Bio

Mo joined the Boston College in 2019 and became an associate professor with tenure in 2022. Before then, he was an assistant professor in the U of South Carolina from 2014~2019. He received a Communication PhD at the U of Michigan (2014). His dissertation topic was selective exposure in science communication. Before coming to the US in 2006, Mo worked for SBS (a major network in Korea) as a TV reporter and left the field, but never regretted this decision. (Check out the 2005 news clip he was on!)

Mo’s research program has been well-received by the field of (AI, misinformation, and science communication) in terms of both quality and quantity. He has been selected as TOP 2% Scientist published by Stanford University and Elsevier. While he published his work in the top journals in the field (e.g., Journal of Communication, Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, New Media and Society, Global Environmental Change), his citation record (google scholar profile) reaches over 1000 per year in 2025. He is a recipient PI of NSF ($380k) and NEH ($89k) grant awards and a top paper awardee of national/international conferences, including ICA (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015), NCA (2015, 2019, 2021), and AEJMC (2011). He received the Provost’s Breakthrough Star Award at the U of South Carolina.

Mo is also involved in the professional service in the field. He served as an elected service officer for the Political Communication Division at NCA, ComSHER at AEJMC, and KACA (Korean American Communication Association). He served as an editorial board member for the Journal of Communication, Science Communication, and Mass Communication and Society.

His research focuses on social implications of the digital media in science and health communication.  He is particularly interested in mis/disinformation behavior: (a) how the post-truth era undermines public science communication by increasing cynicism and distrust, (b) how we need to redesign combat strategies toward science misinformation.

Mo now teaches Persuasion, Research Methods, and Social Media at BC. Mo taught Public Opinion and Persuasion(J542) and Big data and social media (J400) at the USC and many other courses at the UM, including a large introductory course (Media Processes and Effects), hand-held lab sessions (Managing Information Environment), quantitative research methods course (Research Methods), upper level writing intensive course (Visual Culture and Literacy; Media and Individual), PR campaigns, and Public Opinion and Persuasion.  He had the honor to receive the Communication Department’s Best GSI (graduate student instructor) Award based on teaching evaluations from the 2012-2013 academic year.

He has traveled over 45 countries and love to try international food. He is a baseball and Celtics fan, and plays golf (handicap = 13). He does pilates but quit cola, ramen, and cakes to manage his diabetes condition.

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