Professional Bio

Dr. Riley Tucker is an Assistant Professor in Criminology and Sociology. His research uses computational methods such as machine learning, natural language processing, and web scraping to better understand cities and the spaces within them. He is particularly passionate about using these methods to test and develop interdisciplinary theories that explain why some urban places experience more crime than others. Prior to joining Penn State, he earned his PhD in Criminology and Justice Policy at Northeastern University and served as a Post Doctoral Fellow at the University of Chicago's Mansueto Institute for Innovation and Data Science Institute. His work has been published in venues such as Journal of Quantitative Criminology, Journal of Research in Crime & Delinquency, and Scientific Data.