Elena Engel, MA

Project Assistant +43 512 2070 - 7466 elena.engel@mci.edu

Elena Engel is a project assistant at the 'Center for Social and Health Innovation' at MCI. She is also enrolled as a PhD student at the University of Vienna. She completed her bachelor's studies in communication science and anglistics, as well as her master's studies in health communication at the University of Erfurt. In 2021, Elena Engel worked as a research assistant at the University of Erfurt for the repeated cross-sectional study "COSMO — COVID-19 Snapshot Monitoring." Afterwards, she worked as a research assistant at the Hanover University of Music, Drama, and Media, and in June 2022, she started working at MCI.

Her research interests lie in the field of health communication, focusing on social media influencers, adolescents, and health. Her doctoral thesis focuses on dietary supplement promotion by social media influencers.

Professional work experience

11/2023 - present
PhD Student - University of Vienna
10/2022 - 10/2023
PhD Student - KU Leuven (Belgium)
06/2022 - present
Project Assistant - MCI - The Entrepreneurial School
03/2022 - 05/2022
Research Assistant - Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media
06/2021 - 12/2021
Research Assistant - University of Erfurt
10/2017 - 05/2021
Tutor and student assistant - University of Erfurt

Education

11/2023 - present
University of Vienna
PhD
10/2022 - 10/2023
KU Leuven
PhD
10/2018 - 05/2021
Master of Arts - University of Erfurt
Health Communication
10/2015 - 09/2018
Bachelor of Arts - University of Erfurt
Communication Science
10/2015 - 09/2018
Bachelor of Arts - University of Erfurt
Anglistics and American Studies

Teaching (faculty internships etc.)

06/2023 - 07/2023
MCI - The Entrepreneurial School
Introduction on Communication science
01/2020 - 12/2020
University of Erfurt
Introduction to research in communication science

Peer reviewed journal article

Engel, E., Gell, S., Heiss, R., & Karsay, K. (2023). Social media influencers and adolescents' health: A scoping review of the research field. Social Science & Medicine. 116387. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116387
Heiss, R., Nanz, A., Knupfer, H., Engel, E., & Matthes, J. (2023). Peer Correction of Misinformation on Social Media: (In)civility, Success Experience and Relationship Consequences. New Media & Society. https://doi.org/10.1177/14614448231209946
Engel, E. (2023). Young peoples' perceived benefits and barriers of sexual health promotion on social media—A literature review. International Journal of Health Promotion and Education, 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1080/14635240.2023.2241035
Reinhardt, A., Rossmann, C., & Engel, E. (2022). Radio public service announcements to promote vaccinations for older adults: Effects of framing and distraction. Vaccine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.06.037
Adeyanju, G. C., Engel, E., Koch, L., Ranzinger, T., Shahid, I. B. M., Head, M. G., Eitze, S., & Betsch, C. (2021). Determinants of influenza vaccine hesitancy among pregnant women in Europe: a systematic review. European journal of medical research, 26(1), 116. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-021-00584-w

Peer reviewed academic/professional meeting proceedings

Engel, E., Trümper, E., & Urban, M. (2021). Jugendliche und die Selbst- und Fremdwahrnehmung exzessiver Online-Mediennutzung. In M. Seifert, & S. Jöckel (Hrsg.), Bildung, Wissen und Kompetenz(-en) in digitalen Medien: Was können, wollen und sollen wir über digital vernetzte Kommunikation wissen? (S. 177-190). Berlin https://doi.org10.48541/dcr.v8.10

Presentation of a paper at a conference, workshop or seminar

Gell, S., Engel, E., Heiss, R., & Karsay, K. (2024, November). Uncovering Social Media Influencers' Health Content: A Citizen Youth Science Study. Presentation at the DGPuK Health Communication Conference - Translating Health Communication Research into Policy and Action. Lucerne, Switzerland.
Gell, S., Engel, E., Heiss, R., Karsay, K., & Schmidhofer, J. (2024, November). Marketing or health promotion? A citizen science study of social media influencers' health content. Presentation at the 17th European Public Health Conference, November 13-15, Lisbon, Portugal.
Melber, L., Engel, E., & Heiss, R. (2024, October). Social media interventions to address nicotine use among adolescents: A scoping review. Presentation at the 27th ÖGPH Annual Conference, October 17-18, Innsbruck, Austria.
Engel, E., Gell, S., Karsay, K., & Heiss, R. (2024, October). Social Media Influencers as a New Source of Health Information: Insights from an Austrian Youth Survey. Presentation at the 27th ÖGPH Annual Conference, October 17-18, Innsbruck, Austria.
Gell, S., Engel, E., Heiss, R., & Karsay, K. (2024, October). Werbung oder Gesundheitsaufklärung? Eine Citizen Science Studie zu den Gesundheitsinhalten von Social Media Influencern. Presentation at the 27th ÖGPH Annual Conference, October 17-18, Innsbruck, Austria.
Engel, E., Karsay, K., & Heiss, R. (2023). Dietary Supplement Presentation on Social Media: A Content Analysis of Influencer Posts Targeted at Austrian Adolescents. Presentation to the European Conference om Health Communication (ECHC), Nov 15-17, Klagenfurt, Austria
Gell, S., Engel, E., Heiss, R., Karsay, K. (2023, November). Challenges and Benefits of Social Media Influencers for Adolescent Health - A Scoping Review. Presentation at the 16th European Public Health Conference, November 9-11, Dublin.
Heiss, R., Bode, L., Bradshaw, S. R., MacCarthy, M., Porter, E., Engel E., & Gell, S. (2023). Countering Misinformation on Social Media: A Socio-Ecological Response Model. Presentation to the Information Technology, & Politics Division at the Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association (APSA), August 31 - September 3, Los Angeles, USA.
Engel, E., Gell, S., Heiss, R., & Karsay, K. (2023). Social Media Influencers and Adolescents' Health: A Scoping Review. Presentation to the Health Communication Division at the 73rd annual conference of the International Communication Association (ICA), May 25-29, Toronto, Canada.
Heiss, R., Nanz, A., Knupfer, H., Engel, E., & Matthes, J. (2023, May). Civil vs. uncivil correction of misinformation, success experience, and relationship consequences: A three-wave panel study. Presentation to the Communication and Technology Division at the 73rd annual conference of the International Communication Association (ICA), May 25-29, Toronto, Canada.
Gell, S., Engel, E., Heiss, R., Karsay, K. (2023). Social Media Influencers and Adolescents' Health: A Scoping Review. Presentation at the Etmaal 2023, 25th Edition, February 25-26, Twente, Netherlands.
Engel, E. (2022, September 27-29). Sexual Health Promotion on Social Media. 9th Responsible Management Education Research (RMER) Conference
Reinhardt, A., Engel, E. & Rossmann, C. (2020, Mai 20-27). Radio public service announcements to promote vaccination behavior in older ages: Effects of distraction and framing. 70. Jahrestagung der International Communication Association (ICA), Virtual Conference.

Other intellectual contributions

Betsch, C., Sprengholz, P., Schmid, P., Korn, L., Eitze, S., Ochel, P., Felgendreff, L., Engel, E., & Böhm, R. (2021). Eine politische Entscheidung. Deutsches Ärzteblatt.