Mapping Systems. Revealing Power.

I’m Nathan Timbs, a Senior Research Scientist at the University of Virginia’s National Security Data and Policy Institute. I use quantitative, computational, and geospatial methods to study national security, supply chains, and political violence.

My work connects policy research on strategic vulnerabilities with academic research on civil conflict, rebel governance, and human rights.

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Featured Research

Threats to the Persian Gulf Helium Supply Chain

Mapping vulnerable trade routes and the implications of supply disruptions for semiconductors, medical imaging, and aerospace.

Precursors, Ports, and Pills

Tracing the China–Mexico–U.S. fentanyl supply chain through trade, infrastructure, political violence, and geospatial data to identify potential chokepoints.

Who Is Governance For? The Foundations and Consequences of Rebel Governance Styles

Identifying five rebel governance styles and showing that stronger groups have greater capacity to govern, while those with moderate strength relative to the state are most likely to do so. Governance styles emphasizing organizational capacity and control are more likely to receive external state support than those centered on civilian public goods.