Research

Areas of Research Interests

Having studied sociology throughout my life, I have developed a broad interest in the field, with my research focus shifting at different points in time. While in Taiwan, I studied Sociology of Knowledge and Sociology of Culture, examining the cultural formation and knowledge production within a direct-selling community. At Michigan State University, I delved into the Sociology of Health and Illness, Social Psychology, and Sociology of Gender, concentrating on the intersection of gender and mental health. I also studied the Sociology of the Body. Since my dissertation research focused on Taiwanese Americans, I became familiar with the Sociology of International Migration, a field that has become central to my work post Ph.D. Over the years, I have maintained a fascination with Sociological Theory and enjoy  integrating theories from various subfields to develop my own theoretical frameworks for different projects. 

After writing two books about Taiwanese Americans, my recent research focuses on the social adaptation of Burmese Christian refugees in the Midwest region. Using mix-methods, I am currently working on a book manuscript, titled From Religious Minority to Racial Minority: Burmese Christian Diaspora in America's Heartland. 

I am starting a new project on an emerging women's health movement against the overtreatment of breast cancer.