Alex Chohlas-Wood
Assistant Professor of Computational Social Science
About
Alex Chohlas-Wood is an Assistant Professor of Computational Social Science. He received his Ph.D. in computational social science from Stanford University, an M.S. in applied urban science and informatics from NYU CUSP, and a B.A. in studio art from Carleton College.
His research investigates whether computational approaches can improve public policy. In recent work, he designed an algorithm that uses AI to help prosecutors avoid implicit bias in charging decisions, tested whether automated behavioral nudges reduce incarceration for public defender clients, and developed a utility-maximizing framework for equitable algorithms. He is particularly interested in prototyping and evaluating scientific and technical innovations in applied collaborations with government agencies.
Dr. Chohlas-Wood leads the Algorithms, Data, and Public Policy Technology (ADAPPT) Lab at NYU. He is also the faculty co-director of the Computational Policy Lab, which he has led in various roles since 2018. Previously, he served as the director of analytics for the New York City Police Department. In 2025, he was elected as a member of the Council on Criminal Justice. His efforts have been supported by Arnold Ventures, the Heising-Simons Foundation, J-PAL North America, the MacArthur Foundation, the Microsoft Justice Reform Initiative, and Stanford Impact Labs. His research has directly informed state and local legislation and policymaking across the U.S.
