PhD students and academic staff from the Doctoral School Communication, Public Relations, and Advertising within the Faculty of Political, Administrative and Communication Sciences (FSPAC), Babeș-Bolyai University, are participating in the International Conference on Research in Advertising (ICORIA 2026), one of the leading international conferences in advertising in Europe in Barcelona, between 25–27 June 2026. The conference theme, Communicating Consumer Health and Wellbeing in the Digital Age, brings together scholars from around the world to discuss the latest developments in advertising, digital communication, artificial intelligence, consumer behaviour and health communication.
The FSPAC Doctoral School is represented by four PhD students: Ana Maria Golea, Petra Kovacs, Paul Valentin Lung and Mihai Marcovics, together with the supervisors, Prof. Delia Cristina Balaban Ph.D., Assoc. Prof. Meda Mucundorfeanu, Ph.D., and Assoc. Prof. Veronica Campian, Ph.D.
The doctoral researchers contribute to the conference with original studies addressing some of the most pressing issues in contemporary communication research. Ana Maria Golea presents The Human Behind the Data: Emotion AI-Driven Advertising and Its Cost to Privacy and Wellbeing, co-authored with Assoc. prof. Dr. Meda Mucundorfeanu.
Paul Valentin Lung co-authors the paper Source Authority and Disclosure Effects in Influencer Communication About GLP-1 Medications, together with Prof. Joe Phua, PhD, From SMU Dallas, United States. Delia Cristina Balaban, Meda Mucundorfeanu, and Eduard Claudiu Gross, Ph.D. The study examines the role of source credibility and disclosure practices in influencer communication related to health topics.
Mihai Marcovics presents Inviting Users Into Inclusive Spaces: When Perceived Brand Altruism Translates Inclusive Messages Into Consumer Responses, co-authored alongside Meda Mucundorfeanu.
Petra Kovacs presents Promise and Strain of AI Integration: Work Engagement, Technostress, and Well-Being Among Advertising Professionals, co-authored with Veronica Campian and Delia Cristina Balaban.
The participation at ICORIA 2026 reinforces the international presence of the FSPAC Doctoral School and provides valuable opportunities for doctoral students and faculty members to engage with leading scholars, establish new research collaborations and contribute to advancing communication and advertising research at the highest international level.