Luling is a communication researcher who studies social influence, media effects, and public opinion using quantitative methods. His work has appeared in reputable journals such as Communication Monographs, Computers in Human Behavior, New Media & Society, Energy Economics, and Energy Policy. He obtained his Ph.D. in Media and Communication at Temple University, where he also taught courses in communication studies for five years. Currently, he is an Assistant Professor of Communication at Missouri Western State University. He teaches Digital Photography, Digital Videography, Web Design, and Oral Communication. Before coming to Missouri, Luling was a CLIR Postdoctoral Fellow in Data Curation for Energy Social Science at Carnegie Mellon University, where he conducted quantitative social research in energy poverty.