BIO

ACADEMIC BIO

Thi Ngoc Bich (Becky) Pham is Assistant Professor in Communication Studies at Temple University, Japan Campus. She received her Ph.D. in Communication from the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern California. Her research focuses on digital media and transnational culture, with an emphasis on Asian and Asian American populations, East Asian popular culture and Hollywood, communication devices, social media, and streaming apps. She investigates how youth, families, and communities of immigrant background engage with media to construct their cultural and collective identities. In doing so, she addresses issues of media representations, social marginalization and discrimination, ethnicity, nationalism, gender, parenting under pressure, and online child safety. Her published articles have appeared in Continuum: Journal of Media & Cultural Studies, International Journal of Communication, Journal of Children and Media, New Media & Society, Transformative Works and Cultures, and in notable edited volumes. Her writing for general audience has appeared on Psychology Today, Greater Good Magazine, and The Connected Learning Alliance Blog. She has appeared on ABC7 Eyewitness News, and her co-authored work has been covered by DEADLINE, IndieWire, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Kidscreen, NextShark, NPR, SBS Evening News, The Guardian, The Hollywood Reporter, and Variety, among others. For more information, visit https://beckypham.com/.

BIO FOR ENGLISH-SPEAKING GENERAL AUDIENCE

Thi Ngoc Bich (Becky) Pham (Ph.D., University of Southern California) is a social science researcher in communication and media studies. She is currently Assistant Professor at Temple University, Japan Campus. She specializes in researching digital media use and popular culture consumption by parents, young people and immigrant communities. Her writing has appeared on Psychology Today. She has appeared on ABC7 Eyewitness News, and her co-authored work has been covered by DEADLINE, IndieWire, Kidscreen, NextShark, SBS Evening News, and Variety. She has 7 years of teaching experience in higher education in the U.S. and Singapore, and 4 years of working experience (ad-hoc basis) with non-profit organizations in the US and the UK. For more information, visit https://beckypham.com/.

EDUCATION

2019-2025, Ph.D. in Communication
USA, California
University of Southern California, Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
- Specialized Tracks: (1) New Media & Technology, (2) Media, Culture, & Community.
- Dissertation Title: "Vietnamese American Youth's Engagement with the Korean Wave."

2019-2022, Master of Arts in Communication
USA, California
University of Southern California, Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism

2015-2017, Master of Arts in Communications & New Media
Singapore
National University of Singapore, Department of Communications and New Media
- Thesis Title: "Parental Mediation of Pre-schoolers' Tablet Usage in Vietnam."

2010-2014, Bachelor of Social Sciences (First Class with Honours) in Communications & New Media
Singapore
National University of Singapore, Department of Communications and New Media
- Thesis Title: "ICT Use of Vietnamese Migrant Students in Singapore to Connect with Left-behind Families and Friends."

2006-2009, Vietnamese Baccalaureate Diploma
Vietnam, Dong Nai Province
Luong The Vinh High School for the Gifted, majored in English Language (Vietnamese: THPT chuyên Lương Thế Vinh, tỉnh Đồng Nai, chuyên Anh)

2002-2006, Vietnamese Secondary School Diploma
Vietnam, Dong Nai Province
Nguyen Binh Khiem Secondary School, majored in Literature (Vietnamese: THCS Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm, Biên Hoà, tỉnh Đồng Nai, chuyên Văn)

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

August 2025 - now, Assistant Professor in Communication Studies
Japan, Tokyo
Temple University, Japan Campus (in Japanese: テンプル大学ジャパンキャンパス)

August 2023, Instructor
USA, California
University of Southern California, Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism

August 2020 - May 2025, Graduate Teaching Assistant
USA, California
University of Southern California, Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism

February 2019 - August 2019, Senior Research Assistant
Singapore
Singapore University of Technology and Design, Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS)

March 2017 - February 2019, Research Assistant
Singapore
Singapore University of Technology and Design, Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS)

January 2015 - December 2016, Graduate Teaching Assistant
Singapore
National University of Singapore, Department of Communications and New Media

May 2014 - December 2014, Research Assistant
Singapore
National University of Singapore, Department of Communications and New Media

May-July 2012, Intern (Corporate Communications)
Singapore
Singapore International Foundation

FELLOWSHIPS, HONORS & AWARDS

2025, Honorable Mention, 2025 Fans of Color Research Prize, Transformative Works and Cultures (peer-reviewed academic journal), USA
2023, Summer 2023 EASC Graduate Fellowship (USD$1,500), East Asian Studies Center, University of Southern California, USA
2023, Graduate School Summer Research and Writing Grant (USD$2,000), The Graduate School, Office of the Provost, University of Southern California, USA
2023, Annenberg Graduate Fellowship Research and Creative Project Award (USD$1,500), The Graduate School, Office of the Provost, University of Southern California, USA
2022, Annenberg Summer Education Fellowship (USD$2,000), to receive more training at the 2022 ICPSR Summer Program in Quantitative Methods of Social Research, Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, University of Southern California, USA
2022, Annenberg Graduate Fellowship Research and Creative Project Award (USD$500), The Graduate School, Office of the Provost, University of Southern California, USA
2022-2023, Fellowship, Center for Scholars & Storytellers (CSS), Psychology Department, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
2021, Junior Fellowship, Center for Scholars & Storytellers (CSS), Psychology Department, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
2020, Program Scholar with Developmental, Child and Family Psychology Scholarship, to receive training at the 2020 ICPSR Summer Program in Quantitative Methods of Social Research (program fee worth USD$3,500), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, USA [link]
2020, Annenberg Summer Research Fellowship (USD$1,650), Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, University of Southern California, USA
2020, Annenberg Graduate Fellowship Research and Creative Project Award (USD$1,500), The Graduate School, Office of the Provost, University of Southern California, USA [link]
2020, Travel/Research Award (USD$1,000), The Graduate School, Office of the Provost, University of Southern California, USA
2020-2024, Annenberg Graduate Assistantship, Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, University of Southern California, USA
2019-2024, Annenberg Fellowship, Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, University of Southern California, USA
2018, Travel Grant Award (SGD$350), Digital Transactions in Asia 2018 conference, October 10-12, Manila, the Philippines, organised by The University of Queensland, Australia and De La Salle University, Manila, the Philippines
2016, Conference Sponsorship for Graduate Students (SGD$2,000), Academic Research Fund to attend the 66th ICA conference, June 9-13, Fukuoka, Japan, awarded by National University of Singapore and Singapore's Ministry of Education, Singapore
2015-2016, Graduate Tutor Assistantship (GTA), National University of Singapore, Singapore
2015-2016, NUS Tuition Fee Allowance/Waiver (TFW) for Graduate Students, National University of Singapore, Singapore
2014, Dean's Scholar List plus SGD$500 (Undergraduate top 1%), National University of Singapore, Singapore
2014, Dean's List (Undergraduate), National University of Singapore, Singapore
2014, Dean's List (Undergraduate), National University of Singapore, Singapore
2012, Dean's List (Undergraduate), National University of Singapore, Singapore
2011, Dean's List (Undergraduate), National University of Singapore, Singapore
2010-2014, ASEAN Scholarship for International Undergraduate Students, National University of Singapore, Singapore
2009, Top Scorer, Examination for Admissions to Foreign Trade University (Ho Chi Minh campus) (Vietnamese: Thủ Khoa Khối D, thi tuyển vào Đại Học Ngoại Thương, Cơ Sở II), Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam [link]
2008, 2nd Prize, National Competition for Gifted Students in English Language (Vietnamese: Giải Nhì Học Sinh Giỏi Quốc Gia, môn Anh), Vietnam
2008, Gold Medal, Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted's 30/4 Olympic Competition in English Language (Vietnamese: Huy Chương Vàng, Cuộc thi Olympic truyền thống 30/4, môn Anh, tổ chức bởi THPT chuyên Lê Hồng Phong), Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
2005, 2nd Prize, Provincial Competition for Gifted Students in Vietnamese Literature (Vietnamese: Giải Nhì Học Sinh Giỏi Tỉnh, môn Văn, tổ chức bởi Sở Giáo Dục & Đào Tạo tỉnh Đồng Nai), Dong Nai Province, Vietnam

BIO

EDUCATION

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

FELLOWSHIPS, HONORS & AWARDS

LANGUAGES

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT