologies that no single person could create alone?
Our new preprint, led by
@anilyaman.bsky.social & @ts-brain.bsky.social
shows that semantic knowledge guides innovation and drives cultural evolution. 🧠📘 arxiv.org/abs/2510.12837
Our new preprint, led by
@anilyaman.bsky.social & @ts-brain.bsky.social
shows that semantic knowledge guides innovation and drives cultural evolution. 🧠📘 arxiv.org/abs/2510.12837
October 16, 2025 at 1:49 PM
How do humans keep inventing tools and technologies that no single person could create alone?
Our new preprint, led by
@anilyaman.bsky.social & @ts-brain.bsky.social
shows that semantic knowledge guides innovation and drives cultural evolution. 🧠📘 arxiv.org/abs/2510.12837
Our new preprint, led by
@anilyaman.bsky.social & @ts-brain.bsky.social
shows that semantic knowledge guides innovation and drives cultural evolution. 🧠📘 arxiv.org/abs/2510.12837
Reposted by Maxime Derex
It's hiring season at @iast.fr!
- 2y research postdoc contract
- Full autonomy, you are your own PI
- Awesome multidisciplinary environment
- All social and behavioral sciences welcome
- Seed funding for projects and workshops
- Gorgeous city in the south of France
www.iast.fr/research-fel...
- 2y research postdoc contract
- Full autonomy, you are your own PI
- Awesome multidisciplinary environment
- All social and behavioral sciences welcome
- Seed funding for projects and workshops
- Gorgeous city in the south of France
www.iast.fr/research-fel...
September 20, 2025 at 9:15 AM
It's hiring season at @iast.fr!
- 2y research postdoc contract
- Full autonomy, you are your own PI
- Awesome multidisciplinary environment
- All social and behavioral sciences welcome
- Seed funding for projects and workshops
- Gorgeous city in the south of France
www.iast.fr/research-fel...
- 2y research postdoc contract
- Full autonomy, you are your own PI
- Awesome multidisciplinary environment
- All social and behavioral sciences welcome
- Seed funding for projects and workshops
- Gorgeous city in the south of France
www.iast.fr/research-fel...
Reposted by Maxime Derex
How to quantify the impact of AI on long-run cultural evolution? Published today, I give it a go!
400+ years of strategic dynamics in the game of Go (Baduk/Weiqi), from feudalism to AlphaGo!
400+ years of strategic dynamics in the game of Go (Baduk/Weiqi), from feudalism to AlphaGo!
September 16, 2025 at 2:04 PM
How to quantify the impact of AI on long-run cultural evolution? Published today, I give it a go!
400+ years of strategic dynamics in the game of Go (Baduk/Weiqi), from feudalism to AlphaGo!
400+ years of strategic dynamics in the game of Go (Baduk/Weiqi), from feudalism to AlphaGo!
Reposted by Maxime Derex
💙New paper!💙
How is knowledge transmitted across generations in a foraging society?
With @danielredhead.bsky.social
we found: In BaYaka foragers, long-term skills pass in smaller, sparser networks, while short-term food info circulates broadly & reciprocally
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
How is knowledge transmitted across generations in a foraging society?
With @danielredhead.bsky.social
we found: In BaYaka foragers, long-term skills pass in smaller, sparser networks, while short-term food info circulates broadly & reciprocally
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
Transmission networks of long-term and short-term knowledge in a foraging society
Abstract. Cultural transmission across generations is key to cumulative cultural evolution. While several mechanisms—such as vertical, horizontal, and obli
academic.oup.com
September 14, 2025 at 7:52 AM
💙New paper!💙
How is knowledge transmitted across generations in a foraging society?
With @danielredhead.bsky.social
we found: In BaYaka foragers, long-term skills pass in smaller, sparser networks, while short-term food info circulates broadly & reciprocally
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
How is knowledge transmitted across generations in a foraging society?
With @danielredhead.bsky.social
we found: In BaYaka foragers, long-term skills pass in smaller, sparser networks, while short-term food info circulates broadly & reciprocally
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
Reposted by Maxime Derex
@durhampsych.bsky.social current has 5 (FIVE!!) PhD studentships being advertised!
3 to work with me on children as agents of cultural evolution
2 to work with @drboothroyd.bsky.social on examining school-based body image interventions.
Please share and apply!
www.durham.ac.uk/departments/...
3 to work with me on children as agents of cultural evolution
2 to work with @drboothroyd.bsky.social on examining school-based body image interventions.
Please share and apply!
www.durham.ac.uk/departments/...
Fees and Funding - Durham University
www.durham.ac.uk
September 11, 2025 at 9:12 AM
@durhampsych.bsky.social current has 5 (FIVE!!) PhD studentships being advertised!
3 to work with me on children as agents of cultural evolution
2 to work with @drboothroyd.bsky.social on examining school-based body image interventions.
Please share and apply!
www.durham.ac.uk/departments/...
3 to work with me on children as agents of cultural evolution
2 to work with @drboothroyd.bsky.social on examining school-based body image interventions.
Please share and apply!
www.durham.ac.uk/departments/...
Reposted by Maxime Derex
Thrilled that our paper on the mechanisms underlying social learning strategies is out! First big paper from my @erc.europa.eu & @kawresearch.bsky.social funded group. More to come! I'm currently looking to recruit two post docs, get in touch if you find this line of research interesting.
Through experiments and simulations, this study shows how individuals learn to learn from others, dynamically shaping the processes involved in cultural evolution. @davidschultner.bsky.social @bjornlindstrom.bsky.social
@lucasmolleman.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
@lucasmolleman.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Feature-based reward learning shapes human social learning strategies - Nature Human Behaviour
This research advances a mechanistic reward learning account of social learning strategies. Through experiments and simulations, it shows how individuals learn to learn from others, dynamically shapin...
www.nature.com
July 23, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Thrilled that our paper on the mechanisms underlying social learning strategies is out! First big paper from my @erc.europa.eu & @kawresearch.bsky.social funded group. More to come! I'm currently looking to recruit two post docs, get in touch if you find this line of research interesting.
Reposted by Maxime Derex
🚨 New preprint 🚨
Experimental Evidence for the Propagation and Preservation of Machine Discoveries in Human Populations
arxiv.org/abs/2506.17741
with team members @levinbrinkmann.bsky.social @thomasfmueller.bsky.social Ann-Marie Nussberger, @maximederex.bsky.social, Sara Bonati, Valerii Chirkov
Experimental Evidence for the Propagation and Preservation of Machine Discoveries in Human Populations
arxiv.org/abs/2506.17741
with team members @levinbrinkmann.bsky.social @thomasfmueller.bsky.social Ann-Marie Nussberger, @maximederex.bsky.social, Sara Bonati, Valerii Chirkov
June 27, 2025 at 10:33 AM
🚨 New preprint 🚨
Experimental Evidence for the Propagation and Preservation of Machine Discoveries in Human Populations
arxiv.org/abs/2506.17741
with team members @levinbrinkmann.bsky.social @thomasfmueller.bsky.social Ann-Marie Nussberger, @maximederex.bsky.social, Sara Bonati, Valerii Chirkov
Experimental Evidence for the Propagation and Preservation of Machine Discoveries in Human Populations
arxiv.org/abs/2506.17741
with team members @levinbrinkmann.bsky.social @thomasfmueller.bsky.social Ann-Marie Nussberger, @maximederex.bsky.social, Sara Bonati, Valerii Chirkov
Reposted by Maxime Derex
Seeking Behavioral Science PhDs @cuboulderibs.bsky.social @granthamlse.bsky.social @casbsstanford.bsky.social @mpi-animalbehav.bsky.social @nathumbehav.nature.com @maximederex.bsky.social @cultevolfunding.bsky.social @mpi-evolbio.bsky.social @mpi-eva-leipzig.bsky.social @casbsstanford.bsky.social
New 2 year post-doc position on cultural adaptation in complex environmental management.
Post-Doctoral Position on Cultural Adaptation in Forest Management
The University of Maine seeks a post-doctoral researcher for a two-year project on human cultural adaptation in forest management, requiring a strong quantitative background and experience in modeling.
timwaring.info
June 9, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Reposted by Maxime Derex
Join us on the @culturalevolsoc.bsky.social executive committee! Shape the field of cultural evolution alongside amazing colleagues @maximederex.bsky.social, @nicolewen.bsky.social, @hyperadapthyrax.bsky.social, @lucymaplin.bsky.social, @ferylbadiani.bsky.social & incoming President Fiona Jordan
It's CES election time! We have FOUR positions that have come up for renewal, so please consider nominating yourself or your colleagues. Nominations close June 20th, with voting from June 30th -July 4th.
June 5, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Join us on the @culturalevolsoc.bsky.social executive committee! Shape the field of cultural evolution alongside amazing colleagues @maximederex.bsky.social, @nicolewen.bsky.social, @hyperadapthyrax.bsky.social, @lucymaplin.bsky.social, @ferylbadiani.bsky.social & incoming President Fiona Jordan
Reposted by Maxime Derex
It's CES election time! We have FOUR positions that have come up for renewal, so please consider nominating yourself or your colleagues. Nominations close June 20th, with voting from June 30th -July 4th.
June 4, 2025 at 11:15 AM
It's CES election time! We have FOUR positions that have come up for renewal, so please consider nominating yourself or your colleagues. Nominations close June 20th, with voting from June 30th -July 4th.
Reposted by Maxime Derex
If you haven't been looking recently at the Open Encyclopedia of Cognitive Science (oecs.mit.edu), here's your reminder that we are a free, open access resource for learning about the science of mind.
Today we are launching our new Thematic Collections to organize our growing set of articles!
Today we are launching our new Thematic Collections to organize our growing set of articles!
May 30, 2025 at 12:18 AM
If you haven't been looking recently at the Open Encyclopedia of Cognitive Science (oecs.mit.edu), here's your reminder that we are a free, open access resource for learning about the science of mind.
Today we are launching our new Thematic Collections to organize our growing set of articles!
Today we are launching our new Thematic Collections to organize our growing set of articles!
Reposted by Maxime Derex
3 days left until the deadline for these @culturalevolsoc.bsky.social grants
The 2025 Cultural Evolution Society awards are now open for applications!
-Outreach Award (2 awards, up to $2,500 each) forms.gle/Eq6BhtnptQLQ...
-ECR Grant (2 awards, up to $3,000 each) forms.gle/69DpptguwRqN...
-Building Research Capacity Award (1 award, up to $6,000) forms.gle/ZLGEW612GbZ4...
-Outreach Award (2 awards, up to $2,500 each) forms.gle/Eq6BhtnptQLQ...
-ECR Grant (2 awards, up to $3,000 each) forms.gle/69DpptguwRqN...
-Building Research Capacity Award (1 award, up to $6,000) forms.gle/ZLGEW612GbZ4...
ACE Outreach Awards
CES will give out two awards of up to $2500 each to support activities that translate cultural evolution research for a non-academic audience or for students outside of the field of cultural evolution...
forms.gle
May 27, 2025 at 9:54 AM
3 days left until the deadline for these @culturalevolsoc.bsky.social grants
Reposted by Maxime Derex
Do you teach a course on cultural evolution?
The @culturalevolsoc.bsky.social is offering Cultural Evolution Course Design Awards
Apply here: vuw.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
$4000 award. Apply for up to 3 courses. Less than 30min per course submission.
The @culturalevolsoc.bsky.social is offering Cultural Evolution Course Design Awards
Apply here: vuw.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
$4000 award. Apply for up to 3 courses. Less than 30min per course submission.
Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management
The most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.
vuw.qualtrics.com
May 14, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Do you teach a course on cultural evolution?
The @culturalevolsoc.bsky.social is offering Cultural Evolution Course Design Awards
Apply here: vuw.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
$4000 award. Apply for up to 3 courses. Less than 30min per course submission.
The @culturalevolsoc.bsky.social is offering Cultural Evolution Course Design Awards
Apply here: vuw.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
$4000 award. Apply for up to 3 courses. Less than 30min per course submission.
Reposted by Maxime Derex
10 days left to apply for our CES awards for Outreach, ECR grants or for building capacity
The 2025 Cultural Evolution Society awards are now open for applications!
-Outreach Award (2 awards, up to $2,500 each) forms.gle/Eq6BhtnptQLQ...
-ECR Grant (2 awards, up to $3,000 each) forms.gle/69DpptguwRqN...
-Building Research Capacity Award (1 award, up to $6,000) forms.gle/ZLGEW612GbZ4...
-Outreach Award (2 awards, up to $2,500 each) forms.gle/Eq6BhtnptQLQ...
-ECR Grant (2 awards, up to $3,000 each) forms.gle/69DpptguwRqN...
-Building Research Capacity Award (1 award, up to $6,000) forms.gle/ZLGEW612GbZ4...
ACE Outreach Awards
CES will give out two awards of up to $2500 each to support activities that translate cultural evolution research for a non-academic audience or for students outside of the field of cultural evolution...
forms.gle
May 20, 2025 at 5:09 AM
10 days left to apply for our CES awards for Outreach, ECR grants or for building capacity
Reposted by Maxime Derex
📢 CES launches Advancing Cultural Evolution (ACE) Course Design Awards! 🎉 $4000 award + global impact for your cultural evolution course materials. Course must be college/grad level with 10+ hrs content.
Application link: vuw.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_... #CulturalEvolution #Education #Grants
Application link: vuw.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_... #CulturalEvolution #Education #Grants
Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management
The most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.
vuw.qualtrics.com
May 14, 2025 at 10:39 AM
📢 CES launches Advancing Cultural Evolution (ACE) Course Design Awards! 🎉 $4000 award + global impact for your cultural evolution course materials. Course must be college/grad level with 10+ hrs content.
Application link: vuw.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_... #CulturalEvolution #Education #Grants
Application link: vuw.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_... #CulturalEvolution #Education #Grants
Reposted by Maxime Derex
Don't forget to put in your application for our 2025 awards!
The 2025 Cultural Evolution Society awards are now open for applications!
-Outreach Award (2 awards, up to $2,500 each) forms.gle/Eq6BhtnptQLQ...
-ECR Grant (2 awards, up to $3,000 each) forms.gle/69DpptguwRqN...
-Building Research Capacity Award (1 award, up to $6,000) forms.gle/ZLGEW612GbZ4...
-Outreach Award (2 awards, up to $2,500 each) forms.gle/Eq6BhtnptQLQ...
-ECR Grant (2 awards, up to $3,000 each) forms.gle/69DpptguwRqN...
-Building Research Capacity Award (1 award, up to $6,000) forms.gle/ZLGEW612GbZ4...
ACE Outreach Awards
CES will give out two awards of up to $2500 each to support activities that translate cultural evolution research for a non-academic audience or for students outside of the field of cultural evolution...
forms.gle
May 5, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Don't forget to put in your application for our 2025 awards!
Reposted by Maxime Derex
We are recruiting two postdoctoral scholars for a research project in human collective intelligence and creativity at UC Davis and Cornell. Joint project with @enfascination.com, @norijacoby.bsky.social, @oferon.bsky.social & Dalton Conley. Please forward this thread to relevant people. 1/n
April 29, 2025 at 2:46 AM
We are recruiting two postdoctoral scholars for a research project in human collective intelligence and creativity at UC Davis and Cornell. Joint project with @enfascination.com, @norijacoby.bsky.social, @oferon.bsky.social & Dalton Conley. Please forward this thread to relevant people. 1/n
Reposted by Maxime Derex
🚨 New preprint! 🚨
I looked at 400+ years of cumulative cultural evolution in the Game of Go from feudalism to superhuman AI. Did AlphaGo etc. completely disrupt human play? No! More like human-machine convergence, rather than revolution.
Check out these decision trees!
osf.io/preprints/ps...
I looked at 400+ years of cumulative cultural evolution in the Game of Go from feudalism to superhuman AI. Did AlphaGo etc. completely disrupt human play? No! More like human-machine convergence, rather than revolution.
Check out these decision trees!
osf.io/preprints/ps...
April 9, 2025 at 5:35 PM
🚨 New preprint! 🚨
I looked at 400+ years of cumulative cultural evolution in the Game of Go from feudalism to superhuman AI. Did AlphaGo etc. completely disrupt human play? No! More like human-machine convergence, rather than revolution.
Check out these decision trees!
osf.io/preprints/ps...
I looked at 400+ years of cumulative cultural evolution in the Game of Go from feudalism to superhuman AI. Did AlphaGo etc. completely disrupt human play? No! More like human-machine convergence, rather than revolution.
Check out these decision trees!
osf.io/preprints/ps...