Originally from Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, I began my academic journey as an undergraduate at Xiamen University and later pursued graduate studies in Economics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It was there that I first dove deep into Environmental and Natural Resource Economics, a field that captivated me with its blend of analytical rigor and real-world relevance. 

Life, however, has a way of reshaping priorities. After graduation, I spent more time building a home and raising two wonderfully energetic kids. Parenthood didn’t just fill my days with laughter (and sleepless nights)—it quietly redirected my curiosity. Watching my children grow sparked new questions: How do policies shape opportunities for women and children? What hidden costs lie beneath social transformations like the one-child policy or labor market reforms?

These personal experiences gradually pulled my research toward gender, family dynamics, and intergenerational equity—still grounded in economic reasoning, but now with a more human heartbeat. When I’m not analyzing data or writing papers, you’ll likely find me planning a weekend hike, experimenting with a new recipe (often with small sous-chefs underfoot), or dreaming up our next family trip.