Maksim Markelov

Maksim is a published scholar and author, with publications in both academic journals and reputable press outlets. He has presented his work at major international conferences and has over three years of interdisciplinary higher education tutoring experience at the University of Manchester. Maksim has also served as a research associate on two major international grant projects, collaborating with world-leading scholars across disciplines such as communication, linguistics, political science, and media studies.

Having recently completed his PhD project, Maksim specializes in computational linguistics, corpus-based studies, semantics, and terminology, with expertise in computational linguistics and discourse analysis. His interdisciplinary research is positioned at the nexus of Linguistics, Media/Communication Studies, and Region Studies (Russian and East European Studies). Supervised by Professors Stephen Hutchings and Vera Tolz at the University of Manchester, Maksim's PhD project, entitled "Transforming Meaning?: ‘Russian Trolls’ in The Changing Social Media Linguistic Landscape," employs both quantitative and qualitative methods.

His thesis offers the first substantive analysis of how the linguistic practices of online actors identified as Russian state-sponsored 'trolls' evolve across time and context, providing a new perspective into the intersection of digital media, discourse, and geopolitics. Maksim's broad academic background equips him with the tools to engage with complex interdisciplinary problems, making him a valuable contributor to research and teaching in multiple fields.

Maksim is also an expert member of four major professional associations:

BASEES (British Association for Slavonic and East European Studies) – The UK's leading academic organization supporting the study of Russia, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia.
ASEEES (Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies) – An international scholarly body promoting research on Slavic, East European, and Eurasian studies, particularly in North America.
AACaPS (Australasian Association for Communist and Post-Communist Studies) – A regional association fostering research on communist and post-communist societies, with a focus on Eastern Europe, Russia, and global post-communist transitions.
BISA (British International Studies Association) – An interdisciplinary organization fostering research in international studies, including political science, security studies, and global affairs.