My Star Research Team

research staff & graduate students

Dr. Agnes Chuah, PhD, Senior Research Fellow

Dr. Agnes Chuah Soo Fei is a Senior Research Fellow at the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. She attained her PhD. in Communication Studies from the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore; MSc. In Managerial Communication and B.A (Honours) in Communication from University Utara Malaysia in Malaysia. Her primary research area focuses on public opinion of science and technology, such as nanotechnology and nuclear energy. Her research interest also includes science communication, health communication, environmental communication, and fake news. Her work has been published in Journal of Communication, Energy Policy, Energy Research & Social Sciences, Journal of Nanoparticle Research, Science Technology & Human Values, and Mass Communication and Society. Dr Chuah is currently working for Public Opinion of Nuclear Energy and other EneRgy Sources (PiONEERS) project funded by Singapore National Research Foundation.

Peer-Reviewed Journal Papers & Book Chapters

  1. Ho, S. S., & Chuah, A. S. F. (in press, 2021). Why support nuclear energy? The roles of citizen knowledge, trust, media use, and perceptions across five Southeast Asian countries. Energy Research & Social Science, 79, https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2021.102155
  2. Ho, S. S., Xiong, R., & Chuah, A. S. F. (2021). Heuristic cues as perceptual filters: Factors influencing public support for nuclear research reactor in Singapore. Energy Policy, 150, 112111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2020.112111
  3. Ho, S. S., Goh, T. J., Chuah, A. S. F., Leung, Y. W., Bekalu, M. A., & Viswanath, K. (2020). Past debates, fresh impact on nano-enabled food: A multigroup comparison of presumed media influence model based on spillover effects of attitude toward genetically modified food. Journal of Communication, 70(4), 598-621. https://doi.org/10.1093/joc/jqaa019
  4. Ho, S. S., Oshita, T., Looi, J., Leong, A. D., & Chuah, A. S. F. (2019). Exploring public perceptions of benefits and risks, trust, and acceptance of nuclear energy in Thailand and Vietnam: A qualitative approach. Energy Policy, 127, 259-268. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2018.12.011
  5. Ho, S. S., Leong, A. D., Looi, J., & Chuah, A. S. F. (2019). Online, offline, or word-of-mouth? Complementary media usage patterns and credibility perceptions of nuclear energy information in Southeast Asia. Energy Research & Social Science, 48, 46-56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2018.09.012
  6. Chuah, A. S. F., Leong, A. D., Cummings, C., & Ho, S. S. (2018). Label it or ban It? Public perceptions of nano-food labels and propositions for banning nano-food applications. Journal of Nanoparticle Research, 20, 36. doi.org/10.1007/s11051-018-4126-5
  7. Cummings, C., Chuah, A. S. F., & Ho, S. S. (2018). Protection motivation and communication through nano-food labels: Improving predictive capabilities of attitudes and purchase intentions toward nano-foods. Science, Technology, and Human Values, 1-29. doi.org/10.1177/0162243917753991
  8. Ho, S. S., Looi, J., Chuah, A. S. F., Leong, A. D., & Pang, N. (2018). “I can live with nuclear energy if…” Exploring public perceptions of nuclear energy in Singapore. Energy Policy, 120, 436–447. doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2018.05.060
  9. Yang, X., Chuah, A. S., Lee, E. W., & Ho, S. S. (2017). Extending the cognitive mediation model: Examining factors associated with perceived familiarity and factual knowledge of nanotechnology. Mass Communication and Society, 1-24. doi.org/10.1080/15205436.2016.1271436
  10. Ho, S. S., & Chuah, A. S. F. (2017). Climate change communication in Singapore. In M. C. Nisbet (Ed.), The Oxford Encyclopedia of Climate Change Communication. Oxford University Press.

Dr. Tong Jee Goh, Research Fellow

Tong Jee Goh (Ph.D. in Communication Studies, NTU) is a Research Fellow at the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information in Nanyang Technological University. Her research focuses on misinformation, science communication, and media effects. She received her Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) and Master of Arts in Communications and New Media from the National University of Singapore (NUS) in 2010 and 2013 respectively. She also has a postgraduate diploma in education from the National Institute of Education, Singapore.

Tong Jee has extensive experience in teaching. She was an award-winning teaching scholar at NUS during her Masters candidature. She spent 4 years as an English Language teacher with the Ministry of Education, Singapore. Tong Jee was also a lecturer and an assessment writer for communications and sociology courses at the Singapore University of Social Sciences from 2017 to 2019.

Peer-Reviewed Journal Papers

  1. Ho, S. S., Goh, T. J., Leung, Y. W. (2020). Let’s nab fake science news: Predicting scientists’ support for interventions using the influence of presumed media influence model. Journalism. https://doi.org/10.1177/1464884920937488
  2. Ho, S. S., Goh, T. J., Chuah, A. S. F., Leung, Y. W., Belaku, M. A., & Viswanath, K. (2020). Past debates, fresh impact on nano-enabled food: A multi-group comparison of presumed media influence model based on spillover effects of attitude toward genetically-modified food. Journal of Communication, jqaa019. https://doi.org/10.1093/joc/jqaa019
  3. Ho, S. S., Looi, J. M., & Goh, T. J. (2020). Scientists as public communicators: Individual- and institutional-level motivations and barriers for public communication in Singapore. Asian Journal of Communication, 30(2), 155-178. https://doi.org/10.1080/01292986.2020.1748072
  4. Ho, S. S., Looi, J. M., Leung, Y. W., & Goh, T. J. (2019). Public engagement by researchers of different disciplines in Singapore: A qualitative comparison of macro- and meso-level concerns. Public Understanding of Science, 29(2), 211-229. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963662519888761

 

Dr. Junru Huang, Research Fellow

Junru Huang is a research fellow at CNRS@CREATE (Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise), under the supervision of Prof. Shirley S. Ho.  She attained her Ph.D. in Communication Studies from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, her M.A. in Visual Communication from Ohio University in U.S., and her B.A. in Journalism from Renmin University of China. Before pursuing her Ph.D., Junru worked in the media industry for five years in both the U.S. and China, holding various roles such as journalist, photographer, editor, and producer with organizations like The Beijing News, The Hutchinson News, Chicago Tribune, ThePaper.cn, and YiXi.tv.

Junru’s research primarily centers around media psychology, with a focus on human-machine communication. She is interested in understanding how technology, notably interactive media, shapes human perceptions and behaviors. Her methodological approaches encompass both quantitative and qualitative methods in social sciences, with extensive experience conducting experiments, surveys, and interviews. Currently, she is working on a project investigating public perception of AI.

Selected Publications

  • Huang, J., & Jung, Y. (2022). Perceived authenticity of virtual characters makes the difference. Frontiers in Virtual Reality, 3, https://doi.org/10.3389/frvir.2022.1033709.
  • Kang, H., Shin, W., & Huang, J. (2022). Teens’ privacy management on video-sharing social media: the roles of perceived privacy risk and parental mediation. Internet Research, 32, 312-334. https://doi.org/10.1108/INTR-01-2021-0005.
  • Huang, J., & Jung, Y. (2023). Understanding individuals’ experience with virtual characters from the perspective of perceived authenticity. Paper presented at the 73rd International Communication Association Annual Conference, May 2023.
  • Huang, J., & Li, Y. (2023). Making sense of virtuality and authenticity: How Otome game players understand their experience with virtual characters. Paper presented at the 73rd International Communication Association Annual Conference, May 2023.

Dr. Wufan Jia, Research Fellow

Dr. Wufan Jia is a Research Fellow at the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. She holds a PhD. in Media and Communication from City University of Hong Kong, an M.A. in Communication and Media from Ewha Womans University in Korea, and a B.Eng. in Radio and TV Engineering from the Communication University of China.

Her primary research explores self-influence in social media, with additional interests in health communication and environmental communication. Currently, she is involved in the Climate Transformation Programme (CTP) project.

Selected Publications

  • Jia, W. F., Sun, M. R., Huang, G. X., Yu, W. T., & Payton, B. (2024). The indirect effects of health information seeking on health behaviors: Health literacy matters. Health Education and Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1177/10901981241278587
  • Jia, W. F., Fu, L. R., & Dai, Y. (2024). Increasing trust in influencer marketing: The effects of sponsorship disclosure and endorser type. Journal of Promotion Management. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10496491.2023.2289925
  • Huang, G., Jia, W. F., & Yu, W. T. (2024). Media literacy interventions improve resilience to misinformation: A meta-analytic investigation of overall effect and moderating factors. Communication Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/00936502241288103
  • Sun, M. R., Jia, W. F., Huang, G. X.*, Yu, W. T., & Payton, B. (2024). Empowerment or backfire? The paradox of digital media skills on depression through (mis)information sharing on social media. Current Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-024-06413-7
  • Yu, W. T., Payton, B., Sun, M. R., Jia, W. F., & Huang, G. X. (2023). Towards an integrated framework for misinformation and correction sharing: A systematic review across domains. New Media & Society. https://doi.org/10.1177/14614448221116569
  • Dai, Y., Huang, Y.-H. C., Jia, W. F., & Cai, Q. X. (2022). The paradoxical effects of institutional trust on risk perception and risk management in the Covid-19 pandemic: Evidence from three societies. Journal of Risk Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/13669877.2022.2108122
  • Dai, Y., Kim, J. W., & Jia, W. F. (2022). Health pandemic in the era of (mis)information: Examining the utility of using victim narrative and social endorsement of user-generated content to reduce panic buying in the U.S. Journal of Applied Communication Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/00909882.2022.2043557
  • Dai, Y., Jia, W. F., Fu, L. R., Sun, M. R., & Jiang, L. C. (2022). The effects of self-generated and other-generated eWOM in inoculating against misinformation. Telematics and Informatics. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tele.2022.101835

Nova Mengxia Huang, Ph.D. Candidate

Mengxia Huang is a Ph.D. student in the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information at Nanyang Technological University. She received her Bachelor of Advertising from the College of Media and International Culture at Zhejiang University in 2017 and her Master of Communication with merit from the School of Communication and Film at Hong Kong Baptist University in 2018. Her research interests lie in health communication and aging society, particularly in people’s perception and use of health technology.

Mengxia had rich working experience in education before studying at WKWSCI where she is committed to helping people identify their strengths, find their principles, and achieve their potential. Now she concentrates more on self-exploration and self-challenge. She is curious about how health communication research can help inform public opinions on health policies and technologies, which can contribute to public policy and promote public health. She particularly cares about the elderly cohort and how health technologies, such as wearable health devices, can improve their health and well-being. In her spare time, Mengxia enjoys playing the piano, doing meditation and yoga, and outdoor running.

Honors and Awards

2022 Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Research Scholarship

2018 Hong Kong Baptist University Merit-based Student Scholarship

Justin Chun Ting Cheung, Ph.D. Candidate

Justin Chun Ting Cheung is a PhD student in the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information. He has received his Master of Journalism from the Journalism and Media Studies Centre at The University of Hong Kong, Master of Education and Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in Psychology both from the Department of Psychology at The Education University of Hong Kong. Prior to joining the Wee Kim Wee School, Justin was a research assistant at the Sau Po Centre on Ageing at The University of Hong Kong.

Peer-reviewed publications

  1. Cheung, J. C. T., Sun, Q., Wan, N. T., Wong, S. Y., Lou, V. W. Q. (2021). Intergenerational mentorship on character traits among disadvantaged primary school students: A controlled pretest–posttest study. Research on Social Work Practice, 31(7), 716–727. doi:10.1177/10497315211035108
  2. Sun, Q., Cheung, J. C. T., Wan, A, Wong, S. Y., Lou, W. Q. (2021). Age simulation program promoting positive attitudes toward older people in Hong Kong: Further evidence of integration of natural social network effects. Research on Social Work Practice. doi:10.1177/10497315211063626
  3. Chen, K., Cheung, J. C. T., Wang, J., Lou, W. (2020) Older people as peer researchers in ageing research: Nuisance or necessity? In M. Łuszczyńska (Ed.), Researching Ageing Methodological Challenges and their Empirical Background. London: Routledge.

Awards and Honours

  1. 2022 Outstanding paper (2nd place), The 7th Peking University Doctoral Forum on Aging and Health.
  2. 2020 Stone Soup Award (runner-up), Sócia-gerente da Stone Soup Consulting.

Chang He, Ph.D. Student

Chang He is a Ph.D. student in the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information at Nanyang Technological University. She received her M.A. in journalism from the School of Journalism at Fudan University in China. She previously worked as a research assistant at the Research Center for Data Governance at Tsinghua University. During her master’s studies, she won a scholarship to study as an exchange student at LMU Munich in Germany. She also worked as an intern news editor at the Xinhua News Agency Shanghai bureau. For three consecutive years, she received the first-class scholarship and was recognized as an outstanding graduate of Fudan University.

Her research interests lie in social media and public opinion. Currently, she is deeply involved in the Climate Transformation Programme (CTP) project, employing various research methods to explore the Sustainable Societies (SS) topic. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, swimming, and running.

Honors and Awards

2020-2023   First-Class Scholarship of Fudan University
2021   Best Paper Award at the 12th Graduate Seminar of China Journalism and Communication Academic Union

2023   Outstanding Graduate of Fudan University

Yuna Zhiyun Chen, Ph.D. Student

Yuna is a Ph.D. student in the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information at Nanyang Technological University. She received her M.A. in Journalism and Communication from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and her B.A. in Communication and Advertising from the Communication University of China. Prior to her doctoral studies, Yuna served as an AI Ethics Research Intern at the Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Laboratory and as a Research Assistant at the University of Oxford’s Human-Algorithm Interaction Lab and Tongji University’s Health Communication Research Center. She is also the co-founder of Epitome, an experimental platform dedicated to integrating AI with social science research.

Her research interests lie at the intersection of Human-Computer Interaction, Communication Technology, and their applications in Science, Environmental, and Health Communication. She is particularly interested in understanding how emerging technologies like AI and VR shape public attitudes and behaviors related to critical health and environmental issues. She is eager to contribute to the Climate Transformation Programme (CTP) project.

Honors and Awards

2025 Outstanding Graduate of Shanghai Jiao Tong University

2024 Top Paper Award (First Place), Mass Communication & Society Division, 107th AEJMC Annual Conference

2023, 2024 National Scholarship for Postgraduates

2022 Outstanding Graduate of Beijing and Communication University of China

2020 National Scholarship for Undergraduates

Yunsong Li, Research Associate

Yunsong Li is a Research Associate at the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information at Nanyang Technological University. He received his M.A. in School of Journalism and Communication from Tsinghua University and his B.A. in School of Journalism and Communication from Shandong University.

His research focuses on how people can be persuaded through the combined effects of theory-driven strategic messages and emerging communication technologies to promote positive perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors toward certain risks, with an emphasis on science, health and environment issues.

Currently, he is involved in the Climate Transformation Programme (CTP) project to assist primarily with the VR component.

Selected Publications

  1. Su, J., Li, Y., Zhang, Z., Lin, Y., Shi, W. (2025) Who is imaged as being related to climate change? Localization and individualization of human visual images in China search engine. Environmental Communication. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17524032.2025.2544563. (In press)
  2. Li, Y., Chen, L., & Fu, L. (2024). Vicarious Interaction in Online Health Consultation Services: The Effects of Generative AI’s Anthropomorphism and Social Support on Intended Responses Through Social Presence and Source Credibility. International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1080/10447318.2024.2441422
  3. Tang, H., Chen, L., Liu, S., Tan, X., & Li, Y. (2024). Reconsidering the effectiveness of fear appeals: An experimental study of interactive fear messaging to promote positive actions on climate change. Journal of Health Communication, 29(sup1), 57-67. https://doi.org/10.1080/10810730.2024.2360025
  4. Yang, X., Xu, Y., Guo, Y., & Li, Y. (2024). An examination of the interplay of message framing and vaccine safety information sources on COVID-19 vaccination promotion. Current Psychology, 43(19), 17714-17726. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-05130-x

Honors and Awards

2025 Top Paper Award (Second Place), Commission on Graduate Education, 108th AEJMC Annual Conference.

2023 First-Class Scholarship of Tsinghua University

2021, 2022 China National Scholarship

Anjali Venketram, Research Assistant

Anjali is a Research Assistant at the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information at Nanyang Technological University (NTU). She received her Bachelor of Arts with Distinction (Highest Honors) in Environmental Studies from Yale-NUS College, Singapore in 2024. With past experiences in research and non-profit organizations, Anjali is passionate about work that has a social impact – specifically for environmental and climate change-related issues. Her research interests include factors that affect environmental consciousness, climate justice, and methods of motivating  climate action within societies. Currently, she is assisting with the Climate Transformation Programme (CTP) investigating sustainable societies. Outside of work, Anjali enjoys singing and reading thrillers.

Faith Lim, Research Assistant

Faith is a Research Assistant at the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information at Nanyang Technological University. She received her Bachelor of Arts (Second Class Honors, Upper) in Psychology from the University of Melbourne in 2024. She has previous research experience in psychology and working with special needs children. Her primary research interests include mental health stigma across different societal levels, particularly in the context of increasing global awareness of mental health conditions. She is currently contributing to the Shaping Public Adaptive Capacity for Environmental infectious diseases (SPACE) project, which aims to develop a research protocol for infectious disease prediction and prevention in Singapore.

FORMER PHD ADVISEES

  • Mengxue Ou, PhD, Graduated 2025 (first job placement: Assistant Professor, Peking University, China)
  • Tong Jee Goh, PhD, Graduated 2023 (first job placement: Research Fellow, Nanyang Technological University)
  • Andrew Yee Zi Han, PhD, Graduated 2019 (first job placement: Faculty Fellow, Singapore University of Science and Technology; current job: Assistant Professor, Nanyang Technological University)
  • Edmund Lee, PhD, Graduated 2018 (first job placement: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, U.S.A.; current job: Associate Professor, City University of Hong Kong)
  • Agnes Chuah, PhD, Graduated 2018 (first job placement: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Nanyang Technological University; current job placement: Senior Research Fellow, NTU)
  • Liang Chen, PhD, Graduated 2017 (first job placement: Associate Professor, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China; current job: Associate Professor, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China)
  • Xiaodong Yang, PhD, Graduated 2017 (first job placement: Associate Professor, Shandong University, China; current job placement: Professor, Shandong University, China)
  • Priyanka Dasgupta, PhD, Graduated 2017 (first job placement: Assistant Professor, Amity University, Dubai)

FORMER MASTER’S ADVISEES

  • Shengjun Lin, Master’s by Research, Graduating in 2024
  • Xinyi Liu, Master’s by Research, Graduated 2024
  • Wenqi Tan, Master’s by Research, Graduated 2023
  • Ou Mengxue, Master’s by Research, Graduated 2021
  • Loo Jiemin, Master’s by Research, Graduated 2019
  • Leong Alisius Xue Li Deon, Master’s by Research, Graduated 2019
  • Kathryn Shannon Sim Yen Ping @ Sarah Abdullah Sim,
    Master’s in Mass Communication (with thesis), Graduated 2016
  • Liao Youqing, Master’s by Research, Graduated 2014
  • Peh Xiang Hong,Master’s by Research, Graduated 2013
  • Edmund Lee Wei Jian, Master’s by Research, Graduated 2013