Pengfei Zhao (Ph.D., Cornell University) is an assistant professor in communication & AI in the School of Communication at Florida State University. Her research focuses on the psychological, interpersonal, and socio-technical processes and effects of emerging media and technology, such as social media and artificial intelligence (AI). Dr. Zhao develops theory-driven and evidence-based interventions to reduce online harms, foster civil and constructive discourses, and improve digital literacy. Based on her past work on the interpersonal and relational processes within community technologies, Dr. Zhao's current research spans two key themes: 1) understanding how moral behaviors from humans and AI shape community norms and dynamics in digital spaces, and 2) developing AI-powered and community-driven interventions that reduce online harms and facilitate prosocial behaviors and norms.
Dr. Zhao's work has been published in interdisciplinary peer-reviewed journals, including PNAS Nexus, Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, Current Opinion in Psychology, Computers in Human Behavior, Review of Education Research, and Journal of Adolescent Health.
Education
Ph.D., Communication, Cornell University, 2025
M.A., Communication, University of Arizona, 2020
Research Interests
Technology and well-being; AI for community governance; AI and morality; Online toxicity intervention; Human-computer interaction; Computer-mediated communication
Teaching Interests
Research methods; Communication technology; Social media campaigns