Fieldwork

My fieldwork focuses on the intersection of political economy, international relations, development, and area studies, with particular attention to energy transitions, industrial development, conflicts, and social transformations in Southeast Asia under evolving geopolitical dynamics. Research has been conducted through interviews, site visits and engagement with policy makers, industry actors and civil society organizations.

Between Mediation and Constraint: Qatar Before the 2026 Iran Conflict

January 2026

Visited the Qatar Foundation and HBKU, alongside participation in the IPPA winter school. One month before the escalation of the 2026 Iran–US–Israel conflict.

Pre-conflict Qatar’s positioning (small state and big diplomacy) within a rapidly intensifying regional geopolitical environment
Qatar’s policy discourse extends beyond natural gas exports, increasingly emphasizing renewable energy transition and economic diversification toward a knowledge- and diplomacy-oriented state model
Mediation as foreign policy strategy, embedded within small state diplomacy and persian gulf regional brokerage roles
Is Qatar a genuine conflict resolver, or a managed intermediary within limits defined by great power politics?

Research on Southeast Asia’s Energy Transition under Geopolitical Dynamics

September – December 2025

Fieldwork conducted in Thailand and Laos focusing on energy transition, electric vehicles (EV), renewable energy and power grid development.

Interviews with EV companies/Industry professionals， such as MG (SAIC–CP), Great Wall Motors，Thai Chamber of Commerce， PTT Public Company Limited (PTT)， and the Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand.
Interviews with Thai government agencies, such as the Eastern Economic Corridor Office of Thailand (EECO), Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand，and Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO) Ministry of Energy, Office of Industrial Economics (OIE) Ministry of Industry thailand.
Site visits to the Eastern Economic Corridor industrial zones and Laem Chabang Port.
Field research in Laos on hydropower, solar, wind and power grid development.
Meetings with Enenrgy companies/Industry professionals in Laos，such as China Power, China General Nuclear Power, and Electricite du Laos.
Meetings with Lao policy experts including the Ministry of Energy and Mines and the Mekong River Commission.

Inclusive Business and Social Enterprise Research in Times of Crisis

July 2020 – Nakhon Pathom Province, Thailand

Field research at Suan Sampran social enterprise examining inclusive business models and sustainable livelihoods among small-scale farmers, particularly in the context of climate vulnerability and uneven development across rural regions.

Interviews with project managers and participating farmers.
Research on the role of social enterprises in supporting low-income communities.

Cross-border Development and Conflict Between Southern Thailand and Northern Malaysia

2020 – Hat Yai & Pattani (Thailand)

Field research examining cross-border economic relations, local development and regional identity in Southern Thailand and Northern Malaysia.

Visits to Hatyai City Municipality Office and Songkhla Community Foundation.
Research on rural and urban development in Songkhla and Pattani provinces.
Analysis of cross-border trade and tourism.
Consideration of conflict dynamics in Southern Thailand.

Development and Project Management at the World Bank

18 Feb – Bangkok (Thailand)

Met with country manager of the World Bank, to discuss development project financing, project management and regional development initiatives in Southeast Asia.

Industrial Development and Environmental Governance

7–8 Nov 2019 – Rayong, Thailand

Field visit to Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate, the largest petrochemical complex in Southeast Asia. The research explored industrialization, environmental governance and local community impacts under Thailand’s Eastern Seaboard development strategy.

Visits to Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate and Siam Cement Group (SCG).
Discussions with stakeholders on industrial development and community impacts.

Migrant Workers and Disadvantaged Communities

20–30 Oct 2020 – Bangkok & Samut Sakhon

Fieldwork exploring migrant education, labour protection and social inclusion among Myanmar migrant workers and fishing communities in Thailand, situating migration flows within the context of armed conflict, political instability, and economic precarity in Myanmar.

Visit to Dear Burma migrant school in Bangkok.
Engagement with Duang Prateep Foundation in Khlong Toei.
Field research with Labour Protection Network (LPN) in Samut Sakhon.

Women’s Empowerment and Social Protection

12 Nov 2019 – Bangkok

Visit to the Association for the Promotion of the Status of Women (APSW) examining civil society initiatives supporting gender equality, vocational training and social protection.

Discussion with organizational representatives on programs supporting disadvantaged women and families.

Fieldwork✈️