Xun Zhou

Xun Zhou is a Reader (equivalent to Associate Professor) at the School of Philosophical, Historical, and Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Essex. She researches health, science, and everyday life in modern China, utilizing archival and oral history methodologies. Her recent work examines healthcare delivery in Maoist China and pandemic-related xenophobia.

Key affiliations:

• Deputy Director of Research (2022-present)
• Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin Fellow (2021-22)

Research spans:

• Health system dynamics under Mao (barefoot doctors, rural clinics)
• Nutritional history and antibiotic use in China
• Blame narratives during COVID-19

Publications analyze unintended consequences of social policies, including the Great Famine (1958-1962), with recent econometric work on climate policy costs. She is a frequent media commentator on pandemics.