Pierson Jo

Jo Pierson is a Full Professor of Responsible Digitalisation at Hasselt University and Professor of Media and Communication Studies at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). He currently serves as Head of the Faculty School of Social Sciences & R4D at Hasselt University. His academic journey includes roles as Associate Professor (2014–2019) and Assistant Professor (2003–2013) at VUB, alongside senior research positions at SMIT (2003–present) and imec-SMIT. He has led over 75 research projects as Principal Investigator, Promotor, or Co-Promotor, focusing on digitalization, data ethics, and media studies.

Research Interests: Pierson’s work spans media and communication studies, science and technology studies (STS), data privacy, AI ethics, digital platforms, and user innovation. He emphasizes the societal implications of technologies, including smart cities, edtech, and disinformation dynamics. His research bridges academic inquiry with practical policy advice for governments at European, Belgian, and Flemish levels.

• Awards:
  • 2018 Research Chair in Data Protection
  • 2015 Visiting Senior Fellow at LSE
  • 2014 Visiting Scholar at University of Amsterdam

Grants & Advising: As a leading researcher, he has secured significant funding for projects on ethical AI, data governance, and digital policy. He advises governmental bodies on technology design and usage, reflecting his commitment to bridging academia and public policy.

Labs & Networks: He is affiliated with imec-SMIT (VUB) and the R4D research group (Hasselt University), fostering collaborative research on digitalization, diversity, and democracy.