Dr. Wasim Ahmed is a Senior Lecturer in Digital Business (roughly equivalent to Associate Professor in the North American system). He has previously worked at the University of Sheffield, Newcastle University, and Northumbria University. He has also completed an internship at Manchester United FC producing an in-depth research report.
Dr Ahmed’s research can be summarised into four areas:
Area 1) Health information sharing, including disinformation, across the Internet and the negative effect it can have on wider public health and individual health.
Area 2) Digital transformation and disruption and its impact on various sectors such as entertainment, marketing, newsrooms, events management, elections, politics, and potential ethical issues raised by digital transformation.
Area 3) Social media impact on sports clubs and athletes.
Area 4) Cross cutting interests (financial well-being, public health, sustainability and entrepreneurship).
Dr. Ahmed has authored over 30 peer-reviewed academic outputs including 28 full-length journal articles. Many of the journals Dr. Ahmed has published in are ranked as either Q1 or Q2 in the SCImago Journal Rankings, and have received international media attention. Dr. Ahmed's work also appears in journals ranked by the Academic Journal Guide (ABS) as well as several outputs in journals classed as rank A and B in the ABDC Journal Quality List.
Dr. Ahmed's 2020 study investigating the conspiracy linking 5G and COVID-19 has been particularly impactful with an Altmetric score of over 800 including over 500 citations.
Dr. Ahmed is also an Editorial Board member for JMIR Infodemiology, which focuses on the determinants and distribution of health information and misinformation on the internet, and its effect on public and individual health.
Dr. Ahmed has also delivered over 100+ invited talks across industry, government and academia for organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Department For Work and Pensions (DWP), the Office of Communications (Ofcom), Edinburgh Science Festival, the British Broadcasting Cooperation (BBC), the South African Broadcasting Cooperation (SABC), and the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN).
Dr. Ahmed has multiple media appearances across print and broadcast as well as news and TV show appearances. A selection of these can be found below:
The Football News show (BBC) appearance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qyv1w-MMRLg&feature=emb_title
BBC World News Live TV Interview: https://youtu.be/3cQiSeoUvwk
Sports Day on BBC News: https://youtu.be/ghh4z3nNNpg
Discovery+ Documentary on Social Media Influencers: https://youtu.be/X5v8-jUZBNo
South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) Live TV Interview: https://youtu.be/f1axh85S6TU
Lotus FM live radio interview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIaCaxVsAsk
BBC Radio Newcastle Live https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJ-5cJhyYbQ&t=1s
Metro Radio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gSa1Z0BnwE
Dr Ahmed's talk to the World Health Organisation can also be found here: https://youtu.be/pHxV27H_9ps
Dr. Ahmed holds a PhD, Msc and BA (Hons) from the University of Sheffield. He also holds an iPRO Certificate for IT Practitioners which involved completing a work placement at Sheffield Hallam University.
Dr. Ahmed has also been featured in articles by Reuters, Business Insider and has advised the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) related to social media research methods.
Dr Ahmed's ResearchGate profile can be accessed here: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Wasim-Ahmed-5/publications
Dr Ahmed's Google Scholar profile can be accessed here: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=JduIcrAAAAAJ&hl=en
Dr. Ahmed is always open to collaborate, feel free to get in touch.
Research Funding Successes:
Co-Investigator Think Forward Initiative (External Funding): ‘Nudging for improved projections of future expenses and savings’ (£8,284.20)
Research funding (University of Sheffield), 2016: Student Engagement with the University of Sheffield (£3,000)
Research funding (University of Sheffield),2017: project with Manchester United (£1,000)
Small research grant (Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Sheffield), 2017: organising an event (£250)
Small research grant (Newcastle University Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences postgraduate department), 2021: delivering an event (£200)
Article
Ahmed W, Önkal D, Das R, Krishnan S, Olan F, Hardey M & Fenton A (2023) Developing Techniques to Support Technological Solutions to Disinformation by Analysing Four Conspiracy Networks During COVID-19. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management.
Article
Hardey M, Ahmed W, Fenton A & Koral C (2023) Enlightened Participation: SME Perspectives about Net Zero on Social Media using the Action Case Approach. IIM Kozhikode Society & Management Review. https://journals.sagepub.com/home/KSM
Book Chapter
NodeXL: Twitter Social Media Network Insights in Just a Few Clicks
Ahmed W, Meier H & Smith M (2022) NodeXL: Twitter Social Media Network Insights in Just a Few Clicks. In: Quan-Haase A & Sloan L (eds.) The SAGE Handbook of Social Media Research Methods. 2nd ed. London: SAGE, pp. 487-502. https://uk.sagepub.com/en-gb/eur/the-sage-handbook-of-social-media-research-methods/book272098
Conference Proceeding
Exploring SMEs attitudes to Net Zero & social media: Action Case research as a force for good
Fenton A, Ahmed W, Hardey M( & Koral C (2022) Exploring SMEs attitudes to Net Zero & social media: Action Case research as a force for good. In: Proceedings of the British Academy of Management (BAM) Conference 2022. British Academy of Management (BAM) 2022, Manchester, 31.08.2022-02.09.2022. London: British Academy of Management.
Article
Fenton A, Cooper-Ryan AM, Hardey M( & Ahmed W (2022) Football Fandom as a Platform for Digital Health Promotion and Behaviour Change: A Mobile App Case Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19 (14), Art. No.: 8417. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19148417
Article
Exploring nurses' online perspectives and social networks during a global pandemic COVID-19
O'Leary L, Erikainen S, Peltonen L, Ahmed W, Thelwall M & O'Connor S (2022) Exploring nurses' online perspectives and social networks during a global pandemic COVID-19. Public Health Nursing, 39 (3), pp. 586-600. https://doi.org/10.1111/phn.12994
Article
A Social Network Analysis of Tweets Related to Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination in Poland
Olszowski R, Zabdyr-Jamróz M, Baran S, Pięta P & Ahmed W (2022) A Social Network Analysis of Tweets Related to Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination in Poland. Vaccines, 10 (5), Art. No.: 750. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines10050750
Article
A Social Network Analysis of Twitter Data Related to Blood Clots and Vaccines
Ahmed W, Vidal-Alaball J & Vilaseca JM (2022) A Social Network Analysis of Twitter Data Related to Blood Clots and Vaccines. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19 (8), Art. No.: 4584. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19084584
Article
Do risky scenarios affect forecasts of savings and expenses?
De Baets S, Önkal D & Ahmed W (2022) Do risky scenarios affect forecasts of savings and expenses?. Forecasting, 4 (1), pp. 307-335. https://doi.org/10.3390/forecast4010017
Article
Binge Watching and the Role of Social Media Virality towards promoting Netflix's Squid Game
Ahmed W, Fenton A, Hardey M & Das R (2022) Binge Watching and the Role of Social Media Virality towards promoting Netflix's Squid Game. IIM Kozhikode Society & Management Review. https://doi.org/10.1177/22779752221083351
Article
Marketing #neurodiversity for well-being
Go Jefferies J & Ahmed W (2022) Marketing #neurodiversity for well-being. Journal of Consumer Marketing. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCM-03-2021-4520
Article
Rethinking Fake News: Disinformation and Ideology during the time of COVID-19 Global Pandemic
Das R & Ahmed W (2022) Rethinking Fake News: Disinformation and Ideology during the time of COVID-19 Global Pandemic. IIM Kozhikode Society & Management Review, 11 (1), pp. 146-159. https://doi.org/10.1177/22779752211027382
Article
Twitter dialogue: an analysis of Pakistani politicians’ information sharing
Batool SH, Ahmed W, Mahmood K & Saeed H (2022) Twitter dialogue: an analysis of Pakistani politicians’ information sharing. Information Discovery and Delivery, 50 (1), pp. 64-71. https://doi.org/10.1108/idd-03-2020-0031
Newspaper Article
Online abuse in sport: why athletes are targeted and how they can end up winning
Ahmed W & Meggs J (2022) Online abuse in sport: why athletes are targeted and how they can end up winning. The Conversation. 07.01.2022.
Article
#radonc: Growth of the Global Radiation Oncology Twitter Network
Prabhu AV, Beriwal S, Ahmed W, Ayyaswami V, Simcock R & Katz MS (2021) #radonc: Growth of the Global Radiation Oncology Twitter Network. Clinical and Translational Radiation Oncology, 31, pp. 58-63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctro.2021.09.005
Article
Bhandoria GP, Nair N, Jones SEF, Eriksson AG, Hsu H, Noll F & Ahmed W (2021) International Gynaecological Cancer Society (IGCS) 2020 Annual Global Meeting: Twitter activity analysis. International Journal of Gynecological Cancer, 31 (11), pp. 1453-1458. https://doi.org/10.1136/ijgc-2021-002781
Article
Social network analysis of Twitter data from Pakistan during COVID-19
Batool SH, Ahmed W, Mahmood K & Sharif A (2021) Social network analysis of Twitter data from Pakistan during COVID-19. Information Discovery and Delivery. https://doi.org/10.1108/IDD-03-2021-0022
Article
Applying cognitive analytic theory to understand the abuse of athletes on Twitter
Meggs J & Ahmed W (2021) Applying cognitive analytic theory to understand the abuse of athletes on Twitter. Managing Sport and Leisure. https://doi.org/10.1080/23750472.2021.2004210
Article
Understanding sporting brands and entrepreneurship using netnography and social network analysis
Fenton A, Parry K, Ahmed W & Chadwick S (2021) Understanding sporting brands and entrepreneurship using netnography and social network analysis. International Journal of Technology Transfer and Commercialisation.
Article
Mittal R, Ahmed W, Mittal A & Aggarwal I (2021) Twitter users’ coping behaviors during the COVID-19 lockdown: an analysis of tweets using mixed methods. Information Discovery and Delivery, 49 (3), pp. 193-202. https://doi.org/10.1108/idd-08-2020-0102
Article
A survey-based analysis of the public's willingness for disaster relief in China
Hu Z, Zhang X, Cui J, Zhang L & Ahmed W (2021) A survey-based analysis of the public's willingness for disaster relief in China. Natural Hazards, 107 (3), pp. 2205-2225. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-021-04538-7
Article
Social Media Conversations About High Engagement Sports Team Brands
Chadwick S, Fenton A, Dron R & Ahmed W (2021) Social Media Conversations About High Engagement Sports Team Brands. IIM Kozhikode Society & Management Review, 10 (2), pp. 178-191. https://doi.org/10.1177/22779752211017275
Article
Guzmán EM, Zhang Z & Ahmed W (2021) Towards understanding a football club's social media network: an exploratory case study of Manchester United. Information Discovery and Delivery, 49 (1), pp. 71-83. https://doi.org/10.1108/idd-08-2020-0106
Book Chapter
Measuring The Digital Transformation In An Organisation
Fenton A, Ahmed W & Hides M (2020) Measuring The Digital Transformation In An Organisation. In: Fenton A, Fletcher G & Griffiths M (eds.) Strategic Digital Transformation A Results-Driven Approach. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/Strategic-Digital-Transformation-A-Results-Driven-Approach/Fenton-Fletcher-Griffiths/p/book/9780367031077
Article
A Social Network Analysis of Tweets Related to Masks during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Ahmed W, Vidal-Alaball J, Lopez Segui F & Moreno-Sánchez PA (2020) A Social Network Analysis of Tweets Related to Masks during the COVID-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17 (21), Art. No.: 8235. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17218235
Article
COVID-19 and the "Film Your Hospital" Conspiracy Theory: Social Network Analysis of Twitter Data
Ahmed W, López Seguí F, Vidal-Alaball J & Katz MS (2020) COVID-19 and the "Film Your Hospital" Conspiracy Theory: Social Network Analysis of Twitter Data. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22 (10), Art. No.: e22374. https://doi.org/10.2196/22374
Article
Ahmed W, Jagsi R, Gutheil TG & Katz MS (2020) Public Disclosure on Social Media of Identifiable Patient Information by Health Professionals: Content Analysis of Twitter Data. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22 (9), Art. No.: e19746. https://doi.org/10.2196/19746
Article
COVID-19 and the 5G Conspiracy Theory: Social Network Analysis of Twitter Data
Ahmed W, Vidal-Alaball J, Downing J & López Seguí F (2020) COVID-19 and the 5G Conspiracy Theory: Social Network Analysis of Twitter Data. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22 (5), Art. No.: e19458. https://doi.org/10.2196/19458
Article
Contextualising the 2019 E-Cigarette Health Scare: Insights from Twitter
Ahmed W, Marin-Gomez X & Vidal-Alaball J (2020) Contextualising the 2019 E-Cigarette Health Scare: Insights from Twitter. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17 (7), Art. No.: 2236. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17072236
Article
Recognizing events 4.0: the digital maturity of events
Ryan WG, Fenton A, Ahmed W & Scarf P (2020) Recognizing events 4.0: the digital maturity of events. International Journal of Event and Festival Management, 11 (1), pp. 47-68. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijefm-12-2019-0060
Article
Physical activity and long-term survival in older men and women: A 21 year longitudinal study
Ahmed W, Fayoyin O & Bath PA (2019) Physical activity and long-term survival in older men and women: A 21 year longitudinal study. Activities, Adaptation & Aging, 43 (4), pp. 294-314. https://doi.org/10.1080/01924788.2018.1534535
Article
Downing J & Ahmed W (2019) #MacronLeaks as a "warning shot" for European democracies: challenges to election blackouts presented by social media and election meddling during the 2017 French presidential election. French Politics, 17 (3), pp. 257-278. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41253-019-00090-w
Article
A New Tool for Public Health Opinion to Give Insight Into Telemedicine: Twitter Poll Analysis
Vidal-Alaball J, Fernandez-Luque L, Marin-Gomez FX & Ahmed W (2019) A New Tool for Public Health Opinion to Give Insight Into Telemedicine: Twitter Poll Analysis. JMIR Formative Research, 3 (2), Art. No.: e13870. https://doi.org/10.2196/13870
Article
A comparison of information sharing behaviours across 379 health conditions on Twitter
Zhang Z & Ahmed W (2019) A comparison of information sharing behaviours across 379 health conditions on Twitter. International Journal of Public Health, 64 (3), pp. 431-440. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-018-1192-5
Article
Novel insights into views towards H1N1 during the 2009 Pandemic: a thematic analysis of Twitter data
Ahmed W, Bath PA, Sbaffi L & Demartini G (2019) Novel insights into views towards H1N1 during the 2009 Pandemic: a thematic analysis of Twitter data. Health Information and Libraries Journal, 36 (1), pp. 60-72. https://doi.org/10.1111/hir.12247
Article
Social media analytics: analysis and visualisation of news diffusion using NodeXL
Ahmed W & Lugovic S (2019) Social media analytics: analysis and visualisation of news diffusion using NodeXL. Online Information Review, 43 (1), pp. 149-160. https://doi.org/10.1108/oir-03-2018-0093
Article
Brooks D, Hughes P, Farrington C, Bath PA, McGregor M, Ahmed W & Noble B (2018) Implementation of a metastatic malignancy of unknown primary origin service led by a palliative physician. Hospital Practice, 46 (1), pp. 37-42. https://doi.org/10.1080/21548331.2018.1418140
Article
Public health implications of #ShoutYourAbortion
Ahmed W (2018) Public health implications of #ShoutYourAbortion. Public Health, 163, pp. 35-41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2018.06.010
Article
Is It Time to Re-Evaluate the Ethics Governance of Social Media Research?
Samuel G, Ahmed W, Kara H, Jessop C, Quinton S & Sanger S (2018) Is It Time to Re-Evaluate the Ethics Governance of Social Media Research?. Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics, 13 (4), pp. 452-454. https://doi.org/10.1177/1556264618793773
Conference Proceeding
An Analysis of Twitter Usage Among Startups in Europe
Lugovic S & Ahmed W (2015) An Analysis of Twitter Usage Among Startups in Europe. In: Anderson K, Duranti L, Jaworski R, Stančić H, Seljan S & Mateljan V (eds.) INFuture2015: e-Institutions - Openness, Accessibility, and Preservation - Proceedings. The Future of Information Science. INFuture2015, Croatia, 11.11.2015-13.11.2015. Zagreb: University of Zagreb, pp. 299-308. https://doi.org/10.17234/INFUTURE.2015.32
Dr. Ahmed has teaching interests around digital business, social media marketing, big data analytics, information technology, data analysis, social network analysis, and data visualisations.
Dr. Ahmed's teaching philosophy is to keep learning materials engaging, interesting, and relevant. Dr. Ahmed will utilise learning materials that contain elements of traditional lectures, visual aspects, external lectures from domain experts and practical tasks and activities. His modules have received positive feedback and his former students have taken up significant roles in the commercial sector.
Dr. Ahmed is an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA) and is working towards Senior Fellowship.
At Stirling University Business School Dr. Ahmed is involved in the following modules:
MANP006 - Text Analytics for Business (Autumn 2021/2)
MANP007- Digital Business and Data Technologies (Spring 2021/2)
Dr. Ahmed has worked across a range of previous institutions and has previous teaching experience on the following modules:
Newcastle University (2019 to September 2021)
BUS1020: Digital Business (Module Leader)
NBS8263 Competing with IT (Module Leader)
NBS8295: Data Analytics for Managers (Module Leader)
MKT3019:Data Driven Marketing Decisions (AUT 2019)
Northumbria University (May 2018 to June 2019)
NX0472 Developing Global Management Competencies (AUT 2018)
NX9410 Building Business Practice (AUT 2018)
NX9523 Business Professional Practice (AUT 2018)
NX9524 Digital Business (Spring 2019)
Dr. Ahmed also has Programme Leadership experience at Northumbria University on the following programmes:
Programme Leader BA (Hons) Business with Tourism Management
Programme Leader BA (Hons) Business with International Management
University of Sheffield (2014 to May 2018)
INF6003 E-Business and E-Commerce (SPRING 2015, 2016, 2017)
INF6024 Researching Social Media SPRING 2017~18)
INF6029 Data Analysis (AUT SEM 2014, 2015 and 2016)
INF6028 Data Mining and Visualisation (SPRING 2015~16)
INF6032 Big Data Analytics (SPRING 2016-2017)
HAR6059 Public Health Informatics (SPRING 2017)
HAR655 Public Health Informatics (SPRING 2016~17)
