About me

Research topic

Self in Self-tracking: Exploring the implications of the practice on our sense of selfhood

Svetlana explores how self-tracking practices for health & wellness contribute to our sense of the self and their social, cultural, and political impact on society

Supervisors: Professor Nick Couldry and Dr Alison Powell

Research Interests

Svetlana joined the department of Media and Communication in 2015. Svetlana’s PhD research project is fully funded by an LSE PhD Studentship. Svetlana holds an MPhil in Sociology (Distinction) from the University of Cambridge. Her MPhil research focused on health communication and nutritional practices of low-income single-mothers in England.

Svetlana graduated with Distinction from LSE’s MSc in Media and Communication (Research Track) programme, which provided her with extensive methodological training. She also completed a two-year research-oriented MA degree at Simon Fraser University, graduating with Distinction. Svetlana holds a BA degree (Distinction) in both Communication and International Studies from Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada.

Current Research Project

Svetlana’s current research explores the role of self-tracked data for our sense of self. This entails investigation of our motivations for data collection, tracking routines, personal curiosities, reflexivity surrounding personal data, and actions we take based on our data. Svetlana has completed her fieldwork during which she interviewed athletes, medical professionals, people living with chronic conditions, and a wide range of casual self-trackers. The study design is three-phased and consists of two interviews and a month long reflexive diary. Currently, Svetlana is i actively writing her dissertation. If you are interested in learning more about the study please email Svetlana directly.

Academic Background

Svetlana joined the department of Media and Communication in 2015. Svetlana’s PhD research project is fully funded by an LSE PhD Studentship. Svetlana holds an MPhil in Sociology (Distinction) from the University of Cambridge. Her MPhil research focused on health communication and nutritional practices of low-income single-mothers in England.

Svetlana graduated with Distinction from LSE’s MSc in Media and Communication (Research Track) programme, which provided her with extensive methodological training. She also completed a two-year research-oriented MA degree at Simon Fraser University, graduating with Distinction. Svetlana holds a BA degree (Distinction) in both Communication and International Studies from Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada.

Selected Awards

2015-2019 LSE PhD Studentship, London School of Economics and Political Science: a studentship awarded on the basis of outstanding academic achievement and research potential.
2014-2015 Cambridge International Trust Scholarship: a merit-based graduate scholarship awarded on the basis of significant academic achievement and research potential.
2013 Simon Fraser University Graduate Fellowship, Simon Fraser University: a merit-based academic scholarship awarded to high-achieving graduate students based on departmental ranking.
2008-2012 The W. Ronald Heath International Entrance Scholarship, Simon Fraser University: an academic four-year scholarship awarded in recognition of academic excellence to finance a BA degree.

Invited Talks

Invited Research Talk (May, 2017). “Wearables and the Quantified Self: Transparency, Big Data and Solidarity.” CRASSH, University of Cambridge. See here.

Public Engagement

LSE Q&A with Svetlana Smirnova (November 2017). See here.

Expertise Details

self-tracking; data; selfhood; Big Data; health-related decision-making; embodiment; food and eating; research design; new methodologies

Helsper, E.J., Smirnova, S. & Robinson, D. (2017) Digital Reach Survey. http://www.lse.ac.uk/media-and-communications/assets/documents/research/projects/disto/Digital-Reach-Skills-Support-Attitudes-and-Outcomes-Survey.pdf
Helsper, E.J., & Smirnova, S. (2016). “Methodological Appendix of the Study: Socio-Digital Skills and Wellbeing of Disadvantaged Young People.” http://www.lse.ac.uk/media-and-communications/assets/documents/research/projects/disto/Methodology-report-DiSTO-NEETs.pdf
Lesage, F., & Smirnova, S. (2015). "Keeping up" through Teaching and Learning Media Software: "Introducing" Photoshop. Canadian Journal Of Communication, 40(2). Retrieved from http://www.cjc-online.ca/index.php/journal/article/view/2810

Svetlana has four years of teaching experience both in a classroom and supervisory settings. For the past two years, Svetlana supervised students enrolled in the Media, Culture and Society module at the Department of Sociology, University of Cambridge. She previously served as a Teaching Assistant on courses ranging from introductory courses, such as Introduction to Communication Studies and Introduction to Information Technology: The New Media to advanced and specialist courses, such as Empirical Communication Research Methods and Approaches to Media and Audience Research (Quantitative)

Throughout her graduate and undergraduate career Svetlana served as a Research Assistant on a variety of research projects. At present, she is working with Dr Ellen Helsper on a number of projects, including the DiSTO project (2016-ongoing) and the Digital Reach project (2017-ongoing).

Svetlana is currently serving as a Parliamentary Researcher to Professor Lord Anthony Giddens.

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Svetlana Smirnova

PhD Researcher

Department of Media and Communications