Zhenwei Wang

Zhenwei Wang is a Research Fellow at Heidelberg University's Heidelberg Center for Ibero-American Studies (HCIAS), where she joined in April 2025 as a postdoctoral researcher under Jun.-Prof. Dr. Yaatsil Guevara González. Funded by the Margarete von Wrangell Program of Baden-Württemberg's Ministry of Science, her work bridges HCIAS's focus on Ibero-American studies with transnational migration research.

Her educational background includes:

• PhD in Sociology from Bielefeld Graduate School in History and Sociology (defended January 2025)
• M.A. in Sociology from Chinese University of Hong Kong and Bielefeld University

Wang's research employs hybrid ethnographic methods to investigate how Chinese migrants navigate transnational mobility through platforms like TikTok and Xiaohongshu. She specializes in the intersection of digital technology, caregiving, and class dynamics, particularly examining how smart devices reshape family practices across borders. Her methodology integrates participant observation, in-depth interviews, and discourse analysis to unpack gendered power structures in migration.

Her current projects explore digital pathways of Chinese migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border, contributing to HCIAS's broader mission within Heidelberg University's 'Cultural Dynamics in Globalised Worlds' Field of Focus. Wang actively collaborates on initiatives linking migration studies with digital heritage preservation under the university's Transforming Cultural Heritage Flagship Initiative.

As a Margarete von Wrangell fellow, she receives dedicated support for career development toward professorship. Her research is institutionally anchored in HCIAS's transnational networks while engaging with Heidelberg's Heidelberg Center for Cultural Heritage (HCCH) on digital documentation of migrant experiences.

Wang co-edits research with Sebastian Dümling on post-pandemic presence transformations, demonstrating her commitment to interdisciplinary knowledge transfer. Her work directly informs HCIAS's public engagement through digital heritage projects targeting non-academic audiences.