People
Director, Principal Investigator
Jingwen Zhang, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Communication
Department Webpage | Google Scholar
Jingwen Zhang, PhD is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Communication, University of California, Davis. Dr. Zhang’s research interests include health promotion (e.g., sexual health, reproductive health, and physical activity), social influence, and interventions utilizing innovative online communication platforms. Current research efforts focus on the development of persuasive online networks using mobile technologies and computational approaches. She is also involved in research on communication for development, an interest that traces back to her work with UNICEF. Dr. Zhang’s previous studies have been published in a wide range of journals, including American Journal of Public Health, Health Psychology, and Annals of Behavioral Medicine.
Assistant Professor
Department of Communication
Department Webpage | Google Scholar
Jingwen Zhang, PhD is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Communication, University of California, Davis. Dr. Zhang’s research interests include health promotion (e.g., sexual health, reproductive health, and physical activity), social influence, and interventions utilizing innovative online communication platforms. Current research efforts focus on the development of persuasive online networks using mobile technologies and computational approaches. She is also involved in research on communication for development, an interest that traces back to her work with UNICEF. Dr. Zhang’s previous studies have been published in a wide range of journals, including American Journal of Public Health, Health Psychology, and Annals of Behavioral Medicine.
Graduate Student Researchers
Yoo Jung (Erika) Oh, MA
PhD Candidate
Department Webpage | Google Scholar
Erika is a doctoral student in the Department of Communication at University of California, Davis. She received her MA in Communication at Korea University in 2018. Erika is primarily interested in health communication, human-computer interaction, and persuasive technology. Her current research focuses on developing and evaluating the effects of AI conversational agents for health behavior changes.
PhD Candidate
Department Webpage | Google Scholar
Erika is a doctoral student in the Department of Communication at University of California, Davis. She received her MA in Communication at Korea University in 2018. Erika is primarily interested in health communication, human-computer interaction, and persuasive technology. Her current research focuses on developing and evaluating the effects of AI conversational agents for health behavior changes.
Qiusi (Lyra) Sun, MS
PhD Candidate
Department Webpage
Qiusi graduated with a BS in Applied Mathematics, specializing in Statistics, from Nanjing University in Nanjing, China. She obtained her MS in Applied Statistics and Operation Research from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio, where she focus on big data in Social Networks and obtained a certificate in social and interactive communication. Her current research interests include network dynamics, data visualization and influence of social network services.
PhD Candidate
Department Webpage
Qiusi graduated with a BS in Applied Mathematics, specializing in Statistics, from Nanjing University in Nanjing, China. She obtained her MS in Applied Statistics and Operation Research from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio, where she focus on big data in Social Networks and obtained a certificate in social and interactive communication. Her current research interests include network dynamics, data visualization and influence of social network services.
Mahasweta Chakraborti
PhD Student
Department Webpage
Mahasweta holds a Bachelor and Master's degree in Electrical Engineering from Jadavpur University, India ('16) and University of Southern California ('18) respectively. She is intrigued by social interactions/conflicts of interest and their role as agents in political events. Currently enrolled as a doctoral student in communication, she works with the CHATR Lab to understand contentious phenomena like attitudes towards vaccines.
PhD Student
Department Webpage
Mahasweta holds a Bachelor and Master's degree in Electrical Engineering from Jadavpur University, India ('16) and University of Southern California ('18) respectively. She is intrigued by social interactions/conflicts of interest and their role as agents in political events. Currently enrolled as a doctoral student in communication, she works with the CHATR Lab to understand contentious phenomena like attitudes towards vaccines.
Sijia Qian
PhD Student
Department Webpage
Sijia is a doctoral student in the Department of Communication at UC Davis. She received her undergraduate degree in English at Nanjing Normal University in China. She recently completed her Master’s degree in Communication at the University of Utah. Her research focuses on persuasion and media effects in health and science contexts.
PhD Student
Department Webpage
Sijia is a doctoral student in the Department of Communication at UC Davis. She received her undergraduate degree in English at Nanjing Normal University in China. She recently completed her Master’s degree in Communication at the University of Utah. Her research focuses on persuasion and media effects in health and science contexts.
Haoning Xue
PhD Student
Department Webpage
Haoning is a doctoral student in the Department of Communication at University of California, Davis. She received her BA in Media and Communication from City University of Hong Kong. Haoning is interested in health information processing, health promotion, and emotion.
PhD Student
Department Webpage
Haoning is a doctoral student in the Department of Communication at University of California, Davis. She received her BA in Media and Communication from City University of Hong Kong. Haoning is interested in health information processing, health promotion, and emotion.
Alumni
CJ Calabrese, PhD, MPH
Martin Fishbein Postdoctoral Fellow
Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania
Personal Website | Google Scholar
CJ is primarily interested in health and science communication, focusing on developing online network and social media interventions. His research interests broadly center around new media, misinformation, social networks, and online technologies, with topics focusing on HIV prevention, public perceptions of gene editing, vaccination, harm reduction, and COVID-19.
Martin Fishbein Postdoctoral Fellow
Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania
Personal Website | Google Scholar
CJ is primarily interested in health and science communication, focusing on developing online network and social media interventions. His research interests broadly center around new media, misinformation, social networks, and online technologies, with topics focusing on HIV prevention, public perceptions of gene editing, vaccination, harm reduction, and COVID-19.
Jieyu (Jade) Ding Featherstone, PhD
Quantitative Researcher at Facebook
Google Scholar | LinkedIn | ResearchGate
Jade is a quantitative social scientist exploring how social media influences people's health decisions and understanding of science. Her current research focuses on the spread of health misinformation online, the effects of misinformation on people's health behaviors, and strategies on correcting misperceptions caused by misinformation.
Quantitative Researcher at Facebook
Google Scholar | LinkedIn | ResearchGate
Jade is a quantitative social scientist exploring how social media influences people's health decisions and understanding of science. Her current research focuses on the spread of health misinformation online, the effects of misinformation on people's health behaviors, and strategies on correcting misperceptions caused by misinformation.