Swadheen Naik

Swadheen Naik is a doctoral student in the Department of Communication at the University of Arizona. His research lies at the intersection of health communication, media effects, and public health, with a particular focus on how digital media environments, health messaging, and social influence shape dietary behaviors and health decision-making. He is broadly interested in nutrition communication, media literacy, persuasion, and the role of communication in addressing diet-related non-communicable diseases. Before joining the University of Arizona, Swadheen earned an M.A. in Communication from the University of Hyderabad and a B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication from Ravenshaw University. He previously served as an Academic Associate in the Communication Area at the Indian Institute of Management Indore and completed a research internship at the ICMR–National Institute of Epidemiology, where he worked on public health evaluation projects. His current research examines the communication of nutrition information on digital platforms, including how persuasive message features, marketing cues, and media environments influence health beliefs and dietary choices. Ultimately, he aims to develop evidence-based communication strategies that promote healthier decision-making and improve public health outcomes, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.