Bio Brief

Rutgers SC&I Faculty (2015-present)

Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication at the School of Communication and Information, Rutgers University.

Instructor
(Communication BA, PhD; MA of Communication & Media)

Introduction to Social Media, BA (04:192:305)
Communication and Technology, BA (04:192:354)
Organizational Communication Networks, MA (17:194:512)
Mediated Communication, MA (17:194:534)
Mediated communication, PhD (16:194:633)

Lazer Lab Postdoc (2013-2015)

Postdoctoral research fellow in computational social science with David Lazer’s lab, affiliated with:

USC Annenberg Ph.D. (2008-2013)

Received a Ph.D. in Communication from the Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism, USC.
Doctoral thesis: “Intermedia agenda setting in an era of fragmentation:
Applications of network science in the study of mass communication.”
Recipient of the 2013 AEJMC Mass Communication & Society Dissertation Award.

Research Assistant:
(Affiliated Research Centers, Annenberg School)

Annenberg Networks Network (ANN).
PIs: Peter Monge, Manuel Castells
Metamorphosis / MetaConnects / Alhambra Source
PI: Sandra Ball-Rokeach
Center for the Digital Future.
PIs: Jeffrey Cole, Michael Suman
FCC Study: Critical Information Needs of the US Public.
PIs: Lewis A. Friedland, Philip Napoli, Ernest J. Wilson III

Teaching Assistant:
(Communication Program, Annenberg School)

COMM 200 – Communication as a Social Science
COMM 201 – Communication as Liberal Art
COMM 306 – The Communication Revolution and the Arts
COMM 310 – Media and Society
COMM 400 – Communication Networks (Senior seminar + labs)
COMM 645 – Communication Networks (PhD seminar + labs)

Course Instructor:
(Online Communities Program, Annenberg School)

CMGT 540 – Uses of Communication Research (Syllabus)
Graduate level class on research design and methodology.

Fellowships & Scholarships

Consortium on Media Policy Studies DC Fellowship with the FCC (2012)
Oxford Internet Institute Summer Doctoral Program (2011)
USC Annenberg Graduate Fellowship (2007-2012)
Academic Excellence Scholarship, Sofia University (1999-2002)

Education

2013: PhD. in Communication from the University of Southern California.

Dissertation Title: Intermedia agenda setting in an era of fragmentation:
Applications of network science in the study of mass communication
Committee Members: Sandra Ball-Rokeach (Chair), Peter Monge, Geneva Overholser, Ann Crigler

2010: M.A. in Communication from the University of Southern California.

Degree awarded after Ph.D. level comprehensive examinations in four concentration areas:
media studies, network theory and methodology, online participation and civic engagement,
and state control over digital communications.
Committee members: Sandra Ball-Rokeach (Chair), Peter Monge, Manuel Castells,
Henry Jenkins, Geneva Overholser.

2006: M.A. in Virtual Culture from Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”.

2004: B.Sc. in Computer Science from Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”.

Professional Experience

Data science and network analysis consultant for corporate and NGO projects (2010-present).
IT journalist (2000-2007) and visual editor (2006-2007) for Capital Weekly and other projects at Economedia (then part of Verlagsgruppe Handelsblatt). Covering Internet governance, telecom regulation and new media. Selected publications from that period are available on Reuters/Factiva.
Expert consultant/analyst in the areas of IT, e-government, telecom regulation and new media. Worked on a number of government, NGO, and media projects (2000-2007)
Reporter for the Bulgarian National Television (2001-2002) and Radio Tangra (2002-2003).