Celia Chen

Postdoctoral Associate

BIO

I am an IC postdoc at UMD working primarily with Jen Golbeck, sponsored by ORISE and supervised by ODNI. My research examines how expertise is recognized, contested, and transformed in digital environments, with particular attention to trust signals, credibility assessment, and the evolving role of AI in shaping how people evaluate information and authority. My dissertation, Stethoscopes to #SelfCare, traced expertise dynamics across physicians on Twitter, mental health creators on TikTok, and graduate students engaging with AI-generated content. Current projects include a study of cybersecurity professionals navigating AI-integrated workflows and ongoing work on online radicalization and fringe communities. I hold dual B.S. degrees in Cognitive Science and Psychological Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and an M.S. in Cognitive Science from RPI, and completed my Ph.D. at UMD in 2025.