Biography
Maria is a Research Fellow at the Robert Schuman Centre. She contributes to the BRRIDGE project, aimed at capacity building in research and fostering democratic engagement in Slovakia. Previously, she coordinated the Media Pluralism Monitor at the Centre for Media Pluralism and Freedom, overseeing policy analysis on freedom of expression, access to information, journalists’ protection, and independence of regulatory agencies.
Her research bridges political and communication science, focusing on three key areas: (1) the interplay between the state, political actors, and media, examining its influence on trust and information access; (2) the role of stereotypes in shaping gender representation; and (3) the use and impact of transparency policies. She employs mixed methods, including surveys, text-as-data approaches, and interviews. Her work has been published in the European Political Science Review and the International Journal of Press/Politics, among other outlets. Maria is also an incoming Electoral Integrity Project Fellow.
She holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. Beyond academia, she brings practical experience from the civil society sector, having worked internationally with organisations like the Open Government Partnership and Open Knowledge Foundation and NGOs in Slovakia.