Tao Sun is a manager and testifying survey expert in the Litigation Support practice at Applied Marketing Science, Inc. (AMS). He provides survey evidence and expert testimony on matters related to trademark and trade dress infringement, false and deceptive advertising, and class action litigation. In addition, his expert services include critiquing opposing expert reports, and guiding the deposition and trial questioning of opposing expert witnesses. In his role at AMS, Dr. Sun is involved in all aspects of litigation research, including survey and sample design, data analysis, and expert report preparation.
With over 20 years of teaching and research experience, Tao has designed and conducted various surveys and experiments related to consumer behavior, advertising effectiveness, and mass media effects. His research findings have been published in outlets such as the Journal of Consumer Behavior, Journal of Advertising Research, Psychology & Marketing, among others.
Tao started his academic career at Emerson College teaching courses such as Advertising Media Planning, Understanding Consumer Behavior, Research Methods for Global Marketing Communication & Advertising, and Introduction to Integrated Marketing Communication. Prior to joining AMS, he taught courses such as Applied Research Methods, Communication Law, Strategic Communication, and Consumer, Markets & Public Policy at the University of Vermont, where he was an associate professor of public communication.
Before moving to the U.S. for his graduate studies, Tao worked on the international news desk with China’s Xinhua News Agency. In his spare time, he enjoys skiing with his kids across New England. He lives right next to the Appalachian Trail in Hanover, New Hampshire.
Tao holds a B.A. in English from Dalian University of Foreign Languages (China), a B.A. in journalism from the China School of Journalism, an M.A. in media studies from Pennsylvania State University, and a Ph.D. in mass communication from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities.