I work at the intersection of behavioural science, energy systems research, and computational methods, combining perspectives from social, data, and computer science to understand how people, policymakers, and technical systems actually adopt, or resist, sustainability solutions, and how to connect methodological rigor with real-world impact.
My work has appeared in Science Advances, Computer Networks, Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence, Scientific Data, and Sustainable Development, among others. Open to collaborations, and always happy to connect.
Academic interests
Sustainability & Climate Change · Energy Informatics & Green Transition · Environmental Attitudes & Behavior · Climate Change Mitigation & Policy · Green Computing & AI · Data Science for Sustainability
Education
2018 M.Sc. in Computer Science (with distinction), South Ural State University, Russia
2014 Ph.D. in Economics (with distinction), Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Economics, Russia
2010 M.Sc. in Economics (with distinction), South Ural Institute of Management and Economics, Russia
Honors
2025Robert B. Cialdini Prize for an outstanding paper that uses field methods and demonstrates relevance to outside groups
2025 “Best Publication of the Quarter” (Q3+Q4 2025) at the L3S Research Center, category “Green AI”, for a paper
2024 “Best Publication of the Quarter” (Q1 2024) at the L3S Research Center, category “Green AI and Computing”, for a paper
Professional experience
2023.10 – present Senior Researcher, Research Software Developer, OFFIS – Institute for Information Technology, Carl von Ossietzky University, Germany
2023.09 – 2023.12 Visiting Researcher, Institute for East European Studies, Free University of Berlin, Germany
2023.08 – 2023.10 Data Research Analyst, choyze (GmbH), Germany
2022.09 – 2023.10 Visiting Researcher, L3S Research Center, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany
2022.10 – 2023.08 Senior Researcher, School of Environmental and Social Studies, Tyumen State University, Russia
2021.07 – 2022.09 Data Scientist, Data Engineer, Center for Advanced Governance (NGO), Russia
2018.06 – 2022.08 Vice Rector for Research, Senior Researcher, South Ural University of Technology, Russia
2014.09 – 2018.06 Senior Researcher, Associate Professor, South Ural University of Technology, Russia
2010.09 – 2014.09 Researcher, Lecturer, South Ural University of Technology, Russia
2010.05 – 2013.05 Technical Support Engineer, Mechel Foundation (NGO), Russia
Valko, D., & Marx Gómez, J. (2026). Topological and temporal stability analysis of the lightning network. Applied Network Science. DOI
Valko, D., Schwarz, J. S., Isenmann, R., & Marx Gómez, J. (2026). Advancing energy system research with the FAIR+S framework. In Proc. of the 3rd NFDI4Energy Conference, Aachen, Germany. DOI
Valko, D., & Kudenko, D. (2025). Hybrid pathfinding optimization for the lightning network with reinforcement learning. Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence. DOI
Valko, D., & Marx Gómez, J. (2025). Geolocated lightning network topology snapshots: A dataset covering 2019–2023. Scientific Data. DOI
Valko, D., & Kudenko, D. (2025). Increasing energy efficiency of bitcoin infrastructure with reinforcement learning and one-shot path planning for the lightning network. Neural Computing and Applications. DOI
Alsharif, S., Valko, D., & Veith, E. M. S. P. (2025). Dynamic optimization-based method for determining the flexibility potential at vertical system interconnections. In Proc. of 28th International Conference and Exhibition on Electricity Distribution (CIRED 2025), Geneva, Switzerland. DOI
Alsharif, S., Valko, D., Wibbeke, J., & Lehnhoff, S. (2025). Co-simulation and MAS approach for assessment of large-scale electrolysers potential in flexibility markets. In Proc. of 2025 IEEE Kiel PowerTech Conference, Kiel, Germany. DOI
Valko, D., Alsharif, S., & Rosinger, S. (2025). Mix matters: Technical evaluation of a carbon-aware power plant operation strategy for an industrial area in Bremen. In Proc. of the European Simulation and Modelling Conference 2025 (ESM 2025), Ghent, Belgium. DOI
Valko, D., & Kudenko, D. (2024). Reducing CO₂ emissions in a peer-to-peer distributed payment network: Does geography matter in the lightning network? Computer Networks. DOI
Valko, D., Alsharif, S., & Tolk, D. (2024). An open-source carbon emissions simulator for smart grid co-simulation scenarios. In Proc. of the European Simulation and Modelling Conference 2024 (ESM 2024), San Sebastian, Spain. DOI
Social & Behavioural Science
Valko, D., & Thompson, K. (2025). Cultural differences and interdependencies in climate change mitigation efforts and their psychological antecedents across 63 countries. Sustainable Development. DOI
Sosnovskikh, S., Valko, D., & Meyer-Alten, R. (2025). Predictors of sustainable investment motivation: An interpretable machine learning approach. Sustainable Development. DOI
Vlasceanu, M., Doell, K. C., …, Valko, D., …, & Van Bavel, J. J. (2024). Addressing climate change with behavioral science: A global intervention tournament in 63 countries. Science Advances. DOI
Valko, D., Vasilevskaia, M., Bunina, M., Kozlova, M., Filippova, A. M., & Rud, D. (2024). Educational and career trajectories in Russia: Introducing a new source and datasets with a high granularity. Research Data Journal for the Humanities and Social Sciences. DOI
Valko, D. (2023). Does going green feel good in Russia: implicit measurements with visual stimuli. Collabra: Psychology. DOI
Valko, D. (2021). Environmental attitudes and contextual stimuli in emerging environmental culture: An empirical study from Russia. Sustainable Production and Consumption. DOI