معرفی
Julie Ren is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Social Sciences, University of Basel, and also holds a position at the Urban Geographies Group, University of Amsterdam. She leads the SNF-funded ASPIRA project (2025–2029) on aspirational urbanism and defiance. Her research engages cities such as Hong Kong, Taipei, Beijing, and Berlin through the lens of comparative urbanism.
Research Interests: Julie Ren’s work centers on urban theory, comparative urbanism, everyday urban life, and the role of art spaces and events in cities. She explores the intersections of aesthetics, hope, and political resistance in urban contexts, particularly in East and West Asia, as well as African and European cities. Her approach contributes to global urban theory by challenging Eurocentric frameworks.
Recent Publications: Her recent articles (2025) reflect a thematic focus on post-socialist urbanism, crisis in urban geography, and epistemological dynamics in academic collaborations. These works demonstrate a consistent engagement with critical urban studies, political aesthetics, and decolonial perspectives.
Academic Background and Roles: She completed her habilitation at Universität Zürich in 2023 and has held postdoctoral positions at leading institutions including LSE, HU Berlin, and CityU Hong Kong. She is the book forum editor for the journal Urban Geography and authored Engaging Comparative Urbanism: Art Spaces in Beijing and Berlin (2021, Bristol University Press).
Advising and Grants: Currently leading a major SNF Starting Grant, she mentors emerging scholars through research collaboration and editorial work. While no formal advisees are listed, her role in the ASPIRA project implies supervision of junior researchers.
Labs and Teams: She is affiliated with the Urban Studies program at the University of Basel and the Urban Geographies Group at the University of Amsterdam, both of which are interdisciplinary research collectives focused on critical urbanism, spatial justice, and global urban theory.
