Aaron is an assistant professor at the Singapore Institute of Technology where he teaches in the Digital Communications and Integrated Media programme. His current research interest centers on artificial intelligence, disinformation, and online privacy.

Other areas of research Aaron has expertise in include emotions, health communication, public opinion, scientific communication, cognitive science, big data, and machine learning. He has a keen interest in research Asian contexts because he believes that Asia is highly diverse and thus has great potential to yield new and critical insights to advance communication scholarship.

Natively billingual in English and Mandarin Chinese, Aaron is experienced in working with researchers from both English and Chinese academic spheres. He is currently a panel member on the Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore's Publication Consultative Committee, providing expert opinion on print publication policy.

Aaron is also a highly experienced educator who has won numerous teaching awards in a teaching career spanning 15 years. His core teaching competency is the ability to explain difficult and highly technical subject matter in easy-to-understand terms, and his students has consistently rate him as a patient, engaging, and highly motivating educator. He also has significant leadership and management experience from his service as a senior commander in the Singapore Armed Forces.

National University of Singapore

2017 - 2021

PhD, July 2021

Graduate Teaching Fellowship recipient

National University of Singapore

2007 - 2010

Masters of Arts

National University of Singapore

2003 - 2007

Bachelors of Social Science with Honours

Assistant Professor, Singapore Institute of Technology

December 2021 - Present

Responsible for teaching qualitative and quantitative research methods, organisational communication, and public relations in a seminar-style class format.

Associate Faculty, Singapore Institute of Technology

May 2021 - November 2021

Taught a large undergraduate-level quantitative research methods course using SPSS as the course's statistical analysis tool.

Also developed a qualitative research methods course using Nvivo as the course's computer assisted qualitative data analysis software (CAQDAS) tool.

Graduate Student Tutor, National University of Singapore

January 2018 - May 2021

Taught digital labs of up to 25 students on design and visual communication and introductory data science.

Also taught tutorial classes on quantitative research methods using SPSS and R.

Lecturer, National University of Singapore

January 2011 - December 2017

Taught courses on introduction to media writing, online journalism, designing for strategic communication, advanced publication and graphics design, managing communication campaigns, smart cities and campaigns in Singapore.

Responsible for designing, planning, teaching and administering courses in lecture, seminar and sectional teaching styles. Taught more than 30 undergraduate courses in six years with class sizes ranging from three to 200 students.

Teaching Assistant, National University of Singapore

August 2007 - December 2010

Taught courses on introduction to media writing, news reporting and editing, design for strategic communication and advanced publication and graphics design.

Responsible for sectional teaching and assisting course coordinator with course administration.

PhD Researcher, National University of Singapore

Jan 2017 - July 2021

Dissertation title: Beyond fear appeal: How individuals respond to and process emotional appeal in vaccine misinformation messages

Investigated the role of emotions and perception accuracy in vaccine misinformation using online experimental techniques. Experienced in using major R packages (e.g. stats, lavaan, psych, ggplot2) and Python (e.g. Pandas, NumPy, Scikit Learn) libraries for data science and natural language processing (NLP) analysis, as well as data visualization.

Masters Researcher, National University of Singapore

August 2007 - Dec 2010

Thesis title: The relationship between blogs and newspapers in Singapore: An intermedia agenda-setting study

Studied how blogs and the mass media influenced each other in terms of agenda-setting using content analysis of influential socio-political blogs and mainstream news media.

Undergraduate Researcher, National University of Singapore

January 2007 - April 2007

Thesis title: Effect of fear of authority on the Spiral of Silence

Studied how the fear of authority affects public expression of opinion through the spiral of silence using a classical experimental setting.

Chen, A., Lu, Y., Chen, K., & Ng, A. (2023). Pandemic nationalism: Use of government social media for political information and belief in COVID-19 conspiracy theories in China. The International Journal of Press/Politics. https://doi.org/10.1177/19401612231153

Neyazi, T. A., Ng, A., Kuru, O., & Muhtadi, B. (2022). Who gets exposed to political misinformation in a hybrid media environment? The case of the 2019 Indonesian election. Social Media + Society, 8(3). https://doi.org/10.1177/20563051221122792

Jiang, S., Ng, A., & Ngien, A. (2022). The effects of social media information discussion, perceived information overload and patient empowerment in influencing HPV knowledge. Journal of Health Communication. https://doi.org/10.1080/10810730.2022.2115591

Xu, X., & Ng, A. (2022). Cultivation of new taste: taste makers and new forms of distinction in China’s coffee culture. Information, Communication and Society. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2022.2085616

Chen, A., Ng, A., Xi, Y., & Hu, Y. (2022). What makes an online help-seeking message go far during the COVID-19 crisis in mainland China? A multilevel regression analysis. DIGITAL HEALTH, 8, 205520762210850. https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076221085061

Xi, Y., Chen, A., & Ng, A.* (2021). Conditional transparency: Differentiated news framings of COVID-19 severity in the pre-crisis stage in China. PLOS ONE, 16(5), e0252062. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0252062

Xi, Y., & Ng, A. (2020). Implied truth, complementary media practices, and successful atomized activism in China. Global Media and China, 5(3), 275-293. https://doi.org/10.1177/2059436420907185

Xi, Y., & Ng, A. (2020). Disappearing bargain and technical sharing: The sociocultural influence of mobile payment in China. Chinese Journal of Communication. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/17544750.2020.1814369

Xi, Y., & Ng, A.* (2020). Space as ideological state apparatus: The invisible fetter on social movements in China. Media, Culture & Society. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/0163443720977302

* denotes corresponding author, bold text denotes co-first author

Ng, A., Cheng, R., Chong, G., Goh, L., Ng, M., & Wong, N. (2024). Not turning a blind eye: Digital inclusivity and smartphone adoption among the visually impaired in Singapore. IAMCR Conference 2024, June 30 – July 4, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Chen, A., Chen, Z., Chen, & Ng, A. (2023). Extending the Norm Activation Model and Unpacking Laypeople’s Misinformation Correction Process: The Multilayered Roles of Misinformation Awareness, Personal Norms, and Efficacy. 73rd Annual ICA Conference, May 25 – 29, Toronto, Canada.

Chen, A., Lu, Y., Chen, K., & Ng, A. (2022). Pandemic nationalism: Use of government social media for political information and belief in COVID-19 conspiracy theories in China. 72nd Annual ICA Conference, May 26 – 30, Paris, France.

Meng, X., Zhang, G., Ng, A. (2022). Privacy boundary management in technological contexts: Communication Privacy Management theory revisited. 72nd Annual ICA Conference, May 26 – 30, Paris, France.

Neyazi, A., Ng, A., Muhtadi, B., & Kuru, O. (2022). Who gets exposed to political misinformation? The role of traditional news media, digital media and face-to-face communication. 72nd Annual ICA Conference, May 26 – 30, Paris, France.

Xu, X., & Ng, A. (2022). Cultivation of new taste: Affective taste makers and millennial coffee culture in China. 72nd Annual ICA Conference, May 26 – 30, Paris, France.

Chen, A., Lu, Y., Chen, K., & Ng, A. (2021). Pandemic Nationalism: How Exposure to Government Social Media Affects People’s Belief in COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories in China. Seventh International Journal of Press/Politics Conference, Sept 13 – 16.

Chen, A., Ng, A., Xi, Y., & Hu, Y. (2021). What makes an online help-seeking message go far during the COVID-19 crisis in China? A multilevel regression analysis. 71st Annual ICA Conference, May 27 – 31.

Jiang, S., & Ng, A. (2021). The roles of social media information discussing, information overload and patient empowerment in influencing HPV knowledge: An extension of the cognitive mediation model. 71st Annual ICA Conference, May 27 – 31.

Xi, Y., Chen, A., & Ng, A. (2021). Public health news reporting with Chinese characteristics: Understanding pre-crisis COVID-19 news reporting through a moderated mediation model. 71st Annual ICA Conference, May 27 – 31.

Chen, L., Chen, A., & Ng, A. (2020). From divergence to convergence: A longitudinal network agenda-setting study of online GMO discussions in China. 103rd Annual Conference of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, Aug 6 – 9.

Xi, Y., & Ng, A. (2020). Communication placation: State appropriation of satire in China. 18th Chinese Internet Research Conference.

Deputy Brigade Sergeant-Major, Singapore Armed Forces

July 2022 - Present

Assists Brigade Commander and Brigade Sergeant-Major in operations planning. Supervises training activities and logistics, compliance with training safety and discipline standards of more than 2,000 men and junior commanders across several battalions in an army reserves brigade.

Advises Brigade Commander on matters relating to training, discipline and regimentation.

Regimental Sergeant-Major, Singapore Armed Forces

January 2014 - July 2022

Coordinates and oversees day-to-day training activities and logistics, enforces compliance with training safety and maintains discipline standards of more than 600 men and junior commanders across four companies in an army reserves battalion.

Advises battalion Commanding Officer on matters relating to training, discipline and regimentation.

Company Sergeant-Major, Singapore Armed Forces

January 2011 - December 2013

Coordinated and oversaw day-to-day training activities and logistics, enforced compliance with training safety and maintained discipline standards of around 150 soldiers and junior commanders across three platoons in an army reserves company.

Advised company Officer Commanding on matters relating to training, discipline and regimentation.

Platoon Sergeant, Singapore Armed Forces

January 2010 - December 2011

Conducted day-to-day training activities, enforced compliance with training safety and maintained discipline standards of 50 soldiers comprising three sections in an army reserves platoon.

Advised platoon commander on matters relating to training, discipline and regimentation.

Founding President, Communications and New Media Society, National University of Singapore

September 2005 - August 2006

Founded the undergraduate student society for the Department of Communications and New Media, set up its executive committee and drafted its constitution.

Assistant Secretary, Council Member & Arts Faculty Representative, National University of Singapore Students’ Union

September 2004 - August 2005

Elected to the highest student government body in NUS.

Engaged and advised the University’s administration on key policies and issues affecting over 20,000 undergraduates.

Adviser, SIT Student Chapter, Institute of Public Relations Singapore

September 2022 - Present

Advises the SIT Student Chapter of the Institute of Public Relations Singapore on organising activities and professional networking.

Member, Publications Consultative Panel, Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore

January 2015 - Present

Advises the Infocomm Media Development Authority on policy matters relating to the regulation of print media in Singapore.

Member, Graduate Board of Discipline, National University of Singapore

May 2018 - June 2019

Sat in tribunal proceedings as a student representative to hear cases involving offenses committed by graduate students and jointly decided on the tribunal's verdict with four other tribunal members.

Graduate Student Representative, Department of Communication and New Media, National University of Singapore

January 2018 - September 2020

Liaises with the department administration on behalf of over 50 graduate students on academic related matters and represent their interests.

Founding Member, Advisor and Technical Director, gCON

January 2019 - August 2021

Founded, organized and advised the inaugural annual graduate student conference (gCON) of the Department of Communication and New Media.

Responsible for maintaining gCON’s digital presence and online conference management system.

The Efficiency Medal (Military), Prime Minister's Office, Singapore

2021

National Serviceman of the Year (Combat Engineer Formation), Singapore Armed Forces

2020

Graduate Student Teaching Award Honour Roll, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, National University of Singapore

2020

Graduate Student Teaching Award, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, National University of Singapore

Fall Semester, 2019

Spring Semester, 2019

Fall Semester, 2018

National Service Medal, Singapore Armed Forces

2018

Good Service Medal, Singapore Armed Forces

2015

Best Teaching Assistant, Department of Communications and New Media, National University of Singapore

2011

Excellent Teaching Assistant, Department of Communications and New Media, National University of Singapore

2009

2008

NTUC Income Prize, Top Honours Graduate in Communications and New Media, National University of Singapore

2007