Please join us January 12-15 for the 6th annual NodeXL Academy Winter School.
marc.smi...@gmail.com
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/social-media-network-research-winter-school-2026-tickets-1790292195149
Scholarship application:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdQFnDWv_aQhKxuqvkwAIT73riBALdR52enStp9iYZpgdxS3w/viewform
1. Dr. Marc Smith: Seeing Unseen Social Media Networks
Social Scientist / Director, Social Media Research Foundation
Lecture: “Understanding Social Media with Networks, Visualization and Data Analysis”
Social media is not about posts; it’s about connections. Dr. Smith
will describe how network visualization transforms abstract data into
actionable insights, setting the foundation for everything that follows.
2. Dr. Wasim Ahmed: From Analysis to Publication
Digital Business Expert / Associate Professor, University of Hull
Session: “How to Publish Network Analysis Research: Overcoming Barriers and Challenges”
Great
network analysis means nothing if it never gets
published. Dr. Ahmed, has navigated the peer-review process with many
peer-reviewed published network studies, shares the exact strategies
that turn
your analysis into accepted papers.
3. Dr. Veronica Espinoza: Choosing Your Tools Wisely
Data Scientist / SMRF-NetHabitus
Lecture: “Mapping the Landscape of Network Analysis Tools: A Comparative Perspective”
Not
all network tools are created equal. Dr. Espinoza provides the
definitive comparison guide, showing when to use NodeXL versus other
platforms and why NodeXL Pro often wins for social media research.
4. Arber Ceni: The Engine Behind the Magic
Developer / Social Media Research Foundation
Session: “NodeXL: From the Inside Out”
Ever
wonder what makes NodeXL tick? Arber Ceni, the developer who builds
NodeXL, takes
you behind the scenes. No technical jargon, just a description of the
“why” behind NodeXL’s features, making you a more powerful user.
5. Dr. Yasmeen Salah: Regional Network Intelligence
Assistant Professor / Mass Communication Faculty, Cairo University
Lecture: “The State of Social Network Analysis in Arab Research: A Review Through My NodeXL Studies”
Network
analysis looks different in every cultural context. Dr. Salah’s
groundbreaking work reveals how Arab social networks operate differently
and why understanding these nuances matters for global research.
6. Dr. Laeeq Khan: Networks Meet AI
Professor / Head of the Social Media Lab, Ohio University
Lecture: “Networks in the Age of AI: How LLMs Reshape Online Communities and Information Flows”
AI
is not just a tool for analysis; it’s reshaping the very networks we
study. Dr. Khan explores how large language models are creating new
network structures and information pathways and how to study them.
7. Dr. Nasri Messarra: Detecting Digital Manipulation
Head of Sociology and Communication Department / Saint-Joseph University of Beirut
Session: “Using NodeXL to Analyze Manipulation on Social Media”
Fake news, bot networks, coordinated disinformation, Dr. Messarra shows how NodeXL uncovers these manipulation networks, with case studies from recent political campaigns.
8. Dr. Moses Boudourides: The Dark Networks
Data Science / Northwestern University
Session: “Social Network Analysis of the Epstein Email Network”
Sometimes the most important networks are the hidden ones. Dr. Boudourides demonstrates how network analysis exposes power structures in sensitive datasets with ethical methodologies you can apply to your own research.
9. Kyle Findlay: Networks as Geopolitical Tools
Co-founder of Murmur
Lecture: “Social Media as Foreign Policy Tool: The Case of South Africa vs. the USA”
When nations clash on social media, what does the network data reveal? Kyle’s analysis of state-sponsored network campaigns will change how you view international relations.
10. Dr. Basma Gomaa: Healthcare Networks Transformed
Assistant Professor / Nova Southeastern University
Lecture: “Decoding Patient Behavior in the Digital Era: Insights from Social Network Analysis Research”
From vaccine hesitancy to mental health support communities, Dr. Gomaa shows how network analysis saves lives by understanding patient communities better than ever before.