Nelya Koteyko

Professor Nelya Koteyko serves as Professor of Language and Communication at the Language Centre within Queen Mary University of London's School of Languages, Linguistics and Film. Her research integrates sociocultural linguistics, media studies, and digital communication to examine identity construction, health discourse, and social inclusion.

Research Interests: Koteyko investigates linguistic mechanisms in media framing of health risks and stigma, with pioneering work on digital identity in autism communities. Her scholarship spans linguistic ethnography, illness narratives, and science communication, focusing on how autistic individuals navigate social media through interest-driven 'affinity spaces'. Current projects like the Wellcome Trust-funded 'Autism in Affinity Spaces' develop participatory methods for inclusive digital design.

Scientific Awards:

• Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Advising and Grants:

• Current PhD Students: Angeliki Lampropoulou (diabetes discourse), Yahui Wang (Covid-19 media analysis), Xuechun Xiang (migrant loneliness narratives)
• Completed PhDs: Antoaneta Dimova (mental health advocacy), Reem Alhendi (bilingual code-switching), Tom Rausch (Pan-African health risk), Dimitrinka Atanasova (obesity media)
• Major Grants:
  • Wellcome Trust Discovery Award (2023-2029): PI for 'Autism in affinity spaces'
  • ESRC standard grant (2020-2023): PI for 'Autistic adults online'
  • AHRC program (2013-2018): Work Package Leader
  • ESRC grant (2013-2015): PI for 'Chronic illness and online networking'

Labs and Teams: Koteyko leads interdisciplinary collaborations with linguists, HCI designers, and autistic community members. The 'Autistic Adults Online' project produced dual toolkits: one for software developers (neurodiversity frameworks, design cards) and another for content creators (NHS/government adaptation strategies), implemented through partnerships with Autistica to transform digital platform accessibility.