The Ed Snider Center for Enterprise and Markets is excited to share a new academic opportunity with students across campus, and we would greatly appreciate your help in distributing it. We are launching the Social Media and Market Dynamics (SMMD) Lab for Spring 2026-- an interdisciplinary research lab focused on understanding how social-media narratives influence financial markets, investor behavior, and large-scale economic trends.
Today’s markets are shaped by viral narratives across Reddit, X, TikTok, and other platforms. Events like the GameStop short squeeze and the rise of meme stocks highlight how online communities can drive real financial outcomes. The SMMD Lab, launched in collaboration with the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI), will study these phenomena and their impact on volatility, collective action, and information disorder.
About the SMMD Lab Internship
This 3-credit internship provides hands-on experience analyzing real-world social-media data and its financial implications. Students will develop skills in:
- data analytics
- narrative and trend forecasting
- market-sentiment analysis
- the role of AI and emerging technologies in shaping online narratives
Where Students Can Apply:
Students can apply using the QR code on the attached flyer. Or follow this link: Social Media Market and Dynamics Lab
Questions can be directed to our Student Programs Coordinator, Kristen Erdman, at kerdman@umd.edu (please reference SMMD Lab Internship).
