Xiangjie Chen, a Ph.D. student working with Associate Professor Kuishuang Feng, is the first recipient of the Graduate Fellowship for International Collaboration started by the International Geo-Innovation Center.

Chen, whose dissertation focuses on climate policy and just transition, used his fellowship this summer to visit his collaborators, Professor Klaus Hubacek at the University of Groningen, in the Netherlands, and Associate Professor Heran Zheng at University College London. 

During his visit with Hubacek, Chen primarily focused on identifying vulnerable populations during the U.S. energy transition and examining the trade-off between carbon emissions and employment in different developed countries. This visit helped establish the framework for his study and potential data requirements, leading to regular meetings for ongoing idea exchange.

His collaboration with Zheng centered on gathering and processing consumer survey data for European countries, essential for harmonizing consumption survey data worldwide and compiling county-level input-output tables for the United States. Chen aims to leverage this unique survey data from Zheng's group to gain valuable experience in creating these I/O tables.

Moving forward, Chen intends to develop this collaborative work into peer-reviewed journal articles, ultimately integrating them into his dissertation.

As this was the first time Chen visited Europe, he was impressed by the low-carbon lifestyle; in the Netherlands: “One can see that people are using as few private cars as possible and replacing them with buses, railroads, and an impressive fleet of bicycles,” Chen said.

Although Chen has had previous communication with both professors, this was the first time he met them in person. “This experience not only solidified our connections but also paved the way for a fruitful collaboration plan that will significantly contribute to my doctoral research and provide potential opportunities for my future career growth,” Chen added.

The International Geo-Innovation Center looks forward to supporting more graduate students in their research involving international collaboration. Please contact geog-intgeocenter [at] umd.edu if you are interested in more information about the Graduate Fellowship for International Collaboration.

Main image: Xiangjie Chen (left) and colleagues on the London Bridge. Courtesy of Chen.