UBC Sociology is excited to welcome our incoming cohort of doctoral and master’s students to the department!
We look forward to seeing what new perspectives and research they will bring to our community, with focuses ranging from surveillance capitalism to Indigenous research methods to urban sociology.
Nott Feng
he/him
Nott Feng
MA Student
Nott completed his undergraduate degree in the Department of Sociology at UBC. During his undergraduate studies, he worked under the supervision of Professor Amy Hanser to complete an honours thesis focusing on the sociology of food and the regulatory system of Chinese social media. For his master’s studies, Nott plans to further explore the frameworks of contemporary consumer culture in China, with particular interest in the food market, work and inequality, and virtual consumption practices.
Supervisor:
Previous Institution:
University of British Columbia
Ottica Chong
she/her
Ottica Chong
MA Student
Ottica is joining us from Toronto, where she completed her undergraduate studies in International Relations and Economics at the University of Toronto. Her research focuses on how subcultures shape political participation in East Asia.
Supervisor:
Previous Institution:
University of Toronto
Erhan Qu
she/her
Erhan Qu
MA Student
Erhan is an MA student at the University of British Columbia. Her research interests lie in how state power shapes Asian sex workers and someone who works in holistic therapy industry. She is also passionate about how some Chinese youth are othering and deviant in society.
Supervisor:
Previous Institution:
University of Alberta
Lucy Liu
she/her
Lucy Liu
MA Student
Lucy obtained her first Bachelor of Arts in Chinese Language and Literature from Xiamen University in China. She later completed her Honours Bachelor of Arts in Criminology at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Her previous research focused on how Canadian mass media portrays intimate partner violence among marginalized groups. As a graduate student, she is eager to explore the role of social capital in the economic success of immigrants in Canada.
Supervisor:
Previous Institution:
Xiamen University, Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Ruier Yang
she/her
Ruier Yang
MA Student
Ruier is joining us from Vancouver, where she completed her undergraduate studies in Anthropology and Sociology at the University of British Columbia. She developed a strong interest in cultural sociology during her time here, particularly in the intersections of divination practices and contemporary Chinese society. Her honours thesis explored the career motivations and survival strategies of Chinese tarot diviners under an atheist authoritarian state. For her MA research, Ruier is excited to build on this work by turning her attention to urban settings, specifically shopping malls, where she aims to understand how historically marginalized diviners are shaping their new roles. She is particularly interested in how these practitioners negotiate their presence with mall authorities and customers, and how they adapt their practices within increasingly regulated and high-surveillance environments.
Supervisor:
Previous Institution:
University of British Columbia
Maxfield Nadeau-DaCruz
they/them
Maxfield Nadeau-DaCruz
MA Student
Maxfield is an MA student from the United States, where they completed their undergraduate degree in Sociology with a concentration in Social Research Analysis at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Their research focuses on the experience of gender outside of the binary, and the intersectional interactions between race, sexuality, and language. They are particularly interested in the experiences of gender in society for transgender individuals and lesbians.
Supervisor:
Previous Institution:
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Yaxuan Zhou
she/her
Yaxuan Zhou
PhD Student
Yaxuan is a PhD student in the Department of Sociology at the University of British Columbia. Her research focuses on the inequalities in society-human- environment interactions. She is particularly interested in conducting comparative research and applying quantitative methods to test relevant hypotheses.
Supervisor:
Previous Institution:
University College London
Olivia Curran-Morton
she/her
Olivia Curran-Morton
MA Student
Olivia is a graduate student in the Department of Sociology, studying under the supervision of Dr. Seth Abrutyn. She completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, with minors in Sociology and History at the University of Alberta and her Master of Education in Counselling Psychology at the University of Lethbridge. Her research interests include topics related to mental health and the wellbeing of youth.
Supervisor:
Previous Institution:
University of Alberta, University of Lethbridge
Lauren Pollack
she/her
Lauren Pollack
MA Student
Lauren joins us from Western University, where she completed her undergraduate Honors Specialization degree in Sociology. Her primary research interests are focused on understanding how adverse childhood experiences contribute to negative outcomes in later life. Throughout her graduate studies, Lauren is interested in exploring topics such as childhood maltreatment, intimate partner violence, mental health, and the life course. Her previous research examined hate crime experiences in Ontario, analyzing the ways in which race, gender, and immigration status influence exposure to both hate crimes and hate incidents.
Supervisor:
Previous Institution:
Western University
Jonathan Vasquez
he/him
Jonathan Vasquez
PhD Student
Jonathan Vasquez is joining the PhD program in the Department of Sociology at the University of British Columbia after completing his master’s degree at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia. His previous research focused on analyzing the effects of international climate policy on global climate change, with the aim of understanding the impacts of mitigation strategies and the global power dynamics that contribute to the ongoing climate crisis. At the University of British Columbia, he will continue to explore themes related to global climate change, governance, justice, and global systems of power. His research will employ frameworks such as world systems theory, global governance, global political economy, and comparative historical analysis. He is particularly interested in applying quantitative methodologies and advanced statistical modeling techniques to better understand and illustrate the complex socio-political dynamics perpetuating the global climate crisis.
Supervisor:
Previous Institution:
Georgia State University
Kate Feldstein
they/them
Kate Feldstein
PhD Student
Kate received a BA in Sociology from Northwestern University, and completed their MA Sociology this past spring at UBC. They are thrilled to be continuing to a PhD in the department. Kate’s research interests include gender and sexuality and sociological theory. More specifically, they are interested in the disclosure and recognition of queer identity.
Supervisor:
Previous Institution:
Northwestern University, University of British Columbia
Wenhan Zeng
he/him
MA Student
Wenhan completed his undergraduate studies in Sociology at the University of Toronto. His research interest include urban sociology, economic sociology, and sociology of culture, specifically knowledge production.
Supervisor:
Previous Institution:
University of Toronto
Grace Gletsu
she/her
PhD Student
Grace Gletsu is a PhD student in Sociology at the University of British Columbia (UBC). She completed her Master of Arts in Sociology at UBC, where her thesis—Pathways to Leadership: Overcoming Barriers and Advancing the Careers of Women in Ghanaian Corporate Organizations—examined the gendered dynamics of career advancement and organizational leadership. Her research interests focus on gender and work, particularly issues related to inequality, leadership, and institutional structures. She also holds a master’s degree in development studies from the University of the Western Cape in South Africa.
Supervisor:
Previous Institution:
University of British Columbia, UWC
Ka Po Capri Kong
PhD Student
Supervisor:
