Norm Dynamics in Multi-Agent Systems
Descriptive norms, norm perception and induction, and the connection between individual decisions and collective behaviour.
Multi-agent systems · Norm dynamics · Hybrid cognition
Chao Li
- Senior Researcher · Sirius University of Science and Technology
- Engineer · ITMO University
- Ph.D. Candidate · ITMO University
I am a Senior Researcher at Sirius University of Science and Technology and a Ph.D. Candidate at ITMO University. My research examines how the concentration of collective practices and the co-occurrence structure of behaviours evolve under changing environmental conditions and normative constraints, and how stable patterns emerge, persist, and undergo replacement and reorganisation. I combine mathematical modelling, agent-based simulation, and machine learning, with applications in healthcare, software engineering and the social sciences. As a core member of the TacitAI project, I investigate decision modelling in distributed and hybrid cognitive systems under incomplete information.
Research interests
Hybrid Cognitive Systems and Tacit Knowledge
Decision modelling under incomplete information, knowledge representation, and normative reasoning.
Human–AI Interaction and Decision Support
Interpretable modelling and simulation for distributed healthcare and intelligent decision support.
Publications & talks
Research papers, conference contributions, theses and teaching material.
All 17 research outputs
2026
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A Nonlocal Aggregation–Diffusion Model with Adaptive Perception Kernels for Descriptive Norm Dynamics
Mathematics, vol. 14, no. 20, 3837, 2026
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Data-Driven Structural Optimization of Descriptive Norms: Bridging Micro and Macro Dynamics in Medical Contexts
Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol. 16786, pp. 388–402, Springer, 2026
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Modeling Medical Descriptive Norm Convergence and Violation via Nonlocal Transport and Agent Learning
Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Agents and Artificial Intelligence (ICAART), vol. 3, pp. 2314–2321, SCITEPRESS, 2026
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Role-Conditioned Descriptive Norm Dynamics via Nonlocal Transport and Agent Learning
Lecture Notes in Computer Science, Springer, 2026
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Modelling the Dynamics of Software Developer Roles from Source-Code Repository Data
Modern Research and Technological Aspects of Software Engineering: Proceedings of the All-Russian Scientific and Technical Conference, pp. 338–343, Orenburg State University, 2026
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Cognitive Architectures of Normative Alignment: Value-Driven Inference versus Discrete Mathematical Computation
11th International Conference on Cognitive Science: Book of Abstracts, pp. 41–42, 2026, Nizhny Novgorod, 24–28 August 2026
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Joint optimization of logical structures and parameters in executable prescriptive norm system
Expert Systems with Applications (Elsevier), 2026
Submitted; with editor
2025
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Multi-agent norm perception and induction in distributed healthcare
Journal of Biomedical Informatics, vol. 166, 104835, 2025
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Cross-Scale Modeling of Healthcare Norms and Patient Features Dynamics with Interpretable Machine Learning
Computational Science – ICCS 2025 Workshops, vol. 15908, pp. 113–127, Springer, 2025
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Computational Cost of Medical Norm Reasoning in Distributed Agents
AI on Cloud: The Rise of Human–Machine Synergy, Apsara Conference 2025, 2025
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Selected Topics in Reinforcement Learning: Practical Hands-on
Buk, 2025
2024
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Towards Explaining Emergent Behavior in Multi-Agent Systems: Micro-Parameter Space Structuring with Feature Importance in the Heatbug Model
2024 IEEE/WIC International Conference on Web Intelligence and Intelligent Agent Technology (WI-IAT), pp. 824–829, IEEE, 2024
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Towards Modeling of Distributed Intelligence Systems in Modern Healthcare
XIII Congress of Young Scientists: Proceedings, vol. 3, pp. 61–64, ITMO University, 2024
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Modelling of practice sharing in complex distributed healthcare system
Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol. 14835, pp. 224–238, Springer, 2024
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Smart blind guide cane based on structured light image reconstruction
2024
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Towards Modeling of Distributed Intelligence Systems in Modern Healthcare
53rd (LIII) Scientific and Educational-Methodological Conference of ITMO University, 2024
2023
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Person Search in Images by Semantic Description
ITMO University, 2023
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Research projects
From collective behaviour to intelligent decision support.
2026–Present
Hybrid Cognitive Systems for Decision-Making Based on Tacit Knowledge under Incomplete Information (TacitAI)
Research on formalising tacit knowledge and modelling decisions in distributed and hybrid cognitive systems. The work explores adaptive intelligent decision support under incomplete information.
My role · Core team member; independently responsible for the research direction on decision-modelling technologies in distributed and hybrid cognitive systems
Official project approval announcement
Funding & project details
State Programme for Scientific and Technological Development of the Sirius Federal Territory
Project FTS-2026-2.3-VY-2454-8945
2025–2026
Breakthrough Research in Artificial Intelligence Conducted by AI Research Centers
Research on large foundation models, large language models, machine learning and multi-agent systems.
My role · Research team member
Funding & project details
Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation
Project 325086; state registration 125080409305-1
2024–2026
Intelligent Decision-Support Technologies Based on Modelling and Control of Human–AI Interaction
Modelling and control of human–AI interaction for intelligent decision support, with an emphasis on explainable AI and behaviour modelling.
My role · Research team member
Funding & project details
Russian Science Foundation (RSF)
Project 324047; state registration 124052400016-3
2021–2024
Strong Artificial Intelligence Technologies in Industry
Research and development on strong AI and digital solutions, including digital twins and digital objects.
My role · Research team member
Funding & project details
Exploratory R&D funded by the Analytical Center for the Government of the Russian Federation
Project 321315; state registration 121121300433-5
2019–2020
Intelligent Guide Cane for the Visually Impaired
Design and implementation of an assistive cane using IoT sensing, structured-light image reconstruction, embedded navigation and audio feedback.
My role · Team member (system design and implementation)
Scientific supervisor
- Associate Professor · Faculty of AI Technologies, ITMO University
- Research Group Leader · Research Center for IT and AI, Sirius University of Science and Technology
- Principal Engineer · Huawei Research Institute, Saint Petersburg, Russia
Academic background
Education
2023–Present
Ph.D. Candidate in Mathematical Modelling, Numerical Methods and Software Complexes
Faculty of Artificial Intelligence Technologies, ITMO University
2020–2023
M.Sc. in Software Engineering for Neurotechnologies
Faculty of Software Engineering and Computer Technology, ITMO University
2016–2020
B.Sc. in Information Security
School of Software Engineering, Nanchang University
Appointments & experience
2026–Present
Senior Researcher
Scientific Center for Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sirius Federal Territory (Sochi), Russia
2026–Present
Engineer
Research Center for Artificial Intelligence ‘Strong Artificial Intelligence in Industry’, ITMO University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
2024–2026
Engineer
National Center for Cognitive Research (NCCR), ITMO University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
2022–2023
Engineer (Intern)
ROBOTRACK, a brand of Brain Development LLC, Saint Petersburg, Russia
2020–2021
Intern
Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), China
Academic exchange
2026
Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), Hamburg, Germany
International Conference on Computational Science (ICCS 2026) — presentation in the Computational Health track.
July 2025
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
High Performance Computing Institute.
June 2024
University of Málaga, Spain
International Conference on Computational Science.