Matthew Spradling

Matthew Spradling is an Associate Professor of Computer Science in the College of Innovation and Technology at the University of Michigan-Flint, where he is affiliated with the Department of Computer Science, Engineering, and Physics. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Kentucky (2015) and leads two student-centered research labs: 'Team Rocket,' focusing on innovative game design, and 'The Fake News Team,' which develops countermeasures against online misinformation.

His research interests include artificial intelligence, game theory in multi-agent systems, online misinformation, digital trustworthiness, and human-computer interaction. He investigates how demographic factors such as age, gender, education, and political affiliation influence perceptions of online content and labeling efficacy. His work bridges technical innovation with social impact, particularly in designing systems to improve digital literacy and combat deceptive content.

The 15 most recent articles reflect a strong focus on misinformation mitigation, user perception studies, and AI-driven modeling of team formation and social systems. These publications span journals like Future Internet, Information, and Societies, as well as conferences including IEEE CoG and CSCI. Key themes include the design and evaluation of content labeling systems (e.g., 'Nutrition Facts for Online Content'), probabilistic defenses against social botnets, and role-based hedonic games in AI contexts.

His scientific awards include:

• MWIN Faculty Innovation Fellowship (2024, University of Michigan-Flint)
• Lois Matz Rosen Junior Faculty Teaching Excellence Award (2021, University of Michigan-Flint)
• Adult Mental Health First Aid USA Certification (2025, National Counsel for Mental Wellbeing)

Dr. Spradling is actively involved in research funding and mentoring. He served as Principal Investigator (PI) on the completed 'OpenLabel' project funded by the CIT START Grant ($30,000), and is currently PI on a pending $2,000,000 NSF grant titled 'SSTEM: BlueShirting,' aimed at enhancing student scaffolding in computing education. His work emphasizes student engagement, interdisciplinary collaboration, and real-world applications of AI and cybersecurity.

He leads two active research labs: 'Team Rocket,' which explores novel game design paradigms, and 'The Fake News Team,' dedicated to developing next-generation tools to counter online misinformation through user-centered design and empirical validation.