I am an Assistant Professor at the Department of Communication at the University of Vienna. My professorship is focused on media literacy, aimed at developing a fundamental understanding of individuals’ mental resilience in a digitalized society, with a focus on identifying the conditions at both the individual and social context levels that enable individuals to thrive using digital media while mitigating its potential negative effects.
I obtained my PhD at the Media Psychology Lab at KU Leuven in 2018, where I also conducted my postdoctoral research focused on adolescents’ exposure to diverse media messages and how the intricate interplay of different (and opposing) messages relates to their well-being and body image. This research was supported by two competitive fellowships (Internal Funds at KU Leuven and FWO). Between 2022 and 2024, I was a postdoctoral researcher affiliated with the Developmental Social Neuroscience (DSN) lab at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and affiliated with the Winston National Center on Technology use, Brain, and Psychological Development.
My research revolves around exploring the association between (social) media use and well-being, resulting in publications in esteemed international journals spanning developmental and cognitive psychology, communication science, and body image. My current research involves various (international) research projects that adopt a comprehensive biopsychosocial perspective to investigate how (social) media impact well-being. By integrating (neuro)biological, social, and psychological factors, I aim to comprehend the nuanced (positive and negative) experiences that youth have on and with social media. These projects also delve into understanding the resilience and risk factors associated with such experiences. I have cultivated an extensive international network through periods spent abroad at U of Michigan and U of North Carolina as well as through collaborations with scholars from institutions such as U of Vienna, U of South Korea, and Erasmus University.
UNIVERSITY OF VIENNA
Department of Communication
Austria
02/2025
Assistant Professor
Media Literacy
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL
Department of Psychology and Neuroscience
USA
2022-2024
Postdoctoral researcher
KU LEUVEN
Media Psychology Lab
Research Foundation Flanders
Belgium
2019-2022
Postdoctoral researcher
KU LEUVEN
Media Psychology Lab
Internal Funds KU Leuven
Belgium
2019
Postdoctoral researcher
KU LEUVEN
Media Psychology Lab
Belgium
2014-2018
PhD researcher
My vision on Research
My vision on academic research is that true societal impact emerges from solid scientific insights in academic research. These insights are based on systematic knowledge derived from examining a subject through diverse angles and perspectives. In my research, I employ a mixed-methods approach along with a knowledge exchange perspective to achieve a comprehensive understanding and contribute meaningfully to the academic and broader communities.
My vision on Education
The highest quality of education is achieved through academic excellence, driven by interaction and takes a person-centered approach.
Other…
Being a proud mother of a 4-year-old boy and a 2-year-old daughter has given me a unique perspective on how to raise children amidst this digitalized world and the parental hurdles that come with it. As a parent, I want my children to be equipped with the optimal tools to navigate the digital world positively, which is one of my strongest inspirations and motivations as a scientist.