Adrian Meier

Dr. Adrian Meier is a tenure-track Junior Professor for Communication Science at Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU), holding the Chair of Communication Science since February 2024. Previously, he served as Assistant Professor at the University of Amsterdam (2020-2021) and as a Research Associate at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (2015-2020), where he completed his doctorate summa cum laude in August 2020, an MA in Communication Science (2013-2015), and a BA in Journalism and Political Science (2010-2013). His research is conducted through the Junior Professorship for Communication Studies, part of the Institute for Labor Market and Socioeconomics (IAS) within FAU's School of Business, Economics and Social Sciences.

Meier's research focuses on media usage and effects research, media psychology, and interpersonal communication, with particular emphasis on the consequences of digital communication for well-being, health, and self-regulation at the interface between work and leisure. His work investigates phenomena such as digital stress, procrastination, and digital communication in the home office. Methodologically, he specializes in in-situ surveys, digital behavioral data analysis, and AI-supported literature syntheses, with a strong commitment to theory-driven, media-psychological, and quantitative-empirical approaches. His research employs short-term longitudinal designs including diary studies and experience sampling, systematic literature reviews, and adheres to open science principles with pre-registration.

Analysis of Meier's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on digital disconnection and its relationship to well-being, examining how temporary breaks from digital media can improve situational psychological states. His work innovates in measuring digital behavior beyond simple screen time metrics, exploring nuanced aspects of smartphone usage patterns, temporal dimensions in media effects, and the motivational factors behind digital disconnection. He has made significant contributions to understanding the complex relationship between social media use and mental health, particularly in adolescent populations, while challenging simplistic narratives about passive versus active social media use.

• Dordick Dissertation Award from ICA Communication & Technology Division
• Dissertation Prize from German Society for Journalism and Communication Studies (DGPuK)
• Best Paper Award at Annual Conference of the Section for Reception and Effect Research
• Editorial board member for Media Psychology, Journal of Media Psychology, and Mobile Media & Communication

As an active researcher and educator, Meier supervises bachelor's theses and offers a range of courses in communication science. His research has been funded through prestigious grants including an ERC Starting Grant for his project 'Social Well-Being from Hybrid Interactions in Hybrid Work' (HYIHY), which received €1.5 million in funding. His work has established him as a leading voice in understanding the psychological implications of digital communication in contemporary society, particularly at the intersection of work and personal life in the era of hybrid work arrangements.