Xueyan Cao

About Me

I am a Ph.D. student in Communication at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, advised by Professor CHEN Hsuan-ting. My research lies at the intersection of health communication and human-machine interaction.

Since October 2026, I have been a visiting Ph.D. student at Yale University’s Human Nature Lab, hosted by Professor Nicholas A. Christakis.

Previously, I received my M.A. and B.A. in Communication from Wuhan University.

(Name pronunciation: Xueyan /ʃweɪ jæn/ - like “sh-way yan”)

Research Focus

My research explores the structural dynamics of health information and health behavior, with a particular focus on the role of non-human agents. I organize my work around three interconnected keywords: health, politics, and technology, and use mixed methods to examine:

• Politicized health issues and their social consequences
• AI/chatbots and health persuasion
• Technology-driven activism and everyday resistance

My current projects also extend this agenda to digital media, climate, and public communication.

Public Scholarship

• WeChat Public Account: 一只传播学咸鱼 (A Fish in Communication), 12,000+ followers; curating and sharing emerging research topics in communication.

  
• Podcast: 博士生们的日记: Cafe for COM Ph.D. on communication, technology, and digital life, with five episodes published.