Graduate Research Assistants
Kayla Cromer Research assistant Kayla Cromer is an MA student in the Department of Communication at Western Michigan University. She is currently interested in how human-machine communication and social robots fit in health communication. Kayla received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Western Michigan University in 2020. |
Carmen Dyson Research Assistant Carmen Dyson is an Undergraduate Research Assistant for the Communication and Social Robotics Labs at Western Michigan University. Carmen is in her Studies as a Communication Major and is excited for the emerging opportunities she is embarking upon in the Communications Department. Outside of Western Carmen works for the local government health department as a care coordinator. In her previous position as an Administrative Assistant she has had the opportunity to research data and work on Grant projects. Carmen is looking forward to learning and experience first hand research surrounding human-robot interactions. |
Chris DiFrancesco Research assistant Chris DiFrancesco is first year graduate student researching in combot labs. He is pursuing a masters in Human machine communication. This is his third year researching with the team. Chris's interest include human machine communication as well as how artificial intelligence can be used in the corporate world. |
Xianlin Jin Research Assistant Xianlin Jin is a PhD student in Communication Studies at the University of Kentucky. She is also a member of Integrated Research on Disaster and Risk Young Scientist Programme. Xianlin’s research primarily focuses on health communication, disaster and risk communication. Xianlin is interested in exploring the communication between social robotics and human beings during the risk information seeking process. |
Zhenyang Luo research assistant Zhenyang Luo is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Communication at North Dakota State University. Zhenyang’s research primarily focuses on communication and technology, media psychology, and human-robot interaction. Currently, Zhenyang is exploring how people build mental models of social robots, and how the mental models influence following interactions. |
Varun Rijhwani Visiting Scholar Varun Rijhwani is an exchange student at Western Michigan University from MICA, India. His Ph.D. is focused on understanding the nature of change and its impact when machines (the digital voice assistants) in the communication process replace humans. He is interested in exploring how the social self is shaped keeping in mind such interactions in the context of digital voice assistant devices, such as Alexa, Siri, Google Home, etc. Also, he wants to understand what kind of different relationships people build with anthropomorphized devices and how these relationships affect actual and intended future usage? Given that no communication is perfect, what are the barriers to the new type of communication that has evolved with the changing role of technology is something Varun is further interested in exploring. |
Jasmine Stahl Research Assistant Jasmine Stahl is a graduate research assistant for the Communication and Social Robotic Labs at Western Michigan University. Her Master's degree in Communication is focused on emerging technologies and future implications as it relates to human-machine communication and human robot interaction. Her work experience includes conducting research, social media management, and event coordination for the lab and other organizations. She is passionate about the evolution of social robotics and artificial intelligence and is excited for her future career in this emerging industry. Jasmine is a 2019 graduate from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science in Communication. |