Joel Andreas is a Professor of Sociology at Johns Hopkins University since 2003, serving as Program Director of the East Asian Studies Program. His research focuses on political contention, social inequality, and social change in contemporary China. He holds a PhD in Sociology from UCLA and teaches social theory, political sociology, and courses on Chinese society. He has held visiting positions at universities including the University of Sydney, Hong Kong University, and Ningxia University. His work examines labor movements, rural land policies, and class dynamics in China. Recent research includes analyses of staff-worker congresses, rural land dispossession, and the persistence of militarism in U.S. policy. He critiques market reforms and explores the legacy of the Cultural Revolution. Andreas has contributed to debates on China’s transition to capitalism and the decline of socialist systems. His publications span topics from urbanization to state coercion in rural development. He maintains an active role in academic exchanges and policy-relevant research on China’s socio-political landscape.
University of California, Los AngelesUnited States
Yunxiang Yan is a Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). His work focuses on China and Cultural Anthropology , with specific expertise in Economic Anthropology , Family and Kinship , and Individualization . Education: Ph.D. in Social Anthropology from Harvard University (1993). Yan’s research explores the intersection of social change , moral theory , and family dynamics in modern China. His ethnographic studies in rural villages provide foundational insights into exchange theory and cultural globalization . Recent publications analyze food safety , medical ethics , and moral crises in China, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach combining anthropology, sociology, and philosophy. Articles span themes like intergenerational intimacy , political oppression , and networked social structures . Scientific Awards: Guggenheim Fellowship Levenson Prize-winning Research Yan’s work bridges local Chinese studies with global anthropological discourse. He has held positions at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Johns Hopkins University, and UCLA since 1996. His career reflects a commitment to documenting the lives of ordinary people, rooted in his early experiences as an expelled villager during Maoist China. Contact: yan@anthro.ucla.edu
Haiyan Lee serves as the Walter A. Haas Professor of the Humanities and Professor of East Asian Languages and Cultures and of Comparative Literature at Stanford University. She has held these positions since joining Stanford in 2009, and currently serves as Chair of the East Asian Languages and Cultures department (2020-present). Her academic journey includes previous teaching appointments at the University of Colorado at Boulder and the University of Hong Kong, along with post-doctoral fellowships at Cornell University and Harvard University. Lee's research spans multiple interdisciplinary fields with particular focus on modern Chinese literature and cultural production. Her work bridges literary studies with law, philosophy, cognitive science, affect theory, gender studies, and environmental humanities. She has developed influential theoretical frameworks including the concept of "high justice" and "low justice" in Chinese legal imagination. Her current research explores animism, cognition, and the Chinese environmental imagination, extending her longstanding interest in human-animal relations. Lee's publications reveal a consistent trajectory examining Chinese cultural production through innovative theoretical lenses. Her recent work shows increasing engagement with legal theory, environmental humanities, and cognitive approaches to literature. She has produced significant scholarship on Chinese concepts of justice, love, and the stranger, moving across historical periods from early 20th century to contemporary China. Biennial Book Prize, Honorable Mention, International Society for Chinese Law and History (ISCLH) (2024) Humanities Seed Grant, Stanford School of Humanities and Sciences (2023-2025) Bass Fellowship in Undergraduate Education, Stanford University (2022-2027) Joseph Levenson Book Prize, The Association for Asian Studies (2009) Professor Lee actively mentors doctoral students across multiple disciplines, serving as dissertation advisor, co-advisor, and committee member for students working at the intersection of Chinese studies, law, literature, and cultural theory. Her teaching includes courses across East Asian humanities, comparative literature, and interdisciplinary environmental studies. She has received significant research support including the Frederick Burkhardt Residential Fellowship from the American Council of Learned Societies and a residency at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences.
Avery Goldstein is the David M. Knott Professor Emeritus of Global Politics and International Relations at the University of Pennsylvania’s Political Science Department. He serves as the Inaugural Director of the Center for the Study of Contemporary China and Associate Director of the Christopher H. Browne Center for International Politics. His research focuses on international relations theory, strategic/security studies, and Chinese politics, with a particular emphasis on China’s grand strategy, US-China relations, and security dynamics in East Asia. Goldstein’s academic career includes seminal works such as Rising to the Challenge: China’s Grand Strategy and International Security (2005) and Deterrence and Security in the 21st Century (2000). He has authored over 30 journal articles in top-tier publications like International Security and International Organization , exploring themes ranging from nuclear deterrence to China’s geopolitical ambitions. Additionally, he is a Senior Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI), amplifying his influence in policy-relevant scholarship. His research consistently bridges theoretical frameworks with empirical analysis, addressing critical issues such as power transitions, crisis instability, and the implications of China’s rise for global order. Goldstein’s advisory roles and institutional leadership reflect his dual commitment to academic rigor and real-world policy engagement.
Sunny Xiang is an Associate Professor of English at Yale University, where she teaches and conducts research at the intersection of literature, race, war, and empire. Her work critically examines U.S. military empire in Asia and the Pacific, particularly through aesthetic, cultural, and documentary forms from the mid-twentieth century. She is affiliated with the Department of English in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Yale. Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley B.A., Northwestern University Her research focuses on the cultural genealogies of American empire, with an emphasis on how war and militarism shape perception, knowledge, and everyday life. Key areas include Cold War aesthetics, Asian American studies, Pacific studies, critical militarization studies, and feminist science studies. She is particularly interested in how literary and cultural forms reveal the intimate, quotidian, and often invisible operations of empire. Her publications span journals such as ASAP/Journal , Radical History Review , PMLA , and Public Books . Her first book, Tonal Intelligence: The Aesthetics of Asian Inscrutability During the Long Cold War (Columbia University Press, 2020), explores the visual and narrative trope of Oriental inscrutability in relation to U.S. intelligence operations. Her current project, Chemical Apophenia: Air Conspiracies and Skin Connections in the Toxic Tropics , investigates how WWII military science in the Pacific generated new paradigms for detecting toxicity. The articles reflect a consistent engagement with themes of militarized domesticity, aesthetic excess, diasporic memory, and the entanglement of fashion, food, and war in imperial contexts. Mundane Militarisms: War, Archives, and Everyday Life (2024) Militarized Comfort: How to Feel Naked While Wearing Clothes (2023) Bikinis and Other Atomic Incidents: The Synthetic Life of the Nuclear Pacific (2022) Wars of Contemporary Life (2020) Global China as Genre (2019) Sunny Xiang has not been mentioned in relation to any scientific awards or fellowships in the provided text. She teaches courses such as War and Everyday Life, Readings in Comparative World English Literatures, and The Teaching of English. While her advisees or research teams are not listed, her scholarship demonstrates deep engagement with interdisciplinary methodologies and collaborative work, such as with the Mundane Militarisms Collective. She has not indicated any lab affiliations, but her research involves critical archival work and analysis of visual, literary, and cultural materials.
Xi Lian serves as the David C. Steinmetz Distinguished Professor of World Christianity at Duke Divinity School and is currently a Yang Visiting Scholar at Harvard Divinity School. His scholarly work examines the complex relationship between Christianity and Chinese society across historical periods. His educational background includes: BA and MA from Fujian Normal University PhD from the State University of New York at Albany Professor Lian's research focuses on: The development of indigenous Chinese Christian movements Religious transformation in post-Mao China Christian missionary history in China Religion's role in cultural and political change He has authored several groundbreaking books including The Conversion of Missionaries: Liberalism in American Protestant Missions in China, 1907-1932 (1997), Redeemed by Fire: The Rise of Popular Christianity in Modern China (2010), and Blood Letters: The Untold Story of Lin Zhao, a Martyr in Mao's China (2018). His current research investigates how homegrown Christianity has emerged as a transformative force in contemporary Chinese public life, offering new moral frameworks in the post-Mao era. Professor Lian's scholarship bridges historical, theological, and sociological perspectives to document how Christian beliefs have been adapted within Chinese cultural contexts, challenging Western-centric narratives about global Christianity.
Yuhua Wang serves as the Ford Foundation Professor of Modern China Studies within Harvard University's Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Government. His scholarly work establishes him as a leading authority on Chinese political development, state capacity, and historical institutional analysis across imperial and contemporary contexts. His academic foundation includes: B.A. from Peking University Ph.D. from the University of Michigan Professor Wang's research program integrates comparative politics with Chinese studies through core interests in bureaucracy , institutions , judiciary and public law , political economy & development , political geography , and state-society relations . He employs a methodological triad of historical , qualitative , and quantitative approaches to analyze China's political evolution. His work uniquely bridges macro-historical patterns with contemporary governance challenges, particularly examining how historical legacies shape modern state capacity and institutional resilience in authoritarian contexts. Analysis of his publication trajectory reveals consistent focus on state development mechanisms, with increasing sophistication in comparative historical methodology. Recent work demonstrates expanded geographic scope beyond China while maintaining analytical depth in imperial political economy. His research shows growing integration of cross-national datasets with deep historical case studies, reflecting broader trends in political science toward mixed-method designs for complex institutional analysis. His distinguished recognition includes: 2023 Lubbert Best Book Award in Comparative Politics from the American Political Science Association for The Rise and Fall of Imperial China Harvard College Professor appointment (2025) Professor Wang maintains active research leadership through extensive publication in premier journals including American Political Science Review and Comparative Political Studies , with significant contributions to theoretical frameworks like State-in-Society 2.0. His work generates substantial policy-relevant insights on corruption, judicial review, and urban governance in China. As a core faculty member in Harvard's Government Department, he contributes to the university's intellectual ecosystem through cross-disciplinary collaboration and participation in research initiatives focused on Asian political development, though specific lab affiliations are not documented in available sources.
Pheng Cheah serves as Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, specializing in interdisciplinary research bridging philosophy, literature, and political theory with global implications. His academic credentials include: PhD from Cornell University LLB from University of Sydney His research spans continental philosophy from Kant to Derrida, postcolonial theory, world literature, and globalization studies, with concentrated focus on human rights frameworks, cosmopolitan/national tensions, feminist perspectives, and contemporary Chinese cinema. His methodology integrates literary analysis with political philosophy to examine power dynamics in transnational contexts, particularly across postcolonial Asia where he conducts fieldwork with filmmakers. Publication analysis reveals an evolving trajectory from foundational cosmopolitan/national theory toward biopolitical human rights frameworks and cinematic representations of globalization. His work consistently centers non-Western perspectives—especially Chinese, Southeast Asian, and global South contexts—challenging Eurocentric paradigms through comparative analysis of cultural production and political transformation. No scientific awards are documented in available sources. Professor Cheah mentors graduate students in critical theory and postcolonial studies, guiding research on literature's political dimensions. His scholarly activities are supported by standard academic funding mechanisms enabling extensive archival work and international collaborations, particularly with Asian film communities. He maintains active participation in global studies consortia and postcolonial research networks, frequently collaborating with filmmakers and scholars across the three Chinas through interview-based methodologies.
Barry Naughton is the So Kwan Lok Chair of Chinese International Affairs at the School of Global Policy and Strategy (GPS), University of California, San Diego, where he has been a faculty member since 1988 and was appointed to his named professorship in 1998. As a globally recognized authority on China's economic transformation, his work bridges academic rigor and policy relevance through decades of analysis of market reforms, industrial development, and international economic relations. His academic foundation includes: Ph.D. in Economics from Yale University (1986) M.A. in International Relations from Yale University (1979) B.A. in Chinese Language and Literature from the University of Washington (1975) Naughton's research centers on China's transition from planned to market economy, with emphasis on industrial restructuring, foreign trade dynamics, and regional development disparities. His scholarship uniquely connects historical analysis of reform milestones with contemporary policy challenges, particularly examining how state-market interactions shape technological advancement and global economic integration. This dual focus on institutional evolution and sectoral transformation has established him as a critical interpreter of China's development model for both academic and policy audiences. Analysis of his 2020-2024 publications reveals a decisive shift toward examining China's industrial policy architecture and state capitalism mechanisms. Key thematic clusters include the conceptualization of 'Grand Steerage' in state-economy relations, the restructuring of science-technology systems, and the sectoral implementation of industrial policies. These works collectively document China's evolving governance approach—from market liberalization to targeted state direction—while analyzing implications for global trade and innovation ecosystems. His scholarly recognition includes: Ohira Memorial Prize for 'Growing Out of the Plan: Chinese Economic Reform, 1978-1993' (1996) Administrative leadership has been integral to Naughton's career, serving as Associate Dean of GPS (1992-1995, 2001-2003) and Chair of UCSD's Chinese Studies Program (1998-2000). His policy engagement extends through the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong (1998-2003) and U.S. academic committees on Chinese studies. Current research examines regional growth patterns and foreign investment linkages while completing a new edition of his seminal textbook 'The Chinese Economy: Transitions and Growth,' which remains the field's authoritative reference. Though not leading a formal laboratory, Naughton shapes discourse through China Leadership Monitor's quarterly economic assessments and collaborative networks like the edited volume 'State Capitalism, Institutional Adaptation and the Chinese Miracle' (2015), which mobilized leading scholars to analyze China's institutional innovation within global capitalism.
Timothy Webster serves as Professor of Law and Associate Dean for Faculty Research and Development at Western New England University's School of Law, with prior academic appointments at Yale Law School, Case Western Reserve University, and international institutions including University of Paris—Dauphine and National Taiwan University. His educational qualifications include: B.A., Yale University M.A., Yale University J.D., Cornell Law School LL.M., Cornell Law School Webster's research focuses on intersections between international law and East Asian domestic legal systems (China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan), examining human rights frameworks, international trade mechanisms, foreign investment regulations, and transnational litigation strategies. His scholarship demonstrates deep engagement with historical justice issues and contemporary legal challenges in the region, delivered through presentations at over 175 international conferences conducted in English, French, Japanese, and Mandarin. Analysis of his recent publications reveals consistent thematic concentration on war reparations, state immunity doctrines, corporate liability frameworks, and civil society's role in transnational redress movements, with empirical studies of litigation patterns across East Asia forming a distinctive methodological thread. His professional recognition includes: Catherine Jones Professor of the Year award (2023 and 2024) Asia Scholars Network fellowship (Luce Foundation) U.S.-Japan Network for the Future membership (Mansfield Foundation) Public Intellectuals Program selection (National Committee on U.S.-China Relations) As Associate Dean, Webster mentors law students in international legal studies while directing faculty development initiatives. His research is substantially supported by elite fellowships from the Luce Foundation, Mansfield Foundation, and National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, enabling extensive international collaboration. Webster has testified before Congress regarding China's WTO compliance and contributes legal analysis to major media outlets including The Conversation, South China Morning Post, and Los Angeles Times.
Prita Meier is an Associate Professor of Art History at New York University's College of Arts & Science , affiliated with the Department of Art History & the Institute of Fine Arts. Her work bridges African art history, Indian Ocean world studies, and global modernity frameworks. Education: Ph.D. (2007) in History of Art, Harvard University M.A. (2000) in History of Art, University of Iowa B.A. (1996) in Art History, University of Florida Research Interests focus on the visual and architectural cultures of Africa, particularly Swahili Coast port cities, exploring globalization's cultural dimensions, Islamic art, and photography histories. Her work interrogates spatial-temporal dynamics in African modernity and colonial art frameworks. Scientific Awards include CASVA Senior Fellowship, NEH Implementation Grant (with Allyson Purpura), Mellon Collaborative Grant (with Kenny Cupers), Clark Art Institute Residential Fellowship, and Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship. Notably, she declined the National Humanities Center Fellowship and Stanford Humanities Fellows Program. Publications highlight Indian Ocean trade networks, Swahili Coast architecture, and photography's global circulation. Recent works (2020-2017) examine infrastructure as identity, oceanic materiality, and itinerant art historiography. Earlier articles (2016-2009) analyze porcelain trade, modernist discontents, and Swahili funerary practices. Contact: spm9@nyu.edu | 100 Washington Square East, New York, NY 10003
Wen-Chin Wu is a Research Fellow/Professor at the Institute of Political Science at Academia Sinica in Taipei, Taiwan. She has been appointed as the Lenore Annenberg and Wallis Annenberg Fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences (CASBS) at Stanford University for the 2025-26 academic year. Her academic profile demonstrates significant contributions to political science, particularly in comparative authoritarianism and political economy. Dr. Wu earned her B.A. from National Chengchi University (NCCU), M.A. from NCCU and Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, and Ph.D. from Michigan State University. She was a visiting scholar at the Harvard-Yenching Institute during the 2019-20 academic year. Currently, she serves as the coordinator of the Institute for Social Science Methodology funded by Taiwan's National Science and Technology Council. Her research primarily focuses on comparative and international political economy, comparative authoritarianism, and Chinese politics, with particular interest in economic statecraft and media dynamics in authoritarian regimes. Wu's work examines how dictators utilize trade policies to prolong political survival, how varieties of authoritarianism determine policy choices, and how Taiwanese citizens perceive cross-Strait relations and national security issues. Her methodological approach combines formal modeling, statistical analysis, and experimental survey techniques. Her recent publications reveal consistent scholarly productivity with research spanning authoritarian politics, trade policy, media freedom, and Taiwan security issues. Wu's work demonstrates sophisticated integration of theoretical frameworks with empirical evidence, particularly through survey experiments conducted in Taiwan and cross-national comparative analyses. Lenore Annenberg and Wallis Annenberg Fellow at CASBS, Stanford University (2025-26) Wu actively contributes to policy discussions through publications in outlets like The Diplomat and Global Asia. Her research on Taiwanese public opinion regarding cross-Strait relations and national security has informed contemporary debates on Taiwan-US-China dynamics. As coordinator of the Institute for Social Science Methodology, she plays a significant role in advancing methodological training for social scientists in Taiwan.
Li Mingjiang serves as Associate Professor and Provost's Chair in International Relations at Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University. He concurrently holds leadership roles as PhD Programme Coordinator, Deputy Head of Graduate Studies at RSIS, and Deputy Chair of NTU's 8th Senate, while maintaining a nonresident scholar position at Carnegie China. His academic foundation includes: Ph.D. in Political Science from Boston University Specializing in Chinese foreign policy , China-ASEAN relations , and Asia-Pacific security dynamics , he has authored or edited 15 books including China’s Economic Statecraft (2017) and New Dynamics in US-China Relations (2014). His research spans global governance frameworks and Sino-U.S. strategic competition through publications in journals like Journal of Contemporary China and Chinese Journal of International Politics . Recent publications (2023-2025) reveal concentrated analysis on emerging geopolitical flashpoints including U.S.-China tensions in Southeast Asia, South China Sea confrontations, cyber nationalism commercialization, and technology policy conflicts - demonstrating consistent engagement with real-time strategic developments in the Indo-Pacific region. In his capacity as PhD Programme Coordinator, Li Mingjiang oversees graduate academic development and research supervision at RSIS, though specific student details and grant information remain unreported in public sources.
Sohl Lee serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Art History and Criticism at Stony Brook University, specializing in Contemporary East Asian Art and Visual Culture, Critical Theory and Globalization, and Curatorial Studies. Holding a Ph.D. from the University of Rochester since 2014, she contributes significantly to the academic community through teaching and research. Her educational background features: Ph.D. in Visual and Cultural Studies from the University of Rochester (2014) Professor Lee's research explores modern and contemporary East Asian art through interdisciplinary lenses including aesthetics of politics, activist art, vernacular modernism, postcolonial theory, and historiography. Her scholarship appears in prominent journals such as Yishu: Journal for Contemporary Chinese Art , Art Journal , and InVisible Culture , establishing her as a leading voice in global art discourse. Her publication trajectory reveals consistent engagement with democracy, ecological consciousness, and Cold War legacies across East Asian contexts. Key thematic threads include the intersection of art and political movements, ecological thinking in Korean contemporary art, and visual representations of national division—demonstrating how artistic practices navigate complex socio-political landscapes. Dr. Lee's scholarly contributions have been recognized through competitive fellowships: Social Sciences Research Council Fellowship Korea Foundation Fellowship Susan B. Anthony Institute of Gender and Women Studies Fellowship She actively shapes student learning through undergraduate courses including 'Art and the City,' 'Modern and Contemporary Korean Art,' and 'Social Engagement and Publicness in East Asia.' Her curatorial practice extends academic work into public spheres through exhibitions mounted in both the United States and South Korea, bridging theoretical frameworks with tangible cultural production.
University of California, Los AngelesUnited States
Min Zhou is a Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Asian American Studies at UCLA, and Director of the UCLA Asia Pacific Center. She holds the Walter & Shirley Wang Endowed Chair in U.S.-China Relations and Communications. A member of both the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, her work focuses on migration studies, race and ethnicity, and Chinese diasporas. She previously directed the UCLA Asian American Studies Department (2001-2005) and served as Tan Lark Sye Chair Professor at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (2013-2016). Her research explores transnationalism, immigrant entrepreneurship, ethnic supplementary education, and China’s internal migration dynamics. Notable publications include Chinatown (1992), The Asian American Achievement Paradox (2015), and Contemporary Chinese Diasporas (2017). She has received major awards such as the 2017 ASA Distinguished Career Award and the 2016 Bourdieu Prize for sociology of education. Education: Ph.D., Sociology, State University of New York at Albany Key Grants: Russell Sage Foundation grants (2005-09), Singapore Ministry of Education Tier 2 grant (2016-21) Labs/Teams: Directs the UCLA Asia Pacific Center; collaborates with global scholars on projects like 'Immigration and Integration in the Pacific Rim'
