Academic Interests and Professional Background
John Parker researches the social organization of science, creativity, and emotions. He has published in journals such as American Sociological Review, Sociological Theory, Sociological Methods & Research, Social Studies of Science, Scientometrics, and Science, Technology & Human Values. He directed the US National Science Foundation's Science and Technology Studies program, and has been a professional consultant providing advice on how to best organize and assess scientific teams for the US National Science Foundation, the US Forest Service, the Stockholm Resilience Center, the Decision Center for a Desert City, and the Environmental Data Science Innovation and Inclusion Laboratory.
Courses Taught
Science & Technology Studies
The Sociology of Creativity
The Sociology of Small Groups
Cultural Sociology
The Sociological Imagination
The Social Psychology of Attraction
Science and Technology in Russia
Awards
National Science Foundation Directors Award (2020) for meritorious service in promoting research ethics.
National Science Foundation Directors Award (2019) for meritorious service in establishing the Rules of Life Ideas Lab for Creating a Simple Cell
Teacher of the Year at Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University
Appointments
University of Oslo
Professor, 2022-Present
United States National Science Foundation
Funding Program Director, 2018-2020
Science and Technology Studies
Ethical and Responsible Research
Coupled Natural-Human Systems
Arizona State University
Senior Fellow, Barrett Honors College, 2011-2018
University of California at Santa Barbara
Postdoctoral Fellow, National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, 2008-2011
Tags:
Science,
Creativity,
Work,
Organizations,
Emotions,
Science Policy
Publications
Publications
Books
Parker, John N. (2026). Island Time: Theory Groups and the Social Production of Scientific Knowledge. Cambridge University Press.
Parker, John N., Vermeulen, Niki and Bart Penders (Eds.) (2010). Collaboration in the New Life Sciences. London: Ashgate.
Selected Articles
Williams, Amanda, Parker, John N., Kennedy, Steve, and Gail Whiteman. (2024) "A Process Study of Evolving Paradoxes and Cross-Sector Goals: A Partnership to Accelerate Global Sustainability. Journal of Management. 52(2):577-613.
Tormos-Aponte, Fernando, Brown, Phil, Dosemagen, Shannon, Fisher, Dana R., Frickel, Scott, MacKendrick, Norah, Meyer, David S. and John N. Parker. (2023) "Pathways for Diversifying and Enhancing Science Advocacy." Science Advances. 9, abq4899.
Parker, John N., Cardenas, Edgar, Dorr, Alex, and Edward J. Hackett. (2020) "Using Sociometers to Advance Small Group Research: Entrainment, Complexity, and Creativity." Sociological Methods & Research 49(4): 1064-1102.
Corte, Ugo, Parker, John N. and Gary Alan Fine. (2019) “Special Issue on The Microsociology of Creativity and Creative Work.” Social Psychology Quarterly 82(4): 33-39.
Parker, John N. and Ugo Corte. (2017) "Placing Collaborative Circles in Fields: Explaining Differences between Highly Creative Groups." Sociological Theory 35(4): 261-287
Parker, John N., Lortie, Christopher and Stefano Allesina. (2013) “Characterizing a Scientific Elite (B): The Publication Practices of the World’s Most Highly Cited Ecologists and Environmental Scientists.” Scientometrics 94 (2): 469-480.
Parker, John N. and Edward J. Hackett. (2012) “Hot Spots and Hot Moments in Scientific Collaborations and Social Movements.” American Sociological Review 77 (1) 21-44.
Parker, John N. and Beatrice I. Crona. (2012) “On Being All Things to All People: Boundary Organizations and the Contemporary Research University.” Social Studies of Science 42(2): 262-289.
Crona, Beatrice I. and John N. Parker. (2012) “Learning in Support of Adaptive Governance: Theories, Methods and Findings to Assess how Bridging Organizations Contribute to Natural Resource Governance.” Ecology and Society 17(1): 32.
Hampton, Stephanie H. and John N. Parker (2011) “Collaboration and Productivity in Scientific Synthesis." Bioscience 61(11): 900-910.
Parker, John N., Lortie, Christopher, J. and Stefano Allesina. (2010) “Characterizing a Scientific Elite: The Social Characteristics of the Most Highly Cited Scientists in Environmental Science and Ecology.” Scientometrics, 85(1): 129-143.
Published
Feb. 1, 2021 10:33 AM
- Last modified
Jan. 28, 2026 1:06 PM
