Renkai Ma

Renkai Ma

Mixed-methods HCI Researcher

Pennsylvania State University

Biography

👋 Hi! I am currently a Ph.D. candidate in Human-computer interaction (HCI) at Pennsylvania State University’s College of Information Sciences and Technology, under the guidance of Dr. Yubo Kou in the Health and Play Lab.

As an expert in human-centered design and mixed-methods research, I focus on conceptualizing and enhancing trust and safety in digital environments. My work has focused on improving trust and safety on content creation platforms like TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitch, addressing the needs of content creators, moderators, and vulnerable populations. I aim to forge innovative solutions across theories, practices, designs, and policies that cultivate a secure, trustworthy digital environment.

Interests
  • Human-Computer Interaction
  • Social Computing
  • Platform Governance (content moderation)
  • Digital Creativity (AI-generated content)
  • Children’s Online Safety

Skills

Research
Qualitative methods
Quantitative methods, Data Science
Programming
Hobbies
Hiking, Skiing
Pet others’ dogs and cats
Music, Karaoke

Research Experience

 
 
 
 
 
Pennsylvania State University
Doctoral Researcher
Pennsylvania State University
August 2020 – July 2024 Pennsylvania
 
 
 
 
 
Meta/WhatsApp
User Experience (UX) Research Intern
Meta/WhatsApp
May 2023 – August 2023 California
 
 
 
 
 
SiriusXM/Pandora
UX Research Intern
SiriusXM/Pandora
May 2022 – August 2022 Remote
 
 
 
 
 
Syracuse University
Research Assistant
Syracuse University
March 2019 – April 2020 Syracuse

Projects

Child Safety Meets Creator Moderation
A project I lead to investigate how creators can collaborate with other stakeholders for child safety protection in (creator) moderation context.
Game Community Moderation
A project I facilitate with the PI, Dr. Yubo Kou to understand how esports gamers experience punishments issued by moderation systems, how they reason about moderation mechanisms, and how they adjust their future behaviors.
Creator Moderation
A project I lead to investigate how creators like YouTubers or influencers on Instagram or TikTok, while performing profitable content creation, experience creator moderation.