Cosma Shalizi is a respected physicist, philosopher, and professor known for his pioneering research on complex systems. He holds a Doctorate in Philosophy in Physics and Philosophy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a Bachelor of Arts in Physics from the University of California, Berkeley. He is an External Professor at the Santa Fe Institute, where he was a Postdoctoral Fellow and Graduate Fellow in the past.

Throughout his career, Shalizi has held various academic positions, serving as an Associate Professor and Visiting Assistant Professor at Carnegie Mellon University. He was also a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Center for the Study of Complex Systems at the University of Michigan. His research mainly focuses on complex systems, statistical inference, information theory, and network analysis.

Apart from his academic contributions, Cosma has been recognized for his informative blog, Three-Toed Sloth, where he expounds upon his thoughts and insights about human behavior, social issues, and politics using a statistical and mathematical lens. His work has been cited in many publications, including The New York Times, Wired, and The Atlantic.