Marijke is a senior researcher at Artevelde University of Applied Sciences, where she leads the research program Branding through social media and content creators within the Communication, Media and Design expertise network. One of the key projects is the SMI Barometer, an annual study that dives into how young Belgians use and perceive (marketing through) social media and influencers. During her PhD at Ghent University (2019), she explored the mechanisms and ethical dimensions of influencer marketing.