who we are working with
Our Network of Interest
The Network of Interest (NoI) in DE-CONSPIRATOR serves as a bridge between researchers, policymakers, civil society, media professionals, and other key stakeholders to exchange knowledge and strategies on combating Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI).
Dr. Cengiz Erisen
Political Science Professor at Yeditepe University
His research examines human judgment through the lens of emotions and motivated biases. He has published extensively on emotions in political attitudes, populism, and misinformation, with projects funded by international research councils.
Dr. Ofer Fridman
Senior Lecturer in War Studies at KCL
His research focuses on the intersection between Strategic Studies, Strategic Communications, and International Relations, specializing in Foreign Interference and Information Manipulation theories and their practical applications.
Ellina Shnurko-Tabakova
Founder/CEO of Index Systems
Ukrainian media entrepreneur and social leader with extensive experience in advocating for Freedom of Speech and Human Rights. She also serves as Chair of NGO “CIC” Council and volunteers for Ukrainian Signal Corps, leading national projects in strategic communications and OSINT.
Dr. Flavia Durach
Associate Professor at SNSPA
She is Media effects researcher, MA programme coordinator, and serves as rapporteur for the International Observatory for Information and Democracy. Her work focuses on online disinformation, strategic communication, and EU attitudes, contributing to projects funded by GMF, NATO, and the European Commission.
Plamen Tonchev
Head of Asia Unit at IIER
Founding member of the European Think-tank Network on China, specializing in Europe-Asia relations. He serves on key committees including EU CSCAP and has published extensively on China’s development and foreign policy.
Teresa Coratella
Deputy Director and Policy Fellow of the ECFR Rome Office
Her focus is on Italian foreign policy, Poland’s European role, disinformation, and multilateralism/G7. She is also a WIIS Italy member and has published influential works on European unity, multilateralism, and democratic defence against disinformation.
Liana Markariani
Reporter and TV host at the Georgian Public Broadcaster
She is also a media psychologist and PhD candidate at Tbilisi State University, specializing in media effects, disinformation, and ethnic minority issues. She leads diversity-focused projects and teaches across Georgian universities.
Hendrik Bruns
Policy Analyst at the JRC
He has been active at the Competence Centre on Behavioural Insights since 2020. His work tries to understand how and why people make sustainable decisions, such as waste sorting or food waste, and how to induce them to do so. He is particularly interested in the role of nudges, and mis- and disinformation.
Dr. Thomas Colley
Senior Lecturer in Defence and International Affairs at RMAS
He is also a Senior Visiting Research Fellow in the War Studies department at KCL. His research interests include propaganda, strategic communication, and disinformation in warfare and international politics. He has authored three books on government narratives and media warfare.
Kamila Koronska
Research Officer in the Study of Misinformation at UvA
Her research focuses on online mis/disinformation, state-sponsored propaganda, and the influence of malicious actors on mainstream media using OSINT and digital methods. She also works as a freelance journalist for the BBC News Channel.
Kateryna Pavlova
COO and Trainer at CRISP
She has been coordinating international projects since 2017, focusing on propaganda, democratic resilience, and critical thinking. She co-published “Ukraine in Focus”, advises on diaspora engagement, and develops educational programs on disinformation, hybrid warfare, and narrative influence.
Viktoras Daukšas
Head of Debunk.org
He has been leading Debunk.org for the last eight years, an independent technology think tank that analyses FIMI disinformation campaigns by combining expert knowledge with AI driven technologies. He has also worked on development of the most popular and successful e-services in the Baltic states.
Steven Feldstein
Senior Fellow at the CEID Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Programme
His research examines technology’s impact on geopolitics, democracy, and U.S. foreign policy. He authored “The Rise of Digital Repression”, which won the 2023 Grawemeyer Award. He is also a former deputy assistant secretary under President Obama and previously held the Church Chair at Boise State.
Dr. Ayşe Başar
Professor and Director of the TMU Data Science Laboratory
Her research focus is decision-making under uncertainty by advancing ML optimization and learning, with a focus on large language models (LLMs), Deep Reinforcement Learning, and ML explainability. She is also a member of AAAI, INFORMS, AIS, and a senior member of IEEE.
Dr. Onur Varol
Assistant Professor at the Sabanci University Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences
His research focuses on developing techniques to analyse online behaviours, improve individual well-being, and address societal problems using online data. He is also Natural Sciences and Principal Investigator at the VIRAL Lab.
Tauno Tõhk
Research Fellow at ICDS
Based in Estonia, he specializes in China and Chinese foreign interference. Prior to that, he led the team tackling Chinese FIMI at the EEAS, and worked on disinformation at the European Commission.
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REACH OUT TO US
Write to the D&C managers of the project
Lottie Boas: [email protected]
Endi Bejtja: [email protected]