She has a BA in Natural Sciences, an MPhil in History and Philosophy of Science, and a PhD in medieval Arabic philosophy, all from the University of Cambridge. Postdoctoral positions include: a Newton Fellowship at the University of Cambridge, a Mellon Fellowship at the Committee for the Study of Religion at City University New York, an ARTIS Fellowship at the Centre for the Resolution of Intractable Conflict at the University of Oxford (drawing on both psychology and anthropology), and a Research Associate positions at the Computer Laboratory at the University of Cambridge.
Dr Wilson believes that such an interdisciplinary background is invaluable for researching such intricate issues as human conflict, the rise of extremism and the motivation to commit extreme violence. Therefore the most recent framework of analysis Lydia draws on is Complexity Science, applying its insights to understand and intervene in societies.
