Shota is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Mannheim, specializing in internet and social media studies. Prior to his position at the Institute for Media and Communication Studies, he was a Doctoral Researcher at the Chair of Digital Governance at the Technical University of Munich (TUM). His doctoral thesis, Bridging Social Cleavages via (Social) Media? A Comparative Study of how Social Media influences Inter-Group Attitudes, showcases his expertise in exploring the impact of social media on inter-group dynamics in different country contexts. Shota worked on the Horizon 2020 project “Observatory for Political Texts in European Democracies (OPTED)”, where he focused on citizen-produced political texts. Through is work, he is committed to understanding the intricate nuances of political communication.

At THE NEW INSTITUTE, Shota was involved in the program Depolarizing Public Debates.