Elena Link

Dr. Elena Link is a Junior Professor for Science Communication at the Institute of Journalism at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz since 2023. Her research focuses on health communication, particularly examining information seeking behaviors, information avoidance, and the impact of digital technologies on health communication processes. She has established herself as a leading researcher in understanding how individuals navigate health information in digital environments, with particular attention to trust dynamics and the emerging role of AI tools in health information contexts.

Dr. Link's research interests span several key areas in health and science communication:

• Health information seeking and avoidance behaviors
• Digital health communication and AI applications
• Patient-provider communication dynamics
• Trust in health information sources
• Gender differences in health information behaviors
• Science communication regarding medical innovations

Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on contemporary issues in health communication, particularly the emergence of AI tools in health information seeking, longitudinal analyses of information behaviors during health crises, and nuanced examinations of how physical and mental health conditions influence information practices. Her work often employs mixed-methods approaches, combining survey research with behavioral data analysis to provide comprehensive insights into health information behaviors across different population segments.

Dr. Link has received numerous prestigious awards for her research, including:

• Best Paper Award from the DGPuK Health Communication Section (2024)
• Sibylle Kalkhof-Rose University Prize 2024 for humanities/social sciences
• Best Paper Award from the ICA Health Communication Division (2023)
• Acceptance into the Female Science Talents Program of the Falling Walls Foundation (2022)
• German Study Prize of the Körber Foundation in the Humanities section (2019)

As an active contributor to the academic community, Dr. Link serves as Associate Editor of the European Journal of Health Communication and Co-Chair of the Health Communication Section of ECREA. Her research has significant implications for improving health communication practices, addressing health inequalities, and shaping the digital transformation of health information provision. She is particularly interested in empowering patients through effective communication strategies and combating information disparities in healthcare contexts.