Personal Statement
I am an emerging researcher in geography and health, bringing together geographic data science and public health to explore how the environment impacts individuals' health and well-being. Originally from China, I lived in New Zealand for six years, where I completed my Master's in Geospatial Sciences and my PhD in geography and health. Now, as a new arrival in the UK, I hope to expand my research network and collaborate with scholars in geography, public health, and data science.

Research Overview
My research cares about how does the environment impact individuals' health and well-being. Most of my research is within the spatial lifecourse epidemiology framework, which involves the study of environmental dynamics over time and space, individual-level environmental exposures, and the development of chronic diseases across the lifecourse in relation to environmental factors. I employ geospatial techniques to analyse the physical and social environments where individuals live and link these environmental data with individuals' health and well-being. My PhD thesis focuses on the long-term impact of neighbourhoods on health and well-being over the lifecourse, with a particular focus on area-level socioeconomic status, greenspaces, and mental health.

At a time when environmental challenges (e.g., climate change) and public health crises (e.g., the rising prevalence of mental health issues) are more urgent than ever, my research provides crucial evidence to inform policies that foster health-promoting environments. Creating such environments would reduce the global burden of public health issues and also promote individuals' well-being at every stage of life.

With a passion for research, during my PhD, I have developed a trajectory of excellence with 12 journal articles published or under review so far. I have also won five awards such as the 2020 New Zealand ESRI Young Scholar. My skills span a number of disciplines, including geospatial sciences, health sciences, statistics, and information sciences.