Lab Members

Rong Qin is a first-year doctoral student in the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication at Arizona State University. She earned her B.A. in Advertising from Hefei University of Technology and her M.A. in Journalism and Communication from South China University of Technology, and she completed a data science certificate with distinction from the University of California, Los Angeles. Her research focuses on interpersonal communication and computer-mediated communication, examining how communication and emerging technologies influence romantic relationships, human behavior, and decision-making.

Anastasia Lyu is a first-year doctoral student. She earned her B.S. in Management from Nanjing Agricultural University and an M.A. in Emerging Media Studies from Boston University. Her research explores human-AI relationships, focusing on how interaction modalities and communication styles shape users’ psychological and relational outcomes. Moving forward, she hopes to expand her work to other emerging technologies, such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and video games, to examine their broader societal impacts.

Junyi Guo is a second-year doctoral student in the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication at Arizona State University. Her research explores the intersection of communication and emerging technologies, with a particular focus on human–AI collaboration and technology-mediated relationships. She examines how AI and communication technologies influence interpersonal relationships, decision-making, and social interaction.

​

Junyi earned a Master of Management Studies from the University of Southern California and an M.A. in Communication from Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Her work has been presented at the National Communication Association (NCA) and the International Communication Association (ICA).

Richard He (Qin He) is a third-year doctoral student in interpersonal communication. He received his B.S. in Psychology and B.A. in Music from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, as well as an M.A. in Psychology from New York University. Coming from a quantitative background, Richard is excited to utilize his skills in future research and further study various quantitative and qualitative research methods. His research interests revolve around romantic relationships. Specifically, he hopes to study topics related to dating, attraction, relationship compatibility, relationship well-being, cyclical relationships, etc.

Cooper Schmidt is a graduate student at Arizona State University, pursuing an M.A. in Communication at the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Her specific interest lies in exploring interpersonal relationships. After graduation, she intends to further her research in the field.

Kyle Frucchione is an undergraduate senior at Arizona State University, pursuing triple bachelor's degrees in Communication, Biochemistry, and Biological Sciences. His research interests are centered around deceptive tendencies in technologically-mediated communication as well as interpersonal relationships and mental health. He is especially interested in exploring how the environments people grow up in shape their relationships as they continue to navigate life. After graduation, he intends to pursue a career in communication research as well as graduate school. 

Chau-Giang Nguyen is an undergraduate student pursuing triple bachelor's degrees in Communication, Economics, and Finance. Her academic interests lie at the intersection of communication, economics, and finance, with a particular focus on behavioral economics and the ways communication influences economic decision-making. She is especially interested in examining how social and technological environments shape individual behavior, interpersonal relationships, and financial decision-making, and how insights from communication and behavioral economics can be applied to better understand human interaction in an increasingly digital world.

Layla Arledge is an undergraduate student at Arizona State University pursuing a B.S. in Political Science and Sociology with a certificate in General Accounting through the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. She has gained experience in public administration and public policy through leadership and professional roles, strengthening her interpersonal communication competencies. Layla's interests lie in behavioral analysis and how advancements in technology affect the modern-day formation and maintenance of human relationships. After completing her undergraduate degrees, she plans to attend law school and later obtain her MBA with aspirations to work as a legal professional.