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Stephen C. Rea, Ph.D.
15+ years of experience in mixed-methods research, project management, and preparing and presenting written and oral reports.
Collaborative member of investigative teams dedicated to producing actionable insights. Highly-skilled analytical thinker who can
conduct original research from conception to dissemination, and synthesize research findings for diverse audiences.
Selected Projects and Experience
NETWORKED INCITEMENT
Senior Research • Critical Internet Research Institute • Remote • 2024 – present
Research lead monitoring how influential figures organize large-scale political violence via social media. Kept track of 8 social
media platforms and 4 online political shows in real-time for threat detection. Built an evidence base of actors, incidents, and
trends motivating and inciting political violence in the United States. Wrote a weekly newsletter summarizing trends for key
stakeholders, including community organizers and journalists, that averaged a better than 60% open rate (more than twice the
average for nonprofit newsletters).
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ONLINE HATE & HARASSMENT
Technology & Society Fellow/Senior Researcher • Anti-Defamation League • Remote • 2022 - 2023
Core member of a research team at the Center for Technology & Society (CTS) working to identify and understand current trends
in online hate and harassment, advocate for targets, and make evidence-based policy recommendations. Designed and
conducted independent research on trends in networked harassment and cross-platform hate. Oversaw and edited original
research by CTS fellows. Provided qualitative, contextual analysis of large social media data sets. Collaborated on written outputs,
survey design, and research strategy. Presented as an expert at the Social Process of Online Hate conference and workshop at
University of California, Santa Barbara, the 2023 Stanford Trust & Safety Conference, and as a panelist for a discussion of
extremism and hate crime at Front Range Community College. Co-authored a chapter in an edited volume on anti-Semitic hate on
YouTube.
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CONFRONTING DIGITAL EXTREMISM
Postdoctoral Scholar/Adjunct Faculty • UC-Irvine/Colorado School of Mines • Remote/Golden, CO • 2018 - 2022
Designed and built four open teaching modules for UCI Open on digital extremism covering topics in disinformation, online trolls
vs. digital extremism, how extremists exploit social media algorithms, and proposals for curricula in digital civics. Used these
modules as the basis for two semester-long Honors courses at Colorado School of Mines that included leading collaborative
research projects. Authored a journal article on teaching and confronting digital extremism for Information and Learning
Sciences.
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FAIRNESS, ETHICS, EFFICIENCY, AND TRUSTWORTHINESS IN CROWDSOURCING
Research Assistant Professor • Colorado School of Mines • Golden, CO • 2019 – 2020
Lead social scientist on an interdisciplinary team on a National Science Foundation-funded project to develop tools for
improving conditions for stakeholders on crowdsourcing platforms. Interviewed 32 crowd workers, conducted participant
observation on Amazon Mechanical Turk, analyzed labor policies regarding gig employment, and co-authored an article about
methodological, fair, and political considerations in crowdsourcing for academic research. Participated in grant reporting
activities, including presenting research findings to a lay audience.
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THE LAW IN COMPUTATION
Postdoctoral Scholar • Technology, Law, and Society Institute • Irvine, CA/Remote • 2019
Managed an interdisciplinary research project on machine learning, artificial intelligence, and big data in the age of algorithmic
governance. Analyzed laws and policies affecting credit scoring and gig/platform labor, among others. Helped organize a three-
day research convening for 40+ scholars from around the world. Co-authored a journal article for Law & Policy.
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FAIR AND RESPONSIBLE AI IN CONSUMER FINANCIAL SERVICES
Consultant • Capital One/IMTFI • Remote • 2019 – 2020
Helped organize a closed-door research convening for 50+ participants in May 2019. Authored a white paper outlining key
policies, laws, and technical developments in machine learning and artificial intelligence applications for the consumer financial
services industry. Ensured that research deliverables fulfilled grant requirements with corporate partner.
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YOUTH OCCUPATIONAL IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT AND THE FUTURE OF WORK
Consultant • Digital Media Learning Hub • Irvine, CA/Remote • 2018 -- 2019
Co-authored a synthetic report sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on education and workforce development
with a focus on experiences of nondominant youth, and identified successful interventions. Coordinated with Gates Foundation
liaison on timeline and goals outlined in grant.
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THE CREDIT UNION OF THE 21ST CENTURY
Consultant • Filene Research Institute • Remote • 2017 - 2018
Collaborated on a research project analyzing consumer-facing financial technologies and regulations in the credit union system.
Managed budget, timeline, travel, survey design, and participant recruitment. Co-authored a 90-page report synthesizing insights
and making business and policy recommendations for the credit union system that was disseminated among Filene’s member
institutions. Presented at the 2019 NASCUS Summit based on this research.
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FINANCIAL INCLUSION IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH
Graduate Student Researcher • Institute for Money, Technology, and Financial Inclusion (IMTFI) • Irvine, CA • 2010 – 2015
Core member of research administration and project management team, supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Managed relationships with grantees, including project reporting, travel arrangements, and preparing research briefs. Helped
organize and coordinate 5 annual research convenings of 150+ grantees, policymakers, private sector stakeholders, and global
researchers. Prepared data on grantee demographics and research output for renewing the Institute’s funding for a second 3-
year term. Assisted in the creation of a promotional video about the Institute. Helped design the Institute’s website.
Positions
Senior Researcher | CRITICAL INTERNET STUDIES INSTITUTE | 2024 - present
Technology & Society Fellow/Senior Researcher | ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE | 2022 - 2023
Adjunct Instructor/Research Assistant Professor | COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES | 2019 - 2022
Postdoctoral Scholar | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA – IRVINE | 2018 – 2019
Lecturer | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA – SAN DIEGO | 2017
Visiting Assistant Professor | BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY | 2015 – 2017
Graduate Student Researcher/Assistant Researcher | IMTFI | 2010 – 2015
Doctoral Student & Ph.D. Candidate | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA – IRVINE | 2008 - 2015
Education & Training
Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA – IRVINE | 2015
Master of Arts in Social Sciences | UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO | 2005
Bachelor of Arts in Cross-Cultural Relations | SIMON’S ROCK COLLEGE OF BARD | 2003
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