I am studying for a PhD in the area of informatics and social media. However this is a personal blog and posts here on analytical tools are not endorsements.

I earned grades of AAB in my A-Levels in 2009, then went on to earn a BA (Hons) in Philosophy in 2012. I then won an Alumni Fund Scholarship which enabled me to earn an MSc in Information Systems in 2013.

My BA and MSc were both completed at the University of Sheffield,  a world top-100 University. In 2014 I won funding from the Faculty of Social Sciences to pursue a PhD.

My research is focused on examining user generated content on platforms such as Twitter to gain a better understanding of how users respond to epidemics and pandemics.

More generally, I have examined how health is communicated on social media platforms. My professional research also reviews free open source tools and industry-specific tools that researchers from the social sciences can use to gather and analyse data from social media platforms.

I am an expert in retrieving and analysing data from social media platforms and have worked on a number of academic and industry projects across the world. I have 19 recent LinkedIn recommendations which highlight my skillset.

I completed my MSc dissertation (with distinction) in the Health Informatics Research (HIR) group, evaluating the information quality of Norovirus websites. This can be found here.

Other projects I have worked on within the HIR group include: examining the information quality of web sources, older people’s health and all-cause mortality, and survival analysis. I have also collaborated on transdisciplinary projects related to the emergence of a global research culture.

Peer Reviewed Publication List

2017

• Ahmed, W., Demartini, G., and Bath, PA. (2017) Topics Discussed on Twitter at the Beginning of the 2014 Ebola Epidemic in United States. iConference 2017. Wuhan, China, March 2017.

2016

• Lugovic, S., Ahmed, W., & Jocic, M. (2016)  Twitter and Teaching: to Tweet or not to Tweet?  Contemporary Issues In Economy & Technology (CIET). Split, 16-18th June 2016. 

2015

• Lugovic, S., & Ahmed, W. (2015) An analysis of Twitter usage among startups in Europe. INFuture2015: e-Institutions – Openness, Accessibility, and Preservation. Zagreb, 11-13 November 2015.
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• Ahmed, W., & Bath, PA. (2015) The Ebola epidemic on Twitter: challenges for health informatics. The Seventeenth International Symposium for Health Information Management (pp 289-289). York, 24 June 2015 – 26 June 2015.
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• Ahmed, W., & Bath, PA. (2015) Comparison of Twitter APIs and tools for analysing Tweets related to the Ebola Virus Disease. iFutures. Sheffield, 07 July 2015.

Non-peer reviewed publications

2017

• Ahmed, W., & Downing, J. (2017). Campaign leaks and the far-right: Who influenced #Macronleaks on Twitter? http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2017/06/12/who-influenced-macronleaks-on-twitter/. European Politics and Policy Blog June 12 2017. (Accessed 24/06/17).
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• Ahmed, W. (2017) Twitter as a data source: An overview of tools for journalists http://bit.ly/2rLmYxM Data Driven Journalism Resource 
   23 May 2017. (Accessed 24/06/17).
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• Ahmed, W. (2017) Using Twitter as a data source: An overview of current social media research tools (Updated for 2017) LSE Impact of Social Sciences blog
  http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2017/05/08/using-twitter-as-a-data-source-an-overview-of-social-media-research-tools-updated-for-2017 8 May 2017 (Accessed 24/06/2017).
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• Ahmed, W. (2017) Amplified messages: How hashtag activism and Twitter diplomacy converged at #ThisIsACoup – and won in Politics, Protest, Emotion: Interdisciplinary Perspectives. A Book of Blogs (pp.109 – 114). Sheffield, United Kingdom. 

2016

• Ahmed, W., Lugovic, S. (2016) Using Twitter as a teaching tool can boost engagement and enrich classroom debate and discourse. LSE Impact of Social Sciences blog June 23 2016  http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2015/09/28/challenges-of-using-twitter-as-a-data-source-resources/ (Accessed 28/09/2016).
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• Ahmed, W., Thomson, S. (2016) Twitter and crisis communication: an overview of tools for handling social media in real time. LSE Impact of Social Sciences blog June 23 2016 http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2016/06/23/twitter-and-crisis-communication-an-overview-of-tools/ (Accessed 02/07/2016).
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• Ahmed, W. (2016) Ethical Challenges of Using Twitter as a Data Source. Multimedia Information Technology. 42.1
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• Ahmed, W. (2016) Amplified messages: How hashtag activism and Twitter diplomacy converged at #ThisIsACoup – and won LSE Impact of Social Sciences blog Janruary 7 2016  Amplified messages: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2016/01/07/how-hashtag-activism-and-twitter-diplomacy-converged-at-thisisacoup/ (Accessed 02/07/2016).

2015

• Ahmed, W. (2015) Can Twitter Data Help Your Research Project? Multimedia Information Technology 41.4
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• Ahmed, W. (2015) Challenges of using Twitter as a data source: An overview of current resources LSE Impact of Social Sciences blog  http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2015/09/28/challenges-of-using-twitter-as-a-data-source-resources/ 28 September 2015 (Accessed 10/10/2015).
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• Ahmed, W. (2015) Using Twitter as a data source: An overview of current social media research tools LSE Impact of Social Sciences blog
  http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2012/04/19/blog-tweeting-papers-worth-it/ 10 July 2015 (Accessed 11/07/2015). Ranked #4 most read post of 2015.
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• Ahmed, W. (2015) Report on Studies in Social Data event at Twitter London. 1st April, 2015. http://information-studies.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/report-on-studies-in-social-data-event.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter%20. 1st April, 2015 (Accessed 15/01/17)
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• Ahmed, W. (2015)  Why is there some much research on Twitter? And what does this mean for our methods?. Natcen Social Research, New Social Media New Social Science Blog. http://nsmnss.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/why-is-there-so-much-research-on.html

Conference Presentations, Social Media Talks, and Workshops

2017

• Ahmed, W., Bath, PA., Demartini, G. Social Media: A Source of Research Data and a Scholarly Communication Tool. (Poster Presentation). OAI10 – CERN – UNIGE Workshop on Innovations in Scholarly Communication, Geneva, Switzerland.
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• Ahmed, W., Bath, PA. (2017). Ethical Challenges of Social Media Data: Insights from Academia and Industry. OAI10 – CERN – UNIGE Workshop on Innovations in Scholarly Communication, Geneva, Switzerland.
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• Ahmed, W. (2017). Assessing the Value of Blogs and Social Media to Research Communication and Impact (Panel Contribution). London School of Economics and Political Sciences, London. 
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• Ahmed, W. (2017). Social Media: A Practical Approach. Researching Social Media: A Theoretical and Practical Approach. Sheffield. 30th May 2017. 
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• Ahmed, W. (2017). Communicating Science Through Social Media: Tools and Techniques. Society of Spanish Researchers in the UK. Sheffield, 13th May 2017. 
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• Ahmed, W. (2017). Social Media Analytics Practical Tools. Guest Lecture. E-business and E-Commerce. Sheffield, 28 April 2017. 
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• Ahmed, W. (2017). Social Media Analytics. Guest Lecture MSc Data Science: Big Data Analytics. Sheffield, 24 April 2017.
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• Ahmed, W. (2017). Topics Discussed on Twitter at the Beginning of the 2014 Ebola Epidemic in United States. Information School Seminar Series. Sheffield, 07 March 2017.
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• Ahmed, W. (2017). Informatics for Disease Surveillance – New Technologies. Guest lecture School of Health and Related Research. Sheffield, 28th Feb 2017. 
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• Ahmed, W. (2017). Using Social Media data to provide insights into Infectious Disease outbreaks (Swine Flu and Ebola) and better understanding health via social media more generally. Coffee and Sociology. Sheffield, 23rd Feb 2017.
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• Ahmed, W. (2017). Social Networks and Infectious Disease Outbreaks: The Case of Swine Flu and Ebola. PubhD, Sheffield, 1st Feb 2017.
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• Ahmed, W. (2017). Ethical Challenges of Using Social Media Data In Research. Bite Size Guide to Research in the 21st Century. ScHARR, Sheffield, 24th Jan 2017.
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• Ahmed, W. (2017).Interview with Rony Robinson on the baring all feature.  BBC Radio Sheffield, Sheffield, 19th Jan 2017.
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• Ahmed, W. (2017) . An Introduction to Social Network Analysis (Methodology) with NodeXL. Leeds Becket University, Leeds, 9th Jan 2017 . (In association with the British Sociological Association).

2016

• Ahmed, W. (2016). Insights from Social Media. Creative Entrepreneur, Media City (ITV, BBC HQs), Salford. 23 November 2016. 
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• Ahmed, W. (2016). Introduction to NodeXL. An Introduction to Tools for Social Media Research. London, 11th October 2016. 
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• Ahmed, W. (2016). Life After High Storrs School and an Insight into Social Media. High Storrs School, Sheffield. 10th October, 2016. 
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• Ahmed, W. (2016). False Information on Social Media Platforms.Researchers Discussion Group, Information School, University of Sheffield. 15th September 2016.
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• Ahmed, W. (2016) Social Media Analytics. Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Social Media Research Seminars. London, 4th August 2016.  
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• Ahmed, W. (2016) workshop on Twitter Analytics at the  Contemporary Issues In Economy & Technology (CIET). Split, 16-18th June 2016. 
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• Ahmed, W. (2015) Social Media for Marketing An Overview of Specialist Software. University of Sheffield module E-business and E-commerce, Information School. 11th June, 2016. 
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• Ahmed, W., Demartini, G., & Bath, PA. (2016) Using Twitter as a data source: An overview of ethical challenges. Ethics and Social Media Conference. London, 21st Match 2016. 
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• Ahmed, W., & Bath, PA. (2016) The Role of Social Media for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Management.Sheffield Institute for International Development (SIID) 7th Annual Postgraduate Conference. Sheffield. 7th-8th April 2016. 

2015

• Ahmed, W (2015). Introduction to software that can be used to capture and analyse Twitter data. Audio lecture on Master of Social Science,  Western Sydney University,27th August 2015. 
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• Woodfield,K., Jessop, C., Ahmed, W.(2015). In it for long term – evolving your community of practice over time: lessons from #NSMNSS. Social Media for Learning in Higher Education Conference. Sheffield Hallam University. 15th December 2015. 
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• Ahmed, W. (2015). The Ebola epidemic on Twitter: challenges for health informatics. Information School, Alumni Reunion Event. 25 November 2015.
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• Ahmed, W. (2015). Using Twitter Data to Provide Insights into Health Conditions and Health-Related Events. Researchers Discussion Group, Information School, University of Sheffield. 15th October 2015.

Teaching 

I have good teaching experience and during my PhD I have taught on the following modules:

• INF6029 Data Analysis (AUT SEM 2014, 2015 and 2016)
• INF6003 E-Business and E-Commerce (SPRING 2015, 2016, 2017)
• INF6028 Data Mining and Visualisation (SPRING 2015~16)
• INF6032 Big Data Analytics (SPRING 2016-2017)
• HAR6059 Public Health Informatics (SPRING 2017)
• HAR655 Public Health Informatics (SPRING 2016~17)

I have also attended the following courses:

• Digital Possibilities: Integrating Technology to Support Learning
• Large Group Teaching: Lecturing
• Small Group Teaching: Laboratory Demonstration
• Academic Culture: Transitions & Expectations
• Academic Culture: Transitions & Expectations

SPMentions of my research

• Why is Kim Kardashian hanging out with Émile Durkheim on Twitter?: Learning social media analysis as a sociologist
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• Featured in the Doctoral Times magazine (Autumn 2016) circulated widely across the University of Sheffield.
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• In a January 2016 WRDTC newsletter  for the media attention surrounding a post for the LSE impact blog Amplified messages: How hashtag activism and Twitter diplomacy converged at #ThisIsACoup – and won which was cross posted on Democratic Audit UK, LSE European Politics and Policy, LSE British Politics & Policy, and is now indexed within Google News Search results.
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• On the ihawkes blog for a poster presentation on my research
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• On the Information School and DiscoverText blogs for a Twitter data prize and gratis access to DiscoverText worth over $3,000.
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• On the LSE Impact blog for a Storify I created for a co-sponsored Big Boulder Initiative event at Twitter HQ, London.
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• In a August 2015 WRDTC newsletter under the researchers in the news section for impact activities, and similarly on the Information School’s blog.
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• On the British Medical Journal’s (BMJ) blog related to a post examining the Twitter footprint of the BMJ.
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Other achievements

• Helped the University of Sheffield analyse mentions of their Twitter account from the year 2015 to 2016 in a 6 week project, working closely with the Head of Digital.
• Have a number of high profile recommendations from academia, the mainstream media, and industry. My favorite recommendation is from former Channel 4 News Economics Editor Paul Mason:

Wasim was able to help me gain a better understanding of the ‪#‎ThisIsACoup‬‬hashtag, and was an absolutely pleasure to work with. I would recommend Wasim’s social media skills to any journalist, organisation, or research team looking to better understand social media data.
– Paul Mason, Writer, Broadcaster, and Film Maker (@paulmasonnews)

• Social Media Manager for the Data Power Conference, 2015
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• Social Media Manager for the iFutures Conference, 2015
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• Serve on the Information School’s Research Staff and Student committee (Health Informatics research group representative)
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• Member of the Digital Societies Network, an interdisciplinary team of researchers engaged with research at the cutting-edge of society-technology interactions.
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• Member of ESRC White Rose  DTC Science and Technology Studies Pathway
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• Member and Co-Twitter Manager for NatCen Social Research’s New Social Media New Social Science network (@NSMNSS)
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• Teaching Assistant and Helper for the Information School’s Deliberation Day.

You can catch me on Twitter – @was3210

I am a blog partner with Visibrain Focus, therefore some of the posts are produced in my role with Visibrain. Additionally, I am a member of the Social Media Research Foundation, and I am a Connected Action Partner which means some of my posts are produced under these organisations.

You can contact me at mail2wahmed@gmail.com

A blog about my research by Wasim Ahmed is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. This is an independent blog, and I am blogging in a personal capacity. The content is not affiliated with an institution. The blog posts are provided for educational purposes.