UBC computer scientist wins $250,000 fellowship for research on how markets make decisions

UBC computer scientist Kevin Leyton-Brown is one of six Canadian researchers awarded an EWR Steacie Memorial Fellowship today, valued at more than $250,000.

The fellowship recognizes the work of young scientists at Canadian universities. Leyton-Brown’s research focuses on how financial traders make decisions through the use of mathematical theories and algorithms. The Stanford University graduate is working at the intersection of computer science and microeconomics to develop mathematical theories and algorithms that will benefit both buyers and sellers by improving how markets make decisions.

Electronic trading markets have become critical to many sectors of the economy. But their rapid growth has led to increased complexity and computational bottlenecks that make them difficult to manage. The economic consequences of getting it wrong can be devastating. This difficulty was highlighted during the 2008 global financial crisis.

Leyton-Brown’s research group came up with novel behavioural models to better predict realistic human behaviour in strategic settings such as electronic trading. He is currently collaborating with Google to evaluate the effects of market rule changes on search engine revenue and buyer-seller satisfaction, particularly involving small companies. And an algorithm arising from Leyton-Brown’s research is the top contender for use in the United States government’s upcoming $50 billion ‘incentive auction’ of broadcast airwaves, which is likely to be replicated worldwide.

“These awards stand in recognition of our researchers’ talents and should serve as validation for their hard work in pushing the envelope of inquiry,” said John Hepburn, UBC vice-president, research and international.

In another project, Leyton-Brown and colleagues at Stanford developed two Massive Open Online Courses on game theory—a mathematical foundation of his research. Hundreds of thousands of students from around the world have enrolled over the last year, including thousands from Canada.

And, in Uganda, small farmers are trading surplus produce with simple text messages, based on a system Dr. Leyton-Brown helped to develop. The company he co-founded in 2013 received bids totalling over $1 million in its first six months.