Prof. Huiching Wu | Social Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Professor at National Taiwan University | Taiwan

Professor Hui-Ching Wu is a highly accomplished scholar and practitioner in social work whose career integrates academic excellence, clinical practice, and impactful research. Her work bridges mental health, criminal justice, and social rehabilitation, with a focus on vulnerable populations and culturally informed care. She has published widely in leading journals and led major national and international projects that advance both policy and practice in mental health and forensic social work.

Publication Profile 

Scopus

Orcid

Educational Background 

Professor Wu earned her doctoral and master of philosophy degrees from Columbia University School of Social Work, building a strong foundation in advanced social work research. She also holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Pennsylvania, equipping her with both theoretical and practical expertise in clinical and community-based interventions.

Professional Experience 

Professor Wu has extensive teaching and leadership experience, currently serving as a professor at the National Taiwan University, where she also chaired the Department of Social Work. Prior to this, she held academic positions at Chung-Shan Medical University, Chia-Nian University of Pharmacy & Science, and Kaohsiung Medical University. She began her academic career as a teaching assistant at Columbia University. Alongside academia, she has engaged in clinical practice as a licensed clinical social worker and psychiatric social worker in both Taiwan and the United States, with experience in psychotherapy, psychiatric care, and social intervention research.

Research Interests 

Her research interests span mental health, psychiatric rehabilitation, substance use, trauma, forensic social work, cultural competence, human rights, and de-stigmatization. She has contributed significantly to developing trauma-informed and recovery-oriented care systems, evaluating forensic social work competencies, studying drug users’ interactions with the justice system, and integrating artificial intelligence into risk assessment and rehabilitation models.

Awards and Honors 

Professor Wu has been recognized through multiple national and international research grants funded by ministries of health, science, and justice, reflecting the value and impact of her work on public policy and professional practice. Her roles as principal investigator and co-investigator in high-profile projects highlight her leadership in advancing evidence-based social work practices.

Research Skills 

Her research skills include program design and evaluation, intervention model development, cross-disciplinary collaboration, advanced qualitative and quantitative methodologies, scale construction, and the application of trauma-informed and culturally competent frameworks. She also brings expertise in integrating emerging technologies with social science research to address challenges in criminal justice and mental health care.

Publications 

Developing a General Forensic Social Work Competency Scale in Taiwan
Year: 2025

Drug-Involved Women’s Interactions with Criminal Justice Professionals: A Conflict Theory and Therapeutic Jurisprudence Perspective
Year: 2025

Correctional Officers’ Perceptions of Occupational Deviance in Taiwan: A Combined Theoretical Perspective on Salient Individual and Organizational Dynamics
Year: 2025

Parents’ Methamphetamine Use: The Pilot-Indigenous SHIFT in Taiwan
Year: 2025

Associations Between Psychosocial Influence, Positive Thinking, and Vaccine Attitudes in Patients with Schizophrenia During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Year: 2025

Conclusion 

Professor Hui-Ching Wu exemplifies the integration of scholarship, practice, and leadership in social work. Her contributions have shaped academic knowledge, influenced social policy, and improved service delivery systems for marginalized populations. With a strong record of teaching, research, and clinical practice, she continues to be a leading figure in advancing mental health care, forensic social work, and culturally informed social interventions worldwide.