By Austin Fitzgerald

COLUMBIA, Mo. (Aug. 6, 2025) — Haijing Ma is the newest assistant professor of science communication at the Missouri School of Journalism, adding further expertise to the School’s team of researchers working to improve and demystify public messaging about science and health.

Ma comes to the School of Journalism from the University of Houston-Victoria (UHV), where she served as an assistant professor.

“Haijing’s dedication to improving public understanding of science and health aligns well with the School of Journalism’s public service mission,” said David Kurpius, dean of the School. “I’m looking forward to seeing how her work contributes to a better-informed society served by ethical and accurate communication.”

Ma studies how people process health information, especially when that information is conflicting or confusing — she was drawn to the School in part because of relevant resources like the PRIME Lab, which analyzes physical and psychological responses to media messages. She views her work as a way to bridge the gap between the complexity of scientific research and the needs of the public.

“There is always jargon in the medical field. It’s such complicated language, so it’s very difficult for the public to understand the information. I’m very interested in how knowledge moves from the experts to the public and how that transition can impact people’s attitudes, beliefs and behaviors.”

Haijing Ma

“There is always jargon in the medical field,” Ma said. “It’s such complicated language, so it’s very difficult for the public to understand the information. I’m very interested in how knowledge moves from the experts to the public and how that transition can impact people’s attitudes, beliefs and behaviors.”

She places her research into two categories: one that looks at how environmental factors like public policy, communities and the media influence information processing and behavior, and another that centers on how communicators can craft messages that resonate persuasively with their audiences. Both lines of research are united by a desire to improve lives with better communication.

That focus is more than just professional interest; Ma’s grandfather died in 2018 due to Alzheimer’s Disease, a condition that faces a stigma in her native China as a result of what she described as a lack of general knowledge about dementia and related illnesses. Similar stigmas regarding Alzheimer’s exist all over the world, often revolving around perceptions that those with the disease are “diminished” as people and sometimes resulting in insufficient care and worsened health outcomes.

“Because of the lack of knowledge and the stigmatized illness, people lose their lives,” she said. “I think that’s something I can do — at least improve public literacy on some illnesses and diseases.”

That drive to educate is also a natural fit for teaching. At UHV, she gained experience teaching students from a wide range of age groups and backgrounds, helping her develop an appreciation for the two-way exchange of knowledge between teacher and student that she looks forward to continuing at Mizzou.

“I can’t live different lives, but by working and talking with students, I can virtually live different lives through their perspectives and their life experiences,” she said.

Ma earned her Ph.D. in communication from the University of Oklahoma in 2021. She will begin her new role on Aug. 11.

Updated: August 6, 2025