I am a PhD candidate in the Science, Technology and Environmental Policy (STEP) Program at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. I work with Professor Denise Mauzerall on environmental and policy issues of energy use in developing countries.

My thesis work analyzes the role of renewable energy in Southeast Asia’s energy infrastructure development. The increasing number of coal-fired power plants in Southeast Asia will cause a heavy dependence on fossil fuel infrastructure and will lock in large future CO2 emission and interfere with global carbon mitigation efforts. The goal of my research is to explore possibilities to foster a greener development pathway in Southeast Asia. Using a chemical transport model, I quantify air pollution reduction and health benefits from deploying renewable energy in Southeast Asia’s power sector. In addition, I use case studies to inquire into Southeast Asia’s local preferences for energy technologies and financial aids and determinants of donor’s engagement in overseas energy finance.

By utilizing quantitative and qualitative tools, my research will help make policy recommendations to foster low carbon development in Southeast Asia. With interdisciplinary studies at STEP, we will build a bridge between science and policy communities, facilitating dialogue among different fields.

Before coming to Princeton, I received a Bachelor of Science degree in atmospheric sciences from School of Physics at Peking University, China, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from the National School of Development at Peking University.