Habeeb Abdulrauf is a doctoral student at USC Annenberg and an affiliated researcher with the Communication and Social Robotics Lab at Western Michigan University (combotlabs.org). His research focuses on leveraging emerging technologies, including conversational agents, chatbots, social robots, and virtual reality applications, to reduce digital health inequities, combat health misinformation, support health education, advance instructional communication, and contribute to meaningful social impact. 

More specifically, his work examines the social and psychological effects of human–AI interaction and how low-power and accessible AI systems can be designed to help underserved and remote communities access reliable health information, care resources, and wellness support, especially in contexts where internet access, healthcare infrastructure, and physician availability may be limited. 

Habeeb holds an M.A. in Communication from Western Michigan University, where his master’s thesis examined the impact of AI-delivered HPV vaccine messaging on perceived credibility and uptake intentions among Nigerian young adults. The study used a 2 × 2 experimental design to investigate message and source credibility across high- and low-social-presence conditions. 

He has worked as a lecturer and research assistant at Novelty Polytechnic in Kishi, Oyo State, and at Kwara State University. Over the past 13 years, he has taught in high schools and universities as a teacher, lecturer, and teaching assistant, supporting student learning, digital skill development, and community-based educational initiatives. 

Habeeb has also played a key role in grant-funded projects through data collection, academic writing, user experience design, and website development, including projects supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Mozilla Technology Fund. His work has earned several awards and fellowships, including the 2026 CSCA Pamela J. Cooper Graduate Teaching Award, the WMU Graduate Teaching Effectiveness Award, and the Outstanding Graduate Award. 

He is passionate and committed to teaching, research, and helping students achieve their academic and professional goals. 

For more information, visit his website at habeebabdulrauf.com  or connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/habeeb-abdulrauf/.