Dr. Emily Weinstein is a Principal Investigator at Project Zero, a lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and founding Co-Director of the new Center for Digital Thriving. Dr. Weinstein studies the intersections of contemporary technologies with the social, emotional, and civic lives of adolescents and emerging adults. Her research draws on a variety of methodological approaches, including digital post analyses, interviews, surveys, focus groups, and experiments. She is especially passionate about translational research work and projects that center youth voice.
Weinstein's published work includes the book Behind Their Screens: What Teens Are Facing (And Adults Are Missing) (with Carrie James, The MIT Press, 2022), as well as articles in journals like New Media & Society, Computers in Human Behavior, Journal of Adolescent Research, and International Journal of Communication. You can also find her writing about teens and technology in places like TIME and WIRED. On alternating years, Dr. Weinstein teaches the course "Digital Dilemmas: Adolescents Behind Their Screens" (HGSE, T510A).
Outside of her academic research, she works regularly with schools and families to remagine supports for digital life. Emily is also a longtime collaborator of Common Sense Education, where she has worked on resource development and research behind their award-winning digital citizenship curriculum. She holds a Master's degree (Ed.M.) in Prevention Science and Practice and a Doctorate (Ed.D.) in Human Development and Education, both from Harvard University, and a B.S. from Cornell University.