Sebastián Michel Mata
Early-Career Fellow 2026–2027

Sebastián Michel Mata (born XXX in XY) investigates the origins and evolution of culture in humans and other animals. His research explores how social interactions among individuals can give rise to group-level organization and behavior that create the conditions for culture to emerge. Using mathematical and computational models, he brings together questions from the social sciences with evolutionary theory to uncover the fundamental principles underlying the emergence of culture across species.

Before joining the Collegium, Sebastián earned a PhD and an MA in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, together with a Graduate Certificate in Computational Science and Engineering, from Princeton University (US). He also holds a BSc in Technology from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (MX) and a BSc in Anthropology from the Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro (MX). His interdisciplinary background continues to shape his research at the interface of the natural and social sciences.