معرفی
Dr. Hannah Ditchfield is a Research Fellow at the University of Sheffield’s School of Sociological Studies, Politics and International Relations. She holds a PhD in Media and Communication from the University of Leicester (2018) and has taught Digital Media and Society modules at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Her research focuses on digital media’s role in everyday life, particularly how people use social media platforms to construct identity, navigate health-related risks (e.g., genetic predispositions to cancer), and engage with data practices in the public sector. Current projects include studying ‘previvors’ (individuals with genetic cancer risk) on TikTok and analyzing public perceptions of data use through interviews and focus groups.
Education:
- PhD in Media and Communication, University of Leicester (2013–2018)
- MA in Communication and Media, Loughborough University
- BSc in Communication and Media, Loughborough University
Research Interests:
- Online identity and self-presentation
- Social media affordances and interaction management
- Data ethics and public discourse on technology
- Health communication and genetic risk advocacy
Grants & Projects:
- Principal Investigator: Previvorship in the Platform Society: Cancer Genetic Risk in the Digital Age (since 2022)
- Research Associate: Living With Data: Knowledge, Experience and Perceptions of Data Practices (2020–2022)
Lab/Team Affiliations: None explicitly stated, but collaborates with interdisciplinary teams on digital health and data ethics projects.
