Do COVID-19 vaccines really harm 1 in 1000?
Dr. Rod Abhari
As a research fellow with The Center for Media Psychology and Social Influence at Northwestern University, my research on the social and historical foundations of information systems has helped inform retraction guidelines in scientific publishing and the design of LLMs. In July 2025, I defended my dissertation on the influence of digitalization and politicization on scientific retractions.
I’m currently seeking research-intensive opportunities in tech and academia. If you're interested in collaborating or learning more about my work, I’d love to connect.
Recent News
[July, 2025] Defended my dissertation! The manuscript is titled "The Politics of Unknowing: Scientific Retractions and the Politicization of Science." Repository link forthcoming.
[January, 2025] Retractions research featured in Undark, PsyPost, STAT News, and CBC News.
[October, 2024] Published study of COVID-19 retractions in Public Understanding of Science.
[November, 2024] Received a top paper award from the National Communication Association for research on using AI to detect violent imagery. Read our report in VOX-Pol.
[July, 2024] Invited to speak on panel about the online (mis)use of science for Scientists Speak Up at Stanford University, archived here.
[July, 2024] Presented research on scientific conspiracies at the Society for Social Studies of Science (4S) conference in Amsterdam, available here.
[February, 2024] Published study of COVID-19 health outcomes in Health Communication.
[November, 2023] Published study of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in Vaccines.
[March, 2023] Co-author of 'A Picture is Worth a Thousand (S)words,' detailing the content and diffusion of extremist memes on Parler, for the Global Network on Extremism and Technology.
[August, 2022] Awarded £6,000 GNET fellowship to create an automated classifier for extremist memes.
[June, 2021] Awarded $125,000 Peterson Fund for COVID-19 (Mis)information Research with Drs. Nathan Walter & Agnes Horvat.