About
Tu Lan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of New Hampshire, specializing in economic geography with a focus on China's integration into the global economy. Her research examines industrial restructuring, transnational migration, and urban political economy through case studies in China, Italy, and the United States. She teaches core geography courses including Global Trade, GIS Fundamentals, and regional studies of China.
Her educational background includes:
- B.S. in Geography from Peking University
- M.S. in Geoinformation Science from Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Ph.D. in Geography from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Dr. Lan's research program centers on global value chains, innovation systems, and spatial inequalities. She investigates how Chinese firms navigate international markets, the racialization of Chinese students in U.S. higher education, and state-driven innovation policies in urban China. Her methodological approach combines spatial data analysis with social theory to explore transnational economic phenomena, particularly in apparel manufacturing networks between China and Italy. Recent work critically examines the 'local venture state' concept in Chinese urban development.
Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2015-2025) reveals three dominant research trajectories: (1) China's innovation policies and state capitalism, (2) transnational migration patterns focused on Chinese communities in Italy and the U.S., and (3) industrial restructuring in global value chains. These threads consistently employ economic geography frameworks while addressing contemporary geopolitical tensions, with increasing attention to racialization processes in educational contexts and state-led financialization mechanisms.
No scientific awards or fellowships are documented in the provided materials.
Dr. Lan secured research funding through two significant projects: 'Pathway to Prosperity or Education Inc.?' (2019), investigating transnational educational partnerships funded by UNH Global Education Center and University of New Hampshire, and 'Mapping Global Educational Pathway' examining Chinese undergraduate experiences at UNH. Her extensive teaching portfolio across 15+ courses since 2015—including GIS, World Regions, and China-focused seminars—demonstrates active engagement in student mentorship though specific advisees are not listed.
No dedicated laboratories or formal research teams are mentioned in her profile, though her collaborative publications suggest networked research partnerships particularly with Italian institutions studying Sino-Italian economic relations.
