Alexandros Efstratiou

Alexandros Efstratiou is a Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of Washington’s Center for an Informed Public, focusing on computational social science and misinformation dynamics. Previously, he earned a PhD in Computer Science from University College London (UCL), an MSc in Behavioral Science from Durham University (awarded Kurt Lewin Prize), and a BSc in Psychology from the University of East Anglia (awarded British Psychological Society Prize). His research examines how polarization and socio-cognitive processes enable misinformation proliferation, using computational methods to study online harms.

Education highlights include:

• PhD in Computer Science, UCL (2022) – Advisors: Prof. Emiliano De Cristofaro & Dr. Tristan Caulfield
• MSc in Behavioral Science, Durham University (2018) – Supervisor: Dr. Andrew Marcinko
• BSc in Psychology, UEA (2016) – Supervisor: Dr. Charles Seger

Research interests span misinformation studies, social media impact, polarization dynamics, and behavioral science. His work integrates computational tools to analyze how groups form beliefs and interact online, with a focus on pandemic-related communication and intergroup conflict.

Articles highlight trends in:

• API limitations affecting misinformation research (2025)
• False consensus effects in health debates (2024)
• Rewards for engaging opposing viewpoints in political communities (2024)
• Reddit’s role in polarized intergroup interactions (2023)

Key awards include top performer distinctions at both undergraduate and master’s levels. He contributes to the Center for an Informed Public, a multidisciplinary team studying digital disinformation ecosystems.