DISINFOLAB: LETS FIGHT DISINFORMATION TOGETHER
MEET OUR TEAM
Our lab is made up of three separate teams which approach our mission of disinformation research, bot tracking, analysis reports, and public outreach.
FOUNDERS AND DIRECTORS
THOMAS PLANT
FOUNDER
Tom Plant is received his B.A. in International Relations and Hispanic Studies from the College of William & Mary ’22. His research interests include the role of mis- and disinformation within the rally ‘round the flag effect and emerging technological threats to international security. Tom also serves as a Research Fellow for the Project on International Peace and Security (PIPS) and as an Editorial Assistant for the Department of Hispanic Studies.
AARAJ VIJ
CO-DIRECTOR
Aaraj Vij is pursuing a B.A. in International Relations and B.S. in Computer Science from the College of William & Mary '23. Drawing on his education, he researches both policy and technical solutions to detect and counteract disinformation campaigns before they proliferate. Aaraj also serves as the Technical Director for the W&M Social Science Research Methods Center.
MEGAN HOGAN
FOUNDER
Meg founded DisinfoLab during the summer of 2020 following her fellowship with the Project on International Peace and Security, where she published an award-winning white paper on deepfakes as a disinformation tactic. She graduated from the College of William & Mary in YEAR, with a B.A. in International Relations and Economics. In addition to foreign disinformation campaigns, Meg’s research interests include the intersection of technology and policy, post-Soviet politics, and East African stability.
ALYSSA NEKRITZ
MANAGING EDITOR
Alyssa is Managing Editor and Disinformation Analyst for DisinfoLab. She is a junior pursuing a B.A. in International Relations with a minor in Data Science from the College of William & Mary. Her interests include polling data analysis and tracking foreign media influence in Eastern Europe. Alyssa also works for the National Center for State Courts. She loves DisinfoLab and hopes you do too!
JEREMY SWACK
CO-DIRECTOR
Jeremy Swack is currently pursuing a B.S. in both Computer Science and Data Science from the College of William and Mary ‘24. Using his background in machine learning and data visualization, he researches data driven methods to analyze and predict the spread of disinformation. His other research interests include deep learning applications, natural language processing, and artificial intelligence.
2022-2023 TEAM MEMBERS
SERGIO CASTAGNOLI
Disinformation Analyst
Sergio Castagnoli is currently pursuing his B. A. in International Relations from the St. Andrews and College of William and Mary Joint Degree Program ‘25. His research interests include the Middle East, military coups, and disinformation.
CJ FERRANTE
Technical Disinformation Analyst
CJ Ferrante is a rising senior at the University of Michigan studying Applied Exercise Science and Computer Science. Since picking up coding in November of 2021, he's been working on multiple projects, ranging from an automated workout generator to helping develop a structured video conferencing web application. His interest in disinformation peaked during both the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections, when he saw first handedly the effects that disinformation can have on the general public.
KATE O'CONNELL
Disinformation Analyst
Kate O’Connell is currently pursuing her B.A. in Women’s Health and Policy from the College of William & Mary ‘23. She plans to pursue a law degree soon after she graduates. Her research interests include health disparities between historically privileged and historically disadvantaged communities and policies that directly affect the state of U.S. women’s health.
CHAS RINNE
Technical Disinformation Analyst
Chas Rinne is currently pursuing a B.S. in Computer Science with a minor in Music from the College of William & Mary 23’. His interests include the study of algorithms and machine learning, as well as singing with the W&M Cleftomaniacs. He is a member of the Technical Analyst team in DisinfoLab.
INDIA TURNER
Disinformation Analyst
India Turner is currently pursuing a B.A. in Government and Journalism from the College of William & Mary ‘24. By fusing her knowledge of political disinformation and journalistic methods, she hopes to provide analyses that are both academic and practical. India has a particular interest in differing disinformation campaigns within specific regions of the world such as Eastern Europe and the Middle East. She has also worked as a Pulitzer Center Research Fellow and investigated the efficacy of rehabilitative justice in the Icelandic open prison system.
JIACHEN WANG
Disinformation Analyst
Jiachen Wang is a Disinformation Analyst for DisinfoLab and is pursuing a B.A. in Government and Economics at the College of William & Mary ‘23. His interests include political theory, comparative politics and international trade.
KATHRYN WEBB
Communications Team
Kathryn Webb is currently pursuing a B.A. in Economics and Global Studies, with a concentration in Russian Post-Soviet Studies, from the College of William & Mary ‘23. Her interests include international development and the interdependencies of the global economy, especially in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and the efficacy of Russian disinformation in these regions.
SARAH WOZNIAK
Disinformation Analyst
Sarah is a Disinformation Analyst for DisinfoLab and is pursuing a B.A. in International Relations and Economics at the College of William & Mary. Her interests include international trade and development, as well as foreign disinformation. She is also a Research Assistant for the Global Research Institute’s research lab, AidData, an Associate Editor for The Monitor, and a member of the Women’s Gymnastics Team at William & Mary.
YILE XU
Technical Disinformation Analyst
Yile Xu is a technical Analyst for DisinfoLab. She is a junior at the College of William & Mary pursuing B.S. in Computer Science and Data Science on the data application track. Her research interest is using data mining techniques to analyze critical issues in current society.
INTERESTED IN JOINING? CONTACT US!
