Ceciley (Xinyi) Zhang (B.A., Beijing Normal University; M.A., University of Oklahoma) is a doctoral student in the Department of Communication at UCSB.

Driven by her passion for understanding and improving human experiences in the digital age, Ceciley examines digital media both as communication channels and as interactive partners. For her first strand of research interest, she primarily focuses on the complexities of the multimedia environment and tensions inherent in contemporary digital life. For the second strand, she extensively explores human interactions with emergent technology, such as generative AI, personal digital assistant, and robotics. 

Additionally, her background as an international scholar adds a unique dimension to her research. Concentrating on cultural norms of digital media use, her work also encompasses cross-cultural comparisons of people's media patterns. 

Specialization

Media Affordance, Human-Machine Communication

Sungbin Youk is a dedicated Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Communication at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he actively contributes to cutting-edge research as an esteemed member of the Media Neuroscience Lab. His academic journey began with a B.A. in International Studies and Media & Communication from Korea University, followed by the successful completion of his M.A. in Media & Communication in 2020.

Sungbin's insatiable intellectual curiosity and commitment to self-development have driven him to become proficient in various research methodologies. His multifaceted interests have led him to investigate a wide array of topics, including excessive media use, persuasion, scientometrics, and more, which all ties back to accessing and resolving challenges related to media. 

Beyond his scholarly pursuits, Sungbin is deeply dedicated to education and mentorship. His exceptional teaching abilities have been recognized with the prestigious Edwin Schoell Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2022, underscoring his impact in the classroom. Additionally, his outstanding contributions to the academic community earned him the esteemed Outstanding Service Award in 2023.

Kylie is a graduate student at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her fascination with digital technologies, family dynamics, and neural reward processing brought her to work with Dr. Rene Weber in the Media Neuroscience Lab. Kylie is a strong proponent for open science and exploring novel technologies to aid in the research process.

Veronica critically engages with the intersection of mental health and her research, with a particular focus on how effective communication and strong relationships can enhance overall well-being. Her professional trajectory is fundamentally geared towards conducting in-depth investigations to reinforce relational dynamics, amplify mental well-being, and thus catalyze conditions conducive to holistic thriving.

I earned my MBA and MA in Communication Studies at UNC Charlotte. After spending several years working for myself, I decided to follow my heart and pursue a career in academia. I am interested in organizational communication technology and how technology impacts virtual team dynamics. I enjoy a good debate, reading nonfiction books, playing board games, sewing, and spending time with my family.

Brittany Wheeler is a graduate researcher in the Media Neuroscience Lab in the Department of Communication at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her current projects include studies of 1) bullying within higher education in online environments, 2) social determinants of online hate speech, and 3) risk factors of cyber-sexual harassment. Her work draws on both quantitative and computational methods to understand these online processes. Brittany's research has appeared in outlets such as Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, Journal of Homosexuality, and Frontiers in Psychiatry.

Minghui is a PhD student in the Department of Communication at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Two questions she seeks to answer are: (1) how communication can bring about positive physical and mental health outcomes; and (2) how people’s perception of health itself evolves as a function of media content. Her research is process-driven and focuses on the psychological mechanism between media exposure and media effects. Prior to joining UCSB, she served as a research assistant at Shenzhen University, where she focused on studying online medical consultation and HIV interventions using social media.

Laurent Wang (M.A., UC Santa Barbara) is a doctoral student in the Department of Communication at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Using both quantitative and qualitative methods, his most current research seeks to understand how socioeconomically and/or demographically marginalized groups manage their privacy in a variety of online contexts, such as social media, and to uncover the underlying mechanisms that motivate successful privacy protection behaviors. Another line of his work aims to advance theoretical understanding of, and real-world solutions to, unstable access to digital technologies such as the internet, computer and mobile devices and its long-term consequences. He has published in leading journals and proceedings such as Psychology of Popular Media, Policy & Internet, Journal of International and Intercultural Communication, and Proceedings of the ACM Conference on Computer-Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW).

Jacova started as the Student Affairs Manager in summer of 2023, but she has been a proud member of the Department of Communication as a graduate student since fall of 2021, finishing her MA in spring of 2023. During her time in graduate school, Jacova focused her research broadly on organizational communication with projects on remote onboarding and anticipatory socialization of college students to the world of work. Prior to becoming a Gaucho, Jacova received her BA in Communication Studies from Azusa Pacific University and worked for several years in student life at Grand Canyon University. When she's not in the office, you can find her playing volleyball at the beach, spending way too much money on coffee at Handlebar, and exploring southern California with her husband, Brian!