Caighlan Smith
Researcher, Ph.D.
Caighlan Smith (she/her) is a digital media researcher whose work focuses on video games, popular culture, and emergent narrative technologies. She completed her Ph.D. as a Vanier Scholar at Memorial University of Newfoundland, engaging with communication studies and the digital humanities. Her research interests include narratology, speculative fiction, digital communication, online cultures, and intersectional feminist approaches to media.
Before academia took over, Caighlan was an internationally award-winning fantasy novelist. She also earned an MLitt in Fantasy from the University of Glasgow and remains an avid fan of the fantasy genre.
LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/caighlan-smith
Camila Costa
Ph.D. Candidate, Institute of Social Sciences (University of Lisbon)
Camila Costa is a Ph.D. candidate at the Institute of Social Sciences at the University of Lisbon, where her research examines citizen participation in urban regeneration and smart cities. She holds a master’s degree in Communication Sciences from the University of Porto, where she studied fashion as an expression of subcultures, and a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the Federal University of Pelotas, where she researched literary journalism in the digital age. She has also participated in projects on participatory democracy and public policy evaluation in Portugal.
Outside her research, Camila enjoys exploring creative expressions and has a strong interest in how culture shapes everyday life.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/camila-costa-55a2748b/
Cibele Souza
Research Analyst, Center for Transdisciplinary Development (CETRAD)
Cibele is an interdisciplinary researcher with a background in Social Sciences, Data Science, and Media Studies. She has developed multidisciplinary work addressing topics such as political narratives and corruption, political communication, sustainability, and technological innovation. In these studies, she applies computational methods such as content analysis, NLP, and Big Data, mapping corruption in Brazilian digital media and contributing to the development of a sustainable framework to foster eco-efficient technological innovations. With a strong commitment to bridging multidisciplinary academic knowledge with practical impact, her research seeks to promote more sustainable and socially responsible futures.
Beyond research, Cibele finds balance and inspiration at the beach. Surfing and the ocean not only recharge her energy but also fuel the creativity and perspective she brings into her academic life.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cibelessouza/
Eduardo Ruedell
Ph.D. Candidate (UFSM), Research Fellow (Capes Foundation)
Eduardo is a Ph.D. candidate in Media & Communication Studies at the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Brazil, where he also earned his M.A. and B.A. in Social Communication. He is a Research Fellow at the Capes Foundation and a senior researcher at the Digital Communication Research Lab (UFSM) and the Media Circulation and Communication Strategies Research Group (CNPq). His research examines mediatization and social processes, focusing particularly on media and activism, radical movements, post-fascism, and platform communication.
Beyond his research activities, Eduardo is passionate about music. A former hard rock band member, he still plays guitar occasionally and finds that music fuels both his concentration and creativity.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eduardoruedell/
Karolina Drobotowicz
Ph.D. Researcher
Karolina Drobotowicz is a researcher exploring the design and use of AI in the public sector, with a particular focus on Finland. With a background in IT and robotics, her academic journey led her to human-computer interaction and the role of AI in governance, participation, and individual agency. She primarily conducts qualitative research but also delights in data analysis—after the occasional moment of frustration.
Beyond her academic life, Karolina can be found dancing Brazilian Zouk, hiking, cycling, skiing, or experimenting with coffee brewing. She also nurtures a deep interest in holistic health, philosophy, and intersectional feminism.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karolina-drobotowicz/
Samaneh Koohestani
Independent Researcher, Ph.D. in Cultural Sociology
Samaneh Koohestani holds a Ph.D. in Cultural Sociology and works as an independent researcher. Her work explores media studies, celebrity culture, gender studies, and digital activism, with her doctoral research focusing on the mediatization of everyday life and the rise of internet celebrities in Iran. She is passionate about bridging academic insights with lived experiences through writing, translation, and research.
Outside academia, Samaneh enjoys exploring nature, visiting historical sites, and discovering new environments. She is also fascinated by digital tools and social media—especially when used to enrich, rather than dominate, daily life.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samaneh-koohestani-75a6a996