Alvin Zhou

Alvin Zhou is an Assistant Professor at the Hubbard School of Journalism & Mass Communication, University of Minnesota. His research focuses on computational social science and strategic communication, examining topics like advertising, public relations, and digital technologies' societal impacts. He holds affiliations with the Data Science Initiative (DSI) Steering Committee at the College of Liberal Arts, the School of Statistics, Asian American Studies, and the Minnesota Computational Advertising Lab (MCAL).

Dr. Zhou earned his Ph.D. in Communication from the University of Pennsylvania Annenberg School, with additional degrees from Wharton (M.A. Statistics), USC Annenberg (M.A. Strategic Public Relations), and dual bachelor’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Journalism from Tsinghua University.

His research has been recognized with awards such as the 2019 ICA Robert Heath Award and the 2024 IPRRC Fullintel Media Insights and Impact Award. He serves on editorial boards of six top strategic communication journals and edited a special issue on computational strategic communication for Public Relations Review.

Zhou teaches computational social science and digital media courses, mentoring students in data-driven communication practices. His work bridges social theory and applied data science, addressing issues in organizational communication, health communication, and political engagement.

Labs and affiliations include the Minnesota Computational Advertising Lab (MCAL), Data Science Initiative (DSI), and collaborations across interdisciplinary units at the University of Minnesota.