Kaiping Chen

Kaiping Chen is an Associate Professor in Computational Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Department of Life Sciences Communication. She holds affiliations with the Data Science Institute, Political Science Department, Holtz Center for Science and Technology Studies, and several interdisciplinary programs including African Studies and Energy Institute. Chen's research focuses on how digital media shapes political accountability and public discourse, leveraging computational methods alongside qualitative analysis. Her work bridges communication, political science, and computer science to address challenges like misinformation and information overload, with applications to food security, public health, and environmental policy.

Education: PhD in Communication (Stanford University), MPA (Columbia University). Awards include the Lillian Lodge Kopenhaver Early Career Woman Scholar Award and Vilas Early-Career Award. She serves in leadership roles at professional organizations like the International Communication Association (ICA) and Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC). Chen's research has been funded by NSF, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, and American Family Insurance, producing over 50 peer-reviewed articles in journals like *American Political Science Review* and *Journal of Communication*.

Key contributions include developing methodologies for analyzing text, visual, and social media data; demonstrating how deliberative designs enhance public discourse quality; and exposing mechanisms by which social identity influences misinformation spread. Her applied work includes collaborations with governments and communities in the U.S. and China to design equitable engagement strategies.