Global Center for Digital Influence Research
About GCDIR
The Global Center for Digital Influence Research is an independent research organization established in 2025. The Center brings together contributors from academia and industry on the premise that the empirical study of digital influence requires both methodological rigor and access to data generated in real-world settings. Academic affiliations ensure that research questions are framed and answered to scholarly standards; industry partnerships provide access to the behavioral data and applied context that make such research tractable.
Origins and independence
GCDIR was established in 2025 by researchers and practitioners working at the intersection of behavioral science and the digital influence industry. Several members of the Center’s leadership hold concurrent roles at Trudy, which is also one of GCDIR’s industry data partners. The Center maintains editorial independence in the design, conduct, and publication of its research, and discloses funding sources, data provenance, and relevant affiliations in all publications in accordance with standard academic practice.
Team
GCDIR is led by a founding team with backgrounds spanning empirical research, data science, and applied technology. The Center is structured to support sustained collaboration between academic researchers and practitioners.
Leadership
Didrik Svendsen — Director
Director of GCDIR, responsible for strategic direction and institutional development. Concurrently CEO and co-founder of Trudy.
Magnus Hansson, PhD — Research Director
Research Director of GCDIR. Affiliated with Stockholm University. Concurrently Founding Lead Data Scientist at Trudy.
Data and infrastructure
Anish Chakraborty — Technical Collaborator
Supports the development of technical infrastructure and the facilitation of access to industry-sourced data for research purposes. Concurrently CTO of Trudy.
Advisory board
The advisory board provides guidance on the Center’s long-term research agenda and on the practical relevance of its work in academic and industry contexts.
Philip Madero Hammarskiöld — Industry Advisor
Provides advisory input on partnerships and applied research directions. Co-founder of Trudy.
Additional advisors and collaborators will be announced.
Affiliations and partnerships
Academic affiliation
- Stockholm University (through Dr. Hansson’s affiliation)
Industry partners
Data access
Through its industry partnerships, GCDIR has access to behavioral and outcome data not typically available to academic researchers. A central feature of the dataset is that creator-level psychometric profiles are linked to measured downstream behavioral outcomes from commercial campaigns — including conversions, revenue, and related transaction-level data — rather than to engagement proxies such as likes, shares, or impressions. This allows empirical investigation of questions about persuasion, trust, and behavioral change that are difficult to address using publicly available data alone.
The principal data resource is provided by Trudy and consists of:
- Campaign-level outcome data, including conversions and revenue, from approximately 230,000 commercial influencer campaigns contributed by more than 800 brands across consumer categories
- Psychometric and behavioral profiles of approximately 10 million content creators across major platforms and markets
- Approximately 160 standardized signals per profiled creator, including personality, values, communication style, and audience characteristics
- A campaign history spanning more than a decade, collected under a consistent measurement framework
The dataset is harmonized across contributors, allowing comparative analysis that is generally not possible when working with the proprietary data of any single brand or platform. GCDIR researchers and approved external collaborators may request access for specific projects, subject to data governance and ethical review procedures established by the Center.
A formal data access policy, including procedures for external researchers and institutional review, will be published as the Center’s research program develops.
Opportunities
GCDIR is expanding its network of affiliated researchers and practitioners. The Center welcomes expressions of interest from individuals working on topics within its research agenda, and is particularly interested in collaborations that span disciplines and sectors.
Open positions
Academic track
- Senior Research Scientists
- Postdoctoral Researchers
- Graduate Research Assistants
Industry track
- Domain Experts
- Data Scientists
All positions at GCDIR are currently held on a voluntary, unpaid basis. The Center’s organizational model is that of a collaborative research network rather than a salaried institute.
Contact
Email: contact@gcdir.org
Inquiries regarding collaboration, research partnerships, and funding are welcomed.