Zhihuai Lin(Randy)

Hey, thanks for stopping by! 👋

I’m currently pursuing my Ph.D. at the Hussman School of Journalism and Media, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

My research is centered on AI-mediated communication, emerging media, and computational social science, with a particular emphasis on diverse cultural groups in disaster, political, and health contexts. I aim to advance two lines of intellectual inquiry: (1) How does generative AI reshape human belief, persuasion, and civic participation? and (2) How can we design AI-mediated communication that works with diverse cultural communities rather than around them?

Before academia, I worked as a student journalist, earning recognition from the Human Rights Press Awards and the Campus News Awards for investigative reporting on gender-based violence against journalists in Hong Kong and sexual violence on public transportation. I also helped build the student news platform Data Story as a portal developer and data visualization editor.

Outside of research, I enjoy jogging, street photography, hiking with friends and family, and the occasional console game. I grew up in the seaside city of Wenzhou, spent seven years in Hong Kong, and now call Chapel Hill home.