Profile avatar

Qianyi Jin

jinqian1@msu.edu

Research Interests

Human-Machine Communication

Human-AI Interaction

About Me

I am Qianyi Jin, a Ph.D. student in Information and Media at Michigan State University. My research interests include Human-Machine Communication and Human-AI Interaction.

My research focuses on how people make sense of AI in communication, including how they trust AI systems, respond to AI-generated content, and develop literacy around algorithmic media. Methodologically, I draw on experiments, surveys, and interviews.

I am advised by Professor Wei Peng in the College of Communication Arts and Sciences at Michigan State University.

Education

Ph.D. in Information and Media (GPA: 4.00/4.00)

August 2024 - Present

Michigan State University, College of Communication Arts and Sciences, East Lansing, MI, U.S.

Advisor: Dr. Wei Peng

M.A. in Journalism (GPA: 3.94/4.00)

September 2021 - June 2024

Zhejiang University, College of Media and International Culture, Hangzhou, China

Advisor: Dr. Lu Wei

B.A. in Journalism (GPA: 3.98/4.00)

September 2017 - June 2021

Huazhong University of Science and Technology, School of Journalism and Information Communication, Wuhan, China

Journal Publications & Conference Presentations

  1. Empowering civic engagement in AI governance: A two-wave panel study on AI literacy and participatory governance of generative AI in China.
    Lin, Z., Jin, Q.*, & Lan, J. (2026).
    Telecommunications Policy, 50(6), 103190.
    *Corresponding Author.
  2. Extending Reactance Theory to AI vs. Human persuasion.
    Jin, Q., Du, Y., & Liu, R. (2026, June).
    To be presented at 76th ICA Conference, Cape Town, South Africa.
  3. Which comes first? Understanding the role of sequential placement in Human vs. AI supportive interaction with Expectancy Violation Theory.
    Du, Y. & Jin, Q. (2026, June).
    To be presented at 76th ICA Conference, Cape Town, South Africa.
  4. Compliance or domestication: Exploring factors influencing algorithmic interaction behaviors.
    Jin, Q. (2025, June).
    Presented at 75th ICA Conference, Denver, U.S.
  5. Participatory governance of generative AI: The roles of news consumption, policy knowledge, and perceived efficacy.
    Jin, Q., Lan, J., & Lin, Z. (2024, June).
    74th ICA Conference, Gold Coast, Australia.
  6. How older adults date online with their children's assistance: Bottom-up technology transmission within Chinese families.
    Jin, Q., Pu, Y., & Qin, J. (2023, June).
    IAMCR 2023 Annual Conference, OCP Online.
  7. The digital health generation gap of COVID-19 tracking application: An intergenerational survey study.
    Jin, Q. (2023, May).
    73rd ICA Preconference "New Frontiers in Global Digital Inequalities Research", Toronto, Canada.
  8. Gaming algorithm: How MMO players negotiate with perceived manipulation from Elo system.
    Jin, Q., Ma, J., & Ge, M. (2023, May).
    73rd ICA Preconference "Games and the (Playful) Future of Communication", Toronto, Canada.
  9. The shrinking digital divide? A comprehensive analysis of 25 years of China's Internet Development Statistics Report.
    Wei, L. & Jin, Q. (2022, May).
    72nd ICA China Regional Hub, Beijing, China.

Research Experience

Assess Trust and Relationship Building in Human-AI Interactions

Chat log and experience sampling data

May 2025 - Present

PI: Dr. Wei Peng, Michigan State University, East Lansing, U.S.

  • Study how chatbot failures and repair strategies shape trust and relational perceptions in Human-AI interaction.
  • Contribute to experimental design, qualitative interviewing and coding, and longitudinal data analysis.

Perceptions of AI-Generated Advertisements

December 2024 - Present

PI: Dr. Maria D. Molina, Michigan State University, East Lansing, U.S.

  • Examine how audiences perceive AI-generated advertising through online experiments and survey research.
  • Lead data curation, statistical analysis, visualization, and empirical result drafting.

City International Communication Index (CICI)

September 2022 - September 2023

Director: Dr. Lu Wei, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China

  • Contributed to an index-based research project on city international communication.
  • Assisted with data collection, preliminary analysis, and research report writing.

Teaching Experience

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Michigan State University

August 2024 - Present
  • Courses included: MI 101: Understanding Media and Information; MI 201: Introduction to Information Science; MI 402: Topics in Game Studies.

Guest Lecturer, MI 101: Understanding Social Media Algorithms.

MI 101 guest lecture slide: Understanding Social Media Algorithms MI 101 guest lecture classroom photo

Guest Lecturer, MI 201: Artificial Intelligence & Information Literacy.

MI 201 guest lecture title slide: Artificial Intelligence and Information Literacy MI 201 guest lecture slide showing biased article summaries

Service

Student Committee Member, Association for Chinese Communication Studies (ACCS), affiliated with the National Communication Association (NCA)

2026 - 2028

Manuscript Reviewer, International Communication Association (ICA) Annual Conference

2022 - Present

Manuscript Reviewer, Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) Annual Conference

2026

Honors and Fellowships

  • Summer Research Award ($3,369), Michigan State University 2026
  • Travel Grant ($3,500), Michigan State University 2026
  • Thomas F. Baldwin Endowed Fellowship ($500), Michigan State University 2026
  • College of Communication Arts and Sciences Endowed Fellowship ($1,000), Michigan State University 2026
  • Summer Research Award ($2,850), Michigan State University 2025
  • Travel Grant ($1,500), Michigan State University 2025
  • College of Communication Arts and Sciences Endowed Fellowship ($1,000), Michigan State University 2025
  • Thomas F. Baldwin Endowed Fellowship ($600), Michigan State University 2025
  • Outstanding Master's Graduate, Zhejiang University 2024
  • 2nd Prize Paper Award, The 15th Summer School on International Frontier in Communication Theory and Research Methods, Zhejiang University 2023
  • Award of Honor for Graduate, Zhejiang University 2022
  • Outstanding Undergraduate Thesis, Huazhong University of Science and Technology 2021
  • Honors Bachelor's Degree, Huazhong University of Science and Technology 2021
  • Outstanding Graduate, Huazhong University of Science and Technology 2021
  • 2nd Prize of Editing, National College Student Online Editing Innovation Competition 2020
  • 3rd Prize (top 5%), China Data Journalism Competition 2020
  • 2nd Prize Scholarship, People's Daily Online 2020
  • Merit Student, Huazhong University of Science and Technology 2020
  • National Top Ten Student Journalists (Rank: 4th), 6th Red Maple College Student Journalist 2019
  • Outstanding Student Cadres, Huazhong University of Science and Technology 2018
  • Scholarship for Academic Excellence, Huazhong University of Science and Technology 2018

Work Experience

Intern Investigative Journalist, Beijing News, Beijing, China

January - May 2020

Intern Journalist, The Paper, Shanghai, China

February - June 2020

Intern Journalist, Wuxi Daily, Wuxi, China

July - August 2019

Head of New Media Operations, Student Journalism Federation

2018 - 2020

Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

Skills

Statistical analysis: R, SPSS, PROCESS, AMOS

Data mining & visualization: Python, R

Simulation modeling: NetLogo

Qualitative analysis: NVivo